Cuphead is Studio MDHR's hand inked run and gun built around 19 base game boss fights, six run and gun stages and three mausoleum challenges across three Inkwell Isles and Inkwell Hell. Every frame was drawn and painted by hand in a 1930s cartoon style, with a soundtrack recorded by a live jazz band. You get three hit points, no checkpoints inside a fight, and a letter grade at the end of every level.
Cuphead features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inkwell Isle One | Opening isle, 3 hit points, no upgrades | Energy Beam super, first coins for Porkrind's Emporium | Mugman |
| 2 | Inkwell Isle Two | Mid game, expect two or three weapons owned | Invincibility super, ten more run and gun coins | Mugman |
| 3 | Inkwell Isle Three | Late game, full weapon and charm access | Giant Ghost super from Mausoleum III, entry to Inkwell Hell | Cuphead |
| 4 | Inkwell Hell | Endgame, requires all soul contracts | Base game ending, A and S rank targets | Cuphead |
| 5 | Inkwell Isle Four | DLC content, playable at any point after the tutorial | Ms. Chalice, three new weapons, three new charms | Cuphead |
Inkwell Isle One: Starting Area
Five bosses: The Root Pack, Goopy Le Grande, Hilda Berg, Cagney Carnation and Ribby and Croaks, plus the run and gun stages Forest Follies and Treetop Trouble. Mausoleum I here awards the Energy Beam Super Art.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Opening isle, 3 hit points, no upgrades |
| Key Rewards | Energy Beam super, first coins for Porkrind's Emporium |
| Recommended Role | Mugman |
| Key Weapons | Spread |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Three hit points and no checkpoints. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Inkwell Isle Two.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Inkwell Isle Two: Early Game
Baroness Von Bon Bon, Beppi The Clown, Djimmi The Great, Grim Matchstick and Wally Warbles, with the carnival themed Funfair Fever and Funhouse Frazzle run and gun stages. Mausoleum II holds the Invincibility Super Art.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid game, expect two or three weapons owned |
| Key Rewards | Invincibility super, ten more run and gun coins |
| Recommended Role | Mugman |
| Key Weapons | Spread |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Pink parry. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Spread if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Inkwell Isle Three.
Inkwell Isle Three: Mid Game
The longest isle with seven bosses including Rumor Honeybottoms, Captain Brineybeard, Sally Stageplay, Werner Werman, Dr. Kahl's Robot, Cala Maria and Phantom Express. Rugged Ridge and Perilous Piers are the run and gun stages.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Late game, full weapon and charm access |
| Key Rewards | Giant Ghost super from Mausoleum III, entry to Inkwell Hell |
| Recommended Role | Cuphead |
| Key Weapons | Spread |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Peashooter becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Super meter cards for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Inkwell Hell: Late Game
King Dice makes you clear a board of nine mini bosses before he fights you himself, then The Devil closes the base game in four phases. Contracts from all three isles are the entry fee.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Endgame, requires all soul contracts |
| Key Rewards | Base game ending, A and S rank targets |
| Recommended Role | Cuphead |
| Key Weapons | Peashooter |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Peashooter should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Letter grade scoring mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Inkwell Isle Four.
Inkwell Isle Four: Endgame
The Delicious Last Course island, home to Glumstone the Giant, Mortimer Freeze, The Howling Aces, Moonshine Mob and Esther Winchester before Chef Saltbaker's four phase finale. It also adds the King's Leap parry only chess fights.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | DLC content, playable at any point after the tutorial |
| Key Rewards | Ms. Chalice, three new weapons, three new charms |
| Recommended Role | Cuphead |
| Key Weapons | Peashooter |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Parry survival playstyle for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Inkwell Isle One → Inkwell Isle Two → Inkwell Isle Three → Inkwell Hell → Inkwell Isle Four. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons: Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Cuphead Guides
- Cuphead Cuphead Overview
- Cuphead Best Builds
- Cuphead Tier List
- Cuphead Walkthrough
- Cuphead Beginner's Guide
- Cuphead Tips & Tricks
- Cuphead Weapons Guide
- Cuphead Combat Guide
- Cuphead Boss Guide
- Cuphead Crafting Guide
- Cuphead Classes & Characters
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