How to Unlock

**Defeat all 19 base-game bosses on Expert difficulty.** Expert difficulty unlocks after completing the main story on Regular. Load your existing save and revisit every boss across the four areas. You must defeat: - **Inkwell Isle I:** The Root Pack, Goopy Le Grande, Ribby and Croaks, Hilda Berg, and Cagney Carnation. - **Inkwell Isle II:** Baroness Von Bon Bon, Beppi the Clown, Djimmi the Great, Grim Matchstick, and Wally Warbles. - **Inkwell Isle III:** Rumor Honeybottoms, Captain Brineybeard, Sally Stageplay, Werner Werman, Dr. Kahl's Robot, Cala Maria, and Phantom Express. - **Inkwell Hell:** King Dice and the Devil. Expert mode increases the difficulty through faster attacks, more demanding patterns, and tougher encounters. Defeat every required boss on Expert to unlock the trophy.

Tip

**You do not need an A-rank or S-rank on every Expert boss.** Simply winning is sufficient for this trophy. To track your progress, open the overworld menu with **Triangle**, select **List**, and check for the star indicating an Expert victory beside each boss. For **Put On a Show**, you'll separately need one S-rank on Expert. The Root Pack is a good candidate.

How to Unlock

**Earn an A-rank or higher against all five bosses on Inkwell Isle II.** The required bosses are: 1. **Baroness Von Bon Bon** — Sugarland Shimmy 2. **Beppi the Clown** — Carnival Kerfuffle 3. **Djimmi the Great** — Pyramid Peril 4. **Grim Matchstick** — Fiery Frolic 5. **Wally Warbles** — Aviary Action An **A-, A, A+, or S rank** qualifies. Play on Regular or Expert difficulty and aim for a quick clear, three successful parries, sufficient remaining health, and six Super Meter cards' worth of attacks. You can improve each boss's rank individually. Once all five have qualifying results, the trophy unlocks.

Tip

**Grim Matchstick** is one of the harder A-ranks on this island. Use Roundabout during the opening phase and Lobber during the cloud-platform phases. Avoid shooting the small fireballs in the final phase, as they split into additional projectiles. For **Beppi the Clown**, Roundabout helps eliminate balloon enemies while you concentrate on avoiding the roller coaster. Regular difficulty is recommended for easier A-rank attempts.

How to Unlock

**Perform five consecutive parries without touching the ground.** A parry is performed by jumping into a pink object and pressing **Cross** again while airborne. Each successful parry bounces Cuphead upward, allowing you to reach another pink object without landing. One of the easiest locations is **Funfair Fever**, a Run 'n Gun level on Inkwell Isle II. Near the beginning of the stage, you'll encounter a trampoline-like platform and balloons floating through the area. Wait for a **pink balloon** to appear, then jump toward it and repeatedly parry it five times without touching the ground. The trophy unlocks immediately after your fifth consecutive parry.

Tip

You can also attempt this trophy during the Mausoleum challenges or while parrying the pink playing cards in **King Dice's** final encounter. After successfully performing four consecutive airborne parries, speak with the **juggling NPC near Grim Matchstick's tower on Inkwell Isle II** to receive a coin required for High Roller. This makes Bouncing Ball especially useful for collectible cleanup.

How to Unlock

**Discover and travel through a hidden shortcut on the Inkwell Isles.** Cuphead contains several secret pathways that allow you to move between locations without following the normal overworld routes. The easiest shortcut is on **Inkwell Isle I**, near **Goopy Le Grande's** boss location. From Goopy's location, walk toward the small hill and river on the right side of the area. Follow the narrow path behind the scenery instead of taking the obvious overworld route. Continue through the hidden passage until you emerge on the opposite side. The trophy unlocks after successfully discovering the shortcut.

Tip

Another reliable shortcut is on **Inkwell Isle II**, behind the large mountain near **Wally Warbles' Aviary Action** encounter. Walk behind the mountain to reach the area near **Grim Matchstick's Fiery Frolic** encounter. Discovering this shortcut also lets you speak with a nearby NPC who rewards you with a coin required for **High Roller**. Only one shortcut is needed for the trophy.

How to Unlock

**Earn an A-rank or higher against King Dice and the Devil in Inkwell Hell.** Both bosses must be defeated with at least an **A- rank** on Regular or Expert difficulty. For **King Dice**, practice controlling the dice rolls so you can choose manageable mini-boss encounters. A useful route is through spaces **3, 5, and 7**, followed by the safe space and final confrontation. During King Dice's final phase, parry the pink cards to avoid his marching-card attacks and build your Super Meter. For **the Devil**, use Roundabout during the opening phase to maintain damage while dodging his transformations. Switch to Spread during the later phases, where attacking from the nearby platforms is more effective. Earn qualifying ranks against both bosses to unlock King.

Tip

Use **Smoke Bomb** against King Dice to dash safely through several mini-boss attacks. For the Devil, **Twin Heart** can provide extra room for mistakes. Remember that an A- rank counts; you do not need a perfect fight. You can earn these ranks on Regular difficulty and save Expert attempts for **Beat The Devil At His Own Game**.

How to Unlock

**Earn an A-rank or higher against all seven bosses on Inkwell Isle III.** The required bosses are: 1. **Rumor Honeybottoms** — Honeycomb Herald 2. **Captain Brineybeard** — Shootin N' Lootin 3. **Sally Stageplay** — Dramatic Fanatic 4. **Werner Werman** — Murine Corps 5. **Dr. Kahl's Robot** — Junkyard Jive! 6. **Cala Maria** — High Seas Hi-Jinx! 7. **Phantom Express** — Railroad Wrath Defeat every boss with at least an **A- rank** on Regular or Expert difficulty. Focus on avoiding damage, completing fights efficiently, parrying available pink objects, and using your Super Meter. You do not need to obtain all seven ranks in one session.

Tip

**Dr. Kahl's Robot** is particularly demanding. Destroy the laser and other robot components during the first phase, use a Super attack against the detached head when possible, and shrink your plane to navigate the final phase's dense projectile patterns. For **Phantom Express**, consider using Roundabout and Spread with the P. Sugar charm. Automatic parries help control the cart and manage pink projectiles. If you're struggling with A-ranks, complete them on Regular difficulty before attempting the Expert clears required for the Platinum.

How to Unlock

**Complete any boss or Run 'n Gun level without taking damage.** You can earn this trophy on **Simple difficulty**, making it considerably easier than the A-rank and Expert difficulty trophies. A recommended location is **The Root Pack** in Inkwell Isle I. Select Simple difficulty and focus on avoiding attacks rather than finishing quickly. During the potato phase, jump over the dirt projectiles. When fighting the onion, move away from the falling tears. During the carrot phase, avoid the homing projectiles and move out of the path of its psychic beam. Complete the encounter without losing any HP to unlock the trophy.

Tip

You do not need an A-rank, S-rank, or specific completion time. Only avoiding damage matters. Choose a boss whose patterns you already know and equip **Smoke Bomb** for safer dashes. This trophy can be completed at any point, so there's no need to attempt it during your first playthrough.

How to Unlock

**Earn an S-rank against any boss on Expert difficulty.** Expert difficulty becomes available after completing the main story on Regular. Unlike the other ranking trophies, which accept A- or higher, this trophy requires a full **S-rank**. For a successful attempt, aim to meet all the following conditions: - Defeat the boss on **Expert difficulty**. - Finish within the boss's target time, generally around two minutes. - Maintain a perfect HP grade. - Successfully perform **three parries**. - Use **six Super Meter cards' worth of attacks**. A recommended boss is **The Root Pack** on Inkwell Isle I. During the potato phase, parry the pink projectiles to build your parry count before dealing too much damage. Then focus on avoiding the onion's falling tears and the carrot's projectiles while using your Super Meter.

Tip

**Twin Heart** provides two additional HP, allowing some room for damage while still potentially meeting the required HP grade. However, its damage reduction can make the time limit harder to achieve. You only need one S-rank for this trophy. There is no requirement to S-rank every boss.

How to Unlock

**Earn an A-rank or higher against all five bosses on Inkwell Isle I.** The required bosses are: 1. **The Root Pack** — Botanic Panic 2. **Goopy Le Grande** — Ruse of an Ooze 3. **Ribby and Croaks** — Clip Joint Calamity 4. **Hilda Berg** — Threatenin' Zeppelin 5. **Cagney Carnation** — Floral Fury An **A-, A, A+, or S rank** counts toward the trophy. Play on Regular or Expert difficulty and aim to finish quickly while maintaining your health, successfully parrying pink objects, and spending your Super Meter on damaging attacks. As a general target, complete each boss in approximately two minutes, register three parries, and use six Super Meter cards' worth of attacks. Earn the required rank against all five bosses to unlock Sheriff.

Tip

You can replay these bosses on **Regular difficulty** for easier A-rank attempts, even after unlocking Expert. **The Root Pack** is especially manageable because the potato phase provides predictable pink projectiles for parrying. Avoid defeating the potato before collecting the parries you need. Extra-health charms can help you finish with enough HP, although their damage trade-offs may make some fights longer.

How to Unlock

**Complete Cuphead on Regular difficulty.** Progress through all three Inkwell Isles, defeating their bosses on Regular difficulty to collect the Soul Contracts required to enter the final area. After reaching **Inkwell Hell**, defeat King Dice in the Casino and proceed to the Devil's encounter. When the Devil offers you a deal, select **NO** to begin the final boss fight. Defeat him to complete the story and unlock Souls Saved. There are **19 base-game bosses** in total, including King Dice and the Devil.

Tip

**Simple difficulty does not count** toward this trophy. You must defeat the required bosses on Regular or higher. After completing the game, Expert difficulty becomes available on your existing save. You do not need to begin a new game. You can also earn **Selling Out** by accepting the Devil's deal. Reload afterward to reject his offer and finish the story.