Similar to the beautiful ancient paintings that the game's art style emulates, Blasphemous has a ton of obscure secrets that proliferate the wide and weird world the Penitent One must traverse. In various nooks scattered around Cvstodia, there are hidden details that have likely gone unnoticed by many players.

RELATED: Blasphemous: Every Relic & How To Get Them

The game does tell one how to find these lesser-seen bits and pieces, however, the hints are often cryptic and require some trial and error or innate gamer instincts to uncover. Thankfully, the internet is around to aid those still struggling to find the deepest and darkest secrets in this incredible yet brutal adventure.

10 Executions Grant More Tears & Fervor

player executing a regular enemy.

Executions are a type of finishing move that becomes available after the Penitent One deals enough damage to an enemy to make them drop their guard and become extremely vulnerable. However, these brutal ending maneuvers do more than simply remove a foe from one's path quicker.

Performing an execution on adversaries will always yield greater Tears of Atonement as well as more Fervor, therefore it is always in one's best interest to execute an enemy to get optimal combat rewards.

9 Gemino's Side Quest Is Timed

npc and quest giver imprisoned in a tree.

Gemino is a being that was captured and imprisoned by the Convent of Our Lady of the Charred Visage. They sealed him within a very confining metal statue located Where Olive Trees Wither, which is where the player will meet him. It is not mentioned why Gemino was imprisoned or how the worshippers of the convent even got him into such an awkward yet dire position, though, there is no doubt that this NPC is suffering.

While only very slightly hinted at by Gemino's dialogue, it is implied that he will die during the course of the game. In gameplay terms, this equates to the Penitent One defeating 2 bosses before completing Gemino's quest, which will result in the poor fellow apparently dying via becoming part of the tree that he is bound to.

8 One Can Speak With The Dead

player speaking with a corpse by using a special relic.

As one of the easiest relics that can be acquired, the Shroud of Dreamt Sins often gets overlooked for not providing an ability that lets one access optional areas or granting greater combat potency. Though, it should not be ignored by lore-seekers, as it lets the Penitent One hear the final thoughts of the dead.

These whispers from corpses offer up interesting lore and sometimes even helpful tips, therefore players should keep their eyes open for the blue-white lines that emerge from carcasses while one has the Shroud of Dreamt Sins equipped.

7 Mercy Can Bring Suffering For Cleofas & Socorro

2 npcs in the mother of mothers area.

In typical brutal fashion for this game, players will encounter a tragic pair of NPCs in the Mother of Mothers area. Most notably, there will be a bound woman in constant suffering, though, she is no being punished. This martyr, Socorro, was once a kind woman who prayed for the suffering and torture of men at the hands of The Miracle to end. Her wish was granted, however, from that day forth she was given all the agony meant for the tortured instead as a "blessing".

RELATED: Blasphemous: 10 Hidden Secrets People Still Haven’t Found

Before her, constantly watching, is Cleofas, who the player can speak to as part of the quest to receive the prayer Tiento to your Thorned Hairs, which can temporarily grant invulnerability. The Penitent One will be given the options to either end Socorro's suffering or bring her 3 Marks of Refuge to progress the quest. The former, while more merciful, will result in the quest becoming more difficult to complete since Cleofas will get imprisoned at the Wall of the Holy Prohibitions, where the player will have to rescue them before being able to progress the quest further.

6 Redento's Quest Dialogue Provides Context

player speaking with the npc redento near a status and hidden entrance.

Throughout the game, the player will meet the pilgrim Redento as he travels the land of Cvstodia in his order's manner of penance. He will often get stuck at obstacles, which the Penitent One can help him cross by various means. While his questline is not particularly tedious or difficult, players interested in the lore should pay close attention to Redento's dialogue.

It is clear that the pilgrim's path is fraught with suffering, like that of many other NPCs encountered in the game, though, through Redento's faith and humility, one can see that The Miracle is something borne not of the dedication of humans, but their eternal suffering and that death is the only true mercy. A grim reality that is hammered home by Redento's demise following the completion of his pilgrimage.

5 Cleofas & Redento Can Cross Paths

getting an achievement by letting an npc while another watches.

Usually, the fate of each quest-bound NPC is separate, however, there are some times when their paths can cross. One such incident is midway through Redento's and Cleofas' respective quests when the former is at the beginning of the Patio of Silent Steps and the latter is atop the cliff at the Archcathedral Rooftops.

To get the two NPCs to meet, one will have to leave Redento at this spot on the Patio of Silent Steps and talk with Cleofas atop the Archcathedral Rooftops while one does not have the Cord of True Burying item obtained in Albero. This will cause Cleofas to jump off the cliff to his death, which Redento will witness from frighteningly closeby. Speaking with the pilgrim after this happens will unlock unique dialogue as well as an achievement.

4 See The End Of Viridiana

prayer given by an npc.

Arguably the most directly helpful out of all the characters one will meet in their sinister journey through Cvstodia, Viridiana can be found in front of the boss rooms of all the most powerful foes in the game. She will help the player battle each boss, though, only to a maximum of 3 times. After the third time she helps the Penitent One defeat a boss, she will die while giving a last few sad lines of dialogue.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat 11: 10 Best Intro Dialogues In The Game, Ranked

If one uses her services to this point, she will pass on and give the player a prayer called Zarabanda of the Safe Haven, which launches projectiles that destroy incoming enemy missiles as well as deals damage.

3 Find The Prayer That Requires Rescuing All Children Of Moonlight

painting of a bull and cherubs.

Since rescuing all 38 Children of Moonlight from their flying gold and glass prisons can be quite the trial, many players likely decided to skip this task. However, if the Penitent One took the time to free all of the little cherubs, they can get a reward from speaking with their leader, Jocinero, by interacting with the painting of a bull in The Sleeping Canvases.

The first of the Children of Moonlight, born from the bull and moon depicted in the painting, will grant the player a prayer known as Campanillero to the Sons of the Aurora, which summons the small, angelic figures to one's side to strike at nearby enemies.

2 Find A Relic At The End Of A Long Quest Chain

large and odd-looking NPC at the bottom of the grievance ascends area.

To obtain the relic known as the Three Gnarled Tongues, players will need to complete a series of tasks that will cause them to travel back and forth all over Cvstodia. The Three Gnarled Tongues relic allows one to turn roots into ledges and walls, which can be climbed upon and are necessary to reach many optional areas that house loot and collectibles.

To put it "simply", the Penitent One will need to bring the giant egg of hair at the bottom-most pit in Grievance Ascends 3 quest items. Once this is done, Altasgracias will hatch from the giant hairy egg and bestow a smaller version of it to the player. One will then need to take it to the tree atop the Mountains of Endless Dusk to have it hatch before then taking the small hatched egg to the NPC the Blessed Lord of Salty Shores found in the Lake of Silent Pilgrims. Here, one can trade it for the Three Gnarled Tongues relic.

1 Get The Good Ending

statue that can remove the weight of guilt.

Whenever the player dies, they will receive a debuff that hinders how much Tears of Atonement and Fervor they can gain. This can normally be remedied by collecting the Guilt Fragment left behind at the site of one's death, however, if this seems like it would be too tricky, one can visit a Confessor Statue to cleanse themselves of these debuffs and remove the Guilt Fragment from the world for a price.

However, to get the best ending of the game, players will have to destroy all 7 of these helpful statues and complete the trials that become available at the debris of each. This, among a few other things, will allow the Penitent One to achieve the good ending; the path of the believer.

NEXT: Blasphemous: Every Prayer & How To Get Them