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See also: DSS Combinations
For more detailed information and animations of all possible abilities, go to each DSS Action or Attribute card's page.
Dual Set-Up System - 01

The 20 cards that can be found in the game.

The Dual Set-Up System, abbreviated DSS in the game, is a gameplay mechanic introduced in Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. The game's protagonist, Nathan Graves, can collect magical cards and combine their effects for a variety of magical abilities, from changing his whip into different weapons, to summoning creatures to attack.

Usage[]

To create a DSS effect, Nathan must possess at least one Action Card and one Attribute Card, and select one of each type in the DSS menu. At first, the description of a specific card combination is still unknown (indicated by "???"). The player needs to activate them in-game in order for the description to be displayed, along with the corresponding stat bonuses. These cards are dropped from specific enemies, and once obtained, are never lost or used up. DSS effects consume MP, some by each use of the skill and some by the amount of time the skill is deployed.

Action Cards[]

Action Cards allow Nathan to perform new abilities and are represented by Roman gods.

Mercury[]

Dual Set-Up System: Mercury
Mercury Description
"Mercury, the messenger of the gods. Has the potential of strength."
Effect
Alters the Hunter whip's strength and element.
Location
Bone Head (20% drop rate ; Abyss Stairway, Catacomb)


Venus[]

Dual Set-Up System: Venus
Venus Description
"Venus, goddess of love and beauty. Has the potential of enhancement."
Effect
Raises Nathan's base statistics.
Location
Slime (2.5% drop rate ; Abyss Stairway, Audience Room, Catacomb)


Jupiter[]

Dual Set-Up System: Jupiter
Jupiter Description
"Jupiter, god of the heavens and the leader of Olympus. Has the potential of defense."
Effect
Creates barriers of various elements.
Location
Heat Shade (2.2% drop rate ; Machine Tower)


Mars[]

Dual Set-Up System: Mars
Mars Description
"Mars, god of war. Has the potential of change."
Effect
Transforms the Hunter Whip into other weapons.
Location
Bloody Sword (2.5% drop rate ; Chapel Tower)


Diana[]

Dual Set-Up System: Diana
Diana Description
"Diana, goddess of the moon and hunting. Has the potential of creation."
Effect
Creates various projectiles thrown when Nathan swings his whip.
Location
Man Eater (1.5% drop rate ; Underground Gallery)


Apollo[]

Dual Set-Up System: Apollo
Apollo Description
"Apollo, god of the sun, music, and prophecy. Has the potential to create explosives."
Effect
Gives Nathan various abilities usable with the combination [↓ ←(→) ↑ + Attack].
Location
Arch Demon (1.4% drop rate ; Underground Warehouse)


Neptune[]

Dual Set-Up System: Neptune
Neptune Description
"Neptune, god of the seas. Has the potential of healing."
Effect
Makes Nathan recover some HP if attacked with the same element as the current paired Attribute Card, at the cost of losing some MP.
Location
Ice Armor (1.2% drop rate ; Underground Waterway)


Saturn[]

Dual Set-Up System: Saturn
Saturn Description
"Saturn, god of agriculture and the father of Jupiter. Has the potential of a familiar."
Effect
Summons a familiar that follows Nathan. Most attack in tandem.
Location
Fallen Angel (1.2% drop rate ; Chapel Tower, outside the Battle Arena)


Uranus[]

Dual Set-Up System: Uranus
Uranus Description
"Uranus, former god of the heavens. Has the potential of summoning."
Effect
Allows Nathan to summon the creature from the current paired Attribute Card with the combination [↓ ←(→) ↑ + Attack].
Location
Scary Candle (0.6% drop rate ; Iron Golem Boss Room)


Pluto[]

Dual Set-Up System: Pluto
Pluto Description
"Pluto, god of the underworld. Has the potential of special."
Effect
Bestows a number of unique effects on Nathan.
Location
Trick Candle (0.4 drop rate ; Cerberus Boss Room)


Attribute Cards[]

Attribute Cards contain the power of elements and are represented by supernatural beings and creatures.

Salamander[]

Dual Set-Up System: Salamander
Salamander card Description
"A lizard bathed in flames. Embodiment of the flame spirit, Salamander. Has the power of Fire."
Effect
Adds fire power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Skeleton Bomber, Imp (both 20% drop rate ; Catacomb, Underground Warehouse)


Serpent[]

Dual Set-Up System: Serpent
Serpent card Description
"The Serpent is said to be a dragon swimming in the sea. Has the power of Ice."
Effect
Adds ice power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Earth Demon (2.5% drop rate), Holy Armor (0.5% drop rate ; Catacomb, Underground Warehouse)


Mandragora[]

Dual Set-Up System: Mandragora
Mandragora card Description
"The Mandragora is represented as a humanoid with roots instead of feet. Has the power of Plants."
Effect
Adds plant power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Axe Armor (1.4% drop rate), Lizardman (1.34% drop rate ; Audience Room, Underground Waterway)


Golem[]

Dual Set-Up System: Golem
Golem card Description
"The Golem is a mockery of man made from clay. Has the power of Earth."
Effect
Adds earth power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Electric Skeleton (3% drop rate), Minotaur (1.5% drop rate ; Audience Room, Observation Tower)


Cockatrice[]

Dual Set-Up System: Cockatrice
Cockatrice card Description
"The Cockatrice is said to have the ability to turn things to stone. Has the power of Stone."
Effect
Adds stone power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Stone Armor (1.8% drop rate), Death Mantis (1.5% drop rate ; Machine Tower, Underground Gallery)


Manticore[]

Dual Set-Up System: Manticore
Manticore card Description
"The Manticore is said to have the body of a lion and the venomous tail of a scorpion. Power of Poison."
Effect
Adds poison power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Thunder Demon (3% drop rate), Succubus (1.5% drop rate ; Machine Tower, Audience Room)


Griffin[]

Dual Set-Up System: Griffin
Griffin card Description
"The Griffin is said to have the head and wings of a Eagle and body of a lion. Has the power of Wind."
Effect
Adds wind power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Skeleton Athlete (0.75% drop rate), Siren (2% drop rate ; Audience Room, Underground Waterway)


Thunderbird[]

Dual Set-Up System: Thunderbird
Thunderbird card Description
"The legendary Thunderbird is said to have been able to release lightning. Has the power of Electricity."
Effect
Adds thunder/electricity power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Were-Panther (1.1% drop rate), Dullahan (1.4% drop rate ; Chapel Tower, Observation Tower)


Unicorn[]

Dual Set-Up System: Unicorn
Unicorn card Description
"The Unicorn is said to have been white with a single holy horn on its forehead. Has the power of Light."
Effect
Adds holy/light power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
White Armor (2.5% drop rate ; Battle Arena)


Black Dog[]

Dual Set-Up System: Black Dog
Black Dog card Description
"The Black Dog is said to consume darkness. Has the power of Darkness."
Effect
Adds dark power to Nathan's attacks and creates unique effects when paired with an Action Card.
Location
Devil Armor (2.5% drop rate ; Battle Arena)


Combinations[]

Main article: Dual Set-Up System/Combinations

Glitches[]

Main article: Glitches
  • The Dual Set-Up System has a known glitch in which if the player activates the effect of a combination and quickly opens the DSS menu again, they can choose whatever other card slot they desire, obtaining the effect of said combination whether or not any of the cards are actually unlocked; essentially meaning that once the player gets a hold of at least one Action and one Attribute Card, they will have access to all 100 possible combinations of both complete decks.
  • Another known exploit allows the player to make use of DSS in the Battle Arena. To do this, the player has to consume enough MP restoring potions while in the menu. Once they return to the game, the MP bar will quickly start depleting again; however, during this time the player can activate DSS and use any two cards they have selected. This allows to summon monsters if the required motion is performed quickly enough, before the meter depletes to less than the amount of MP required to summon that monster. If done correctly, even the most difficult rooms can be cleared with little effort.
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Characters
Protagonist

Nathan Graves

Supporting cast

Morris BaldwinHugh Baldwin

Antagonists

CamillaDracula

Bosses

CerberusNecromancerIron GolemAdramelechDragon ZombieDeath

Areas

Sealed RoomCatacombAbyss StairwayAudience RoomTriumph HallwayOuter WallMachine TowerEternal CorridorChapel TowerUnderground GalleryUnderground WarehouseUnderground WaterwayObservation TowerCeremonial RoomBattle Arena

Music

AwakeProof of BloodFate to DespairCastlevania: Circle of the Moon and Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Original Soundtrack

Guides

NTT Pub Official GuideShinkigensha Official Guide

Archives

BestiaryInventoryIn-Game FormulaMagician ModeFighter ModeShooter ModeThief Mode

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