- For the Lords of Shadow skill, see Holy Cross (Lords of Shadow).
Grand Cross (also called Grand Cruz, Holy Cross or Cross Crash) is an ultimate attack involving very large crosses which deal heavy Holy-based damage. It can be performed by many protagonists in the series that are either Belmont relatives or who use Holy based attacks as a primary trait. The origin of this technique actually took place in the first game in the chronology of the series, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, where Leon Belmont used it by fusing the Cross sub-weapon with the Yellow Orb. There are three versions of this attack:
- In the first version, seen only in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, a giant crucifix appears suspended behind Richter Belmont, then multiple crucifixes rise up from the bottom, flying throughout the whole screen and hitting anything in their path.
- In the second version, a pillar of light surrounds the caster and then several crosses spiral up this column, dealing massive damage.
- In the third version, a large cross of energy or flames appears suspended behind the caster, causing damage to anything that touches it.
Even though these forms look different, the effective range of the last two versions is similar, which is anything nearby and/or above. A Grand Cross can also occur using the power of a Whip in some games, such as Castlevania Judgment and Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls. In Grimoire of Souls, Maria and Charlotte can use the Grand Cross in the form of a Type B Cross.
Variations[]
Rising crosses[]
The Grand Cross Item Crush was introduced in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. To cast it, Richter Belmont must be in possession of the Cross sub-weapon, have at least 15 Hearts, and activate its Item Crush attack. A giant crucifix will appear behind him and a series of flashing crosses will rise up from the ground, covering the entire screen and dealing heavy damage to anything they touch.
Pillar of crosses[]
- The "pillar" version was first used as Richter's Item Crash with the Cross sub-weapon in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (20 Hearts - likely first seen in the introductory stage during his confrontation against Dracula). It was also the normal action for Alucard in that game when he used the Cross (100 Hearts).
- The move returned as Nathan Graves' Crucifix Item Crush in Circle of the Moon when combining the Pluto + Salamander DSS cards.
- It was also used by Juste Belmont in Harmony of Dissonance when he fused the Cross with the Bolt Book.
- It could be performed by Leon Belmont by using the Cross with the Yellow Orb equipped.
- It could also be performed by Pumpkin by using the Cross with the same named sub-weapon equipped.
- It was used as Trevor Belmont's special version sub-weapon for the Cross in Curse of Darkness (an effect similar to an Item Crash).
- It was a Dual Crush available to Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin upon completing Wind's "Master the Holy Power" quest in Portrait of Ruin.
- In Castlevania Judgment, it can be used by Simon, Trevor, Eric, Alucard, Grant, Cornell, Maria and Sypha.
- It's also a Dual Crush used in Harmony of Despair whenever two Belmont-like characters (Jonathan, Julius, Richter, etc.) Dual Crush together.
Suspended cross[]
The "suspended" version was first shown to be used by Julius Belmont in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. It differs slightly depending on whether Julius uses it as a boss or a playable character. During the boss battle, Julius slowly rises up in the air, pulling Soma toward him. He then unleashes the Grand Cross for a total of seven consecutive hits. On the other hand, when Julius is controlled by the player in Julius Mode, it is a bit weaker. It no longer pulls enemies toward Julius, its duration is shorter and thus it deals less damage. It returned as a sub-weapon for him in Dawn of Sorrow, although it was watered down a bit, as Julius was no longer invincible when he used the attack. Its vacuum ability still remains, but it is limited to only pulling certain enemy projectiles. He used this weapon to destroy a powerful barrier in Soma's story mode which protected the gates to The Abyss. Through a certain in-game glitch/cheat, Soma can equip Julius's version of the Grand Cross as a Bullet Soul (along with other Julius Mode characters' sub-weapons, like Alucard's Alucard Sword and Julius's Vampire Killer whip). Unlike Julius, Soma can move around while it is active (this is due to it being a glitched soul/weapon) and he doesn't rise up in the air like Julius.
Richter Belmont gained use of this version of the Grand Cross in Portrait of Ruin. It retained the effects of the "pillar" version, making it sort of a combination of both versions of the attack.
While not completely the same attack, Leon Belmont can create a similar looking giant flaming cross combining the Cross sub-weapon and the Purple Orb.
Versions of this ability have also appeared in non-canon games. Kokoro Belmont used one in Otomedius Excellent called the "Lightning Sword" as her Platonic Break. This version is a horizontal beam instead of a vertical one for gameplay reasons, as this game is a horizontal-scrolling shooter rather than an action-platformer game.
Blood cross[]
A bloody version of this attack, called Blood Cross, appears as a Dual Crush in Harmony of Despair whenever one of the Belmont or Belmont-like characters Dual Crushes with Alucard or Soma.
Other variations[]
A different variation of Grand Cross appears in Pachislot Akumajō Dracula; Trevor will project forward a large cross made of holy energy. This cross is similar to Leon's Divine Cross (Cross + Blue Orb) from Lament of Innocence, with the difference that Trevor's version will be thrust forward a great distance, in a beam-like fashion, damaging anything in its path.
While in Pachislot Akumajō Dracula II the Grand Cross returns to its "pillar" form, this time his Divine Cross is a variation of the Grand Cross from Pachislot I, where he will project another large cross made of holy energy and thrust it forward.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Grand Cross is the Final Smash of both Simon and Richter Belmont. When initiated, whatever enemy is hit will be encased in a coffin and thrown up into the air with the whip, before Simon/Richter unleashes a mass of holy light crosses into the air, damaging it.
Item Data[]
Item Data: Grand Cross | ||||||||
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Image | Name - Game Type - Users Description |
Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | |||
The ultimate sub-weapon, the cross damages all enemies on the screen. (...) | Attrib: Holy/Hit Consume: 100 Hearts (Alucard), 1 (Richter/Maria) |
ATT +40 (cross), ATT +5 (light), (with Staurolite: ATT +80 (cross), ATT +10 (light)) (Alucard); ATT +40 (Richter/Maria) |
Find: Containers (requires Cube of Zoe for Alucard) |
Effect: Thrown forward and returns (Richter/Maria); always Crashes (Alucard) Special: Item Crash (Grand Cross, Richter only; Cost: 20 Hearts; ATT +60 (crosses), ATT +40 (beam of light), Attrib: Holy/Hit) | ||||
Large crosses revolve around Juste and rise up. They have strong attack and a high number of hits. | Attrib: Thunder Consume: 60 MP |
ATK = 200% NUM = 1 |
Create: Cross + Bolt Book |
|||||
Attrib: Holy Consume: 150 MP |
120 ATK |
Find: Starts with |
Effect: A flaming holy cross hits enemies near Julius. Special: Only available in Julius Mode. | |||||
Consume: 12 Hearts |
Create: Cross + Yellow Orb |
Effect: A series of large crosses spirals upward around Leon. | ||||||
Consume: 12 Hearts |
Create: Pumpkin + Yellow Orb |
Effect: A series of massive pumpkins spirals upward around Pumpkin. | ||||||
Attrib: Holy Consume: 80 MP |
Find: Starts with |
Effect: A flaming holy cross hits enemies near Julius. | ||||||
A secret technique of the Belmont family that releases holy energy. | Attrib: Holy Consume: 180 MP |
Find: Entrance Conditions: Complete "Master the Holy Power" quest. |
Effect: Does massive Holy damage to nearby targets, but no effect on distant opponents. | |||||
Attrib: Holy Consume: 120 MP |
ATK +25 |
Find: Starts with |
Effect: A flaming holy cross hits enemies near Richter. Special: Only available in Richter Mode. | |||||
All blocks on the user's board are destroyed. The opponent takes 1 damage for each block destroyed. | Consume: 50 MP |
|||||||
Throws a cross-shaped boomerang straight ahead. | Consume: 2 (Normal) or 5 (Charged) Hearts |
Effect: Normal - Throws a holy cross that flies a set distance, then returns. Charged (Holy Cross) - Unleashes a holy aura that radiates from the user's body. Evolve: Can be powered up with a Rapidshot II or III | ||||||
Runs towards opponent and then hits them with a drawn out straight whip attack. A Grand Cross appears behind his opponent when struck. | Sequence: Press Super Finisher button when Skill Gauge full | |||||||
Attrib: Holy Consume: 60 MP |
Find: (innate) |
Effect: Several large crosses encircles both players and spiral upwards. | ||||||
Attrib: Slash Consume: 60 MP |
Find: (innate) |
Effect: A dark cross will rise and damage enemies multiple times. Each successful hit will also heal the users for 1 HP. | ||||||
The power of the holy whip creates a cross in the air, punishing monsters with zealous fervor. | Attrib: Holy |
Find: Attached to Holy Whip |
||||||
Unleash the power of the holy whip and obliterate surrounding enemies. | Find: Start with |
Enemy Data[]
Enemy Data: Enemies with Grand Cross | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Image | Name - Game Description |
Statistics | Items | Location | Notes |
(PSX/Saturn) |
|||||
It is the strongest vampire hunter. It's been a year since he disappeared. (...) | Strong: Holy, Stone (both immune) Weak: Dark Level: 48 HP: 400 Exp: n/a |
Castle Keep (Alucard only) |
Weapons: Vampire Killer (Standard Attack, Flame Whip), Cross (Cross Boomerang, Grand Cross), Holy Water (normal attack, Hydro Storm), Axe (Arc Throw, Spiral Axe), Agunea (Lightning Bolt), Holy Book (Item Crash) | ||
The most powerful Vampire Hunter. Recently regained his memory. | Strong: Holy, Poison, Curse, Stone HP: 6,000 MP: 9,999 Exp: 0 Atk: 95 Def: 80 Timestop: Unaffected |
Soul: N/A |
Floating Garden (as a boss) |
Weapons: Vampire Killer, Cross (Cross Boomerang, Grand Cross), Axe (Arc Throw), Holy Water (Normal Attack) | |
A memory of the last Belmont to wield the Vampire Killer. | Strong: Holy Weak: Dark HP: 5,000 Exp: 0 Skill Pt: 0 |
Master's Keep |
Weapons: Vampire Killer, Axe (Arc Throw), Cross (Cross Boomerang, Grand Cross), Holy Water (Normal Attack), Dagger (Double Knife Throw) | ||
' | Whip's Memory: 1, 2, 3 |
Abil: Frozen; Uppercut, Lightning Kick, Axe, Grand Cruz |
Gallery[]
Screenshots[]
Animations[]
Trivia[]
- In Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, the Cross's Item Crush is the Grand Cross, whereas in Castlevania: Dracula X –a reimagining of Rondo– it was changed to an attack where several crosses are launched across the screen, being the only Item Crash that was changed from the original game. This change was probably due either to the system's limitations, or actually censored due to Nintendo's regulations toward the appearance of religious imagery on games for their systems (the Rondo of Blood Item Crush summons a large crucifix with a detailed image of a crucified Jesus Christ).
- Grand Cross is also the name of a series of arcade medal games developed and published by Konami since 2006; however, it's unknown if it actually borrowed the name from the iconic Castlevania Item Crash.