Sub-Weapon/Bloodlines

Sub-weapons in Castlevania: Bloodlines are referred to as Special Weapons in the American instruction booklet, as Attack Items in the European one, and Use Items in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection. They are notable in this game for being able to level up, making three levels of attacks possible, a Normal Attack (level 1), a Special Attack (level 2), and a Mystical Attack (level 3).
There are only three sub-weapons in Bloodlines. The Boomerang (called Crystal Blade Boomerang in the American instruction booklet), which has not been seen since Haunted Castle, replaces both the Dagger and the Cross sub-weapons found in most games. The Axe and Holy Water sub-weapons both reappear in this game. The Stopwatch does not appear in this game. It is always possible to know which candles contain sub-weapons, since they appear as single large candles, rather than double small candles, which contain some other type of item.
==Characteristics==
===Jewels===
Instead of Hearts, Jewels are used to perform sub-weapon attacks in this game. These behave similarly to Hearts, with 1 (red) and 5 (blue) denominations available, but they fall at a faster speed and bounce off the ground before disappearing. The Spellbook item usually increases the number of Jewels by 20 in this game, although sometimes it powers up a primary weapon to its final form instead. A candle that holds a sub-weapon in this game will not drop a 5 denomination resource if that weapon is already equipped, like it does in other games. Instead, it will power up the sub-weapon if possible; otherwise, nothing happens. The Jewel count also does not go down upon collecting a Magic Crystal at the end of a stage.
===Normal Attacks (Level 1)===
A dedicated button (C on the Genesis/Mega Drive) is given to release a Normal Attack, similar to Super Castlevania IV, making it possible to perform while on the stairs and be used while facing in either direction as well. Normal Attacks consume 1 Jewel and are only possible when the weapon is at a normal level.
*Boomerang - Thrown quickly straightforward like a Dagger, then switches direction like a Cross, but then heads in a diagonal upward direction.
*Axe - Behaves much like it does in most games, following an overhead arcing trajectory.
*Holy Water - Creates a long wave when it hits the ground like in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, but it is thrown higher and further before it hits the ground.
===Special Attacks (Level 2)===
To release a mid-tier Special Attack, the player must press UP and C at the same time when the weapon is at a normal level. This consumes 4 Jewels and results in three sub-weapons being released at the same time, in a pattern unique to the equipped sub-weapon and not found in any other game. This ability essentially replaces the Double Shot and Triple Shot power-ups found in previous games which allowed two or three sub-weapons to be used on the screen at the same time.
*Boomerang - Three boomerangs are thrown forward and circle around a common center that moves forward, with the distance from the center varying so that they converge twice, and then are removed.
*Axe - Three axes are thrown straightforward at different levels, one at knee level, another at head level, and another above head level, at different distances, with the lower ones further out than the upper ones. They spin stationary for a while, then charge forward again, with the higher ones moving faster than the lower ones.
*Holy Water - The holy water is taken out of its vial and then sent toward the ground in front of the player. When it hits the ground, a pillar of flame erupts straight up and the rest of it bounces off the ground. The remaining holy water circles in the air once while moving forward and then hits the ground again, again erupting in flames straight up. Half of the remaining holy water bounces off the ground again while continuing forward, erupting in a third pillar of flame when it hits the ground.
===Mystical Attacks (Level 3)===
Mystical Attacks are powerful Item Crash-level sub-weapon attacks. In order to use a sub-weapon's Mystical Attack, it must first be powered-up to Mystic Level, also referred to as changing into an Ultimate Item in the European instruction booklet. There are two ways to do this. The equipped sub-weapon automatically powers up when acquiring a Coat of Arms or Spell Book that powers up the user's primary weapon to its level-4 form (Undulating Whip for Jonathan or Blazing Spear for Eric), provided that the number of Jewels is high enough to perform at least one Mystical Attack (8). It also can power up by collecting another sub-weapon of the same type if the primary weapon is at level 4 and the number of Jewels is at the sufficient level. Both of the latter two conditions have to be fulfilled, as a sub-weapon does not power up merely because the number of Jewels has increased to the amount necessary to perform a Mystical Attack. Also, if another sub-weapon is acquired when the equipped sub-weapon is at Mystical Level, the new sub-weapon will not automatically power up. If the level-4 primary weapon is lost due to taking damage, the sub-weapon will be downgraded to normal level and be no longer able to perform Mystical Attacks. The sub-weapon will also be downgraded if the player no longer has enough Jewels to perform a Mystical Attack.
The type of Mystical Attack that can be performed is the same for any sub-weapon and depends on which level-4 primary weapon is equipped. For John, the Undulating Whip will allow the sub-weapon to perform a Water Dragon attack. For Eric, the Blazing Spear will allow a Thunderbolt Spear attack to be performed.
*Water Dragon - A stream of water travels rapidly in a snake-like pattern across the screen, damaging most enemies on the screen.
*Thunderbolt Spear - Countless thunderbolts travel in all directions, damaging most enemies on the screen.
Mystical Attacks replace both Normal and Special Attacks. When powering up a sub-weapon, the symbol for the type of Mystical Attack that can be performed replaces the symbol for the sub-weapon in the sub-weapon box. This reverts to the normal sub-weapon symbol upon downgrading. The sequence to perform a Mystical Attack is the same as either a Normal or Special Attack (C or Up + C).
==Item Data==
==Gallery==
===Artworks===
Crystal Boomerang.png|Crystal Blade Boomerang
Axe BL.png|Battle Axe
Holy Water BL.png|Sacred Water
Red Jewel.png|Red Jewel
Blue Jewel.png|Blue Jewel
Spell Book.png|Spell Book
===Animations===
====Normal Attacks (Level 1)====
(Press C when sub-weapon at Normal Level)
;John Morris
BL Crystal Blade Boomerang 3.gif|Crystal Blade Boomerang
BL Battle Axe 3.gif|Battle Axe
BL Sacred Water 3.gif|Sacred Water
;Eric Lecarde
BL Crystal Blade Boomerang.gif|Crystal Blade Boomerang
BL Battle Axe.gif|Battle Axe
BL Sacred Water.gif|Sacred Water
====Special Attacks (Level 2)====
(Press Up + B when Sub-Weapon at Normal Level)
;John Morris
BL Crystal Blade Boomerang 4.gif|Crystal Blade Boomerang
BL Battle Axe 4.gif|Battle Axe
BL Sacred Water 4.gif|Sacred Water
;Eric Lecarde
BL Crystal Blade Boomerang 2.gif|Crystal Blade Boomerang
BL Battle Axe 2.gif|Battle Axe
BL Sacred Water 2.gif|Sacred Water
====Mystical Attacks (Level 3)====
(Press B or Up + B when sub-weapon at Mystical Level)
;Any sub-weapon
BL Water Dragon.gif|Water Dragon(John Morris)
BL Thunderbolt Spear.gif|Thunderbolt Spear(Eric Lecarde)
Category:Sub-Weapons
Category:Bloodlines