Cross the Court of Justice and Docks, open the castle gate, then head inside after Isaac reveals his illusion. In Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, the Justice District route starts in the sewers at Ferryman's Wharf, with the eastern drawbridge still raised. Your first move is west toward the Bridge of the Millers.
How do you reach the Court of Justice from the Justice District Sewers?
Go west from Ferryman's Wharf to the Bridge of the Millers, climb the waterwheel, then turn east after the castle cutscene.
- Whip upward and use Holy Light to leave the Ferryman's Wharf room. The eastern exit leads to the raised drawbridge, so take the western route.
- Defeat the Merman and hop onto the waterwheel. Seeing Dracula's Castle triggers a short cutscene.
- Save at the nearby Mirror of Life if you need it, then head east into the Court of Justice.
- Swing onto the bridge and defeat the Skeleton Soldiers, Skeleton Archer, and Skelerang.
- Slide through the gap and drop down to the lever. Pull it to open the barriers at ground level.
That lever opens your route through the area. You can now make the nearby collection detours before leaving for the Docks.
What should you collect in the Court of Justice before leaving?
You can collect a Brave Heart Fragment and clues for the Miser and The Judge cards before returning to the Bishop's Office and exiting east.
The Brave Heart Fragment takes the most demanding platforming here. On the left side of the Court of Justice, swing up the shaft blocked by Chaos Shards. You need to whip two Sharpened Anchors quickly and activate Holy Light in midair to access them. Expect this sequence to take a few attempts; it is a reward detour rather than your route to the castle.
On the eastern side, enter the Bishop's Office. Read Trevor's note, then break the wall on the right to reach the Hospital Relic Clue for the Miser card. For the card connections, see the Tarot Cards page.
Leave the office and climb upward using the platforms, Chaos Shards, and swing points. Pull the shortcut lever, then follow the upper route into the Palace of Justice. Clear the Skeleton gauntlet and approach the enormous tree with the scale in front of it. Interact with the scale for the Balancing the Scales of Justice Clue, linked to The Judge card.
Trying to balance the Scales of Justice drains Rose's health, which refills automatically afterward. Mark the location on your map for a later return, then drop back to the Bishop's Office and exit east to the Docks.
How do you lower the Justice District drawbridge and get the Bastard Sword?
Take the lower detour from the Docks back into the sewers and pull the wall lever to lower the drawbridge.
- Before advancing through the Docks, drop one level and slide through the gap to the exit leading back into the Justice District Sewers.
- Ignore the blocked door ahead. Activate Holy Light to drop down.
- Whip past the spinning saw blades on the wheel. Use Holy Light and an Arcane Whip swing to reach the lever on the wall.
- Pull the lever to connect Ferryman's Wharf directly to the Docks.
- Whip and wall jump upward to the chest containing the Bastard Sword.
This detour gives you a shorter return route and another weapon before the next gauntlet. If you want to compare your options, check the weapon types before heading back to the Docks.
How do you open the gate to Dracula's Castle?
Return west to the Docks, advance right through the Minotaur gauntlet, then pull the lever above the Mirror of Life at the Gate to the Stone Bridge.
The Minotaur charges, swings its axe, and can leap into an axe slam. Watch for those attacks while fighting with your Whip or the Bastard Sword you just collected. Defeat it and leave through the right exit.
At the Gate to the Stone Bridge, the Mirror of Life is just to your right. Save and heal there before climbing the stairs. The stairs end at the massive gate; hit its lever to open the way toward Dracula's Castle.
How do you get past Isaac the first time?
Continue into the castle after the encounter reveals that this Isaac is an illusion; his true body is in the Clock Tower.
Isaac taunts Rose about her father, and Leon warns that he is baiting her. The encounter ends with Isaac explaining that Death bound his soul to the castle. You have reached the illusion reveal, rather than defeated his true body.
His true body guards Dracula in the Clock Tower. Leon's warning then saves Rose, and she thanks him before deciding to head inside. Your next destination is the castle interior.
With the gate open and the first Isaac encounter behind you, continue into Dracula's Castle Main Hall.