Arcana Card System
Arcana is a card-based modifier system in Vampire Survivors where each card can tweak your gameplay in drastically different ways. From doubling healing to making projectiles explosive, every Arcana adds some distinct variation to your gameplay experience but you'll need to unlock them first.
This Vampire Survivors guide will provide information on how to unlock the Arcana system, how to unlock every individual card, and how each card will directly alter your runs.
Continue reading or click on the links below to learn more about a specific section of this guide:
New Arcana Added in Patch 0.7.2
Vampire Survivors' most recent update added the Arcanas VIII - Mad Groove and X - The Beginning. Both of these Arcana are fairly simple to unlock if you know what to do and they provide some of the most powerful effects currently available.
VIII - Mad Groove
VIII - Mad Groove can be unlocked by reaching the 31-minute mark in the Mad Forest. In other words, you'll need to survive the horde for 30 minutes and outlast the brutal attacks dished out by Red Death for at least a minute. While this objective can be completed with various loadouts the fool-proof way of surviving for 31 minutes is by obtaining the Crimson Shroud weapon evolution.
The Crimson Shroud caps all incoming damage, even damage from Red Death, to a measly 10 HP per strike so with any competent loadout you should be able to unlock Mad Groove with relative ease.
Once unlocked, if you select the VIII - Mad Groove card, it will attract all of the items on the stage to your current location every two minutes and at the start of your run. The various items that'll be drawn to your location include:
- Experience Gems
- Light Sources
- Passive Items
- Gold Ring and Silver Ring
- Metaglio Left and Metaglio Right
- Floor Loot
Prior to selecting Mad Groove from the Randomazzo screen, you can view all of the Passive Items available on your current stage underneath the Arcana's description.
X - The Beginning
X - The Beginning can be unlocked by reaching Level 99 with Antonio. Before beginning your mission towards Level 99 with Antonio, make sure to upgrade your Growth and Magnet PowerUps so you can level up at a greater pace. If you've previously unlocked the Mad Groove Arcana discussed above, you should consider selecting it since it'll attract all of the Experience Gems to your location every two minutes. While the Pentagram's evolution, Gorgeous Moon enables you to level up at a blistering pace you should avoid Pentagram when pursuing any achievements with a level-based goal since the Pentagram will delete all XP gems on-screen until it's received substantial upgrades.
X - The Beginning gives +1 Amount to the weapons listed below and grants your Character's starter weapon and its evolution +3 Amount.
- Whip
- Bloody Tear
- Bone
- Cherry Bomb
- Carréllo
- Celestial Dusting
How to Unlock Arcana
To unlock the Arcana card system you’ll need to locate and collect the Relic called, Randomazzo. Randomazzo can be found by loading into the Gallo Tower stage and traveling due north. If you've discovered the Milky Way Map Relic before setting out on your search for Randomazzo, a green arrow will point you in the right direction.
Like the rest of the Relics, Randomazzo only needs to be collected once to permanently unlock the Arcana system linked to the special item. The Relic will be guarded by several enemies with a Clock Lancet-like ability that drastically cuts down your movement speed. While these enemies are far from a threat on their own, you should still be decently leveled up when attempting to collect the item since your lowered MoveSpeed will leave you susceptible to falling victim to the horde.
Arcana Explained
Once you've found the Randomazzo, you'll begin every run by selecting an Arcanas, or if you'd like, you can select the blue question mark button to be given a random card. You'll enter the match with the modifier granted by your selected Arcana and if you manage to survive until roughly the 11-minute mark you'll encounter a high-tier enemy that, when killed, will drop a Chest with a selection of four random Arcanas to choose from.
If the cards are in your favor and you make it to the 21-minute mark you'll again face off with a high-tier enemy for the opportunity to select your third and final Arcanas from a pool of four randomly drawn cards.
All Arcanas List
Vampire Survivors currently has 12 Arcanas available to unlock but there are 22 slots in the Arcana menu so be on the lookout for new ones in the near future. For now, here is a list of all the Arcanas and how to unlock them with the newest Arcanas being highlighted in yellow to make them easier to spot:
| Arcanas | How to Unlock | Description |
|---|---|---|
| IV - Awake | Reach Level 99 with Krochi |
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| V - Chaos in the Dark Night | Reach Level 99 with Giovanna |
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| VI - Sarabande of Healing | Unlocked immediately after finding Randomazoo Relic |
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| VII - Iron Blue Will | Reach Level 99 with Gennaro | Listed weapon projectiles gain up to 3 bounces and might pass through enemies and walls.
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| VIII - Mad Groove | Reach minute 31 in the Mad Forest |
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| X - Beginning | Reach Level 99 with Antonio | Listed weapons get +1 Amount. The character's main weapon and its evolution gain +3 Amount instead.
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| XI - Waltz of Pearls | Reach Level 99 with Imelda | Listed weapons projectiles gain up to 3 bounces.
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| XII - Out of Bounds | Reach minute 31 in Gallo Tower | Freezing enemies generates explosions. Orologions are easier to find. Affected items include:
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| XIV - Jail of Crystal | Reach Level 99 with Pasqualina | Listed weapons have a chance to freeze enemies.
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| XV - Disco of Gold | Reach minute 31 in the Inlaid Library |
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| XVI - Slash | Reach Level 99 with Lama | Enables critical hits for listed weapons. Doubles overall critical damage.
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| XVII Lost & Found Painting | Reach Level 99 with Poppea |
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| XVII Boogaloo of Illusions | Reach Level 99 with Concetta |
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| XIX Heart of Fire | Reach Level 99 with Arca | Listed weapon projectiles explode on impact. Light sources explode. Character explodes when damaged.
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