- See also: Dual Set-Up System Combinations
- For more detailed information and animations of all possible abilities, go to each DSS Action or Attribute card's page.
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.
| Item Data: Action Cards | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Name - Game Type - Users Description |
Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | |||
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| Mercury, the messenger of the gods. Has the potential of strength. | Drop: Bone Head (20%) |
Effect: Alters Nathan's whip strength and element. | ||||||
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| Venus, goddess of love and beauty. Has the potential of enhancement. | Drop: Slime (2.5%) |
Effect: Raises Nathan's base statistics. | ||||||
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| Jupiter, god of the heavens and the leader of Olympus. Has the potential of defense. | Drop: Heat Shade (2.2%) |
Effect: Creates barriers of various elements. | ||||||
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| Mars, god of war. Has the potential of change. | Drop: Bloody Sword (1.2%) |
Effect: Alters Nathan's whip into other weapons. | ||||||
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| Diana, goddess of the moon and hunting. Has the potential of creation. | Drop: Man Eater (1.5%) |
Effect: Creates various projectiles thrown when Nathan swings his whip. | ||||||
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| Apollo, god of the sun, music, and prophecy. Has the potential to create explosives. | Drop: Arch Demon (1.4%) |
Effect: Gives Nathan various abilities usable with the combination [Down, Towards, Up] + B. | ||||||
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| Neptune, god of the seas. Has the potential of healing. | Drop: Ice Armor (1.2%) |
Effect: Makes Nathan take MP damage from elemental abilities, while recovering his HP | ||||||
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| Saturn, god of agriculture and the father of Jupiter. Has the potential of a familiar. | Drop: Fallen Angel (1.2%) |
Effect: Summons a familiar that follows Nathan. Most attack in tandem. | ||||||
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| Uranus, former god of the heavens. Has the potential of summoning. | Drop: Scary Candle (0.6%) |
Effect: Allows Nathan to summon the Attribute creatures with the combination [Down, Towards, Up] + B. | ||||||
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| Pluto, god of the underworld. Has the potential of special. | Drop: Trick Candle (0.4%) |
Effect: Bestows a number of strange and various effects on Nathan. | ||||||
Attribute Cards
Attribute Cards contain the power of elements and are represented by supernatural beings and creatures.
| Item Data: Attribute Cards | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Name - Game Type - Users Description |
Attributes / Consume | Statistics / Sell | Found | Notes | |||
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| A lizard bathed in flames. Embodiment of the flame spirit, Salamander. Has the power of Fire. | Attrib: Fire |
Drop: Skeleton Bomber (20%), Imp (20%) |
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| The Serpent is said to be a dragon swimming in the sea. Has the power of Ice. | Attrib: Ice |
Drop: Earth Demon (2.5%), Holy Armor (5%) |
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| The Mandragora is represented as a humanoid with roots instead of feet. Has the power of Plants. | Attrib: Plants |
Drop: Axe Armor (1.4%), Lizard Man (1.34%) |
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| The Golem is a mockery of man made from clay. Has the power of Earth. | Attrib: Earth |
Drop: Electric Skeleton (1%), Minotaur (1.5%) |
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| The Cockatrice is said to have the ability to turn things to stone. Has the power of Stone. | Attrib: Stone |
Drop: Stone Armor (1.8%), Death Mantis (1.5%) |
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| The Manticore is said to have the body of a lion and the venomous tail of a scorpion. Power of Poison. | Attrib: Poison |
Drop: Thunder Demon (3%), Succubus (1.5%) |
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| The Griffin is said to have the head and wings of a Eagle and body of a lion. Has the power of Wind. | Attrib: Wind |
Drop: Skeleton Athlete (0.75%), Siren (2%) |
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| The legendary Thunderbird is said to have been able to release lightning. Has the power of Electricity. | Attrib: Electricity |
Drop: Were-Panther (1.1%), Dullahan (1.4%) |
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| The Unicorn is said to have been white with a single holy horn on its forehead. Has the power of Light. | Attrib: Light |
Drop: White Armor (2.5%) |
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| The Black Dog is said to consume darkness. Has the power of Darkness. | Attrib: Darkness |
Drop: Devil Armor (2.5%) |
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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 Baldwin • Hugh Baldwin | |
| Antagonists | |
| Camilla • Dracula | |
| Bosses | |
| Cerberus • Necromancer • Iron Golem • Adramelech • Dragon Zombie • Death | |
| Areas | |
| Sealed Room • Catacomb • Abyss Stairway • Audience Room • Triumph Hallway • Outer Wall • Machine Tower • Eternal Corridor • Chapel Tower • Underground Gallery • Underground Warehouse • Underground Waterway • Observation Tower • Ceremonial Room • Battle Arena | |
| Music | |
| Awake • Proof of Blood • Fate to Despair • Castlevania: Circle of the Moon and Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Original Soundtrack | |
| Guides | |
| NTT Pub Official Guide • Shinkigensha Official Guide | |
| Archives | |
| Bestiary • Inventory • In-Game Formula • Magician Mode • Fighter Mode • Shooter Mode • Thief Mode | |