The Judge is one of the strangest encounters in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. No boss fight, no combat gauntlet. Just a set of enormous scales, a tree-like creature standing behind them, and a demand that Rose give something of herself to tip the balance. The payoff is real though: completing this trial earns you the Chains of Justice Arcana and the legendary Valmanway sword, one of the strongest blades in the game.
Where is The Judge located?
The Judge is found inside the Palace of Justice, which sits within the Court of Justice area of Paris Streets. Two solid approach routes exist: the Burned District Mirror of Life or Ferryman's Wharf nearby. From either point, head toward Court of Justice and climb through the building's vertical passages.
You will need both Arcane Whip and Holy Light to navigate the upper sections. Without those movement abilities unlocked, several passages stay blocked off, so check your kit before making the trip. Keep climbing through the connected rooms until you reach the Palace of Justice interior, where the giant scales and The Judge himself wait.
The Judge's scales trial
Interact with the scales once you arrive. The Judge offers a clue about balancing them using what is written on the heart and spirit. The wording sounds like a riddle about placing objects on the scales, but the actual solution is more personal than that.
How do you solve The Judge's scales puzzle?
The solution comes down to Rose's own maximum health and mana. Step onto the left side of the scales and interact with them. Rose begins drawing energy from the enormous heart on the opposite side, sacrificing her own health and mana reserves in the process.
If her stats aren't high enough, the interaction fails. There is no workaround, no hidden switch, and no enemy to defeat instead. You simply need more upgrades.
Each full heart is assembled from four fragments, which means the total collectible count looks like this:
| Fragment Type | Pieces Needed | Full Hearts Formed |
|---|---|---|
| Brave Heart pieces | 16 | 4 health hearts |
| Wise Heart pieces | 16 | 4 mana hearts |
These fragments are scattered across the world in hidden rooms, optional paths, and areas that only open up after acquiring specific movement abilities. If you are short on pieces, keep exploring and revisit previously inaccessible locations with your expanded kit.
Heart fragment tracking screen
Once you have all 16 Brave Heart pieces and 16 Wise Heart pieces assembled into four full hearts each, return to the Palace of Justice. Stand on the left scale again, interact with the mechanism, and the sequence completes. A cutscene plays and The Judge Tarot encounter closes.
What rewards does The Judge give you?
Two items drop from completing the trial, and both are worth the effort.
Chains of Justice Arcana
Chains of Justice summons chains that bind nearby enemies for 4 seconds. The first attack against any chained enemy also deals bonus damage, giving you a window to punish groups or set up a heavy follow-up hit. Against clusters of enemies, the crowd control alone makes this Arcana useful.
Beyond combat, Chains of Justice matters for the game's ending system. It is one of the virtues required to unlock the True Ending in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. If you are going for full completion, this Arcana is not optional. Check the all endings guide for a full breakdown of the Four Virtues trials and how Absolution activates.
Chains of Justice in combat
Valmanway legendary sword
Valmanway is the other reward, and it is genuinely one of the best swords in the game. Its defining mechanic is a delayed additional strike that effectively doubles its hit count per swing. The extra hit does not land simultaneously with the initial swing, so the timing takes some adjustment. Once you internalize the rhythm, the weapon's damage output becomes exceptional for fast sword builds.
After testing Valmanway against later encounters, the delayed strike consistently opens up damage windows that single-hit swords cannot match. Players who prefer aggressive, rapid sword play will find this weapon stays relevant deep into the game.
Planning your run around The Judge
The Judge encounter sits in a broader web of Tarot puzzles and optional content that reward thorough exploration. If you are hunting legendary gear across Paris Streets, the Notre Dame Piano Puzzle guide covers the Zodiac Organ challenge and the legendary War and Famine dual swords, while the Gate of Flesh guide walks through collecting all three Eye Relics to reach Mammon.
Prioritizing heart fragment collection early pays off across multiple systems simultaneously. Higher health and mana totals help in combat regardless, and hitting the threshold for The Judge's scales becomes a natural byproduct of thorough exploration rather than a dedicated grind. Build your route around movement ability unlocks, revisit sealed areas as your kit expands, and The Judge's trial resolves itself before you even realize you are ready for it.
For more puzzles, bosses, and collectible locations, the full Castlevania: Belmont's Curse strategy guides collection covers every major challenge in the game.
