Deltarune Chapter 1 Walkthrough: The Beginning (Card Kingdom) | Dark World Academy

Deltarune Chapter 1 ("The Beginning") is where the story of Kris, Susie, and Ralsei truly begins. After falling into the Dark World beneath the school supply closet, you will travel through the Card Kingdom, a realm ruled by the tyrannical King (the Spade King).

This walkthrough covers the Pacifist Route (Sparing all enemies to recruit them), every key puzzle solution, and how to unlock Chapter 1's secret boss: Jevil.

📋 Walkthrough Index

The Dark World Begins: The Field
The Forest & The Bake Sale
Card Castle & The King
How to Find & Defeat King
Secret Boss: Jevil (Location & Key Pieces)

1. The Dark World Begins: The Field

The chapter opens with Kris and Susie tumbling into a strange, dark dimension.

Meet Ralsei: After the tutorial battle, the cloaked prince Ralsei joins your party. He explains the prophecy of the three heroes who must seal the Dark Fountains.
Learn the ACT System: Enemies are not killed — you ACT to calm or befriend them, then Spare them. Doing this to every enemy in a zone recruits them to Castle Town.
Top Cake / Manual: Talk to Ralsei at the castle to receive the Manual. You can also drop a Top Cake early; saving it lets you trade it at the Bake Sale later for a collectible.

Key Enemies in the Field (sparing tips):

Lancer & Susie: A scripted duo fight. Just survive until Susie rejoins.
C. Roundles / Rudebles: Defend or use Ralsei's ACT to lower tension, then Spare.

2. The Forest & The Bake Sale

The Bake Sale: Halfway through the Forest you will find the Bake Sale, run by two spiders. This is also where the smith Malius sits. Malius is the only character who can repair the Broken Key pieces for the Jevil fight — remember his location.
Scarlet Forest Puzzles: Move the mushroom lights so the path glows. Follow the glowing trail forward.
The Great Board: A short board-game section with rolling spade guards. Step on glowing panels to proceed safely.

3. Card Castle & The King

Entering the Castle: After the Forest, you are captured and brought into Card Castle. You will briefly play without your full party; find your friends floor by floor.
The "??????" Floor: While climbing the castle, you pass a floor labeled "??????". This is Jevil's cell — note it now so you can return later with the repaired key.
Floor 5 (Shop): Buy supplies from Seam (the first shopkeeper). Ask Seam about Jevil to learn the lore and unlock the key-repair side quest.

4. How to Find & Defeat King

King (the Spade King) is the final boss of Chapter 1, encountered at the very top of Card Castle.

Phase 1: King attacks with spade-shaped projectiles and a sweeping club arm. Stay mobile, dodge in wide circles, and keep HP topped with Ralsei's Heal Prayer.
Phase 2 (Rage Mode): King enters a rage state and his attacks speed up. Focus on survival — chip away with Kris's attacks and Susie's Rude Buster.
How to Spare King: If you are on the Pacifist route, fill the Mercy bar by using ACT commands (Sleep, Compliment, etc.) and Defend regularly. Once the bar is full, choose Spare to end the fight non-lethally and recruit King.

5. Secret Boss: Jevil (Location & Key Pieces)

Jevil is Chapter 1's secret boss, locked in a cell on the "??????" floor of Card Castle. He drops a Shadow Crystal and the Devilsknife weapon when defeated.

Step 1 — Talk to Seam

Buy/visit Seam's shop and ask about Jevil. This starts the quest for the three Broken Key pieces.

Step 2 — Collect the 3 Broken Key Pieces

Broken Key A: Found in the Field area (often obtained by trading a Top Cake at the Bake Sale, or from the chest area Seam hints at).
Broken Key B: Found in the Forest section during the main path.
Broken Key C: Reward from the puzzle room inside Card Castle's dungeon.

Step 3 — Repair the Key

Bring all three Broken Key pieces to Malius (the smith at the Bake Sale). He will forge them into the complete Devilsknife Key.

Step 4 — Fight Jevil

Return to the "??????" floor of Card Castle and use the Devilsknife Key on Jevil's cell.

Jevil Fight Strategy:

Jevil is one of the hardest bosses in the game — his diamonds, spades, and carousel attacks are brutal.
To Spare: Use ACT repeatedly across multiple turns to lower his tiredness, then Spare when the Mercy bar is full. Each ACT adds to the bar.
To Defeat: Bunker down with full healing items. Use Rude Buster and Kris's strongest attacks. Defend every turn to build TP for healing.
Reward: Win (either way) to receive the Shadow Crystal and the Devilsknife.

❓ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can I recruit every enemy in Chapter 1?

Yes. Spare every enemy (including King) to recruit them all to Ralsei's Castle Town. This carries over to later chapters.

What happens if I kill King instead of sparing him?

Killing King locks you out of the Pacifist ending for Chapter 1, but the story continues. Sparing him is required for 100% recruitment.

Do I need to fight Jevil to beat the chapter?

No. Jevil is entirely optional. However, defeating him is required for the Shadow Crystal collection and adds powerful lore about the game's overarching mystery.