Reinhardt Schneider's starting weapon. Throws red boomerang swords with a 3x critical hit multiplier, evolves into Rune Sword with Spinach, and the evolution itself unlocks Henry as a playable character.
Tyrfing is one of the only weapons in v1.13 with explicit critical-hit mechanics baked into its level 1 effects.
The wiki effects block states it directly: Tyrfing fires red swords at the faced direction that return to the character shortly, and "can deal critical damage with 3x critical multiplier." That's a base 3x damage on every crit, which most weapons don't have at all without arcana help.
Stack the right pieces and the multiplier ceiling gets ridiculous. Reinhardt Schneider, Tyrfing's starting character, has an extra +1 Critical Damage multiplier baked into his passive bonuses, pushing crits to 4x. Slash (XVI), the keystone arcana, doubles Tyrfing's critical damage on top of that. The full stack lands at 8x damage on crits, which is the highest critical ceiling available on any single weapon in the Castlevania DLC.
The evolution path adds a second incentive that has nothing to do with damage. Evolving Tyrfing into Rune Sword unlocks Henry as a playable character. So the build serves two goals at once: a high-ceiling crit run for Reinhardt, and a one-time character unlock that opens up the rest of the Castlevania DLC roster.
Tyrfing by inflicting 20,000 total damage with the weapon (one of the few damage-threshold weapon unlocks in the game)
Rune Sword with max-level 
Spinach. Single-passive evolution gate
Reinhardt Schneider, who starts with extra Slash (XVI) arcana plus +1 Critical Damage multiplierTyrfing is classified as a Normal weapon in the Ode to Castlevania DLC with internal ID `TP_SLASH1`. The wiki effects block describes the firing pattern: red swords thrown in the faced direction that return to the character shortly. That's a boomerang pattern, which means each cast hits twice if positioned correctly, once on the outbound throw and once on the return.
The boomerang return is what differentiates Tyrfing from straight-line projectile weapons like Knife or Shuriken. After a few runs, the practical pattern becomes clear: enemies caught between Reinhardt and the apex of the throw arc take damage twice per cast, while enemies past the apex only get hit on the outbound. Walking into waves rather than backpedaling extends the double-hit window.
As a magic weapon, Tyrfing is also one of the picks available through Spectral Sword (a Castlevania DLC weapon-selector item that randomly chooses from the magic weapon pool). That gives Tyrfing two acquisition paths: the standard route through Reinhardt's starting kit, or the Spectral Sword random pull on other characters.
Most weapons in v1.13 don't have crit mechanics baked into their level 1 effects. Tyrfing does, and the multiplier is unusually high at 3x. The wiki's effects block flags this explicitly: "It can deal critical damage with 3x critical multiplier." In practice, this means every Tyrfing build is also implicitly a Luck-stacking build. Stage pickups that boost Luck or character bonuses that affect crit chance become disproportionately valuable on Tyrfing compared to other weapons.
In our testing, Tyrfing pairs unexpectedly well with stages where you can control your facing direction. The boomerang pattern wastes some of its potential on chase stages where you're constantly turning. Reinhardt Schneider's natural playstyle (medium speed, decent survival) suits the controlled-facing approach, while glass-cannon characters with high Move Speed don't get the same value out of the boomerang return.
The headline build mechanic for Tyrfing is the layered crit multiplier. Each piece contributes a separate multiplier or chance bonus, and they all stack:
| Source | Effect | Cumulative crit damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tyrfing base | 3x critical multiplier (wiki effects block) | 3x |
| Reinhardt Schneider passive | +1 Critical Damage multiplier | 4x |
| Slash (XVI) arcana | Doubles Tyrfing's critical damage | 8x |
| Reinhardt extra arcana | Reinhardt starts with Slash (XVI) automatically | Same 8x, but free arcana slot |
| Luck stat (Clover, stage pickups) | Increases the crit chance | Multiplies effective DPS |
Two pieces of this stack deserve a callout. Reinhardt's free Slash (XVI) is unusual: most characters in v1.13 don't start with arcanas equipped. The wiki notes Reinhardt's character description specifically: "Starts with extra Arcana XVI - Slash. Inflicts higher overall critical damage." That free arcana slot saves a Crystal pick during the run, which is one of the rarest currencies in the game.
The +1 Critical Damage multiplier on Reinhardt is also unusual. Most character passives focus on Move Speed, Might, or HP. After a few attempts, the +1 multiplier is what makes Reinhardt the only viable Tyrfing carrier in the DLC. Other Castlevania characters running Tyrfing through Spectral Sword don't get the same crit ceiling.
Tyrfing has 8 levels. The level-up structure mixes Amount, Speed, Damage, Area, and Cooldown reductions across consecutive levels:
| Level | Bonus |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Has boomerang effect, can deal critical damage |
| Level 2 | Base Area up by 20%. Base Speed up by 25% |
| Level 3 | Fires 1 more projectile. Base Damage up by 5 |
| Level 4 | Cooldown reduced by 0.5 seconds |
| Level 5 | Base Area up by 20%. Base Speed up by 25% |
| Level 6 | Fires 1 more projectile. Base Damage up by 5 |
| Level 7 | Fires 1 more projectile. Cooldown reduced by 0.5 seconds |
| Level 8 | Fires 1 more projectile |
At max level, Tyrfing gains +4 Amount, +10 Base Damage, +50% Speed, +40% Area, and -1 second Cooldown above the level 1 stats. The standout pick is level 7, which is the only level that bundles +1 Amount with -0.5 second Cooldown. After a few runs the priority order becomes obvious: levels 3, 4, 6, and 7 carry most of the build's effective DPS, while levels 2 and 5 are area-and-speed bumps that you can defer for one rotation if better passive offers appear.
None of the eight levels are skip-worthy outright. Cooldown reductions stack with Empty Tome and the per-level cuts, which means each Cooldown level effectively increases the crit-roll opportunities per minute.
Tyrfing evolves into Rune Sword at max level (level 8) when paired with max-level Spinach. The wiki notes the evolution requirement directly. This is a single-passive evolution gate, which is unusual for Ode to Castlevania DLC weapons (most of them require Spellbinder, Hollow Heart, or other niche passives).
The hidden bonus is character-tied. Evolving Tyrfing for the first time unlocks Henry as a playable character. The wiki notes this explicitly in the Tyrfing evolution description. Henry is one of the Ode to Castlevania DLC characters whose unlock is gated behind a specific weapon evolution rather than a survival-time or boss-defeat condition. So a Reinhardt Schneider run that successfully evolves Tyrfing serves two unlock purposes simultaneously.
| Step | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1. Equip Tyrfing | Play Reinhardt Schneider (auto-equipped) or pick from level-up offers if Tyrfing is already unlocked |
| 2. Level Tyrfing to 8 | Standard level-up path, 7 picks |
| 3. Pick Spinach | From any level-up screen. Standard base-game passive, +10% Might per level |
| 4. Max Spinach | Spinach maxes at level 5 (+50% Might total) |
| 5. Open chest at min 10 or 20 | Standard evolution gate. Rune Sword replaces Tyrfing in the slot |
| 6. Henry unlock | Triggers automatically when Tyrfing evolution completes for the first time. Henry becomes available for purchase |
Across multiple runs the cleanest path to evolving Tyrfing is to dedicate the minute 0-7 phase to weapon and Spinach leveling, since Reinhardt's +20% Might base bonus already amplifies Spinach's effect. The minute 10 chest is the standard evolution trigger, so opening it with both Tyrfing and Spinach maxed delivers Rune Sword plus the Henry unlock in a single run.
The strongest Tyrfing build runs Reinhardt Schneider on the Ode to Castlevania stage with crit-stacking as the priority axis. Reinhardt's +20% Might and free Slash (XVI) arcana mean offensive scaling starts well above the curve from minute 1. The build path prioritizes crit chance amplifiers (Luck-boosting picks) and crit damage multipliers, with Spinach handling the evolution gate and Empty Tome providing Cooldown reduction.
Reinhardt Schneider+Tyrfing (starting weapon)Tyrfing+Spinach→Rune Sword
Slash (XVI) (Reinhardt starts with this)Spinach (Might multiplier, evolution gate)
Clover (Luck stat = more crit rolls per cast)
Empty Tome (Cooldown reduction = more cast attempts per minute)
Bracer (projectile Speed makes the boomerang return faster)
Duplicator (more projectiles = more crit rolls)
Candelabrador (Area widens the boomerang arc)Clover deserves a callout. Most projectile builds skip Clover because Luck only affects pickup-related rolls. On Tyrfing, Luck also affects crit chance, which converts directly into the 8x crit damage stack. Across multiple Reinhardt runs, Clover picks at minute 5-7 produce a noticeable spike in burst damage during the minute 10-15 boss waves.
The build intentionally skips Pummarola and Hollow Heart. Reinhardt's +40 Max Health from his character passive plus the boomerang weapon's natural damage uptime mean dedicated sustain passives compete with offensive picks for limited slots. After a few attempts, the crit-focused build out-DPSes the sustain-focused build by a wide margin during the minute 12-20 phase when difficulty ramps.
The wiki effects block flags Slash (XVI) directly: "Increases Tyrfing's critical chance and doubles Tyrfing's critical damage." That's two effects in one arcana, both relevant to the build. The crit chance increase is what turns the 8x crit damage ceiling from a rare proc into a consistent damage source. Reinhardt Schneider starts with this arcana for free, which is the single biggest reason to run Tyrfing on Reinhardt rather than on other characters.
Twilight Requiem (II) adds spectral projectile echoes that fire on impact, which on Tyrfing means each crit also fires an echo. In our testing, this is the secondary arcana pick when Slash (XVI) is already active and you're looking for additional damage layering. The echoes don't crit themselves, but they multiply the effective hit count per cast.
Tyrfing pairs naturally with other Castlevania DLC magic weapons that benefit from Spinach's Might multiplier. Raging Fire evolves with a different passive but the build's Might-stacking helps both weapons. Ice Fang (on Sypha runs) benefits from the same Spinach picks if you're chasing multi-character unlock progression. For full magic-weapon synergy, run Tyrfing alongside Spectral Sword as the second slot, since Spectral Sword can pull additional magic weapons including more Tyrfings.
Tyrfing draws its name from Norse mythology. In the Eddic poem Hervarar saga, Tyrfing is a cursed magical sword forged by dwarves that can never be sheathed without first drawing blood, and is fated to kill three times in the hand of any wielder. The sword appears in the Castlevania franchise as a recurring legendary weapon in titles including Symphony of the Night and Curse of Darkness, where it's typically depicted as a high-tier sword with cursed-weapon properties. The "Rune Sword" evolution name continues the Norse runic theme, which fits the Castlevania franchise's broader pattern of pulling weapon names from mythological sources.
Reinhardt Schneider himself is from Castlevania 64 (1999), one of the two playable protagonists alongside Carrie Fernandez. Reinhardt is a Belmont-line vampire hunter, the descendant of the Belmont family who returns to Dracula's castle in the year 1852. The Schneider surname was used in the European release of Castlevania 64 specifically, while the Japanese release just called him "Reinhardt." The Forbidden Scrolls of Morbane unlock spell for Reinhardt, "upstartweakling" per the wiki, is a meta jab at Castlevania 64's mixed critical reception and at Reinhardt's reputation among Castlevania fans as a less iconic Belmont compared to Simon, Trevor, or Richter. The +20% Might starting bonus and the extra Slash (XVI) arcana on Reinhardt's character passive set are Vampire Survivors' way of honoring his canonical role as a powerful but underappreciated Castlevania protagonist.
The wiki notes that Tyrfing is unlocked by inflicting a total of 20,000 damage with the weapon. This is one of the few damage-threshold weapon unlocks in the game (most weapons unlock through survival time or specific character runs). The fastest path is playing Reinhardt Schneider with Tyrfing auto-equipped, since the damage stacks across multiple runs.
Tyrfing evolves into Rune Sword when paired with max-level Spinach. This is a single-passive evolution gate, which is unusual for Ode to Castlevania DLC weapons. Evolving Tyrfing for the first time also unlocks Henry as a playable character, which is a hidden bonus tied to the evolution event.
Tyrfing has a 3x critical multiplier baked into its level 1 effects, according to the wiki. Stack Reinhardt Schneider's +1 Critical Damage multiplier and Slash (XVI)'s damage doubling, and the full crit damage ceiling lands at 8x base damage. That's the highest critical ceiling of any single weapon in the Castlevania DLC.
Reinhardt starts with three Tyrfing-relevant bonuses: +20% Might, an extra +1 Critical Damage multiplier, and a free Slash (XVI) arcana. That's a free arcana slot saved (most arcanas need to be unlocked via Crystals), plus two stacking damage multipliers that don't appear on any other character. Other characters running Tyrfing through Spectral Sword don't get any of these bonuses.
Evolve Tyrfing into Rune Sword. Henry is one of the Ode to Castlevania DLC characters whose unlock is tied to a specific weapon evolution rather than a survival or boss-defeat condition. So a single successful Reinhardt Schneider Tyrfing-to-Rune-Sword run unlocks both the weapon evolution and Henry as a playable character.
Slash (XVI) is the keystone arcana, increasing Tyrfing's critical chance and doubling its critical damage according to the wiki. Reinhardt starts with this arcana for free. Twilight Requiem (II) is the secondary pick for projectile echoes that fire on each impact, multiplying effective hit count per cast.
Yes. As a magic weapon in the Ode to Castlevania DLC, Tyrfing is one of the picks Spectral Sword can pull randomly. From the wiki, Spectral Sword draws from the Castlevania DLC magic weapon pool, and Tyrfing is included. This gives Tyrfing two acquisition paths: Reinhardt's starting kit, or the Spectral Sword random pull on other characters.
Both names are Norse-themed. Tyrfing is the name of a cursed sword in Norse mythology that kills whoever it's drawn against, and 'Rune Sword' continues the Norse runic theme. The Castlevania franchise has historically used Tyrfing as a recurring legendary weapon in Symphony of the Night and Curse of Darkness, so Vampire Survivors' Ode to Castlevania DLC keeps the franchise's naming convention intact.
For Castlevania DLC weapon spokes covered in this guide via build synergies, see our Gale Force guide, our Rock Riot guide, our Alchemy Whip guide, our Shuriken guide, our Coat of Arms guide, and our Bracelet guide. For Operation Guns DLC weapons, see our Short Gun guide, our Spread Shot guide, and our Metal Claw guide. For thrown-projectile and grenade comparisons, see our Javelin guide, our Hand Grenade guide, and our Arma Dio guide. For base game weapon comparisons, see our Pentagram guide, our Glass Fandango guide, and our Gaze of Gaea guide. The weapon tier list ranks every weapon in v1.13 and the weapon evolution chart covers every recipe including Rune Sword. The passive items guide walks through Spinach, Clover, Empty Tome, Bracer, Duplicator, and Candelabrador. The main Vampire Survivors guide is the hub for everything else.
Image sprites and screenshots sourced from the Vampire Survivors Wiki (vampire.survivors.wiki) under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.