Don't skip the run-and-gun side-scrolling levels
To finish Cuphead you only need to beat the bosses, but the side-scrolling levels (two per world) aren't just filler: each one earns five coins, spendable at Porkrind's Emporium on new weapons and charms. Skipping them entirely means walking into the toughest fights with a bare-minimum arsenal.
Buy the Smoke Bomb charm as soon as you can
Among all the available charms, the smoke-bomb-shaped one grants invincibility during your dodge - a massive upgrade over the base dodge. Put it at the top of your shopping list at Porkrind's, before even thinking about which weapon to buy.
Equip two weapons and swap between them mid-fight
You start with the Peashooter, the weakest weapon in the game, but Porkrind's Emporium sells five more, each with different range, power and speed. Once bought, you can equip two weapons together and swap between them with a single button mid-fight - handy for adapting on the fly when a boss suddenly switches patterns.
Practice the parry at the Mausoleum before facing real bosses
The parry (the pink attack that bounces Cuphead into the air) is the hardest mechanic to master and also the one you'll need most against later bosses. The Mausoleum offers a dedicated area just for practicing the parry, away from the pressure of a real fight - far more useful than learning it by trial and error during a boss fight that drags on because of a single mistimed hit.
