The Dead Cells DLC trilogy ended with The Queen and the Sea. If you picked it up, you might be wondering how to unlock and start it. With new biomes, weapons, and enemies, this content bundle delivers a solid endgame experience. And by solid, we of course mean challenging.
As exciting as new Dead Cells updates can be, it's important to know that you can't access this new DLC right from the start. Like previously released expansions, Fatal Falls and The Bad Seed, The Queen and the Sea require you to perform specific actions first. The Dead Cells guide below explains the process in detail.
How to unlock and start Dead Cells: The Queen and The Sea DLC
Dead Cells: The Queen and The Sea features two endgame biomes. For this reason, you won't be able to immediately dive into these new areas at the start of a run as they are meant to 'replace' the final levels of the game. Simply going all the way won't work either; you will need to unlock them by following a specific path.
Step 1: Unlock the Flask Room
The first thing you need to do to start The Queen and The Sea is to unlock the Flask Room. This is the prisoner's quarters area that shows you are unlocked weapons and other items via floating flasks/bottles. If you've been playing Dead Cells for a while, you've already done this step. New players can play until they unlock this area or willfully die three times to skip the tutorial levels.
Once the Flask Room is unlocked, you'll be greeted by a sprawling creature holding a scroll. The scroll will ask you to talk to an NPC in the Toxic Sewers level/biome. Exit the prisoner's quarters through the toxic sewer door to continue on your way.
Step 2: Talk to the fisherman
The next thing you will need to do is find the NPC Fisherman. Longtime gamers will recognize him as a character from the Early Access version of Dead Cells. He can be found in a room somewhere in the Toxic Sewers; due to the random nature of the game, it is impossible to tell in which room. Just make sure to find it before leaving this area.
Once you find the fisherman, he will tell you that he needs your help to get off the island. He explains that another character (named Michael) holds a key/the way to his boat. The next stop is heading towards Stilt Village.
Step 3: Acquire the Crown Key
From the Toxic Sewers, you'll want to head to the Walls exit door. From there, exit through the Black Bridge level and defeat the boss. After that take the exit to Stilt Village.
As for the Fisherman, look for the room where Michel resides; the door leading to it is random. That said, you are given a hint via the doors. Those marked with a key contain keys while others marked with loot contain loot. The door you are looking for is unmarked (no key or loot symbol).
Before entering, make sure you are ready to fight because you will be attacked by an armored shrimp. Defeat him to unlock the Legugger – an evolving pet that bites enemies – and the crown key to Michel's corpse. From there, simply complete the Stilt Village level as normal by heading towards the Clock Tower.
Step 4. Unlock Infested Wreckage Door
After leaving the clock tower and dispatching the clock room boss, you will head to the normal central area between levels. This part is important: make sure you don't go to High Peak Castle or the Abandoned Distillery. This will require you to redo several stages/start a new race.
Instead, head to the bottom of the map and look for a locked door. Use the Crown Key you got from the Stilt Village and head to a new outdoor area. From there, go down to the fisherman who is waiting for you on his boat. Climb aboard and take a ride to the first level of The Queen and The Sea, The Infested Shipwreck.
There you have it: how to unlock and start The Queen and The Sea DLC for Dead Cells. You can now play the most recent levels of Dead Cells. Don't worry if you don't complete them the first time. You only need to perform this process once; the door leading to the fisherman's boat will now remain open. For more Dead Cells tips, head over to our hub page!
