The Tower of Knowledge is the third major area (TechRaptor calls it that in its starter guide) and the first big vertical dungeon. This page follows the order of SquidRadio's Part One walkthrough and checks each step against Digitol's 100% guide. Spoilers for item and boss names.
How do you open the Tower?
The front door opens once all three beacon fires are lit. You light each one by hitting a gargoyle with the Azure Torch, which you take from the gargoyle statue in front of the Tower door. One beacon is near Obmuer Temple and lit after Dagoom; the others are on the Isle of Neasied. The walkthrough explains the order.
Inside, the Skeletal Executioner blocks the next door. SquidRadio warns that it is fast, throws two axes and hits hard: sidestep the axes, dash out of its dash-slash, and back off while it spins. Digitol lists it as weak to Impact.
What is the route up the Tower?
- Foyer. Behind the bookshelves are skeletons guarding an Orbewa Egg; behind the stairs opposite is a Learned Star Lizard to hunt for loot.
- Second floor and the book-shelf trick. Book Bugs swarm here and are weak to Slash. Look for a gap in a bookshelf: putting a book in it opens a hidden door. SquidRadio uses the Ratty Bug Compendium from the island. Take the book back afterwards.
- Basement loop. A trap door drops you into a dark area with Crawlers (they Web you, blocking throws) and Cultic Book Bugs. A chest holds the Tourmaline Eye Charm, and the elevator back up leads to the Occult Knives, which home in on enemies.
- Hidden weapons. Jump onto the book carts beside a shelf to reach a chest with the Occult Spear. Both guides agree on this one. The Wind Rapier is also in the Tower, but the guides disagree on the exact spot.
- Manticore floor and gargoyle balcony. The Manticore has a huge health pool; dash forward when it rears up for its tail attack. On the balcony is the numbered gargoyle puzzle: see our gargoyle puzzle page.
- Stairwell and Wourha. Past the puzzle door is another Crystal Monument and a Wing Shrine. Knowledge Keeper Wourha asks you to catalogue monsters and rewards you for bestiary entries.
- Storm Gem. Climb past another Manticore to claim it. SquidRadio describes the power it unlocks as a forward beam that deals heavy damage and stuns, and that charges as you fight.
The Tower's library is also where the book puzzle is solved.
How do you beat the Necronomicon?
From the Storm Gem, a lever below rotates the stairwell. The knight Budaen gives you the Forbidden Archives key; the archives lead up a fleshy cave to the boss.
SquidRadio rates the Necronomicon one of the first real challenges. It summons enemies and changes form, and each form has different weaknesses:
| Form | What it does (SquidRadio) | Weak to (Digitol) |
|---|---|---|
| Book | Tracking projectile, blood bullets, summoned blades | – |
| Goat (Baphomet) | Stomp and close attacks that poison or slow; dash when it jumps | Impact |
| Eye (Eye of Balor) | Floats and fires a blood laser; use ranged weapons | Slash |
| Tree (Bael) | Blood geysers and Necrotic Shamblers; the Storm Gem helps clear space | Pierce |
SquidRadio also notes the Book form resists Slash while the Goat is weak to it, which does not fully match Digitol's table, so the Goat's weakness is to be confirmed. Both agree on the advice: keep moving and switch weapons with the form. Bring cures for Slow (Badu Powder), Poison (Ojum Lizard) and Weaken.
What does the Acid Vial unlock?
Beating the Necronomicon gives a Gold Duck figurine and the Acid Vial. With it, your ordinary Throwing Daggers burn the faces on the flesh walls blocking parts of the Tower. Clearing them opens:
- an Orbewa Egg in the cleared room and several Meal Tickets,
- the Iron Star Lizard, which does not run and resists all three damage types; its chest holds throwing daggers that cause Disease (SquidRadio),
- a reward from Budaen (the House Abraon Crest, more attack and health) and from Wourha (A History of Dragons),
- the first red treasure vault in the basement (see Keys),
- the bridge to the Deimpo Mausoleum, which SquidRadio crosses with three Wind Gem dashes.
What other secrets are in the Tower?
- Grave Knife: the 1.01.04 patch added this throwing weapon to the open chest near the middle of the Tower.
- Skull Rod: at the top of the Tower after the Necronomicon (Digitol).
- Secret door at the entrance: shoot the Azure Torch at the open-mouthed gargoyles high in the entrance corridor (see the gargoyle page).
- Third Silver Skull in the basement: Deer God.'s guide says to go back to the trap-door room, go up the stairs, turn around and dash to a hidden wall, then drop through a hole into the basement; the skull is behind a statue on your left. More in Silver Skulls.
- Rare enemies for the bestiary: the Docile Gargoyle with the monocle near the wing portal, the Bones of Archivist Inha behind a hidden wall just after the trap door, and the Brass Drilling Unit under the giant bell at the top, which needs the Flying Mushroom Fossil (PovKetz).