How to Unlock Every Secret Character in Vampire Survivors+

Achieving 100% completion in Vampire Survivors+ requires more than just surviving the 30-minute clock; it demands that you uncover the game's 18 hidden "Secrets." These secrets unlock powerful characters, unique game modes, and essential relics. Whether you are hunting for elusive figures like Leda in the shadows of Gallo Tower or utilizing the Secrets menu to input arcane codes, this guide will walk you through the mechanics, prerequisites, and strategies required to fully expand your roster.

The Foundation: Unlocking the Forbidden Scrolls of Morbane

Before you can begin your journey to 100% completion, you must obtain the Forbidden Scrolls of Morbane. This relic is the "master key" to the secrets system.

• How to get it: Navigate to the Bone Zone stage. You must defeat the "Sketamari," a giant rolling ball of bones that appears as an enemy. Once defeated, it drops the Forbidden Scrolls of Morbane.
• Why it matters: Once collected, a "Secrets" option will appear on the main menu. This menu serves as both your progress tracker and your input terminal for the game's secret codes.

Using the Secrets Menu for Rapid Unlocks

The Secrets menu allows you to bypass the often-cryptic in-game requirements by inputting specific, case-sensitive spells. If you prefer to "solve" the game, you can ignore this, but for completionists, it is an essential time-saver.

Essential Secret Codes

To use these, go to Secrets > Cast Spell and enter the following:

• Exdash: x-x1viiq
• Toastie: After unlocking Exdash, enter tramezzini (Note: This character is notoriously difficult to play; see the survival section below).
• Smith: After unlocking Toastie, enter maybeiamastampede.
• Mask of the Red Death: ablasphemousmockery (Requires you to have defeated the Death at the end of a run).

Expert Tip: Always ensure your spelling is exact. If a code does not work, it is usually because you have not yet unlocked the prerequisite relic or character that the game expects you to have at that stage of progression.

Mastering Environmental Character Unlocks

Many characters cannot be unlocked via codes and require precise environmental interaction. These are the "puzzles" of Vampire Survivors+.

Locating Leda in Gallo Tower

Leda is one of the most iconic hidden characters. To find her:

1. Enter Gallo Tower: You must descend deep into the map.
2. The Darkness: As you move downward, the lighting will dim significantly. This is your cue that you are in the right area.
3. The Encounter: Keep moving down until the music changes and the screen is almost pitch black. Leda will appear as a boss. Defeat her to unlock her permanently.
4. Strategy: Bring high-damage weapons like the King Bible or Santa Water to clear the path, as the darkness makes visibility challenging.

The Peppino Paradox in Il Molise

Peppino is a unique character that requires a "healer" build.

1. Select O'Sole Meeo: You must play as this specific character.
2. Enter Il Molise: This stage is filled with stationary plants.
3. The Action: Use O'Sole Meeo’s "Celestial Dusting" attack to heal the plants. You must heal a significant amount of health across the plants in the level.
4. Verification: You will hear a chime once the secret is triggered. Finish the stage, and Peppino will be added to your character select screen.

Managing Prerequisites and Collection Status

A common pitfall for players is attempting to trigger a secret before the game is "ready" to register it. Vampire Survivors+ uses your Collection as a flag for many events.

• Relic Check: If you are hunting for a secret that involves a map-specific boss, ensure you have picked up all necessary relics from previous runs. Some spawns will not occur if the game does not recognize that you have finished the "story" progression of that specific stage.
• Gold Reserves: Some secrets are hidden behind coffins or interactables that require a character with high movement speed or specific weapon types. Always invest in MoveSpeed and Might upgrades via the PowerUp menu before attempting difficult secret hunts.

Survival Strategies for Secret Encounters

When a secret requires you to fight, your standard "AFK build" might not suffice. Secret encounters often take place in high-density areas or require you to navigate hazards.

• Prioritize Defensive Layering: Use the Laurel and Clock Lancet. These are the gold standards for secret hunting. The Laurel provides a shield against damage, which is critical when you are trying to reach a spawn point in a hazardous area like the Gallo Tower or the Bone Zone.
• Movement is Key: Some secrets, like those involving hidden triggers on the floor, require you to stand in a specific coordinate for a set duration. If your movement speed is too high, you might overshoot the trigger; if it is too low, you might die before reaching it. Balance your build to prioritize mobility over pure screen-clearing power.
• Handling Toastie: Toastie starts with only 1 HP. If you are attempting to unlock characters or complete tasks with Toastie, you must prioritize items that grant Max Health (like the Hollow Heart) or defensive shields immediately upon leveling up.

Tracking Progress for 100%

The Secrets menu is your best friend for tracking. It provides a list of hints for every character you haven't unlocked yet.

1. The "Greyed Out" Rule: If a character is greyed out but has a hint, you have not unlocked them. Read the hint carefully—it is rarely a direct instruction, but often a poetic description of the stage or the character's origin.
2. Sequential Unlocking: Some secrets are chained. You cannot unlock Smith without Toastie, and you cannot unlock Toastie without Exdash. If you find yourself stuck, always check if you are missing a prerequisite character or relic.
3. The Final Goal: Once you have cleared all 18 entries in the Secrets menu, you will have effectively conquered the deepest mysteries of Vampire Survivors+.

By systematically working through the Secrets menu, paying attention to stage-specific environmental cues, and keeping your defensive build tight, you can conquer the legions of the night and achieve total 100% completion. Remember: in Vampire Survivors+, knowledge is the most powerful weapon you possess.