Item Name: Candelabra / Container

Candelabras are essentially the most important items in the Castlevania games, sans Simon's Quest, where they don't appear. Scattered about, found almost anywhere, these hold the many magical items plus the sub-weapons and the hearts/gems that are used to power them. Other items apt to fall from the flames include invisibility potions, money bags, morning stars, rosaries, food (sometimes), and many more. Such containers take other forms, like torches, lanterns, lamps, and other structures.

Item Name: Hearts / Gems

Hearts are primarily used to power sub-weapons, but they've also been known to act as magic-restoring items and currency accepted by shopkeepers and merchants countrywide. They usually come in two forms: Small hearts that equal 1, and big hearts that equal 5. There are other forms found in Simon's Quest and Rondo whose totals vary according to size. In Adventure, hearts restore energy. Bloodlines and Castlevania 64 instead use gems, which is purely an aesthetic change.

Item Name: Invincibility

These magical items have the power to render their holders invisible and invincible at the same time. For a limited time, a hero lucky enough to procure such an item can waltz past enemies without receiving any damage. The black crystals in Bloodlines, the crosses in Castlevania: The Adventure, and the blue crystals in Vampire Killer have the same effect. Note: Invincibility does not protect heroes from death via falling into an abyss.

Item Name: Money Bag

In the earlier titles, these were but a point-enhancing apparatus, whereby their collection increased your point-total and eventually earned extra lives. Though, like hearts, they, too, became a source of currency. In later titles (like Castlevania 64 and Symphony), precious money, "Gold," or "Dollars" could net you special items, maps, strategies, etc. Money bags come in multiple colors--these indicating their value depending on the game; some are hidden in walls and other secret areas.

Item Name: Morning Star / Coat of Arms

These sacred symbols are used to power up the Belmonts' (and others') main weapons. For, say, Simon Belmont, the first will upgrade his leather whip to a chain whip, a second stretching it longer. A non-Belmont might find his spear, homing ball, or fireball attack enhanced in some other way. This item takes alternate forms (like a "crystal"), but its job remains the same. The first Morning Star usually appears after five hearts are collected, the second after about 10-20 (depending on the game).

Item Name: Rosary

The classic crucifix has been an old friend to many a vampire hunter; in vampire lore, a holy cross serves as a deterrent against the forces of evil. In Castlevania games' interpretation of the "weapon," the very contact with a rosary has the propensity to wipe out all of the minor enemies in the vicinity (usually a one-screen length). The player will receive points for every foe vanquished, and he or she will buy the hero a second of peace. The mirrors in Bloodlines have the same effect.

Item Name: Double Shot / Triple Shot

The double and triple shot items, respectively, allow the hero to toss two and three of his currently equipped sub-weapon at a time. A double shot will appear when multiple enemies are destroyed with the same sub-weapon--and sooner if two or more enemies are taken out with a single shot. Helped by this ability, the hero can then earn a triple shot by continuing to use the sub-weapon liberally. While they'll help you take down bosses more quickly, they're a much bigger drain on your heart-total.

Item Name: Pot Roast

A favorite snack of the average vampire killer, these meaty items are a source of energy restoration (how eating decades-old beef is good for your health is a puzzle we'll ignore). They were originally hidden in certain breakable structures, kept somewhat hidden from weary heroes; later, though, as game designers got more generous, pot roast and other food items could be found hiding in candelabras and other containers. Roast chicken is another example of a food item you'll snare.

Item Name: 1-Up

These well-hidden items add one stock to the player's total. While most are hidden in breakable structures and hard-to-reach candelabras, there are those whose procuring requires special movements on your part (crouching or standing in a certain location for a period of time, for example). Whether or not you can recollect a 1-Up after death is dependent on the game in question. 1-Ups, though consistent in shape, can take other forms, such as Richter dolls for Maria.

Item Name: Boss Crystal

After you defeat a boss creature, a glowing, pulsating crystal is likely to appear overhead and then quickly fall to the ground. Touching one clears the entire area of the evils who once called it home; mainly, it ends the stage, restores your energy, and puts in motion the point-tallying process. They've maintained this role in even the modern adventure-RPG titles (as energy restoration, mostly). In the three Game Boy games, similar crystals instead summon the bosses of each stage.