The Sub-Weapons

Sub-weapons and specially crafted support weapons can best be described as the blunt instruments tossed by heroes whenever the player presses Up plus Attack. I've divided this arsenal into six different categories: (1) Standard Weapons: A look at the five sub-weapons implicated into the Belmonts-Dracula war via Leon and Sonia's exploits; included for each is a table that notes any additional quirks with which successive family members were able to augment them. (2) Special Additions: A look at one-off weapons most associated with a single character and/or game. (3) Sypha's Spells. (4) Maria's Weapons. (5) Sonia's Soul Powers. (6) Haunted Castle-exclusive. And (7) the superpowered item-crashes that can be executed using select sub-weapons.

Standard Weapons | Special Additions | Sypha's Spells | Maria's Weapons | Sonia's Soul Powers | Haunted Castle Exclusive | Item-Crashes

Standard
Weapons

Sub-Weapon Name: Dagger

To say that the dagger is universally hated would be accurate. It holds the distinction of being the weakest of all of the sub-weapons. Its true usefulness lay in its haste, as daggers can be thrown at lightning-fast speeds. Due to this attribute, it's easy to throw many of them in succession, to stifle most enemies before they can even react. Still, it's clearly a holdover. Its main distinction: It's also, always, the most questionably-hidden weapon, usually showing up when and where you don't want it.
Grant
Richter
Alucard (Symphony)
Maria (Saturn)
Grant Danasty can drop daggers downward while clinging to ceilings
Richter Belmont gains the ability to throw daggers in sets of threes
Alucard can throw up to three daggers in rapid-fire succession
A dagger in possession allows Maria to throw three long spears
Nathan
N64 Heroes
Jonathan Morris
In one such special mode, Nathan Graves adds homing power to the dagger
When three daggers are combined, they'll become enflamed when thrown
Jonathan tosses two "knives"--one high, the other low--in parallel

Sub-Weapon Name: Holy Water

Holy Water (known earlier as the "firebomb," due to Nintendo of America's censorship) has always been a weapon of choice against vampires. When thrown onto the ground, the vial explodes and the liquid disintegrates slowly; it's for this reason that holy water is best used on grounded foes--it's engulfing effect can catch an enemy in its net, scoring multiple hits while rendering it motionless. Holy water has been used, in a specific case, to shatter certain blocks (mainly by Simon Belmont).
Juste
Richter
Alucard (Symphony)
Maria (Saturn)
Juste tosses a vial onto the ground, where it explodes, sending a trail of flame forward
Richter, too, could throw the vial so that the water would wave forward in a flame trail
Alucard, like Richter Belmont, utilizes holy water as a burning wave
Maria also uses this version, only with a higher wave for more effectiveness
Nathan
N64 Heroes
John Morris
Eric Lecarde
Like Juste, Nathan could throw the vial as to make its burning liquid wave forward
When three vials are combined, the weapon's power and range increase
John Morris retains the water wave created by Juste and Richter
Eric Lecarde borrows John Morris' (and the Belmonts') water wave attack
Julius
Julius continues the trend, smashing the vial on the ground to cause a water wave

   

Sub-Weapon Name: Boomerang

This boomerang (or the "cross" in Japan--changed in North America, again, due to censorship) is the item most coveted by experienced vampire hunters. This spinning, four-pronged blade can strike twice--once as it sails toward the enemy and again on its return; its long-range propensity allows the user to launch it from a distance and still find the target. Too, the boomerang is the best weapon for fighting projectile-happy enemies, as it can nullify their attacks while striking the enemy, itself.
Leon
Alucard (Symphony)
N64 Heroes
John Morris
No boomerang effect; instead, giant crosses circle the area
No boomerang effect; instead, giant crosses circle the area
With three are combined, the tossed boomerang travels farther, with homing power
Morris crafted the family heirloom into a true boomerang, in look and attack
Eric Lecarde
Eric uses John's crafted boomerang in the same manner

Sub-Weapon Name: Axe

The axe is undeniably the most powerful of the basic sub-weapons; its strength is roughly 0.5 more than a fully powered Vampire Killer. It's not the most accurate weapon due its flight pattern, which is a wide, high arc. Though, this is to your advantage, as such an arc allows the thrower to cheaply strike enemies positioned on platforms above and below; it's just not the most wieldy weapon when it comes to attacking those directly ahead, since you'll have to first learn the proper positioning and timing.
Leon
Grant
Maria (Saturn)
N64 Heroes
Leon throws two swirling axes together in a straight path
Grant Danasty can drop axes downward while clinging to ceilings
Maria is capable of throwing three axes at once, each with a slightly different arc
With three axes combined, lightning will strike and explode where the axe lands

   

Sub-Weapon Name: Stopwatch

The stopwatch affords the heroes powerful magic that allows them to stop time for short period--and with it all enemies (but not bosses, save for two) in their tracks. For that level of power, the heart consumption is much greater (five hearts as standard, where other sub-weapons generally use one). As the series has gone on, the stopwatch has become less and less useful, wherein later Belmonts could only use it to temporarily slow down time/enemies, instead (with some foes immune).

Simon (Vampire Killer)
Richter
Alucard (Symphony)
Nathan
Before its present look, it took the form of an hourglass, which Simon used
Richter uses the stopwatch only to slow enemies down
Alucard uses the stopwatch to freeze some enemies and slow down others
No advancement has been made, as he can only use it to slow down time

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