Summary
Out of the four different defense parts that Pinocchio can equip inLies of P, Cartridges are the best for protecting againststatus effectsthat many enemies and bosses will throw out to slow Pinocchio down, making him an easy target to finish off. Because of how commonly enemies will inflict these certain effects after the first few hours of gameplay, it can be extremely beneficial to have a Cartridge equipped, though it can be worth trying to seek out the best ones as soon as possible.
Many Cartridges will have small obstacles or groups of enemies to take down to reach them, so it’s best to be fully prepared when hunting them down to save returning tothe nearest Stargazer. These are the best Cartridges inLies of Pand how Pinocchio can get his hands on each of them.
6Belford Shock Cartridge
Properties:
How to find:Found in a chest at the entrance to the Workshop Union.
The Belford Shock Cartridge is incredibly easy to acquire even though it has some extremely helpful defensive properties, primarily in terms of its resistance to Shock, which is actually one of the first status effects seen in the game. It’s not long after enteringElysian Boulevardthat enemies will start lobbing electric capsules at Pinocchio to shock him, which will slow down his stamina recovery rate and make him much less mobile.
This is a deal breaker inany Soulslike gamewhere movement is the main method of avoiding attacks and getting a quick hit on enemies. The physical damage reduction may not be anything to write home about, and the Cartridge is still a little heavy, but for how simple it is to find, it’s worth keeping around at least until a better one is found.
5Arch Break Cartridge
How to find:Found under the floor at the Malum District after defeating the Carcass enemy.
It can be very easy to skip past this Cartridge entirely since it is protected by a menacing Carcass who casually throws around Acid jars, so staying out of his way initially can seem like a good idea. The reward for taking him down is a defensive piece of equipment that has very solid stats and excels in Break resistance.
Break is a particularly annoying effect that will limit how much Pinocchio can healwhen using his Pulse Cells, which can easily lead to anearly game overif he’s already in low health during an intense encounter. The relatively high Shock and Disruption resistance are also welcome bonuses that make this a very valuable Cartridge that should not be missed.
4Arch Disruption Cartridge
How to find:Head down the ladder next to the Barren Swamp Ravine. Enter the cave, dodge the rolling boulders, and defeat the Large Bear Carcass to reach a chest with the Cartridge inside.
Getting to the Arch Disruption Cartridge is certainly no cakewalk, which is something many players come to realize when face to face with the terrifyingLarge Bear Carcassenemy who will relentlessly attack Pinocchio until there’s nothing left of him. While it may be one of the trickier Cartirdges to find, it’s the staggeringly high Disruption resistance that makes it so special since this is the most lethal status effect in the entire game, so having any form of protection against it is crucial.
If the Disruption gauge fills up all the way, it will instantly kill Pinocchio, sending him right back to the Stargazer to try again. Considering that a few bosses in the game will freely use Disruption, including the final one, being able to largely negate the effect goes a long way.
3LADA Disruption Cartridge
How to find:Can be purchased from Test Subject 826 for 2300 Ergo.
Another Cartridge that specializes in Disruption resistance, but that also has excellent stats in other areas, the LADA Disruption Cartridge is one piece of equipment that is well worthsaving up Ergo for. Admittedly, it is a pretty pricey device and is the second most expensive resource that Test Subject 826 sells, but the buffs it offers are no joke and can make many mid to late-game boss battles far easier than they would be otherwise.
Just make sure not to get over-encumbered when picking up this Cartridge since it is a little on the heavier side. Test Subject 826 will first be found at the Arch Abbey, but he moves over to Rosa Isabelle Street after Pinocchio defeats Laxasia, so it can be a good idea to stock up on Ergo before approaching him to get this Cartridge as soon as possible.
2LADA Break Cartridge
How to find:Afterdefeating the Walker of Illusions, head back to the train where Pinocchio’s journey started. There will be a destructible wall behind a chair and there will be a secret room with a tall chest that contains the LADA Break Cartridge.
Probably the most obscure Cartridge in the game to find, and one that’s virtually impossible to stumble upon without a guide, the LADA Break Cartridge will require the player to travel to where the story began when Pinocchio first awakened inKrat Station.Still, it’s worth making the trip back since this is undoubtedly one of the best defensive items in the game which works well at protecting against pretty much every status effect.
The Cartridge is particularly resistant against the Break status effect which will allow Pinocchio to always recover back to full health during a fight, something that is essential for stubborn boss battles and when taking on hordes of puppets at once. Upgrading the maximum amount of Pulse Cells that Pinocchio can carry is a vital part ofthe game’s progression systemthat will become available very early on after defeating the Mad Donkey. Therefore, this Cartridge can verify that the time spent upgrading and improving these healing items never goes to waste, ensuring Pinocchio is always more than ready for the monsters that await him.
1LADA Shock Cartridge
How to find:Picked up after defeating the Centurion Puppet located outside the Grand Exhibition.
Not only does the LADA Shock Cartridge more or less make Pinocchio almost completely invulnerable to the Shock status effect, but it’s even got amazing defensive properties when it comes to Disruption and Break too, and even a decent amount of physical damage reduction as a bonus. It’s quite shocking that the Cartridge can be so effective yet is still just as heavy as a few others that have worse stats, though it willstill require a little bit of space to carry around.
The area of the Grand Exhibition is littered with puppets and enemy dogs that will try their best to stop Pinocchio from progressing, so it’s best to traverse slowly and pick them off one by one rather than rushing in. The LADA Shock Cartridge can be acquired after defeating the large puppet that looks vaguely like a knight. Enter the Great Exhibition Garden, head up the stairs to the left, and the menacing Centurion Puppet holding onto the Cartridge will be waiting at the end of the walkway.
