Weapons
There are a total of nine weapons, but you may carry only five at a time--so choose wisely!
Polar Star
Location: Obtained from the hermit's shack in the First Cave.
- Level 1 - Shoots a single bullet.
- Level 2 - Shoots a double bullet that fly slightly farther.
- Level 3 - Shoots a larger bullet that flies farther than the other levels.
Notes: This is the basic weapon, which can be traded/upgraded further in the game.
Missile Launcher
Location: You can get this weapon in either the Egg Observation Room, the Boulder Chamber, or the Sacred Grounds III.
- Level 1 - Launches a small missile that does moderate damage.
- Level 2 - Launches a large, very fast missile that does a high amount of damage.
- Level 3 - Launches three small missiles at once, while still only using one ammo.
Notes: A very powerful and useful weapon, but its ammo is extremely limited. Can be upgraded in the Boulder Chamber.
Fireball
Location: Found in Santa's house in Grasstown after letting him into his house.
- Level 1 - Shoots a single fireball that does minimal damage.
- Level 2 - Shoots an orange fireball that does moderate damage.
- Level 3 - Shoots a blue fireball that does a high amount of damage.
Notes: This one is good for shooting up hills or attacking enemies below, but for straight shots and airborne foes it doesn't do a lot of good.
Bubbler
Location: Use the Jellyfish Juice on the fireplace inside the Assembly Hall to get this weapon.
- Level 1 - Short range, weak power.
- Level 2 - Range nearly doubles, more power, and rapid fire.
- Level 3 - Hold the fire button to summon bubbles. Release it to send them all in whatever direction you're aiming to make a powerful shotgun-type blast. There is a limit to how many bubbles you can summon at once - when this limit is reached, the bubbles will start shooting forward by themselves. You can also use the swarm of bubbles as a sort of shield that destroys weak enemies on contact.
Notes: It is very weak at first, but leveling it up gets you a fairly powerful weapon. due to the way the bubbles move around you, this weapon works best against flying enemies. the bubble "shield" is also good for blocking projectiles.
File:Cave story machine gun.gif Machine Gun
Location: Curly gives this to you in exchange for your Polar Star after you defeat her in the Sand Zone.
- Level 1 - Fires small bullets that do 1 damage each.
- Level 2 - Fires larger bullets that do 2 damage each.
- Level 3 - Fires very large bullets that do 4 damage each. In addition, this level adds recoil to the weapon when you shoot. This effect can be used to hover in the air by shooting downwards. It can also increase fall speed when shooting upwards while falling, but that has very little use.
Notes: It fires quickly, but its ammo is limited and must recharge. Also, there is an item that you can pick up that will speed up the charge time on this weapon.
Blade
Location: King gives it to you as memento after you defeat Enraged Tokoro
- level 1 - throws a small sword which deals 15 damage.
- level 2 - throws a larger sword which has a shorter range, but deals 18 damage and plows through enemies
- level 3 - summons king's soul to attack enemies. has an area of effect and the amount of damage it deals depends on the enemy.
Notes: You automatically go to max when you reach level 3, meaning you have no backup exp, so taking just one hit will downgrade you. If you want to keep using King, don't get hit. also, this weapon's only downfall is that you can only use one at a time, however, if you are close enough and not using a level 3 weapon, you can still hit the enemy repeatedly, dealing lots of damage. remember though, that this requires getting very close to your enemy, so watch out and don't get slaughtered
File:Cave story snake.gif Snake
Location: The shopkeeper in the Labyrinth Shop will combine your Polar Star and Fireball weapons to make this powerful weapon.
- Level 1 - As many shots as you can shoot, fires through walls!
- Level 2 - Moves like a snake, goes through walls.
- Level 3 - Longer range, still goes through walls. 4 shots allowed at once.
Notes: Is the only weapon that can shoot through walls
File:Cave story spur.gif Spur
Location: Trade the Polar Star back to the Hermit Gunsmith to get this weapon
- Level 1 - Essentially Polar Star level 3.
- Level 2 - If it kills the enemy, then it will go through them.
- Level 3 - Same as level 2, but it shoots two lasers.
- Level M - single shot can destroy most enemies in one hit.
Notes: This is the most powerful weapon in the game. Also it is the only weapon that doesn't need exp. Rather, you gain levels by charging the weapon (Holding down the shoot button).
File:Cave story super missiles.gif Super Missile Launcher
Location: Found in the Boulder Chamber after defeating Balrog
- Level 1 - Launches a small Super missile that does moderate damage.
- Level 2 - Launches a large Super missile that does a high amount of damage.
- Level 3 - Launches 3 small Super missiles at once, while still only using one ammo.
Notes: Power levels are the same as the Missile Launcher, except they do much more damage and accelerate faster..
File:Cave story nemesis.gif Nemesis
Location: Trade the blade to the Little Man in the door at the bottom of the Outer Wall.
- Level 1 - DON'T LEVEL UP! Great range (at least 1/2 of screen), incredible damage. Limit 2 shots on screen, but they travel fast. Curly uses this later.
- Level 2 - Again, don't level up! It gets worse. Damage halved, although it's still a decent weapon. Range about the same, limit 3 (I think) but they don't travel as fast.
- Level 3 - If you get to level 3, you can get hurt to go back to level 1. Crappiest weapon ever: it does 1 damage, less range than the level 1 Polar Star, and a stupid sound to boot. You shoot rubber ducks; it's a wonder they don't heal the enemy.
Notes: This is the only weapon in the game that gets weaker as it levels up. Also you may trade back this weapon for your blade.
Items
Field Items
- Save Disk
Pressing 
on this item will save your game. Can usually be found near servers.
- Server (Health Restore)
This item, called the server, will restore your health and missiles (after obtaining the Missile Launcher) when you press on it
- Treasure Chest
Pressing on this item will open it, usually revealing a present inside.
- Single Heart
This Item, which can be gained from defeated enemies, will restore your health by 2 points.
- Multiple Hearts
This item, which can be gained from defeated enemies, will restore your health by 6 points.
- Heart Tank
Pressing on this item will pick it up and increase your maximum health by a certain amount (varies).
- Energy (Small)
This item is dropped by defeated enemies and adds 1 experience point to your currently equipped weapon.
- Energy (Medium)
This item is dropped by defeated enemies and adds 5 experience points to your currently equipped weapon.
- Energy (Large)
This item is dropped by defeated enemies and adds 20 experience points to your currently equipped weapon.
- Energy Box
This item can be opened with a single shot from any weapon. When opened it releases varying amounts of energy.
- Missile
Picking up this item will refill your missile supply by 1 missile. Works with both normal and super missiler
- Multiple Missiles
Picking up this item will refill your missile supply by 3 missiles. Works with both normal and super missiler
- Missile Powerup
Pressing on this item will pick it up and increase the amount of missiles you can carry by 3.
- Super Missile Powerup
The exact same as the missile powerup, but the color is changed to reflect the color of the super missiler
Event Items
These items are used in conjunction with the story or are just fun little secrets to find. Unlike other items, these ones can usually only be found once and in special scenes. There are two types of event items: Normal event items, which are found throughout any game and hard event items, which are only used when you are attempting to reach the hard ending. You must collect ALL hard event items to reach the hard ending.
Normal Event Items
- Map System "So long as you retain your spirit of exploration, surely you shall find your way out. This I believe."
The map system can be accessed from the item menu or by pressing W on your keyboard. Found in the Mimiga Village, it allows you to see the map layout of any area you are in. It's located on the ledge below where graveyard is, and above the shack.
- Silver Locket "A silver locket in the shape of a fish. From the condition it’s in, it looks like it’s been treasured for years."
Found in at the bottom of the Reservoir, this locket was a gift from Sue to Tokoro as a symbol of their friendship. Tokoro lost it and would really like it back.
- Arthur's Key "The key to Arthur’s house. It was hidden near Arthur’s gravestone."
Arthur's Key is found in the Graveyard of the Mimiga Village. You can get it by pressing on Arthur's grave. It is used to open the door to Arthur's house.
- I.D. Card "An ID card found in Egg No. 06."
The I.D. card is found in Egg No. 006 and is used at the computer in Egg No. 001 to open the force field to reach Egg No. 00. There is no other purpose for it.
- Santa's Key "The key to Santa’s house."
Santa's Key is found in Grasstown, in an area a few screens from where you talk to him. It is pretty hard to miss, as it is surrounded by many enemies. Give it to Santa for him to open his house, which is required to get another item.
- Chaco's Lipstick "Red lipstick. It has no use."
This is the first extra item that you can get in the game. To get it, examine Chaco's fireplace the FIRST time you go into her house (Otherwise it will not work), then immediately go to sleep on her bed. When you wake up you will have it.
- Jellyfish Juice "A fluid that can quench fireplaces."
The jellyfish juice is one of the few event items that can be refilled as many times as you want. You can get it by defeating the large jellyfish in the area where you found Santa's key. It is used to put out fires.
- Rusty Key "A Rusty Key"
Given to you by a strange man stuck in a house in Grasstown. The rusty key doesn't open his door but it will open the door to the power generator room right below the cliff you used to drop into the area.
- Gum Key "A tag says Gum"
This item will be given to you by the same man who gave you the rusty key. He will only give this to you after you talk to the robot in the power generator room. It is used to unlock the door to the Gum Area.
- Gum Base "A clump of gum."
One of the items required for explosive, it is found in the chest in the Gum Area. A word or warning however, as opening the chest will initiate a boss fight with Balrog.
- Charcoal "Taken from a fireplace."
Another item required to make the bomb, this item can be gained by using jellyfish juice on Santa's fireplace. You don't have to talk to the robot before getting this item however, so you might want to get it before you go over the cliff.
- Explosive "An explosive for blowing up doors and such."
Once you get all the items, talk to the robot again and he will make you the explosive. You then use the explosive to blow up the door and free the man trapped inside the house.
- Curly's Underwear "Retrieved from behind the wall. Yellow-green panties with a cute little insignia. They have no use."
Check the map in the back room where you first meet Curly to see the route for getting her underwear.
- Jet Pack 'Received from the professor in the labyrinth. Click jump two times to fly. If you don't receive it from the professor a better one is available.
Hard Event Items
- Tow Rope "A tow rope for robots."
Found in the Core battle area. It's found in the lower right area of the room behind a square rock. The tow rope is used to save Curly after the battle with the Core. You should acquire it before the battle.