Quick Links
There are a lot of steps that need to be completed to unlock the true ending in Tunic, but finding all the secrets and deciphering the manual are big parts of the game. The only way to see Tunic's secret ending is to assemble the entire instruction manual, which means finding collectibles, solving intricate puzzles, and carefully exploring each area. Tunic has many hidden paths and secret rooms that are out of view due to the camera angle, so players will often have to walk out of sight to find things.
The instruction manual is a collectible in Tunic that doubles as a way to introduce new mechanics and puzzles. Early on, players will find pages that teach basic functions, like how to upgrade the Tunic fox's stats. However, as players reach later stages of the game, the more important parts of the book become the notes and scribbled patterns in the corners of various pages. While the maps and item explanations are helpful, the hardest pages to find involve carefully looking at the parts of Tunic's manual that are less obvious.
Complete the Manual for Tunic's Secret Ending
In order to collect every page, players will need to find all the Hero's Graves after becoming a ghost. Visiting all the Hero's Graves will return the fox to their corporeal form and reestablish any upgraded stats. At this point in the game, players will also need to complete more difficult tasks like opening the Mountain Door and searching for Fairies. Once the instruction manual in Tunic is fully assembled, players will need to defeat The Heir in a final boss battle to unlock Tunic's true ending.
How To Defeat The Heir & Unlock Tunic's True Ending
Before entering the arena to fight The Heir, players should make sure they have the Scavenger Mask ability card equipped. This card can be found in the monastery in the northernmost part of the Quarry. Some of The Heir's attacks have the same effect as the health-draining crystals in Tunic's Quarry, so having the mask gives the fox a big advantage. When ready, players can enter The Heir's arena by praying on the center fast travel platform in the main hub. After a quick cutscene, the final battle will begin.
The Heir can be an extremely taxing boss fight! If you are having trouble beating The Heir and seeing Tunic's secret ending with the tips below, check out this video guide by TCW Gaming on YouTube:
During phase one of this battle, The Heir has several sword attacks, including a triple strike, a slow hit, and a lunge attack. With the teleport dash ability unlocked from completing the Cathedral area, dodging should be fairly easy. The Heir's magic attacks are harder to dodge. This difficult Tunic boss can slam their sword into the ground causing circular waves of electricity that need to be jumped over. Getting the timing down for warping past these might take a few tries. Bolts of lightning will also rain down, but the area of effect is highlighted well before the actual hit.
The Heir will also shoot fast magic projectiles that can be dodged or blocked with the shield! Be aware that blocking most of The Heir's attacks will result in the fox's stamina being constantly depleted.
The second phase of the fight increases the damage of The Heir's attacks and adds some new ones. The Heir will now use health-draining attacks which can be identified by the purple glow. Players can use explosives to deal a significant amount of damage compared to other attacks, and it also allows the fox to keep their distance. Sword attacks work well but are more dangerous. If players need time to recover stamina or drink a health potion, they should use the magic staff to continue dealing damage.
If players defeat The Heir with the manual fully assembled, Tunic's true ending will play. The hero will hand the manual over to the defeated boss, and doing so allows The Heir to retake their true form. A few more scenes play showing the aftermath of the adventure in Tunic while the credits roll. Tunic's good ending takes a lot of effort and time to unlock, but it also makes the story more interesting.
Want to see Tunic's true ending for yourself without having to defeat The Heir, or interested in seeing what the other Tunic endings look like? Check out the cutscenes below from starkyplays - No Commentary Gameplay on YouTube!
