Sypha Belnades was a young woman who grew extremely proficient with magic and became a self-proclaimed witch. Raised by fellow witches, Sypha was only a child when she witnessed the vampire, Carmilla, darken the hearts of men to the point that they grew fearful and hateful towards witches. This sparked the witch trials, which led to the deaths of Sypha's parents.
After barely escaping with her life, Sypha found refuge within the Church. For a time, she trained as a monk, in which she learned how to use elemental magic, such as fire, ice, and lightning spells. Seeking revenge for the vampire who caused the deaths of her sisters, Sypha sought to destroy anything tainted by darkness.
Whilst out destroying monsters around the countryside of Wallachia, Sypha noticed a Time Rift appear before her, which wasted no time in pulling her in. Inside, Sypha met a man named Aeon, who beckoned for her help in defeating a powerful and dangerous being known as the Time Reaper. Agreeing to do so, Sypha fought through the Time Rift. Along the way, she met several warriors from several points in time, including a strange man named Trevor Belmont, who seemed to know her.
After several fights to prove her strength, Sypha made it to the Time Reaper and managed to defeat it. With the Time Rift mended, Sypha was brought back to her own time, where she found that trouble was stirring. A mysterious new vampire known as Count Dracula made his presence known, seeking to kill all of humanity for their transgressions.
Sypha was called by the Church to deal with the threat, though she was still wary that the people of Wallachia would kill her for her station as a witch. In particular, a woman named Lisa had recently been killed for suspicions of being a witch, which, unbeknownst to everyone, was the event that enraged Dracula. Because of this, Sypha disguised herself as a man and came to the countryside.
Once she made it there, however, she was quickly captured by a powerful Cyclops, and turned into a statue. Sypha was then rescued by Trevor Belmont, whom she somewhat recalled from her quest through the Time Rift. Sypha joined Trevor, along with two other warriors named Grant Danasty and Alucard, as they set course directly towards Dracula. Using their combined power, the four were able to slay the Dark Lord.
With Dracula defeated, Sypha grew an attraction towards Trevor, and the two fell in love; they would soon have children that would continue on the legendary Belmont bloodline. As accomplices to Trevor Belmont in his fight, Sypha, Grant, and Alucard were titled the "Three Legendary Warriors," which immortalized them through history.
Stamina:Superhuman (Alongside Trevor, Sypha travelled the entire Transylvanian countryside for several days fighting against Dracula's forces, without any rest)
Belnades Staff: A treasure of the Belnades Clan, which functions as Sypha's main weapon. It can be used for melee attacks, though she normally uses it to channel through her magic spells.
Holy Water: A jar of water that was purified and blessed by the Church. When it shatters out of its container, the water erupts into powerful flames.
Flames: Sypha launches a ball of fire at her enemies.
Frozen Crystals: Six icicles form around Sypha, and spread outwards as dangerous projectiles. If they collide with an enemy, they will be frozen in place.
Goodness Gracious Great Bolts of Lightning: Sypha forms three spheres of electricity that home-in on her opponents.
Jagged Earth: A large and sharp formation of rocks appears in front of Sypha, acting as a sort of shield.
Gale Force: Sypha launches a powerful green gust of wind to damage opponents.
Disintegrate: Summoning a gigantic spell book, Sypha preforms an incantation that traps the enemy in a barrier of energy. Spheres of fire, ice, and electricity then surround them, before the entire barrier explodes with them within it.
Invisibility Potion: Invisibility potion that makes Sypha both invisible and invulnerable to attacks, phasing though enemies, for a limited period of time.
Rosary: A powerful holy item that destroys all enemies on screen instantly.
Notable Techniques
Fire
A swift yet strong burst of fire is unleashed at medium range directly in front of Sypha. The flames are very powerful as they annihilate everything in its path.
Cold
Six ice crystals will fan out in front of and above Sypha, capable of freezing both enemies and projectiles. Enemies that are frozen can serve as stepping platforms. Additionally, if the crystals make contact with a body of water, it will freeze completely for a short duration.
Lightning Bolt
Three electrified spheres will spread out in front of Sypha, possessing minor homing abilities and delivering significant damage. The lightning bolt launches zapping spheres in three different directions.
Neutral Combo
Sypha swings her mace overhead, follows up with an underhand swing that launches her opponent upward, and then throws a spellbook directly at them, which vanishes upon impact. At any point during or after this combo, Sypha can initiate a Fireball to Triple Blaze combo.
Directional Combo
Sypha thrusts her mace forward into her opponent, then executes a slight jump to launch them upward.
Jumping Attack
Sypha sends her spellbook diagonally downward towards her opponent while being lifted into the air. This move allows her to follow up with an Ice Storm attack before she lands.
Fireball
Sypha's book hovers open in front of her, from which she conjures and launches a fireball at her opponent.
Triple Blaze
Following the initial fireball, Sypha unleashes a second wave, sending three additional fireballs in a triangular formation towards her opponent. All four fireballs converge at a single point in front of her.
Frost Wall
A series of ice shields form a circle around Sypha. If her opponent makes contact with the shields while not blocking, they will be frozen for several seconds.
Icicle Blades
Continuing from Frost Wall, if Sypha attacks again, long icicles erupt from each of the shields.
Ice Storm
Sypha opens her book, summoning a flurry of ice daggers that shoot out from it. She cannot execute another attack until she lands.
Lightning Strike
A large lightning sphere forms above Sypha's raised hands, which she can launch directly at her opponent. Its slow trajectory can be controlled with the analog stick and will cease moving when the trigger button is released. If performed in mid-air, Sypha holds her hands downward, generating the lightning sphere in front of them.
Hammer of Thor
Sypha delivers a powerful upward swing of her mace. If the attack connects (which cannot be blocked), it knocks her opponent upward and backward. Sypha then points her mace in their direction, unleashing a massive beam of electricity towards them.
Disintegrate
Sypha exclaims "Here it goes," spinning her mace to prepare for an attack. If she hits her opponent, she declares "Grimoire!" summoning a giant book bound in chains from the ground. With a gesture, she causes the chains to snap, opening the book to the desired page. She calls out, "Spirits, heed my call, come!" creating a magic circle around her opponent that forms a barrier. Informing them, "You cannot escape from that barrier," she watches as they panic while the barrier encloses them, lifting them into the air. Massive orbs of fire, ice, and lightning form, spiraling inward toward the barrier. Sypha shouts "Disintegrate," causing the barrier to explode. The book then disappears, and she states, "That is the forbidden power" or "It is finished."
Other
Standard Tactics: Sypha utilizes her magic in battle, using the grimoire to hit the opponent with various magic spells.
Weaknesses: As a witch, she must hide her identity out of fear, pretending to be a male. Though after coming into contact with Trevor Belmont, she is more comfortable revealing that she is a woman.
Sypha is the only one of the three playable allies in Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse whom the player does not fight prior to getting her to join (as Grant Danasty was forcibly transfigured into a monster before Trevor lifted his curse, and Alucard briefly fought them in order to test them before formally defecting to their side).
In the PAL and NTSC versions of Dracula's Curse, Sypha is referred to as a male due to technical limitations of the NES - that is, there could only be one programmed window asking the player if they wish to take a companion with them. The programmers decided on "Take him with you?", thus meaning that all three scenarios would use this text box.
Likely because of this, her incarnation in the Captain N: The Game Master animated series is a male wizard, despite the actual ending in the game where she is revealed to be female.
Her name is a mistranslation on "cipher" - an unknown or an enigma. This fits in well with her hidden true nature.
The Fernandez Warrior from Castlevania (N64) was originally conceived as Sypha Belnades herself. The designers ultimately scrapped the idea before the game's release, simply making her another Fernandez[97].
In Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, there is an accessory alluding to Sypha called Cipher's Charm, with "Cipher" being a mistranslation of "Sypha". In the Japanese version of the game, the item is correctly named Sypha's Crystal (シファのクリスタル). The item improves MP speed regeneration, further referencing Sypha's magical abilities.
In Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Yoko Belnades is a playable character whose fighting style –very similar to Sypha's, being her relative– includes the use of various spells and a weak staff.
Sypha's Judgment characterization was allegedly not popular among fans due to her being single-mindedly obsessed with trying to wipe out the creatures of the night, even by targeting characters who were technically on her side, such as Shanoa, Cornell, and Alucard (with the former even being part of the Church just as Sypha is), and coming across as an hypocrite as a result, something that was not alluded to in either Dracula's Curse or even the Pachislot version.
Note: Fights against characters in the time rift are technically not the actual characters but one's desires being made within the time rift, such as why some characters like Dracula kill others in their story mode but the characters is alive and defeats Time Reaper in their own story mode, never meeting Dracula.
Note: Fights against characters in the time rift are technically not the actual characters but one's desires being made within the time rift, such as why some characters like Dracula kill others in their story mode but the characters is alive and defeats Time Reaper in their own story mode, never meeting Dracula.
Note: Fights against characters in the time rift are technically not the actual characters but one's desires being made within the time rift, such as why some characters like Dracula kill others in their story mode but the characters is alive and defeats Time Reaper in their own story mode, never meeting Dracula.
Note: Fights against characters in the time rift are technically not the actual characters but one's desires being made within the time rift, such as why some characters like Dracula kill others in their story mode but the characters is alive and defeats Time Reaper in their own story mode, never meeting Dracula.
Note: Fights against characters in the time rift are technically not the actual characters but one's desires being made within the time rift, such as why some characters like Dracula kill others in their story mode but the characters is alive and defeats Time Reaper in their own story mode, never meeting Dracula.
Note: Fights against characters in the time rift are technically not the actual characters but one's desires being made within the time rift, such as why some characters like Dracula kill others in their story mode but the characters is alive and defeats Time Reaper in their own story mode, never meeting Dracula.
Note: Fights against characters in the time rift are technically not the actual characters but one's desires being made within the time rift, such as why some characters like Dracula kill others in their story mode but the characters is alive and defeats Time Reaper in their own story mode, never meeting Dracula.
Note: Fights against characters in the time rift are technically not the actual characters but one's desires being made within the time rift, such as why some characters like Dracula kill others in their story mode but the characters is alive and defeats Time Reaper in their own story mode, never meeting Dracula.
↑Castlevania: Judgment Aeon's Hyper Attack on Death
↑Akumajo Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku Novel “I had said it before. I do not intend to bind the world with chaos.” “…… If so, why did you take power away from the crack in the eclipse’s seal? If you just intend to imitate like a monkey, isn’t your own power enough?” Those were the emotionless words of Death. In response, Olrox laughed his bold answer. “As I’ve said, I would equally gain control over the human world and the source of Dracula’s power, chaos. I do not intend to obey someone else’s mind aside from my own. That includes you who were born out of chaos.” “……” “You should be glad though to know yourself. Just by stealing power, my shameful monotonous time is over…… Even before Alucard appeared, just because I showed up and declared war on him.” Olrox’s voice was mixed with a tinge of thin delight. He respectfully bowed to Death who completely killed his emotions. “I would end the reincarnation cycle of this demon castle. I who understood and was spun out of the stains of chaos, swear to rob that power with my hands. Now, yield.” With Death’s reply, an explosive murderous intent rose. Two bronze colored scythes much larger than usual appeared; it advanced to the space in between the two men with an intention to cut off Olrox’s head. Kill the distance----- Kill the sound----- Just, faster, soon, die. It can be seen that the blades have certainly caught Olrox’s neck, but----- that is only an after image and the vampire is already at Death’s back. “……die.” That was said by the enemy who called on his servants. From the surrounding space, a group of purple bats rose, passed by Olrox’s arm with the speed of a bullet, attacking Death.
However, Death did not show any gesture of avoiding them. He simply faced Olrox and sprayed out numerous scythes. The bats and scythes cancelled each other out and the entire dance hall sparkled with blood."
↑Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Beastiary No. 44
↑Akumajo Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku "From the time they stepped into the mountains, Curtis and Michelle felt malicious intent in the air.
Even though it is still far away, their bodies seemed to squeal [run away]. There was definitely no room for doubt. It is certain that the [castle] exists at the back of the mountains. The church’s greatest vampire hunter, Julius Belmont must be contacted. However, the conversation jumped into the matter of the disappearance of several village children."
↑Akumajo Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku "A drawbridge suspended from the main gate is seemingly welcoming Michelle’s arrival. And her body was telling her [do not go] as her leg muscles were petrified like stone."
↑Akumajo Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku "“Uh……aa……Mi……chelle……” That really is no doubt an obsession. The youth had more than 28 holes penetrating his limbs and body. His heart is already starting to fail and he is desperately trying to say something amidst the darkness. “Only…… protect…… you……-----“ When he said those words he must say, the man’s soul already left his body-----becoming one of the floating spirits that wander the halls of the castle. However----- Fate did not allow it. For those people who are involved with the demon castle, even the loneliness of death seemed half hearted----- The man’s soul is pierced by a small scythe that flew in from somewhere. That scythe did not exist physically. It was a diabolic blade created by some magic and possessed a strong soul."