Hymn

For the music theme, see Hymnus.

The Hymn, also known as the Book of Music or Songbook, is one of Maria Renard's characteristic sub-weapons in the Castlevania series. Its sacred melody wards off evil.

Characteristics

This attack was first introduced in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, forming part of Maria Renard's unique sub-weapons arsenal being the equivalent to Richter's Holy Book. When used, Maria stands in place singing a tune and the music notes from her song oscillate in front of her toward enemies until she has finished. She can cancel this attack at any time in order to move.

In Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Soma Cruz is able to use this attack as well by gaining dominance over the Siren's soul. When used, it creates a musical note than slowly travels to a given direction while swinging up and down. Each note deals 31% current HP of its target as damage if they are weak to the Curse element. Up to eight notes can appear onscreen at a time. Even though the damage of the soul can be normally improved by STR, when hitting an enemy susceptible to Curse, the normal damage is turned into % current HP damage, and this cannot be improved by any means.

In Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, some of Maria's song Birds allow her to sing a Hymn, or other tunes, such as a "Thunderous Symphony", a "Angelic Oratorio", or a "Passionate Aria". The musical notes radiate in many directions in this game, instead of the usual single direction.

Item Data

Item Data: Book of Music
Image	Name - Game   Type - Users Description	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
(RoB/DXC)	Book of Music - Rondo of Blood   Sub-Weapon - Maria				[edit]
	Though relatively weak, Maria can use her singing voice as a weapon.	Consume: 3 Hearts (10 by using her Item Crash)
	Siren - Devil's Lullaby - Aria of Sorrow   Bullet Soul - Soma				[edit]
	Song casts a spell upon enemies.	Attrib: Curse Consume: 10 MP	60 ATK	Rarity: 10 Drop: Siren
	Hymn (jpn) - Harmony of Despair   Sub-Weapon - Maria				[edit]
	Sing a sacred melody that wards off evil.	Attrib: Strike, Holy Consume: 10 MP	ATK +8	Find: (starts with)
	Hymn - Grimoire of Souls   Weapon Skill - Maria				[edit]
	Musical notes fly out as a melody plays, damaging nearby enemies.		Cooldown: 35 sec	Find: Attached to Skylark	Limitations: Cannot be used in mid-air
	Thunderous Symphony I - Grimoire of Souls   Weapon Skill - Maria				[edit]
	Musical notes fly out as a melody plays, damaging nearby enemies. Produces more notes and does more damage.	Attrib: Lightning	Cooldown: 40 sec	Find: Attached to Canary, Songbird	Special: Inflicts Shock Limitations: Cannot be used in mid-air
	Angelic Oratorio I - Grimoire of Souls   Weapon Skill - Maria				[edit]
	Musical notes fly out as a melody plays, damaging nearby enemies. Produces more notes and does more damage.	Attrib: Holy	Cooldown: 40 sec	Find: Attached to Nightingale	Limitations: Cannot be used in mid-air
	Thunderous Symphony II - Grimoire of Souls   Weapon Skill - Maria				[edit]
	Musical notes fly out as a melody plays, damaging nearby enemies. Even more notes appear and fly diagonally downwards. This kind of music hurts!	Attrib: Lightning	Cooldown: 50 sec	Find: Attached to Gjallarhorn	Special: Inflicts Shock Limitations: Cannot be used in mid-air

Gallery

Artworks

Songbook from the Japanese Rondo of Blood instruction booklet.

Maria performing to her animal friends from the Rondo of Blood Official Guide.

Animations

Devil's Lullaby from Aria of Sorrow.

Book of Music from The Dracula X Chronicles.

Book of Music Item Crash from The Dracula X Chronicles.

Hymn from Harmony of Despair.

Trivia

• In Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, this is the soul that can create the most projectiles in the game (eight musical notes).
• In Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, the tune Maria sings is the first part of "Bloody Tears".