The Snowgrave Route is Deltarune Chapter 2's darkest secret, a hidden path that irrevocably alters the story by twisting a character's kindness into a weapon. To trigger it, you must use Kris's influence to force the gentle Noelle Holiday to use her IceShock spell on every single enemy she encounters, starting from the moment she joins your party. This is not a simple evil playthrough; it requires a specific, deliberate, and unbroken chain of manipulative actions that culminates in a chilling new spell and a permanently altered world state.
This guide details the exact steps to initiate and complete the Snowgrave route, from the first frozen enemy to the final, haunting confrontation. Be warned: this path fundamentally changes the game's tone and locks you out of the standard narrative and its associated recruits and rewards.
What is the Snowgrave Route?
Known colloquially as the 'Weird Route' or 'Pipis Route', Snowgrave is the unofficial name for a sequence of events in Chapter 2 that functions as a parallel to the 'Genocide' route from Undertale. The entire path hinges on one core mechanic: manipulating Noelle. Instead of fighting normally, Kris must continuously defend to build Tension Points (TP), then command Noelle to cast IceShock on every enemy in every encounter. You are not just defeating enemies; you are forcing a kind-hearted character to kill them with magic she barely understands, an act that slowly corrupts her and the game world itself.
Following this path leads to unique enemies, altered dialogue, exclusive items, and a terrifyingly powerful secret boss fight. It is a testament to the game's branching narrative, showing the profound consequences of the player's control over Kris's actions and, by extension, Kris's influence over their friends.
How to Start the Snowgrave Route
The route begins at a specific point in the Cyber Field. If you proceed normally even one screen past this point, the path is locked off for your playthrough. You must be prepared to backtrack immediately once Noelle is in the party.
The Point of No Return
Play through Chapter 2 normally until you solve the first car-dodging road puzzle and Noelle officially joins your party. This is the critical moment. Do not proceed forward to the next area. Your first action must be to turn around and backtrack to the previous rooms—the ones filled with enemies you skipped past when you were alone. This is where the freezing begins.
Comic Grid: Four panels showing Kris forcing Noelle to backtrack and use IceShock.
The Freezing Mandate
In every random encounter from this point forward, your strategy is identical and non-negotiable:
- Kris Defends: On Kris's turn, select 'Defend'. This generates the TP that Noelle needs for her spells. Do not attack. Do not act. Only defend.
- Noelle Casts IceShock: On Noelle's turn, select 'Magic' and cast 'IceShock' on an enemy. You must do this until every single enemy in the encounter is frozen solid.
Continue backtracking through the Cyber Field, seeking out every enemy you previously ran past and freezing them. Once you've cleared the earlier areas, proceed forward again, applying this same tactic to every new enemy you encounter. You must defeat every possible enemy in this manner. If Noelle ever uses a non-lethal spell or if Kris defeats an enemy, the route is aborted.
Proceed at All Costs
As you continue this grim procession, Noelle will become increasingly disturbed by her own actions and will frequently question you. At every dialogue prompt and every environmental puzzle where she expresses hesitation, you must choose the most forceful and direct option. This usually means selecting dialogue choices like 'Proceed', 'Get it', or simply pushing forward without acknowledging her concerns. You are actively overriding her will. A key moment involves a mouse puzzle; you must solve it for her and repeatedly choose to 'Proceed' to cement your control.
The Key Items: FreezeRing and ThornRing
Two exclusive items are essential to completing the Snowgrave route. They enhance Noelle's ice magic to a terrifying degree and are acquired through specific, manipulative dialogue choices.
Infographic: How to get the FreezeRing and ThornRing in Deltarune's Snowgrave route.
Acquiring the FreezeRing
Eventually, you'll reach an area with a poster advertising a Ferris wheel ride. Noelle will comment on it. To get the FreezeRing, you must follow this exact dialogue path:
- Interact with the poster. When Noelle asks about it, select the option 'I'll ride with you'. This will seem like a kind gesture, but it's a prerequisite.
- Go to the Addison (the blue shopkeeper) standing nearby. When he asks who you are, you must select the option 'We're something else'.
- The Addison will be confused and unnerved. As you walk away, he will offer you the FreezeRing for a low price. The game won't let you buy it. Instead, you must select the option to 'Get it' from Noelle, forcing her to threaten the Addison, who gives you the ring for free.
Equip the FreezeRing on Noelle immediately. It significantly boosts her magic stat, making IceShock more powerful.
Finding the ThornRing
After a scripted sequence where you encounter the character Spamton, you will find yourself in an alleyway next to a dumpster. This is a pivotal location. By following the Weird Route, you have changed what's available here. Instead of finding a different item, you can now purchase the ThornRing from Spamton, who appears out of the dumpster. It costs 1997 Kromer. This ring is the final piece of the puzzle; it lowers Noelle's defense and health but grants her access to the ultimate spell: Snowgrave.
Equip the ThornRing on Noelle. The game is now set for its grim climax.
The Final Confrontation with Berdly
With the ThornRing equipped and every enemy up to this point frozen, you will eventually reach the rooftop confrontation with Berdly. The fight here is completely different from the normal route. Berdly is not trying to win a game; he is desperately trying to snap Noelle out of her trance.
Your goal is to build Kris's TP to 100%. The only way to do this is by having Kris defend while Berdly attacks. Once you reach 100% TP, a new option will appear in Noelle's magic menu: 'Snowgrave'. She won't know the spell. She will resist.
You must select 'Snowgrave' repeatedly. Berdly will plead with you to stop. Noelle will protest. Keep selecting it. After several turns of commanding her, she will finally obey, casting a massive ice spell that engulfs Berdly completely, ending the fight and sealing the route's outcome.
Poster: A dramatic depiction of Noelle casting the Snowgrave spell on Berdly.
What Happens After Snowgrave?
Completing the spell changes everything. The Cyber World's music stops. Most areas are now empty, with shortcuts opened that allow you to proceed directly to Queen's mansion. You have locked yourself out of recruiting any characters for Castle Town. The narrative is fractured.
This path culminates in a new secret boss fight against Spamton NEO. Unlike the normal route, you must fight him entirely alone as Kris. This is arguably the hardest fight in the game. You'll need to equip your best defensive gear (like the Pink Ribbon for a larger grazing area) and rely on building TP to heal yourself with X-Slash. Winning this grueling solo battle rewards you with the Puppet Scarf, a powerful piece of armor for Kris.
Annotated Diagram: Strategy guide for the solo fight against Spamton NEO.
Back in the Light World, the consequences are even more dire. Berdly is not just injured; he is unresponsive, and the implication is that he is gone for good. Noelle is deeply traumatized, having only fractured memories of a 'terrible dream'. If you took her watch and wear it during the post-route hospital scene, she will have a moment of horrific recognition, solidifying the reality of what you made her do.
The Aftermath
The Snowgrave route is a dark, fascinating 'what if' scenario that explores the themes of control, manipulation, and the consequences of player agency. It's a brutal, hidden narrative path that rewards morbid curiosity with a completely different, and much bleaker, gameplay experience. Completing it leaves you with a save file forever marked by your actions, a chilling reminder of the power you wielded and the friend you broke to achieve it.