To unlock the Heresy Trials in Arms of God, you must first achieve the game's true ending, known as the "Age of Apostasy." This unlocks a post-game world state where you can then collect three key items called Penitent's Tears. Using these tears to open the Cathedral of Dusk, you must finally defeat a hidden boss, the Forgotten Seraph, to gain the Key of Heresy and access the trials.
This is a cryptic, multi-stage quest with zero hand-holding. If you've beaten the final boss and found yourself back at the main menu with no new modes, you likely got the standard ending. This guide walks through every non-negotiable step to unlocking the game's ultimate boss rush challenge.
The First Prerequisite: Achieving the "Age of Apostasy" Ending
The Heresy Trials are not accessible to just any Tarnished Saint. The game's code requires you to have first completed the main story in a very specific way. Simply defeating the final boss, the Chained God, is not enough. You must spare it, ushering in the "Age of Apostasy" and fundamentally changing the world for your post-game journey.
This outcome is tied to a hidden morality stat tracked throughout your playthrough: your Burden of Sins. To get the option to spare the Chained God, your Burden of Sins must be below 50% when you enter the final boss arena. If it's too high, the option will not appear, locking you into the standard "Age of Silence" ending and forcing a New Game+ run to try again.
How the Burden of Sins Works
Nearly every major side quest and NPC interaction has an impact on your Burden of Sins. The game never shows you this meter, but the logic is consistent. In short: acts of mercy, upholding oaths, and destroying corrupt holy artifacts will lower your burden. Acts of cruelty, betrayal, or embracing forbidden power will raise it.
Here are the most significant decisions affecting your Burden of Sins:
| Action | Burden Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spare the Crying Knight in the Weeping Grotto | -10% | Give him the Mother's Effigy instead of fighting. |
| Kill the Crying Knight for his armor | +10% | A selfish act that permanently stains you. |
| Cleanse the 5 Corrupted Altars of the First Saint | -15% | A major side quest spanning multiple regions. |
| Embrace the power offered by the Whispering Idol | +20% | Grants a powerful but heretical spell, massively increasing your burden. |
| Complete Blacksmith Orin's quest for the Sunken Key | -5% | A simple act of loyalty. |
| Betray Blacksmith Orin to the Inquisitors | +15% | A cruel choice with minor monetary rewards but a heavy moral cost. |
| Free the spirits in the Sunken Archives | -10% | Requires the 'Soul Lantern' item to see and interact with them. |
To be safe, focus on the merciful options throughout your playthrough. The single biggest decision is rejecting the Whispering Idol's power, as accepting its gift makes it almost impossible to get your Burden below the 50% threshold.
When you defeat the Chained God with a low Burden of Sins, you'll be given a choice: "Inherit the Throne" or "Shatter the Chains." Choose "Shatter the Chains" to trigger the Age of Apostasy ending. After the credits roll, loading your save file will place you back in the world, ready for the next step.
Finding the Three Penitent's Tears
With the world now in the Age of Apostasy state, three new key items are accessible: the Penitent's Tears. These are hidden in high-level areas and are required to unlock the final path. They can be collected in any order.
Tear of the Betrayed: Weeping Grotto
Return to the Weeping Grotto, the early-game area where you may have encountered the Crying Knight. In the Age of Apostasy, a previously flooded section of the grotto is now accessible. Navigate through the new network of caves, fighting off spectral cultists. At the very end, in a cavern filled with broken statues, you'll find the Tear of the Betrayed sitting on a lone pedestal. There is no boss, only a difficult platforming and exploration challenge.
Tear of the Doubter: Sunken Archives
Deep within the Sunken Archives, beyond the chamber where you fought the Archivist prime, a previously sealed door will now be open. This leads to the Panopticon, a towering circular prison. Descend to the bottom floor, where you'll face a new mini-boss: the Librarian of Whispers. This phantom enemy uses spells that reverse your controls and drain your Resolve. Defeat it, and it will drop the Tear of the Doubter.
Tear of the Martyr: Obsidian Spire
Travel to the Obsidian Spire in the Scorched Lands. The path to the summit is now altered, with new enemies and environmental hazards. You'll need to fight through a grueling gauntlet of the game's toughest non-boss enemies. At the very peak of the spire, where the wind is howling, the Tear of the Martyr awaits. It is a pure combat and endurance challenge.
Arms of God in-game screenshot
Opening the Path: The Cathedral of Dusk
Once you have all three Penitent's Tears, you must travel to the Cathedral of Dusk. This late-game area is located just before the final boss arena, accessible via a fast travel point. Inside the main sanctuary is a large, sealed door behind the main altar, which was previously unresponsive. In front of it is the Altar of Penance, which has three distinct indentations.
Interact with the Altar of Penance to place the three tears:
- Place the Tear of the Betrayed in the left indentation.
- Place the Tear of the Doubter in the right indentation.
- Place the Tear of the Martyr in the central indentation.
Placing the final tear will cause all three to shatter, releasing a wave of energy that violently breaks the seal on the door behind the altar. This reveals a shimmering golden portal. Step through it.
Arms of God in-game screenshot
The Final Guardian: Defeating the Forgotten Seraph
This portal takes you to a new, isolated arena: the Empyrean Throne. Here you will face the true final boss of the Arms of God story, the Forgotten Seraph. This is a multi-phase fight that will test all of your skills.
Phase 1: Holy Barrage
The Seraph begins the fight with a pair of pristine, angelic wings. It stays mostly at a distance, attacking with a barrage of holy magic.
- Light Spears: A fast projectile attack. Dodge to the side just as it throws.
- Divine Judgment: The Seraph flies up and marks several circles on the ground, which erupt in pillars of light after a short delay. Keep moving to avoid them.
- Wing Sweep: Its only major melee attack. It will rush forward and sweep with a massive wing. This is well-telegraphed; dodge through it to get a few hits in.
Focus on closing the distance after it uses Divine Judgment and getting in damage. After you deplete about 50% of its health, a cutscene will trigger.
Phase 2: Corrupted Wings
The Seraph's wings turn black and tattered, and its attacks become faster and more aggressive. It will now actively pursue you with melee combos.
- Corrupted Spears: The light spears are now faster and inflict a temporary curse that reduces your healing effectiveness.
- Feather Storm: A massive area-of-effect attack where the Seraph launches a storm of sharp feathers in all directions. The only safe spot is directly underneath it, requiring you to dash in close.
- Talon Dive: The Seraph flies high into the air and dives toward you, ending in a large shockwave. Dodge at the last second and punish the recovery animation.
This phase is a frantic dance. Stay close, learn the timing of the Talon Dive, and use the Feather Storm as your primary damage window. Be patient and don't get greedy.
Arms of God in-game screenshot
Rewards and Aftermath
Upon defeating the Forgotten Seraph, it will dissolve, leaving behind a single item: the Key of Heresy. Picking up this key will teleport you back to the Sanctuary of the Meek (the main hub). A new, permanent portal will now be active near the blacksmith. This is the entrance to the Heresy Trials. Interacting with it will give you the option to begin the challenge at any time.
What Are the Heresy Trials?
So what is the reward for this arduous journey? The Heresy Trials are the ultimate endgame challenge in Arms of God. It is a boss rush mode where you will face every major boss from the game, one after another, with no breaks to restock your healing vials.
However, these are not the same bosses you fought before. Each one is significantly empowered and features new, more aggressive attack patterns and combinations. Surviving the gauntlet requires mastery of the game's combat mechanics. Success yields unique rewards, including exclusive cosmetic armor sets, powerful weapon augments that can't be found anywhere else, and of course, bragging rights.
Common Questions (FAQ)
Can I unlock the Heresy Trials on New Game+?
Yes. All of your progress towards the unlock quest, including your Burden of Sins and any collected tears, carries over into NG+. If you got the standard ending on your first run, you must play through the NG+ story until the final boss to make the correct choice.
Is there a recommended level for the Forgotten Seraph?
While there is no hard level gate, the fight is balanced for a character that is at least Level 80 with fully upgraded weapons. Attempting it earlier is possible but extremely difficult.
What if I got the "Age of Silence" ending first?
You are locked out of the Heresy Trials on that playthrough. You must begin a New Game+ cycle and ensure your Burden of Sins is low enough to get the "Age of Apostasy" ending this time around.
Are the Penitent's Tears missable?
No. The tears and the areas they are in will not spawn until you have successfully achieved the Age of Apostasy ending and loaded your post-game save file. You cannot miss them.
Unlocking the Heresy Trials is a journey in itself, serving as a secret final chapter to the main story. It's a well-hidden piece of content designed to reward the most dedicated players who dig deep into the world and its moral choices. The trials that await are the game's final and most demanding test of skill.