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Where to find Bayonetta 3’s Broken Moon Pearls

Finding these elusive trinkets will boost your magic

Viola smiles while standing in a courtyard in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

In Bayonetta 3, finding Broken Moon Pearls will upgrade your magic. Once you’ve collected four of them, they’ll automatically turn into a full Moon Pearl, which you can use in the Skills menu for both Bayonetta and Viola throughout the story. While Rodin’s shop has a few of them up for purchase, most are scattered throughout the levels. Here’s where to find them.

Chapter 1

In Shibuya, take one of the side streets (the one where you can see a broken bus and some soldiers on the ground) to find the “Blow kisses to them!” trial. Approach the enemies and wait until they attack you. Dodge right before they hit Bayonetta to activate Witch Time. During Witch Time, summon your demon with LZ and press R to blow a kiss. In my experience, the demon blew two kisses, affecting both, and while they were still stunned, she sent another one that finished the challenge. The reward is a Broken Moon Pearl.

Bayonetta stands on a street at nighttime in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 2

After Verse 1, look to the buildings on the left side — one of them has a sign that says DFH (you’ll unlock a Betwitchment for staring at it for a few seconds). There’s a billboard right next to it. Head over to that spot using the Spider and go underneath to the rooftop there to find a trial. This one is pretty straightforward. There’s a spot that replenishes your magic. Stand on that, then summon the Spider and start spamming bombs. Once you have a few crawling toward enemies, web them all (by pressing R). You’ll have to repeat this a total of eight times to complete the trial. You can also do it in reverse, but this order will save you some time. Once done, you’ll get a Broken Moon Pearl.

Bayonetta stands on a floating platform in a clearly magical realm in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Bayonetta stands in a cave near a Broken Moon Pearl and some glowing mushrooms. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 3

As you make your way through the wreckage in the starting area, you’ll see a floating chest flying in circles. You can either use your summon, do air attacks, or just shoot at it until it’s destroyed. You’ll find a Broken Moon Pearl inside.

Bayonetta stands on top of a building in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

For the second one in this chapter, you’ll have to complete a trial encounter. You can find it on top of the rooftop to the left of the torii gate entrance you encounter after climbing up. The trick here is to rank up combo points. Hitting the requisite 5,000 is tough, but I recommend summoning a demon, making as much damage as possible with doing different attacks, and when you run out of magic, switch back to Bayonetta and shoot with her pistols. Make sure to not get hit; Witch Time is in your favor here, and you can use the demon as soon as you’re able to in order to keep up with the combo. Once you’re done, the Broken Moon Pearl will be yours.

Bayonetta, wearing butterfly wings, leaps between two rooftops in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 4

After finishing Verse 1 and heading over to the second island, right before you stumble upon the big locked door, you’ll see a checkpoint altar to the right and a waterfall behind it. Follow the path to the right and turn around the corner to find the key. From there, head down to the waterfall and you’ll find the door in the inner cave. There’s a chest inside.

Bayonetta stands in a cave behind a waterfall next to a pendant in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Bayonetta stands on a cliff and gazes at the horizon in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Bayonetta stands in a dark cave next to a Broken Moon Pearl in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

After Verse 2, before you enter the inner chamber, take a detour to the left side using the platforms around the corner to get to the far end, then hop on the structure above. You’ll stumble upon a chest that’ll activate a time-based puzzle. This one is fairly easy: Just use the Spider to crawl around the wall and grab all five orbs.

Bayonetta stands on a castle ramparts in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
A castle rampart shows five glowing orbs in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
A giant spider demon stands on a platform in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

After Verse 4, as you make your way through the bridge where the soldiers are cheering you, head over to the first building on the left that you see (there’s one on the right first, and then a second on the left). Head over to the rooftop on the other end and destroy the chest to activate a timed event. Honestly, 30 seconds is a ton of time for this one, so I used the spider form to swing around and grab all five pieces without much issue. Once you’re done, you’ll net another Broken Moon Pearl for yourself.

Bayonetta stands on a castle rampart and gazes at a shrine in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Bayonetta stands on a stone pedestal in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Bayonetta targets a Broken Moon Pearl in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 5

After Verse 1, in that same area, head over to the right to find a trial. You have to defeat a couple enemies here that can only be hurt during Witch Time. So, yeah, get ready to parry. I recommend parrying right before you’re about to get attacked to get the prolonged Witch Time. Either go ham with combos or summon Cheshire — up to you. Once you’re done, the Broken Moon Pearl will be all yours.

Viola stands in front of two massive double doors to a castle in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

After Verse 8, you’re going to find a chest to the opposite side of Rodin’s shop station. Destroy it to activate a timed event. This one is straightforward; just make sure to use the double jump and your grappling hook to move faster towards the building. You’ll get a Broken Moon Pearl for your troubles.

Viola stands at the bottom of some stairs that lead to castle ramparts in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Viola looks at a Broken Moon Pearl on castle stairs in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 6

After Verse 4, you’ll stumble upon Rodin’s shop in a long pathway. Using that as reference, head all the way back and turn to the side to find a staircase - there is a trial waiting for you there. The key here is to continue the combo, so it shouldn’t be too hard. Use summons and keep an eye on any upcoming attacks so you can dodge on time. Once you’re done, the Broken Moon Pearl will be yours.

Bayonetta perches on the edge of a ledge on a castle near a Broken Moon Pearl. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
A menu shows information regarding a time trial in Bayonetta 3 that rewards a Broken Moon Pearl. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Don’t leave the area just yet! There is another pathway next to the one you’re standing on with two chests. The first one, which is shaped as a triangle on the ground, gives you unlimited energy while standing there. Summon any of your demons and destroy the floating chest from that spot. This will grant you another Broken Moon Pearl for a full Moon Pearl.

Bayonetta stands near a giant demon in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 7

Time for a trial. After Verse 1, as you continue making your way to the level, you’ll find a trial on top of a plateau and right before a waterfall with a locked door. The challenge here tasks you to rack up 5,000 combo points against a single enemy. It’s a bit tough, but here’s what worked for me: Use Ranged attacks when the enemy is far away. As soon as it charges against Viola, prepare to parry. This will give you the chance to summon Cheshire, who can deal a ton of damage and help you with the score. Repeat this a few times and, whenever you have the chance, get up close and personal with a few melee attacks. Just be mindful of not getting hit so the counter doesn’t drop to zero. And again, when in doubt, use ranged attacks. Your reward will be a Broken Moon Pearl.

Viola stands near a pool of glowing purple energy in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

There’s another Broken Moon Pearl if you follow the path behind the waterfalls in the desert section that has the huge sand river. Before heading there, take a short detour to the right side and go behind the waterfalls. After you’re past the first one, keep on moving to the other end and hop all the way up to the path that leads to a trial on the left corner - you’ll know it’s the right spot cause an enemy is gonna emerge from the sand. From there, look at the opposite side: See that tower? Make a run for the ledge, do a jump and hold it until it turns into the grappling hook, swing yourself, and then do another jump to land on the rooftop. Destroy the chest to obtain the second Broken Moon Pearl.

Viola runs onto a sand dune in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Viola jumps onto a tower in the middle of a desert in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

After you’ve made it through the quicksand, when you cross paths with the two pillars with a staircase in between, take a detour to left side towards that lone tower. If you use the ledges against the mountain, just go ahead and make a double jump/swing towards the other end to find a chest with a Broken Moon Pearl inside.

Viola stands in front of a tower in the middle of a desert in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Viola stands next to a Broken Moon Pearl in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 8

Right before you start descending through the large staircase at the beginning of the level, turn around to find a chest that is right at the door of a wrecked temple. Destroy it to grab a Broken Moon Pearl.

Bayonetta stands next to a broken moon pearl in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 9

In the starting area, head to the right side and climb the river pathway all the way to the top. You’ll encounter a Heavenly Verse — and if you keep heading forward, you’ll stumble upon a tower. Hop to its balcony and turn around the corner (facing the ledge) to find a chest with a Broken Moon Pearl inside.

Bayonetta stands on a stone walkway in a desert in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon
Bayonetta stands near a broken moon pearl by a stone wall in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

After you’re taken to the Temple of Tempests, you’re going to end up in a large chamber early on that has a chest in the farther eastern end. You won’t be able to get to it directly, thanks to a wind current coming from the windows. Instead, simply take the path on the left side and then turn around the corner to get to it. Destroy the chest to obtain another Broken Moon Pearl.

Bayonetta stands next to a chest in a cave in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 10

In the starting area, move forward until the path begins to open and take a detour to the right side, where you’ll see a plateau that is overlooking a floating island with a trial. Hop on it, follow the path upwards and get the trial started. You’re going to have to parry for this one; I recommend waiting until the last possible moment so you get the longer parry, summon Cheshire, and immediately follow up with some melee attacks as well. Of all enemies the one with the spear is the least offensive, so focus on the rest first and foremost. Once you’re done, you’ll get a new Broken Moon Pearl.

Viola stands in front of a giant floating stone pillar in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

On the area of the top of the bridges (get to the tower by destroying the cracks on the walls and taking the elevator), you’re going to see a lone chest on the other side, on top of a broken bridge. Head over there and destroy it to activate a time-based puzzle.

This one is going to take you on a moving platform; the first one is straightforward, the second needs you to move a bit, so I recommend jumping and landing on the balcony of the tower. From there, double-jump to the bridge, grab the third, and jump again to hop back on the platform (look down with your camera so you know you’re on the right spot). The fourth is straightforward, and for the fifth, jump off the platform and use Viola’s wings (hold the jump button) to safely grab the last. You’ll get a Broken Moon Pearl for your trouble.

Viola jumps to a platform where there’s a broken moon pearl in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 11

After Verse 4, head over to the back alley that leads to the closed street (opposite side to Rodin’s store), where you’ll find a trial. This one is super straightforward — just use the demon to kill all enemies. I recommend just spamming the X attack, but it’s up to you! Afterwards, go ahead and grab the Broken Moon Pearl.

Bayonetta stands on top of a bus in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 12

As soon as you start, head back to find a trial. For this one, go ahead and use your new demon. I recommend using the Y attack during the first phase and X during the second one — the latter is also useful for taking down any enemies that bother Bayonetta — but all in all, feel free to take them down using your regular attacks, as there’s plenty of time to take down the boss. Once done, you’ll get a Broken Moon Pearl.

Bayonetta stands in a dark chamber in Bayonetta 3. Image: Platinum/Nintendo via Polygon

Chapter 13

As soon as you start the level, head to your right to begin a trial. This one is tough, but here’s what worked for me: Use the new demon as your primary weapon, and then switch between its respective demon and the eagle every now and then. Now, as soon as the battle starts, I used the new demon to attack all three enemies and do torture attacks. Then when the two additional foes show up, I used the same one but I also started spamming B attacks — get close to them and spam that button while summoning and re-summoning the demon, don’t just use it to move around. Cancel the action, continue attacking, and summon it back again.

Then, when the boss appears, same strategy — here’s where you can alternate with the eagle, but again, don’t just let it fly but cancel and reactivate while attacking with B. It may take you a couple of tries, but as soon as you’re close and don’t stop spamming B attacks while having the demon helping you, you should tackle this without much trouble. At the end, you’ll be rewarded with the Broken Moon Pearl.

The next level of puzzles.

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