Excalibur rests in the stone at the sword altar inside the Notre-Dame Chapel. Interacting with it early only hands you a clue, and the blade stays locked in place. The sword comes loose later, after the first ending, when pressing INTERACT at the altar wakes The Brittle King and starts the fight against the stained-glass knight Arthur.
Quick answer: Return to the Chapel altar after the first ending and press INTERACT (R1) until the cutscene triggers, then defeat Arthur to receive Excalibur and the Arcana card The Brittle King.
Where to find the Excalibur altar in Notre-Dame
Head to the Chapel in Notre-Dame. The sword sits on the central stone altar, surrounded by stained-glass windows, and it is marked on the map inside the Chapel. On this route you enter from the East Gallery on the left.
On a first visit, pressing INTERACT (R1) at the sword adds “NEW CLUE ABOUT THE BRITTLE KING” to the Tarot menu as a Feat of Strength clue. The blade cannot be drawn at that point, so leave it and continue the story.
How to draw Excalibur and trigger the Arthur fight
Return to this room after completing the first ending, when Notre-Dame’s windows are glowing and the shadow battle is over. The game does not state an explicit requirement.
How to beat Arthur (The Brittle King)
Arthur rises from glass fragments into a giant stained-glass knight carrying a crested shield. The fight runs about 30 seconds and has two attacks to read.
Ground wave
Watch for him crouching with his sword and shield held low. Move back, then jump over the shard wave as it rolls across the floor.
Light beams
As he rises off the ground, he hoists his shield overhead and gathers yellow light. A vertical pillar then surrounds him, with beams at fixed angles as his sword comes down. Stay grounded beneath him, strike his lower body from the spaces between beams, and dash into an opening whenever a beam sweeps your way.
In one version of the fight, he remains in this beam posture until the battle ends; holding position beneath him between the beams lets you deal steady damage. Your spells hit him too.
Excalibur rewards and how to confirm the unlock
After Arthur is defeated, his senses return and he pledges to serve you. The Arcana card and sword are awarded together.
| Reward | Details |
|---|---|
| Weapon | EXCALIBUR, LEGENDARY, ATK 100 |
| Weapon effect | Attacks send out bolts formed entirely from light |
| Charge attack | Hold and release Square; Blade Dive |
| Arcana card | The Brittle King (spell Stained-Glass Shield) |
Excalibur is described in-game as “The sword of the true king. Shoots projectiles of pure light when used to attack.” Its flavour text reads, “The fabled sword of legend, only the most worthy may wield its power and might.” To take it, follow the HOLD TO EQUIP prompt.
You know the unlock worked when the “Arthur” boss bar empties, the reward cutscene plays, and both EXCALIBUR and the Arcana card The Brittle King appear as your new gear.
