Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Hints

Hint - Jewel Sword
The Jewel Sword is one of the most usefull weapons in the game.With the Jewel sword you have the ability to occasionaly turn your enemies into saleable jeweled rings.How often they become jewels and what type of jewel they become is detemined by your luck.(note.This is a very helpful way to purchase the coveted duplicator)There are 2 ways you can obtain the Jewel Sword as follows.

Destroy the discus lord that is positioned just below the entrance of the first castle several times, eventually he will drop a Jewel Sword.(Note.Make sure to wait until he has completely dissapeared as the items from a discus lord will not show up until he has completly dissapeared)

In the area just past the zombies in the entrance right above the merman(this is the only place you see merman in the game), there is a big rock that you can break open on both sides to enter it. In order to reciece the jewel sword you must first break open both sides of this rock, then you must go through i t once as a bat, then once again as a wolf. This should open up a hidden door in the wall of the bottom left of that area.(right next to the merman)In the room of that opened door will be the Jewel Sword and a Life Apple. The Life Apple is only useable if you have the fairie card on.
Submitted by mr_shaggz
Hint: Better Stats (Alucard)
When you fight Dracula with Belmont in the begin of the game DONT LOSE ANY HP and DONT TAKE ANY SUBWEAPONS(LIKE HOLY WATER) use only the fire whip and defeat Dracula. You should do this entire process in about 50 seconds. If successful, the stats Alucard starts with will be slightly (five points) higher than normal.