Cuptain
Ah! Soldiers, brimming with youth. Seek you to join the ranks of the Cuptains?
Cuptain, Chapter 4
Cuptains (JP: カップテン) are a group of Darkner NPCs that appear within the Dark Sanctuaries in Chapter 4 of Deltarune. They represent the plastic cups used to hold juice after every church service.
Cuptains are red plastic cups with a white bar lining the rim. They walk on small, yellow legs, and a yellow feather is attached to the top. A single eye is present at the center of the cup.
Cuptains are chivalric in behavior and have a fondness for the Mizzles, treating them as princesses and striving to reach them. They try to climb up to higher places to reach more princesses, believing that a princess's value is equal to their height.[1]
"Cuptain" is a portmanteau of "cup" and "captain".
Numerous Cuptains are present in the Dark Sanctuary. They are often seen climbing up walls. Kris can knock off any climbing Cuptains by colliding into them while climbing with ClaimbClaws.
The room east of the study contains many Cuptains attempting to climb up pillars to reach what they believe to be their princesses at the top. Many of the Cuptains admit they do not have the grip strength to reach the top, and one Cuptain notes the Mizzle on the ground level but does not aspire to reach her.
A Cuptain appears after donating to the money fountain in the Library. They question if the party had any change.
After defeating Jackenstein, a Cuptain appears in the room west of the study, attempting to attack a Guei in honor of a nonexistent "m'lady". Backtracking to the Lower Left area reveals a Cuptain seeking advice from a Bibliox in hopes of becoming a "righteous hero".
In the eastern offshoot of the East Belltower, the Cuptains mention charging their jump to reach further heights. As Kris climbs up the wall, the Cuptains keep track of how long it took to reach the checkpoints. At the top, one Cuptain accuses the party of attempting to wake up the Mizzle near the treasure chest and charges at them, but the Cuptain is easily knocked off. Many more Cuptains appear and charge at the party, which wakes up the Mizzle. The Mizzle admonishes the Cuptains and leaves.
After playing the piano at the top of the East Belltower, a stack of Cuptains appears at the edge of the room and offers to transport the party to the bottom. The Cuptain stack persists and can transport them back to the top.
In the southwest belltower, where Miss Mizzle can be found, many Cuptains can be found climbing up the wall. The Cuptains on the ground lament their lack of grip strength as they attempt to reach Miss Mizzle. If Miss Mizzle was spared, the Cuptains commend the party for recruiting her.
On the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of Deltarune, a diminutive cup can be found at the first switch the Old Man flips, near the southeast belltower. The narration describes it as being "switch-exclusive content".[2]
In the 2nd Sanctuary, the Cuptains are petrified and immobile. A Cuptain stack and Cuptain pyramids are present in the Gallery room. An Organikk philosopher admires the Cuptain stack's formation.
After restoring the Dark Sanctuary, a Cuptain is present in the now abandoned study and directs the party to head back the way they came. A Cuptain also appears at the base of the climbable wall leading to the golden piano, warning the party that a Wicabel had destroyed it.[3] If the player played the golden melody, they talk about how the mystery of the piano was solved and the song will "play on in our hearts"[4], but if the player did not, they talk about how the mystery will never be solved.[5]
In the 3rd Sanctuary, if at least one Darkner enemy was recruited and none were LOST, a stack of Cuptains and Darkners catches Jackenstein as he falls from the tower. The Cuptains encourage the party to defeat the Knight. After losing against the Titan twice, a hurt Cuptain appears near the battle arena and offers items to the party, with more appearing the more they lose.
A Cuptain appears in Castle Town's church near the climbing minigame. They congratulate the player on getting a "respectable" amount of time and question if they can beat their current record.
Cuptains were teased twice before the release of Chapter 4 via the official Newsletter. In the Winter 2024 Newsletter, Toby Fox shared an image of a walking Cuptain at the bottom of the Deltarune status update section.
In the Autumn 2024 Newsletter, Toby posted an animation of a Cuptain climbing a pillar in the Dark Sanctuary at the end of the Deltarune progress update section.
A climbing Cuptain
A hurt Cuptain
Petrified Cuptains stacked in a small pyramid shape in the Gallery room
Petrified Cuptains stacked in a large pyramid shape in the Gallery room
Petrified Cuptains stacked vertically in the Gallery room
An unused sprite of a petrified Cuptain
- The sounds of the Cuptains climbing and falling appear to be inspired by the sounds of Mario's walking and enemies falling in the NES version of Mario Bros.
- ↑
But any good Cup knows a Princess's value is equal to their height.
— Cuptain, Chapter 4 - ↑
(... huh? There's a small red cup waving at you from atop the switch.)
— Narration, inspecting the switch on the Nintendo Switch versions, Chapter 4
(... This must be what they mean by "switch-exclusive content".) - ↑
O, there once was a great fortepiano up above! How it sang in gold...
— Cuptain, Chapter 4
Until the Grand Door opened, releasing a cacophony of ancient witches.
They did away with its fine timbres... leaving naught but dissonance. - ↑
But, Warriors! I heard rumor you did solve the piano's mystery.
— Cuptain, Chapter 4
Though the piano be gone, its song may play on in our hearts... - ↑
O, that the mystery of the piano was not solved!
— Cuptain, Chapter 4
And now... it shall never be.