Stages are the platforming sections of Shovel Knight accessed from the map screen (Shovel of Hope, Plague of Shadows and King of Cards), Magic Mirror (Specter of Torment), Stage Select/Story Mode (Showdown), selected randomly or in fixed order (Pocket Dungeon, Dig).

Main Stages[]

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove[]

Shovel of Hope, Plague of Shadows, and Specter of Torment[]

The main stages are mandatory to complete any campaign. They can be further subdivided into three categories; the intro stage, the Order of No Quarter Stages and the Tower of Fate Stages. Each has at least one boss battle at the end of it.

Intro Stage[]

The intro stage introduces each campaign's gameplay mechanics. This level has to be completed before any of the protagonists can access the map or select any of the other stages.

Plains

Order of No Quarter Stages[]

Eight themed levels scattered across the Valley, with a member of the Order of No Quarter as the boss. Beating these removes a corresponding Locked Gate. For Shovel Knight and Plague Knight, the Order of No Quarter Stages are split into three groups where each group must be completed to access the next group, while Specter Knight can tackle each stage in whichever order he pleases.

Tower of Fate Stages[]

The endgame stages that must be beaten in a given order.

Tower of Fate: Entrance
Tower of Fate: Ascent (Shovel of Hope and Plague of Shadows)
Tower of Fate: ????

King of Cards[]

The main stages are divided in two or three shorter stages each (aside from the Tower of Fate, which is divided into four), but only the Plains, the Joustus Judge stages (Pridemoor Keep, Troupple Pond, and Birder Bluffs), and the Tower of Fate have a boss battle at the end of their last stage.

Plains

Lich Yard

Pridemoor Keep

Explodatorium

Iron Whale

Lost City

Troupple Pond

Stranded Ship

Clockwork Tower

Flying Machine

Birder Bluffs

Tower of Fate

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon[]

Plains
Pridemoor Keep
Lich Yard
Explodatorium (Paradox Pack DLC)
Magic Landfill
Iron Whale
Chromatic Caverns
Clockwork Tower
Stranded Ship
Flying Machine
Lost City (Paradox Pack DLC)
Scholar's Sanctum
Tower of Fate

Shovel Knight Dig[]

Hubs[]

Hubs are safe areas where playable knight/Mona can buy upgrades.

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove[]

Village / the Potionarium (Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows)
Armor Outpost (Shovel of Hope and Plague of Shadows)
Tower of Fate (Specter of Torment)
Glidewing (King of Cards)

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon[]

Camp
Castle Quandary (Puzzler's Pack)

Shovel Knight Dig[]

Surface

Item Stages[]

Item Stages are special stages intended to be completed with the use of a specific item. Shovel Knight and Plague Knight have entirely different Item Stages. They are marked with a gem icon which turns into an empty chest icon when completed. Specter Knight has more numerous, shorter item-related stages within the Tower of Fate. King Knight has stages more similar to those of Shovel Knight and Plague Knight, but his stages are marked with the icon of a vigor jar which turns into a bronze head of King Knight when completed.

Relic Stages[]

Relic stages are intended to be beaten with a particular relic as the name implies. Once cleared they cannot be replayed.

In the Shovel Knight Dig's case, the stages have to be first unlocked by Relic Keys and the relic has unlimited uses while in the stage.

Shovel of Hope[]

Shovel Knight Dig[]

Arcana Stages[]

Arcana stages replace the relic courses in Plague of Shadows. Like Relic Courses they are intended to be beaten with a particular Arcana. Unlike Relic Courses they can be replayed when completed.

Curio Stages[]

Curio stages can only be played after paying Red with Red Skulls in order to obtain a new Curio. Each stage limits Specter Knight to the use of the newly acquired Curio, which can be kept after finishing the stage. Like Relic Stages before it, once cleared they cannot be replayed.

Heirloom Stages[]

Like the Relic and Arcana stages, these stages are intended to be beaten with a specific Heirloom. King Knight is restricted from using his Shoulder Bash in these stages, restricting him to the use of the Heirloom obtained in each of these stages, much like in the Curio Stages. Also like Relic and Curio Stages, once cleared they cannot be replayed.

Memory Stages[]

Memory stages are Specter Knight's reminiscence of his past with Luan. Unlike other stages, they limit his items to the Caltrops and are in Sepia colors. Once cleared they cannot be replayed.

Joustus Stages[]

Joustus stages are areas where King Knight can battle other Joustus players, with a champion at the end of each one.

Chest Stages[]

Exclusive to King of Cards, Chest stages contain lots of goodies (such as treasure, dec re es, Joustus cards or even a boss-triggering item) and no enemies, with the exception of the first Gold Chest, which serves as a tutorial area for the rolling mechanic and features some Beetos and a Blorb as enemies. In most of them, there is at least one NPC that delivers information about the area. Like loot stages, after being completed, they disappear and cannot be replayed. There are two types that King Knight can visit:

Gold Chests[]

Card Chests[]

Encounters[]

Encounters are special events that appear on the map and disappear when cleared. With the exception of the loot bonus stages (in Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows), they roam around the map freely.

Roaming Bosses[]

A simple Boss fight. Each one has a unique map icon based on the boss in question, with the exception of Percy in King of Cards, since Percy is fought together with Plague Knight, so only PK's icon is seen.

Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows[]

Reize
Baz
Black Knight
Phantom Striker
Kratos - Sony version exclusive (Shovel of Hope)

King of Cards[]

Bonus Stages[]

A short section of level with plenty of treasure and enemies. The two encounter stages are marked by a Goldarmor Icon that moves on the map whilst the loot stages are marked by a gem that remains on the corresponding stage. When the bonus stages are completed they disappear from the map. In King of Cards, loot stages are still marked by a gem but they do not remain on the corresponding stage. Also for the first time, one loot stage contains a boss fight, in this case against Treasure Knight.

Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows[]

King of Cards[]

Plains Loot
Treasure Knight's Loot (if King Knight dies during the boss battle against Treasure Knight, this loot stage becomes an encounter boss, and King Knight will spawn right at the boss battle instead of having to replay the whole stage again)
Birder Bluffs Loot