# Castle Ravenloft, the Heart of Sorrow

> From the Curse of Strahd game wiki (it covers the whole game, spoilers included): https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-heart-of-sorrow.html. Unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy, not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.

> [!infobox]
> ![loc castle ravenloft spires heart 1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-castle-ravenloft-spires-heart-1.webp)
> **Region:** [Castle Ravenloft](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/regions/castle-ravenloft.md) · level 10
> **Resting:** no
> **Light:** dim
> **Getting here:** [Castle Ravenloft, the High Tower](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-high-tower.md)
> **Quests:** [The Heart of Sorrow](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-heart-of-sorrow.md)

## Overview

The round room at the very top of the high tower, with windows on the whole valley. In the middle, over a low dais, hangs a crystal heart the size of a man, beating slowly. It takes Strahd's wounds before he does.

A round room at the top of the world, windows on every side. In the middle hangs a heart of red crystal as big as a man, and it beats.

**Resting:** no Nobody sleeps beside that heartbeat.

![loc castle ravenloft spires heart overview](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-castle-ravenloft-spires-heart-overview.webp)
*The whole place from above.*

## Getting here

### Ways in

- **From [Castle Ravenloft, the High Tower](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-high-tower.md):** Up to the top of the tower

### Ways out

| # | Exit | Leads to | Only when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Down to the high landing | [Castle Ravenloft, the High Tower](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-high-tower.md) |  |

## Map

![castle ravenloft spires heart](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/maps/castle-ravenloft-spires-heart.svg)

**Key:** gold, people; red, containers; purple, hidden finds; teal, skill checks; white, exits; orange, traps. The numbers match the lists on this page.

## What to find

The containers here also get random magic items and potions, rolled for a party of level 10 the first time you come ([Random Treasure](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/random-treasure.md)). Hidden finds need a Search (F) nearby; the party's best roll counts.

## Fights

- *He is standing beside the heart with one hand resting on the glass, as a man rests a hand on a horse he is…*, in [Castle Ravenloft, the Heart of Sorrow](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-heart-of-sorrow.md): [Strahd von Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/strahd-von-zarovich.md), [Helmed Horror](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/helmed-horror.md).

- *The heart rings like a struck bell. Below, armour comes clanking up the last turn of the stair, and something…*, in [Castle Ravenloft, the Heart of Sorrow](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-heart-of-sorrow.md): [Strahd's Animated Armor](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/strahds-animated-armor.md), [Helmed Horror](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/helmed-horror.md). Scales with your level.
> [!example]- By party level (the first line your party fits is the fight you get)
> - **[Castle Ravenloft, the Heart of Sorrow](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-heart-of-sorrow.md)**, when not heart guardians beaten and level ≥ 11: 2 × [Strahd's Animated Armor](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/strahds-animated-armor.md), 2 × [Helmed Horror](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/helmed-horror.md) (6800 XP)
> - **[Castle Ravenloft, the Heart of Sorrow](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-heart-of-sorrow.md)**, when not heart guardians beaten and level ≥ 10: 2 × [Strahd's Animated Armor](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/strahds-animated-armor.md), [Helmed Horror](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/helmed-horror.md) (5700 XP)
> - **[Castle Ravenloft, the Heart of Sorrow](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-heart-of-sorrow.md)**, when not heart guardians beaten: [Strahd's Animated Armor](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/strahds-animated-armor.md), [Helmed Horror](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/helmed-horror.md) (3400 XP)

- *Mist pours up out of the stair and stands up in the shape of a tall man in black. He looks at the shards for…*, in [Castle Ravenloft, the Heart of Sorrow](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/castle-ravenloft-the-heart-of-sorrow.md): [Strahd von Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/strahd-von-zarovich.md).

## Quests and lore

- [The Heart of Sorrow](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-heart-of-sorrow.md): At the top of Castle Ravenloft's high tower hangs a crystal heart that takes Strahd's wounds before he does.