TL;DR
- You cannot climb the vines on your first visit — there is a gap the party cannot cross.
- You need the Petal Feather to unlock vine climbing.
- Get it by finding a watering can past the diner, unlocking a hidden path, and beating boss Aqua.
- After getting the Petal Feather, activate a Mysterious Structure near the Exit sign.
- The vines turn into leaf platforms you can jump across to reach the top.
Climbing the vines in Deltarune Chapter 5 is not something you can do the first time you see them. Kris, Susie, and Ralsei try to climb up, hit a gap they cannot cross, and drop back down. It looks like a dead end. It is not. You just need to find a key item first before the vines become climbable. This guide covers every step — from where to go after the diner, to getting the Petal Feather, to reaching the top.
If you are still working through the puzzle section of Chapter 5, check out our guide on how to solve the Ralsei four block switch puzzle in Deltarune Chapter 5 before continuing.
Why You Cannot Climb the Vines at First
After making your way through the diner in the flower shop Dark World, you come to an area where Asgore and Flowery are sitting at the top of a tall set of vines. The party starts climbing up, only to find a gap they cannot make it across. They drop back down.
There are also Mysterious Structures scattered around this area. When you interact with them, nothing happens. Both problems share the same solution — the Petal Feather.
You cannot get the Petal Feather by exploring the vine area. You have to leave, follow a hidden path, find a boss called Aqua, and defeat her. Once you do, the feather unlocks a 2D platforming mode that activates every Mysterious Structure in the chapter.
How to Get the Petal Feather
Step 1 — Head Left from the Exit Sign
From the Exit sign in the Dark World, go left. You will reach the diner. Take the door in the middle of the diner and follow the path inside.
Step 2 — Go Right and Pick Up the Watering Can
The path inside splits in two directions. Take the right branch. Keep going and you will find a watering can on the ground. Pick it up.
Step 3 — Use the Watering Can to Reveal Hidden Paths
Use the watering can on the ground around you to reveal hidden paths. Spray it on every suspicious patch of dark ground you can find. This also reveals a chest with a Green Tea item nearby, so it is worth using it thoroughly before moving on.
Step 4 — Find the Rock Structure Near the Torii Gate
Near the Green Tea chest, you will find a torii gate with a rock structure beside it. Use the watering can on this specific rock structure to open a gap in the rocks. Note that using the can here will cost you it, so make sure you have already revealed every other path before doing this step.
Step 5 — Head Through the Opening and Fight Aqua
Go through the cave opening that appears in the rock structure. Aqua is inside and will ambush you. She fights using a swarm of floating swords and knives. Stay mobile and avoid moving your heart into the blades. Defeat her to clear the way.
Step 6 — Follow the Path and Collect the Petal Feather
After beating Aqua, follow the single linear path ahead. There is only one way to go. Keep moving and climb the steps at the end. The Petal Feather is waiting at the top. Pick it up.
As soon as you collect it, the controls change. A gust of wind blows and the party feels lighter. You can now jump and swing your sword freely outside of battles. The game briefly switches into a 2D platformer style to show you the new mechanic.
How to Climb the Vines Using the Petal Feather
Step 1 — Return to the Exit Sign and Go Right
Head back to the Exit sign in the Dark World. This time, go right instead of left. You will find a Mysterious Structure — the same type that did nothing before. Now that you have the Petal Feather, it will respond.
Step 2 — Activate the Mysterious Structure
Interact with the Mysterious Structure. Activating it shifts the terrain in the room connected to it. The vines that were blocking the path are replaced by a set of leaf platforms you can jump across.
Step 3 — Enter the Room on the Left and Jump to the Top
Go into the room to the left — this is the same vine room where Asgore and Flowery were sitting at the top. The vines are gone now. In their place are leaves that act as platforms. Use your jump to hop from leaf to leaf, working your way upward. The platforming here is straightforward. Keep jumping up until you clear the room and reach the top. From there, you continue chasing Flowery deeper into the chapter.
What Happens After You Climb the Vines
Once you reach the top of the vine room, you continue on the main story path pursuing Flowery and Asgore. The Petal Feather stays with you and is used again in several platforming sections throughout the rest of Chapter 5, including during the Flower Castle climb and the final boss sequence.
The Mysterious Structures you passed earlier in the chapter can also be revisited now that you have the feather. Some of them unlock side paths and secret areas, including spots where Pink Coins can be found.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the watering can on the rock structure too early — If you use it before revealing all other paths in the area, you will miss hidden items. Reveal everything else first, then open the rocks.
- Trying to climb the vines before activating the Mysterious Structure — Getting the Petal Feather alone is not enough. You must interact with the structure next to the Exit sign to change the terrain first.
- Skipping the right branch in the diner path — The watering can is on the right branch after the diner door. Players who take the left path miss it entirely and get stuck.
