Who Is Cuckoo?
That little clockwork bird following Zirian around does real work. Here is what it is, what it does, and how to make it stronger.
Overview
Cuckoo is a sassy mechanical bird and Zirian’s constant companion on the journey through Tearfeld. The story implies the bird was built by Allira, Zirian’s sister, before Despair dragged her into the Clock Tower — a piece of her craft left behind to watch over him.
Beyond comic relief, Cuckoo is a functional support companion. As you earn Gears and collectibles, you steadily upgrade what it brings to a fight, so the bird is worth feeding alongside Zirian’s own abilities.
Role in Battle
Support Fire
Cuckoo can fire bullets to help Zirian in battle, adding ranged pressure while you focus on movement and melee.
Skill Tree
Cuckoo feeds a set of support skills unlocked through its own tree. Spend Gears to open new support options as you progress.
Crowd Help
Its abilities shine when enemies surround you — use Cuckoo’s support to break a pile-on while you reposition with a dodge.
How to Upgrade Cuckoo
Cuckoo’s power comes from the same exploration economy as the rest of the game: find Upgrade Gears and collectibles scattered through Tearfeld, then spend them on the support tree. There is no traditional XP bar — progress is item-driven, so detours that grab Gears directly strengthen the bird.
- Collect Upgrade Gears from side paths and optional routes.
- Open Cuckoo’s support tree and pick the node that solves your current problem.
- Revisit unreachable spots after unlocking later movement abilities — the bird benefits from every upgrade you find.
- Pair Cuckoo’s support with the time-freeze dodge for safe, layered offense.
A respec system has not been confirmed for the full game. Read each upgrade description before spending a Gear, since some choices may not be reversible.
How Cuckoo Connects to the Story
Cuckoo is the thread linking Zirian to his missing sister. Allira built the bird, and Despair imprisoned Allira in the Clock Tower — so the companion is both a piece of Allira’s craft and a reason to keep moving toward the Tower. Cuckoo’s support grows as Zirian does, mirroring the bond the journey is really about.