Claws Of Power How to Unlock the Hidden Stages
Three secret stages, three different unlock gates, and the cheapest path through each.
The three hidden stages are the most rewarding fights in the game because each one gates a permanent unlock — usually a rare cat or a stat-boost item that is not available anywhere else. The catch is that the unlock paths are easy to miss. This page walks through every gate in the order most players discover them.
Hidden Stage 1 — the alley ambush
The first hidden stage sits between stages 14 and 15. The unlock condition is hidden in plain sight: clear stage 14 with one cat at full health. The game does not flag this — you only see the prompt to enter the alley if your reserve cat is at full HP when you finish.
The trap is that you cannot replay the unlock easily. If you cleared stage 14 with all four cats injured, the alley stays closed for that save file. Use the Deck Builder before re-rolling any decision on this fight to keep your reserve healthy.
The alley fight itself is a surprise: the enemy spawns twice as fast and the back lane is permanently exposed. Bring your strongest melee cat and your fastest ranged cat. The hidden boss drops a passive item that gives every melee cat a 10 percent damage boost; the Tier List lists which melee cats extract the most value from it.
Hidden Stage 2 — the bridge
The second hidden stage is hidden behind a side-quest on the second island. Clear stage 25 with no item use and the bridge opens. The quest sits behind a fence icon on the map; you may have walked past it on your first playthrough.
The bridge fight punishes over-relying on items. You will be tempted to use one every phase — do not. Save one heal item for phase 3 and one attack-speed item for the bridge collapse in phase 2. The bridge boss drops a passive that boosts ranged DPS by 8 percent; pair it with the S-tier ranged cats in our tier list.
Hidden Stage 3 — the cat throne
The third hidden stage is the most difficult to unlock because the gate is a quest chain, not a single fight. You have to clear level 30 with a 4-2-1-1 deck, beat one Lord Challenge, and finish the second island’s bridge fight. The How to Beat Level 30 walkthrough covers the deck requirement.
The cat throne fight is the only place to roll the legendary cat. The drop is weighted — roughly a 6 percent chance per clear, capped at four clears per week. Plan your runs for the days you have time to make all four attempts; otherwise the unlock may take multiple sessions.
What to do if you missed a hidden unlock
If you cleared a stage without meeting the unlock condition, do not panic. Two of the three hidden unlocks can be re-attempted by replaying the level with the right setup. The alley unlock cannot be replayed on the same save — start a new save file if you want the bonus cat on your first playthrough.
Each hidden stage has a unique unlock condition. The fastest way to clear all three is to follow this guide chapter by chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fast answers to the questions players ask most.
Can I unlock every hidden stage with free cats?
Yes, but the legendary cat from the cat throne is much easier to roll with a 4-2-1-1 deck that includes an S-tier melee. The [Best Starter Deck](/tier-list/best-starter-deck/) page covers the cheapest path to that deck.
I cleared stage 14 with all cats injured. Is the alley unlock gone?
On that save file, yes. Start a new save or accept that the unlock is gone. The other two hidden stages remain available regardless.
What is the best reward from the hidden stages?
The legendary cat from the cat throne is the rarest drop. The other two stages drop reliable passive items that are worth equipping on your main deck once you reach stage 30.