Spelunky is © 2008, 2009 Derek Yu and Mossmouth, LLC, and is used under the [Spelunky User License v1.1b](https://spelunky.ai/LICENSE.txt). spelunky.ai is an unofficial fan project, not affiliated with or endorsed by Mossmouth. The game and its assets may not be sold. Music by George Buzinkai and Jonathan Perry; sound effects made in SFXR. From Spelunky Classic 1.1, © 2008, 2009 Derek Yu and Mossmouth, LLC. # Crystal Skull sold as an idol From the spelunky.ai wiki: . Verified against the spelunky.ai port [v0.1.10](https://github.com/851-labs/spelunky/releases/tag/v0.1.10) on 28 October 2026. The Crystal Skull sold as an idol is a quirk of Spelunky Classic in which a Crystal Skull sold to a Shopkeeper shows as a golden idol between levels. | Quirk | | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Status | GML + Oracle | | Where | `objects/oGoldIdol/step.gml:9-27` | | Pinned by | `fidelity/replays/item-seed-213-crystal-skull-sold.txt` | | Row | [docs/quirks.md §1, Bugs and leftovers in the 1.1 source](https://github.com/851-labs/spelunky/blob/main/docs/quirks.md#1-bugs-and-leftovers-in-the-11-source): “A Crystal Skull sold to a Shopkeeper shows as a golden idol between levels.” | The [Crystal Skull](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/crystal-skull) is a kind of [Golden Idol](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/golden-idol) in the code: a child of the idol's object, with its own sprite and value[^1]. Two places count an idol for the loot shown between levels, the level's exit and a sale to a [Shopkeeper](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/shopkeeper), and only the exit tells the Skull apart. ## What happens On a cemetery level, the player sets the Crystal Skull down in Lazlo's Kissing Parlor, and the Shopkeeper buys it. Between levels, the loot shows it as a golden idol[^2]. **Clip: A crystal skull, sold, counts as a golden idol.** On a cemetery level, the player sets the crystal skull down in Lazlo's Kissing Parlor, and the shopkeeper buys it. Between levels, the loot shows it as a golden idol. ([video](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/media/015c74cb8645abba/clips/quirks/crystal-skull-sold-as-idol/clip.mp4)) ## Why An idol set down on a shop's floor near a Shopkeeper who's standing calmly is sold: it pays its value and counts one more idol, whatever its sprite[^3]: ```gml objects/oGoldIdol/step.gml:16-19 global.collect += value*(global.levelType+1); global.collectCounter += 20; if (global.collectCounter > 100) global.collectCounter = 100; global.idols += 1; ``` `objects/oGoldIdol/step.gml:16-19`, from `spelunky.gmk`, Spelunky Classic 1.1's source, © 2008, 2009 Derek Yu and Mossmouth, LLC ([Spelunky User License v1.1b](https://spelunky.ai/LICENSE.txt)). Carried out of the level instead, it's counted by the player's step, which tells the two apart by the sprite[^4]: ```gml objects/oPlayer1/step.gml:2079-2080 if (holdItem.sprite_index == sCrystalSkull) global.skulls += 1; else global.idols += 1; ``` `objects/oPlayer1/step.gml:2079-2080`, from `spelunky.gmk`, Spelunky Classic 1.1's source, © 2008, 2009 Derek Yu and Mossmouth, LLC ([Spelunky User License v1.1b](https://spelunky.ai/LICENSE.txt)). Between levels, the transition room draws a loot icon for each count, a golden idol for each of `idols` and a Crystal Skull for each of `skulls`, so the sold Skull is drawn as an idol[^5][^6]. The money is the Skull's own. ## Reproducing it Carry the Crystal Skull from the Jungle's graveyard level to a shop on the same level, and set it down on the shop's floor near the Shopkeeper while he's calm. The replay pins it: seed 213's Skull sold in Lazlo's Kissing Parlor counts as an idol, the transition room draws the golden idol's icon for it, and the count of Skulls stays 0[^7]. ## In the port The spelunky.ai port reproduces it exactly: it's in docs/quirks.md's list of the 1.1 source's bugs[^6], and the oracle's fingerprint of the replay pins the counts. No option turns it off. ## FAQ ### Can you sell the Crystal Skull in Spelunky Classic? Yes. Set down on a shop's floor near a calm [Shopkeeper](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/shopkeeper), the [Crystal Skull](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/crystal-skull) is bought, as the [Golden Idol](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/golden-idol) is. Between levels, the loot shows it as a golden idol. ### Does selling the Crystal Skull pay less than carrying it out? No. The sale pays the Skull's own value, as carrying it out of the level does; only the icon between levels is wrong. ### Is the Crystal Skull showing as an idol a bug? It's in the 1.1 source: the sale counts every idol it buys as a golden one, where the level's exit tells the Skull apart. The spelunky.ai port keeps it. ## See also - **Related:** [Crystal Skull](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/crystal-skull), [Golden Idol](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/golden-idol), [Shopkeeper](https://spelunky.ai/wiki/shopkeeper), Kissing Parlor ## References [^1]: `objects/oCrystalSkull/create.gml:3-4` [^2]: Clip quirks/crystal-skull-sold-as-idol [^3]: `objects/oGoldIdol/step.gml:9-27` [^4]: `objects/oPlayer1/step.gml:2079-2080` [^5]: `objects/oTransition/alarm_0.gml:102-113` [^6]: Quirk 1 (docs/quirks.md) [^7]: Replay `fidelity/replays/item-seed-213-crystal-skull-sold.txt` ### Source code - `objects/oGoldIdol/step.gml` - `objects/oPlayer1/step.gml` - `objects/oTransition/alarm_0.gml`