How to Get the Makeshift Projectile in Mortal Shell 2

TL;DR

• The Makeshift Projectile is a key item found at the southern cliff edge in the Ruins of Mammon.
• Head south from the Outskirts of Mammon beacon, cross under the stone bridge, and pick it up near a group of Grisha Hunters.
• Take it to the catapult southwest of the Outskirts of Mammon beacon and select “Place Ammo.”
• The shot blasts open a false wall near Castigator’s Keep, revealing the hidden Alchemist’s Workshop dungeon.
• Inside you get a Synaptic Vessel, Glimpses, and the Clockwork Shardstone — all worth the detour.

The Makeshift Projectile is one of those items in Mortal Shell 2 that just sits in your inventory without any real explanation. No NPC points you toward it. No quest log tracks it. The game just drops it in a corner of the map and expects you to figure it out. If you need help getting started in the region first, check out our Mortal Shell 2 beginner’s guide before diving in here.

In short, this item loads into a catapult and fires a shot that destroys a hidden wall, opening up a secret dungeon. You can also check our guide on all beacon locations in Mortal Shell 2 to make navigation through Mammon a lot easier before you start.

What Is the Makeshift Projectile?

The Makeshift Projectile is a key item in Mortal Shell 2. Its in-game description says: “Ammunition for a great siege weapon.” That is your only hint. The item is used as ammo for a catapult in the Mammon region. Once loaded and fired, the rock flies across the map and smashes into a false wall near the Alchemist’s Workshop dungeon, blowing it wide open.

The entire sequence is optional. But skipping it means you will likely never find the Alchemist’s Workshop at all, which contains some genuinely good rewards.

Where to Find the Makeshift Projectile in Mortal Shell 2

The Makeshift Projectile is located in the southernmost part of the starting island in the Ruins of Mammon. It sits right at the cliff’s edge, below the large stone bridge that runs south of the Outskirts of Mammon beacon.

Step-by-Step: Getting to the Makeshift Projectile

1. Fast travel to the Outskirts of Mammon beacon.
2. Head south toward the large stone bridge. You will see a group of soldiers guarding the gate. You do not need to fight them — just run past.
3. At the end of the bridge, jump to the right to drop down to the lower level below the bridge.
4. From there, keep walking straight south toward the edge of the cliff.
5. At the cliff’s edge, you will find the Makeshift Projectile on the ground, glowing. It is guarded by a few Grisha Hunters, so be ready to fight or dodge past them.
6. Pick it up. You will see the “New Item Acquired: Makeshift Projectile” notification.

Bonus tip: There is a chest near the gate in this area that holds the Foundry Stone. This item unlocks the ability to refund upgrade costs at the Tarforge. Grab it while you are here — it is very useful later. You can read more about how the Tarforge system works in our Mortal Shell 2 Tarforge guide.

Where Is the Catapult in Mortal Shell 2?

The catapult is located southwest of the Outskirts of Mammon beacon, right next to the statue where the NPC Ruk hands you the Map of Mammon fragment. Several soldiers are standing near it, but you do not need to clear all of them.

You may have already passed by this catapult earlier in your exploration of Mammon. If you did, you probably noticed the prompt to load ammo but had nothing to put in it at the time. Now that you have the Makeshift Projectile, it all makes sense.

How to Use the Makeshift Projectile at the Catapult

1. With the Makeshift Projectile in your inventory, walk up to the catapult.
2. Interact with it. A prompt will appear: “Place Ammo.”
3. Select Yes.
4. The catapult fires automatically. Watch the rock fly off into the distance.

The whole thing takes about five seconds. No puzzle, no timing mechanic, no extra steps. The catapult does its job and the sequence ends. You just need to go find where the rock landed.

Where Does the Makeshift Projectile Land?

The shot lands near the Alchemist’s Workshop dungeon, which sits in the island chain west of Castigator’s Keep and east of the Gate of Mammon beacon. The projectile crashes into the mountainside near a construction site filled with Miner enemies, punching a crater into the false wall and exposing the dungeon entrance.

How to Reach the Alchemist’s Workshop

1. Fast travel to the Castigator’s Keep beacon.
2. Drop down to the lower area below the keep.
3. Follow the wooden platforms southwest.
4. You will reach a construction site with Miner enemies around it.
5. Look for the area of destroyed wall with a fresh crater. That is the dungeon entrance opened by your catapult shot.
6. Walk in.

Note: If you have not fired the catapult, the same spot on the cliffside stays sealed behind an intact false wall. You cannot enter the Alchemist’s Workshop without firing the projectile first.

What Do You Get Inside the Alchemist’s Workshop?

This is why the detour is worth it. The Alchemist’s Workshop contains some of the more useful pickups you will find in the Mammon region.

• Synaptic Vessel — Found on a pedestal in an inner chamber. This upgrades your healing flask (Mether’s Flask), making it more potent. Healing upgrades are among the most valuable things you can find in the game.
• Glimpses (x4–5) — Also in the inner chamber near the Synaptic Vessel. These are used to develop your Bond with Shells and unlock progression bonuses.
• Clockwork Shardstone — This is a Tarstone found in a chest at the very bottom of the dungeon. It equips to your primary weapon and consumes Resolve over time to spin the weapon like a chainsaw. Each spin deals damage and stagger. It is a strong offensive Tarstone, especially if you want an aggressive build. You can compare it against other options in our best Tarstones for beginners guide.

How to Clear the Alchemist’s Workshop

1. Enter the dungeon from the destroyed false wall near Castigator’s Keep.
2. Pull the lever near the entrance to lift the gate blocking your path.
3. Cross the stone bridge and move deeper inside.
4. Find the bookshelf in the workshop. Pass through it — it is a fake wall leading to a hidden room.
5. In the secret room, walk across the narrow bridge toward the altar. This is where the Synaptic Vessel and Glimpses are waiting.
6. Before leaving that room, pull the lever next to the altar to lift a gate back in the elevator room.
7. Return to the elevator. Step on it — but be warned, it is a fake elevator. It drops you to a lower floor and a group of enemies ambushes you.
8. Fight through the corridor. At the end, defeat the Shell Snatcher (also called Shell Thief in some versions).
9. Open the chest it guards to get the Clockwork Shardstone.
10. Exit through the light in the middle of the room.

There is also an alchemical brew sitting on a desk inside the workshop. If you consume it, your camera will tilt sideways — just interact with the desk again to fix it. It is more of a curiosity than anything useful.

Is the Makeshift Projectile Worth Getting?

Yes, without question. The Synaptic Vessel alone makes it worthwhile. Improving your healing flask directly affects how well you survive tough fights throughout the rest of the game. The Clockwork Shardstone is also a solid Tarstone if you enjoy playing aggressively. You can read more about keeping your build strong in our guide on how to level up using Gloom in Mortal Shell 2.

The whole sequence — grabbing the projectile, firing the catapult, reaching the workshop, and clearing it — takes maybe 15 to 20 minutes. The rewards are better than most optional content in the game, and you need to do this before tackling the region’s harder dungeons.

If you are working through the region and want to plan your route, it also helps to know about how fast travel works in Mortal Shell 2 so you can jump between beacons without wasting time.

Frequently Asked Questions