Mortal Shell 2: All Weapon and Sidearm Locations (Complete Guide)

TL;DR

• There are 16 total armaments in Mortal Shell 2 — 8 melee weapons and 8 sidearms.
• Two are unlocked in the prologue, six are in Fainweald, and eight are in the Ruins of Mammon.
• Melee weapons are your primary damage source and generate Resolve when you attack.
• Sidearms are secondary ranged weapons that consume Resolve to fire.
• All weapons and sidearms can be upgraded at the Tarforge in Marrow Keep.
• You need to find the Muradean Actuator to upgrade melee weapons and the Obsidian Lathe to upgrade sidearms.

Mortal Shell 2: All Weapon and Sidearm Locations

Mortal Shell 2 gives you a wide range of weapons to use across its dark and brutal open world. There are two types of armaments — melee weapons and sidearms. You carry one of each at a time, and you can switch between them freely depending on the situation. Knowing where every weapon is can make a real difference, especially when you hit a wall and need a new tool to deal with tougher enemies.

Before hunting for weapons, make sure you have already found your first shell in Mortal Shell 2 so you can actually survive the encounters along the way. If you are still getting started, our Mortal Shell 2 Beginner’s Guide covers the basics you need to know before exploring.

The game is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. Visit the official Mortal Shell website for more information.

Weapons vs Sidearms — What Is the Difference?

Weapons and sidearms in Fainweald

It helps to understand how the two weapon types work before you start collecting them.

Melee weapons are your primary offensive tool. Every hit you land with a melee weapon generates Resolve — a resource stored in your Resolve meter. The more you attack, the more Resolve you build up.

Sidearms are your secondary ranged weapons. They consume Resolve to fire. So the two systems are directly connected — you fight in melee to charge your Resolve, then spend it on ranged attacks when the moment is right. Some sidearms behave more like traditional ranged tools, while others do unexpected things like confuse enemies or deal elemental damage.

You can also destroy glowing effigies found in the world to collect Resolve directly, giving you more flexibility when you need a sidearm burst without fighting first.

How Weapon Upgrades Work in Mortal Shell 2

All weapons and sidearms can be upgraded at the Tarforge in Marrow Keep. The Tarforge is run by an NPC named Franz. When you first meet him, the forge is not fully operational. You need to bring him specific items to unlock its features.

• Muradean Actuator — Unlocks melee weapon upgrades. Found in a chest at the Village Outskirts Beacon during the prologue. Hard to miss.
• Obsidian Lathe — Unlocks sidearm upgrades. Found in the Martyr’s Tomb dungeon, just south of Widow’s Overlook Beacon in Fainweald, right next to where you find the Tiel shell.
• Endless Core — A late-game item that removes the upgrade level cap on all weapons and sidearms.

To actually upgrade a weapon once the forge is active, you need Coins and smithing stones — materials like Ventrium, Laterite, Dorsalite, Thoracium, and Ossinite found throughout the world. Tarstones, which slot into weapons for passive effects and abilities, are upgraded separately using Etching Needles and Coins. Tarstones gain XP when slotted into a weapon and used in combat.

All Weapon and Sidearm Locations in the Prologue

Two armaments are given to you automatically during the prologue, alongside your first shell.

The Iconoclast (Melee Weapon)

A classic one-handed sword. This is your starting melee weapon, handed to you when you first inhabit the Harros shell. It is reliable, straightforward, and good for learning the combat system. You keep it even after the prologue ends.

Naylshotte (Sidearm)

A shotgun-like contraption that fires a spread of projectiles in a wide cone. Also given during the prologue alongside The Iconoclast. Great for close-range burst damage when enemies cluster together. You also unlock the Untarnished Seal at the same time, which enables blocking.

All Weapon and Sidearm Locations in Fainweald

Fainweald is the first open region and holds six armaments to collect. They are spread across dungeons and open-world locations. Here is where to find all of them.

Forgotten Crossbow (Sidearm)

Found inside the Flooded Village dungeon. From Widow’s Overlook Beacon, follow the sloping path and cross the rope bridges leading to the lower crags. Look for a stone arch covered by wooden boards — smash them to reveal a hidden tower entrance. Head down the steps inside, press the wall switch to lift the cage, and ride the elevator to the bottom. The elevator collapses, so you will need to fight your way through. Watch out for Toxic Stalkers that inflict poison. Make your way to the house at the back of the pools to grab the Damp Key. Return to the main structure and use the key to open the locked door. The Forgotten Crossbow is your reward.

Veteran’s Battle Axe (Melee Weapon)

Located inside the King’s Crypt dungeon. Just follow the dirt path near where you find the Proxima shell after unlocking her. You will stumble into a cavern naturally. Clear the enemies inside and loot the sarcophagus at the far end to claim this axe.

Axe & Dagger (Melee Weapon)

Requires the Chapel Key to access. The key is found on a plateau near the Mushroom Village Beacon. Once you have it, return to the Mushroom Village Beacon and go left toward a Grisha Hunter encampment. Use the key to enter the locked tower and complete three simple puzzles:

• Room 1: Face the king pillar and walk backward — the fake wall disappears.
• Room 2: Strike the stone blocks until they rest on both pressure plates.
• Room 3: Defeat the Armored Knight enemy and collect the Axe & Dagger.

Troubadour’s Lute (Sidearm)

Found in the One-Legged Wolf Tavern in the eastern part of Fainweald. You need to collect and siphon enough Ova to remove the corrupted growth blocking access, then head north from the Mushroom Village Entrance Beacon. The tavern sits right next to the One-Legged Wolf Beacon. The Lute is on the stage inside. This is one of the most unique sidearms in the game — it causes confusion in nearby enemies, making them attack each other. While you are there, you can also start the quest for the Gragu shell.

Salvaged Trebuchaxe (Sidearm)

Your reward for clearing the Ravaged Hideout dungeon, located at the base of the hilly area outside the Citadel of Penance. You must defeat the Bloodcursed Lithopod boss inside. Killing it drops an item that permanently opens the Citadel of Penance gates as a bonus. As the name suggests, this sidearm launches axes at enemies — unusual and satisfying.

Great Martyr’s Blade (Melee Weapon)

Found in the Martyr’s Prison dungeon, which sits just outside the eastern walls of the Citadel of Penance. Interact with the mysterious coin pouch inside to get teleported into the prison area. Fight through the tight corridors and defeat the enemies at the end to claim this large blade. It pairs especially well with the Eredrim shell for aura-farming builds.

All Weapon and Sidearm Locations in the Ruins of Mammon

The Ruins of Mammon is the second major region and contains eight armaments — the largest haul of the two areas. Some require boss fights, others are tucked in dungeons that are easy to miss.

Obsidian Hammer (Melee Weapon)

Hidden inside the Obsidianite Mines dungeon. From the Outskirts of Mammon Beacon, head west until you reach a quarry area with a large pool of water. Drop into the pool and enter the dungeon below. Inside the mines, fall down the chasm carefully — land on the ledges below to avoid fall damage. At the very bottom, defeat the Prophet of Profane Infinites miniboss to receive this heavy sledgehammer.

Ballistazooka (Sidearm)

Located inside the Sentry’s Grave dungeon, which is inside the Lonesome Spire. The dungeon is packed with Ballista Head enemies that fire painful projectiles. In the final chamber, you face the Subjugated Guardian miniboss — a tougher Ballista Head whose shots cause explosions. Stay close to limit its ranged attacks and focus on blocking the head-slam attacks. The Ballistazooka drops once it is dead.

Triarch Repeater (Sidearm)

Found deep inside the Blackwell Cavern dungeon. Here is how to reach it:

• Tag the Castigator’s Keep Beacon first so you have a nearby rest point.
• From the Beacon, go down the steps and follow the cliffside path east-southeast.
• Take the wooden lift down and circle around the grassy field until you spot a cave mouth.
• The dungeon is almost completely dark inside. Move carefully through the narrow tunnels.

The Triarch Repeater waits at the end. It is a rapid-fire ranged weapon that rewards aggressive Resolve spending.

Cursed Child (Sidearm)

Obtained from the Revered Beacon dungeon inside Sester’s Abbey. The path there:

• Start at the Sester’s Gate Beacon and head to the courtyard with the Rollerball enemy.
• Look over the edge of the walkway to spot a ledge below. Drop down and shoot a bell to open a path.
• Continue to the lower section of the abbey and enter the dungeon.
• Inside, there is a large Eye-like structure that projects a moving spotlight. Standing in the light drains your health — stay behind walls and wait for it to pass.
• You can goad enemies into the spotlight too, since it damages them as well.
• Reach the top and destroy the object to claim the Cursed Child.

Axatana (Melee Weapon)

Found in the Forgotten Tower, reached from the same starting point as the Cursed Child route. From the ledge past the Rollerball enemy, instead of heading into the abbey interior, turn left and use the jump gate to cross the ravine. Inside the Forgotten Tower, use another jump gate to reach the opposite side. Press the plate beside the metal door, defeat the Dagger Sester enemy that appears, and pick up the Axatana from the niche. This is widely considered one of the best weapons for damage output in the late game.

Black Needle (Melee Weapon)

Also in Sester’s Abbey, obtained by cleansing the Sester’s Gate Beacon. Progress through the dungeon normally and shoot bells to materialize ledges. When you enter an arena-like space, you trigger the Twin Sesters boss encounter — one wields a rapier and the other a bow. Defeat both, then face the Stray Sester. She drops the Black Needle spear when killed. This weapon has good range for a melee option and suits aggressive playstyles.

Clockwork Scythe (Melee Weapon)

Dropped by the Sariel boss in the southeastern Mammon region. Here is the route:

• Tag the Silent Steps Beacon south-southeast of Castigator’s Keep.
• Use the jump gate and engage Sariel in the open area. He escapes when his HP drops low enough.
• Follow him up the steps into the Chamber of Becoming dungeon.
• Fight Sariel a second time inside. Destroy the lightning rods to prevent him from resurrecting.
• Killing Sariel drops the Clockwork Scythe and also unlocks him as a playable shell.

Caged Hystrix (Sidearm)

Found in the same area as the Clockwork Scythe, right after the Sariel fight ends. Once Sariel’s memory sequence is complete, pick up the Caged Hystrix near the exit of the Chamber of Becoming. You can grab both in a single run through that area, making it one of the most rewarding detours in the game.

Quick Reference — All 16 Weapons and Sidearms

• The Iconoclast — Prologue (melee)
• Naylshotte — Prologue (sidearm)
• Forgotten Crossbow — Flooded Village dungeon, Fainweald (sidearm)
• Veteran’s Battle Axe — King’s Crypt dungeon, Fainweald (melee)
• Axe & Dagger — Chapel Tower, Fainweald — needs Chapel Key (melee)
• Troubadour’s Lute — One-Legged Wolf Tavern, eastern Fainweald (sidearm)
• Salvaged Trebuchaxe — Ravaged Hideout, outside Citadel of Penance, Fainweald (sidearm)
• Great Martyr’s Blade — Martyr’s Prison dungeon, eastern Citadel of Penance, Fainweald (melee)
• Obsidian Hammer — Obsidianite Mines dungeon, western Mammon (melee)
• Ballistazooka — Sentry’s Grave dungeon inside Lonesome Spire, Mammon (sidearm)
• Triarch Repeater — Blackwell Cavern dungeon, Mammon (sidearm)
• Cursed Child — Revered Beacon dungeon, Sester’s Abbey, Mammon (sidearm)
• Axatana — Forgotten Tower, Sester’s Abbey, Mammon (melee)
• Black Needle — Sester’s Gate Beacon dungeon, Sester’s Abbey, Mammon (melee)
• Clockwork Scythe — Dropped by Sariel boss, southeastern Mammon (melee)
• Caged Hystrix — Chamber of Becoming exit, after Sariel fight, Mammon (sidearm)

Tips for Weapons and Sidearms in Mortal Shell 2

• Unlock the Tarforge early. Grab the Muradean Actuator from the prologue beacon and the Obsidian Lathe from Martyr’s Tomb as soon as possible. Upgraded weapons hit much harder and carry better Tarstone slots.
• Match your sidearm to your shell. Fast shells like Tiel benefit from quick sidearms that complement hit-and-run play. Tankier shells like Lazlo can afford to spend more Resolve on heavy sidearm blasts.
• Keep Resolve topped up. Smash glowing effigies in the world to refill Resolve without needing to fight. This is especially useful before entering a dungeon where you want a sidearm charged from the start.
• Tarstones change everything. Slotting the right Tarstones into your weapon can completely change how it feels. Infusion Tarstones add elemental effects, Combat Tarstones alter attack patterns, and Ability Tarstones give you new active options tied to your weapon.
• The Troubadour’s Lute is underrated. It looks like a joke weapon but using it to confuse enemies and make them fight each other is one of the most effective crowd control tools in the early and mid-game.
• Get the Axatana before the final stretch. It is one of the highest-damage melee weapons in the game and holds up well into the late game when upgraded.

Wrap Up

Finding all 16 weapons and sidearms in Mortal Shell 2 is one of the most rewarding parts of exploring Fallgrim. Most are tucked inside dungeons or earned from miniboss fights, so they feel genuinely earned rather than just picked up off the floor. The combination of melee and Resolve-powered sidearms gives the combat real depth once you start building around them.

Work through Fainweald first, upgrade at the Tarforge as soon as the Actuator and Lathe are in your hands, and keep an eye out for the Axatana and Clockwork Scythe once you push into Mammon. For a full look at how everything fits together, check out our Mortal Shell 2 Review.