Valor Mortis All Transmutation Abilities Location Guide – Fire, Stasis, Shield, Grapple and More

TL;DR

• There are five Transmutation abilities in Valor Mortis — three are combat powers (Fire, Stasis, Shield) and two are traversal abilities (Grapple, Nephtoglobin Platform Control).
• Fire — Chapter 1, The Battlefield. First ability unlocked. Burns enemies and destroys golden growths.
• Grapple — Chapter 3. Unlocked by defeating the Iron Marshall. Used to swing across gaps.
• Stasis — Chapter 4, the Caverns area. Slows and freezes enemies and machinery.
• Nephtoglobin Platform Control — Chapter 5, Ship Graveyard Lantern. Creates platforms for traversal.
• Shield — Chapter 8, the University. Protects against all damage including poison and toxic gas.
• All Transmutations are unlocked through story progression — none are missable.
• Upgrading them requires Transmutation Materials, bought or found while exploring.

What Are Transmutations in Valor Mortis?

Transmutations are supernatural abilities that William draws from the Nephtoglobin plague infecting the world of Valor Mortis. They sit in your left hand — the same slot used by firearms like the Pistol, Blunderbuss, and Musket — meaning you switch between a gun and a Transmutation depending on what a situation calls for.

Think of them like BioShock’s Plasmids. They add an elemental or supernatural layer on top of your melee combat rather than replacing it. You can parry, swing your sword, and fire a Transmutation all in the same fight. The key is learning when to spend your Nephtoglobin bar — the purple resource bar under your health — and when to hold it in reserve.

Every Transmutation serves a dual purpose. They help in combat, but they also unlock parts of the world that you physically cannot reach without them. This gives Valor Mortis a strong Metroidvania-style progression loop — areas that look inaccessible early on become reachable as you unlock new abilities through story progress.

There are five abilities in total: three combat Transmutations (Fire, Stasis, Shield) and two traversal abilities (Grapple and Nephtoglobin Platform Control). You get them all through story progression — none require side quests or hidden discoveries to unlock.

How Transmutations Work in Valor Mortis

Before getting into locations, a few things worth knowing about how Transmutations actually function:

• They cost Nephtoglobin to use. Your purple Nephtoglobin bar depletes each time you activate a Transmutation. You refill it by hitting enemy weak points (lambent blisters) with firearms or the Rapier, through regular melee attacks, and by picking up Nephtoglobin Remnants dropped by enemies.
• They’re upgraded at the Abandoned Church. Just like your weapons, Transmutations have their own upgrade trees and require Transmutation Materials — which can be found while exploring or purchased from the Church shop.
• They occupy the same slot as your gun. You switch between your firearm and your Transmutation depending on what the fight needs. You cannot use both simultaneously.
• They double as exploration keys. Every Transmutation opens up parts of the world you couldn’t reach before. Keep a mental note of blocked areas so you can return once you unlock the relevant ability.
• Don’t neglect Fire just because stronger abilities come later. Fire is available from Chapter 1 and remains useful throughout the entire game. Waiting for Stasis or Shield before engaging with the Transmutation system is a common beginner mistake.

Transmutation #1 — Fire Transmutation Location (Chapter 1)

fire transmutation location in valor mortis

The Fire Transmutation is the very first ability William gains in the game. You unlock it in Chapter 1: Revival, set in The Battlefield region. It happens automatically during the main story path — shortly after you discover the Onslaught Arch Lantern, fight the enemy that emerges from the lake, and head up the slope beyond it. The ability is waiting there for you.

You cannot miss it. It is required to progress past this point.

What the Fire Transmutation Does

Fire lets William shoot flames from his left hand. In combat, it builds up the Ignite status effect on enemies. Once their Ignite meter fills, they start taking continuous fire damage and step back — giving you breathing room and a reliable way to deal with groups that are pressing you hard.

For exploration, Fire burns through the dry yellow Nephtoglobin growths that block certain paths throughout the world. These golden vine-like walls won’t budge unless you hit them with Fire. Remember their locations so you can return and clear them as you go.

Fire Transmutation Upgrades

The Fire Transmutation has one of the deeper upgrade trees in the game. The key branch at the end is between Unstable Blaze and Never Ending Inferno:

• Unstable Blaze — When you fire an amplified Pistol shot into an enemy that already has the Ignite status, it triggers a large AOE explosion that consumes the Ignite effect and deals massive area damage. This is the choice for the Pistol and Saber fire build — it creates one of the strongest burst combos in the game. See the Valor Mortis Saber guide for how this build works in full.
• Never Ending Inferno — Extends the duration of Ignite, allowing enemies to burn for longer before the effect expires. Better for sustained damage builds that want to keep enemies burning through a long fight rather than triggering a single big explosion.
• Brittleness — An earlier upgrade that increases melee damage dealt to burning enemies. This works well with the Claymore, which generates free Transmutation attacks through its Rampage counter after hitting enemies seven times.

For most builds, Unstable Blaze is the more exciting and impactful final upgrade. Never Ending Inferno has its place in sustained fire builds but loses out on the payoff that Unstable Blaze delivers.

Best Ambers for Fire Transmutation

• Lunatic’s Grasp — Speeds up Ignite buildup on enemies, which is especially useful if you’re relying on melee attacks to apply fire rather than the Transmutation directly.
• Fire Breathing — Deals fire damage and helps build Ignite with dodging, giving you an extra way to apply the status without spending Nephtoglobin.

Traversal Ability #1 — Nephtoglobin Grapple Location (Chapter 3)

The Grapple ability is unlocked in Chapter 3. After defeating the Iron Marshall, approach the body he was guarding in the destroyed house. Interact with it to receive the Nephtoglobin Grapple ability.

This is tied to the story and cannot be missed as long as you defeat the Iron Marshall, which is a required boss fight.

What the Grapple Does

The Grapple lets William swing across gaps using glowing blue Nephtoglobin anchor points scattered across the world. These are the glowing blue balls you’ll have been noticing since Chapter 1 without being able to interact with them. Once you have the Grapple, they open up entirely.

On the exploration side, the Grapple dramatically expands where you can go. Entire side routes, hidden chests, Ambers, and shortcuts become accessible once you have it. It’s well worth backtracking through earlier areas after unlocking it — you’ll find things you couldn’t reach before.

In combat, the Grapple has a more situational role, but it can pull you rapidly between positions and is needed for certain combat encounters and the Aerial Annihilation achievement.

Transmutation #2 — Stasis Transmutation Location (Chapter 4)

The Stasis Transmutation is found in Chapter 4, inside the Caverns region. During your exploration of this area, you will come across the entity that holds this ability. Approach it to receive the Stasis Transmutation automatically.

It is another story-required pickup — you cannot progress through the Caverns section without encountering it.

What the Stasis Transmutation Does

Stasis lets William slow down and ultimately freeze enemies by filling their Stasis meter. Once the meter is full, the enemy is locked in place, leaving them completely open to attacks for a brief window. Every time you fill a Stasis segment on an enemy, they also drop a Nephtoglobin Remnant — which you can pick up to restore enough Nephtoglobin to fill another Stasis segment. This creates a self-sustaining loop in the right circumstances.

Tougher enemies need more Stasis energy to lock down, but the payoff on bosses is significant. The Sphinx boss, for example, is much easier when you use Stasis to freeze it between its charge attacks and claw swipes, giving you consistent openings without needing to rely on risky parry windows.

Exploration-wise, Stasis can stop moving gears and machinery in their tracks. This is how you access certain areas where rotating platforms or cogs block your path. Freeze the mechanism, traverse safely, and let it resume.

Stasis Transmutation Upgrades

Stasis has its own branching upgrade tree. The recommended end-game choices are:

• Implosion over Eruption — Implosion increases the burst damage dealt when a fully Stasis-locked enemy is struck. Eruption is an alternative that deals AOE damage on the Stasis break, but Implosion’s raw single-target payoff tends to be more consistently useful.
• Hex over Control — Hex applies additional debuffs to Stasis-affected enemies, creating more ways to exploit the frozen window. Control extends the freeze duration.
• Drain over Expansion — Drain recovers Nephtoglobin when you damage a frozen enemy. For a Stasis build that relies on constantly filling and consuming Stasis meters, this keeps your resource bar healthy throughout fights.

Best Ambers for Stasis Transmutation

• Bountiful Harvest — Restores health when you collect Nephtoglobin Remnants. Since enemies drop Remnants every time you fill a Stasis segment, this creates a powerful healing loop during Stasis-heavy combat.
• Bottomless Well — Slowly regenerates your Nephtoglobin bar over time. Since a Stasis build depends almost entirely on having Nephtoglobin available, a passive regeneration Amber is hugely valuable for keeping the build functional.

Best Stats for Stasis Builds

If you’re planning to build around Stasis, your stat priorities should be Transmutation Sufferance (increases your Nephtoglobin capacity) and Transmutation Damage (increases how much damage Stasis and other Transmutations deal). Nephtoglobin Extraction is also useful — it refills your Nephtoglobin faster when you hit enemies in melee, keeping the Stasis loop going even in extended fights.

Traversal Ability #2 — Nephtoglobin Platform Control Location (Chapter 5)

The Nephtoglobin Platform Control ability is found in Chapter 5. After activating the Ship Graveyard Lantern, walk toward the end of the path and interact with what’s there to receive this ability automatically.

Like all Transmutation pickups, this is tied to story progression and cannot be missed.

What Nephtoglobin Platform Control Does

This traversal ability lets William create and manipulate Nephtoglobin-based platforms in certain designated areas. Combined with the Grapple, it opens up another layer of exploration that was previously inaccessible.

Specifically, certain chasm crossings and side routes in the later chapters require you to generate platforms to stand on before swinging across with the Grapple. Like the other traversal abilities, it’s worth revisiting earlier areas with this unlocked — some optional Oathbound guards and hidden collectibles require both Grapple and Nephtoglobin Platform Control to reach.

Transmutation #3 — Shield Transmutation Location (Chapter 8)

The Shield Transmutation is the last ability you unlock and comes quite late — in Chapter 8, while exploring the University region. Take the elevator to one of the highest floors of the University building. The Shield Transmutation is waiting there for you.

It unlocks automatically as part of story progression and is required to access certain parts of the late-game world, including the Fortress area, which is completely blocked behind toxic gas until you have it.

What the Shield Transmutation Does

Shield generates a powerful barrier around William that absorbs all incoming damage — including from physical attacks, toxic gas fields, and burning ground — as long as your Nephtoglobin bar holds out. Once the bar depletes, the Shield drops and you’re exposed again.

In combat, Shield is a defensive anchor. You can use it to survive long, heavy attack combos from bosses without burning through your Ferrofluid Flasks — block the swings, then counter during the recovery window. It can also deflect incoming bullets when upgraded, and keeps stagger pressure building during sustained offensive boss phases.

For exploration, Shield is the key to crossing poison gas areas and toxic fields that were impassable before. Several locked paths, including the route to the Fortress area and certain side routes in later chapters, require you to sprint through poison while the Shield absorbs the damage. Once you unlock it, go back and explore every area you remember being blocked by toxic hazards.

Shield Transmutation Upgrades

The Shield Transmutation is most effective when upgraded to improve its capacity to tank damage and to release energy when it expires or absorbs a hit:

• Upgrade options that extend the Shield’s duration by improving your Nephtoglobin Sufferance stat alongside the Shield tree are worth prioritising. More Nephtoglobin means longer Shield windows.
• The Shield also has a role in certain boss encounters — the Orphan boss fight is specifically easier when you use Shield to ride out its long, heavy combo strings rather than trying to parry every swing individually.

All Transmutation Abilities at a Glance

Here is a quick reference table for all five abilities, listed in the order you unlock them:

• Fire Transmutation — Chapter 1, The Battlefield (Onslaught Arch Lantern area). Burns enemies, applies Ignite, destroys yellow Nephtoglobin growths.
• Nephtoglobin Grapple — Chapter 3, after defeating the Iron Marshall. Swings across gaps using blue anchor points.
• Stasis Transmutation — Chapter 4, the Caverns. Slows and freezes enemies, stops moving machinery.
• Nephtoglobin Platform Control — Chapter 5, Ship Graveyard Lantern. Creates platforms for traversal in designated areas.
• Shield Transmutation — Chapter 8, the University (highest floor via elevator). Blocks all damage, survives toxic gas and poison fields.

How to Upgrade Transmutations in Valor Mortis

All three combat Transmutations — Fire, Stasis, and Shield — can be upgraded at the Abandoned Church, which is your main hub throughout the game. Upgrades use Transmutation Materials, which are separate from the Blade Materials and Firearm Parts used for weapon upgrades.

You can find Transmutation Materials while exploring the world, and they can also be purchased directly from the shop inside the Abandoned Church. Don’t wait too long to start upgrading — unlike weapons, Transmutations can fall behind quickly if you ignore them, especially once you reach Chapter 4 and 5 where encounters become significantly harder.

The achievement Transmutation Artifex requires fully upgrading a single Transmutation to its maximum level. This needs a Quintessential Transmutation Material as the final upgrade — the first of which can be found while exploring the Castle. Plan your upgrade path around whichever Transmutation matches your build, and push it to max before spending resources spreading upgrades across all three. For the full achievement list, see our Valor Mortis all achievements and trophy list.

Transmutation Tips and Tricks in Valor Mortis

• Backtrack after every new unlock. Each new Transmutation and traversal ability opens up areas you passed earlier. The moment you unlock Grapple, go back to every gap you couldn’t cross. Do the same with Platform Control and Shield. Hidden Ambers, upgrade materials, and shortcuts are waiting behind those barriers.
• Use Fire on the yellow growths immediately. Dry golden Nephtoglobin walls appear from the very start. Every time you see one, burn it. Many of them hide shortcuts, chests, and Ambers that make the next section much easier.
• Don’t save your Transmutations for emergencies only. It’s tempting to hoard Nephtoglobin, but using your Transmutations actively in combat keeps your Nephtoglobin refilling through weak-point hits and Remnant pickups. Saving them until you’re desperate means you’re not using the full system.
• Stasis against bosses is extremely underrated. Players who rush through the Stasis Transmutation without learning it often struggle against bosses needlessly. Filling Stasis segments on a boss creates safe attack windows without needing perfect parry timing. On the Sphinx in particular, Stasis transforms one of the hardest fights in the game into something much more manageable.
• Use Shield to cross toxic zones and then explore what opens up. The Fortress area is the most obvious example, but there are other poison-blocked paths earlier in the game. Once you have Shield, make a dedicated sweep of every area you remember being blocked by toxic hazards.
• Invest in Nephtoglobin Extraction if you use Transmutations regularly. This stat refills your Nephtoglobin when you hit enemies in melee. It turns every sword swing into a partial recharge for your Transmutation abilities, keeping the resource loop healthy without having to constantly aim at weak points.
• The Transmutation slot and your firearm share the same hand. You have to choose which tool you want available at any moment. In a fight where you need your Pistol for weak points, swap to the Pistol. When you need to Stasis a boss, swap to Stasis. Getting comfortable with that swap — quickly and without thinking about it — is a big part of mastering combat in Valor Mortis.

Transmutations and the Arsenal Absolute Achievement

The Arsenal Absolute achievement requires unlocking every weapon and Transmutation in the game. Since all five abilities come through story progression — and the Shield Transmutation is the last one, unlocked at the University in Chapter 8 — you’ll have this achievement automatically by the time you finish the main story, as long as you haven’t skipped anything unusual.

The related Jack-Knife achievement asks you to deal damage with every melee weapon, firearm, and Transmutation without dying. After unlocking the Shield Transmutation at the University, head back to a lower-level area and use each Transmutation on a group of weaker enemies. Cycle through Fire, Stasis, and Shield in a single encounter without dying to tick it off.

Other Valor Mortis Guides You Might Need

• Valor Mortis Pistol Gun Guide
• Valor Mortis Blunderbuss Gun Guide
• Valor Mortis Musket Gun Guide
• Valor Mortis Claymore Sword Guide
• Valor Mortis Rapier Sword Guide
• Valor Mortis Saber Sword Guide
• Valor Mortis All Swords and Guns Weapons List
• Valor Mortis Tips and Tricks for New Players
• Valor Mortis Fast Travel Guide
• Valor Mortis All Chapters List
• Valor Mortis All Achievements and Trophy List
• Valor Mortis Review
• Valor Mortis Release Date Guide

Valor Mortis Transmutation Abilities FAQs