Combat & Shells
Mortal Shell II weapons: melee locations & sidearms
Mortal Shell II pairs eight obtainable melee weapons with ranged sidearms, and both equipment types have their own upgrade paths.
On this page
- The eight melee weapons
- Ranged weapons have their own role
- Find a moveset you want to invest in
- Early melee routes with the correct names
- Later melee routes
- Apply the post-launch weapon changes
- Unlock and test sidearm upgrades
The eight melee weapons
Use the locations below as route starters. Some dungeons require keys, puzzles or boss fights, so finish the local objective before expecting the weapon pickup to be accessible.
| Weapon | Where to look |
|---|---|
| The Iconoclast | Prologue |
| Axe and Dagger | Shrine of Trials |
| Veteran’s Battle Axe | The King’s Crypt |
| Great Martyr’s Blade | Martyr’s Prison |
| Obsidian Hammer | Obsidianite Mines |
| Black Needle | Sester’s Gate |
| Axatana | Tower northeast of The Silent Steps |
| Clockwork Scythe | Chamber of Becoming |
Ranged weapons have their own role
Sidearms include the opening Naylshotte, the Forgotten Crossbow, Troubadour’s Lute, Salvaged Trebuchaxe, Ballistazooka, Triarch Repeater, Cursed Child and Caged Hystrix.
These are equipment choices, not eight different character classes. The dedicated Triarch Repeater page covers that pickup’s route and upgrade setup.
Find a moveset you want to invest in
The game’s upgrade systems support melee and ranged weapons. Start by testing reach, speed and recovery, rather than choosing only from an unsupported damage ranking.
Merrick’s optional maps point toward approximate melee-weapon locations. Missed melee weapons can still be collected after the final boss before entering New Game+.
Early melee routes with the correct names
The Iconoclast is the starting melee weapon obtained in the Prologue. Axe and Dagger is found at the end of Shrine of Trials: obtain the Chapel Key from the burning-pyre area south of Mushroom Village, unlock the dungeon northwest of the Beacon, and complete its hidden-wall and floor-switch rooms.
Veteran's Battle Axe is in The King's Crypt northwest of Shattered Beacon. Follow the dungeon until the long drop; the weapon is on a body beside an enemy. Great Martyr's Blade is in Martyr's Prison northwest of Gloomshade Grove, beyond the locked room with four enemies.
Later melee routes
Obsidian Hammer is awarded after defeating Prophet of Profane Infinities at the end of Obsidianite Mines in the Deserted Slums. Black Needle comes from defeating Twin Sesters and Stray Sesters at the end of Sester's Gate. Those spellings matter when matching the in-game map and a search result.
Axatana is inside the tower northeast of The Silent Steps, behind the Bone Gate opened by the button on the tower's rear. Clockwork Scythe requires following Sariel into Chamber of Becoming, defeating him again, and breaking all four tombstones so he can no longer revive.
Apply the post-launch weapon changes
Balance Patch 1 increased Great Martyr's Blade attack damage by 20% and Troubadour's Lute attack damage by 100%. It also removed minimum Resolve requirements from Triarch Repeater and Caged Hystrix and improved light-attack tracking for Axatana, Black Needle, and Clockwork Scythe.
The Week 1 Update followed with a broader heavy-weapon pass: Obsidian Hammer was made substantially stronger, Great Martyr's Blade received another increase, and heavy weapons gained poise and damage adjustments. Axatana's weapon ability now grants invulnerability frames and inflicts Fragile stacks. Launch-week tier lists may not represent this build.
Unlock and test sidearm upgrades
The eight sidearms are Naylshotte, Forgotten Crossbow, Troubadour's Lute, Salvaged Trebuchaxe, Ballistazooka, Triarch Repeater, Cursed Child, and Caged Hystrix. Destructoid places three of the seven post-Prologue pickups in Fainweald and four in Ruins of Mammon.
To unlock sidearm upgrades, obtain the Obsidian Lathe from Martyr's Tomb near Widow's Overlook and return it to Franz in Marrow Keep. Test firing commitment, movement, and the weapon's current Resolve behavior before upgrading; a route unlocks the system, not a universally best build.
Watch alongside the guide
Videos from the creators cited in this guide. May contain spoilers.
Mortal Shell 2 - Weapons Guide
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