Mortal Shell 2: How to Harden

While Mortal Shell 2 follows its Soulslike brethren by featuring parrying, guarding, and rolling out of the way, the ability to Harden remains something unique to the series. Introduced in the first Mortal Shell as a pivotal mechanic for soaking up damage, Harden lets your Harbinger temporarily strengthen its skin into rock, warding off enemy blows for a prolonged period of time.

Harden is an incredibly strong ability that some may find a tad overpowered; nevertheless, it also brings its own challenges to the table. In this guide, we'll tell you exactly how to Harden in Mortal Shell 2, and provide a few tips for maximising its potential.

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How to Harden

You'll obtain the ability to Harden after playing through the Prologue of Mortal Shell 2 and finishing the fight with the Tar Golem boss. After Harros saves you from the Tar Golem's wrath, you can loot his corpse to obtain Vatra's Seal, which lets you Harden when you equip it.

Harros might be gone, but his Harden abilities live on in you through Vatra's Seal. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

To Harden, press and hold LB. Your Harbinger will turn into rock. There are a few things to know about this form:

• Harden lasts until an enemy hits you, or as long as you hold the Harden button.
• If an enemy hits you while you're Hardened, they'll temporarily be staggered.
• There's a Harden bar on the bottom of the screen that must recharge before you can use Harden again.
• If you hit the Harden button right before an enemy's attack connects, this counts as a Perfect Harden, and causes Break damage to the enemy's Break bar (the yellow bar beneath their health). The Harden bar will instantly refill if you pull off a Perfect Harden.
• Perfect Harden is superb as long as you succeed on the correct timing. It's easier to time than an actual parry, and thanks to the Harden bar instantly refilling, you can pop it over and over again to deal consistent Break damage to a foe. You can also Perfect Harden every attack even when multiple enemies are attacking you at once, something that's nearly impossible with the other Seals.
• Harden protects against all enemy attacks except for ones telegraphed by a red flash, which are unblockable attacks and grabs.

It's important to emphasise that yes, Harden can theoretically last indefinitely. While this seems like it might be ridiculously strong, it's balanced by the Harden bar needing to recharge. Sure, you can Harden yourself when you're facing a boss and absorb a truly devastating blow - but you'll be in a tight spot if they attack you again before your Harden has recharged.

Harden is excellent when you're outnumbered or want to go no-holds-barred against a few mobs. Just keep a close eye on that Harden bar. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

For this reason, Hardening is a great option if you've got an aggressive playstyle and like dashing into the fray, but also have the skills to monitor and manage the Harden bar. It's also useful to those having trouble with parrying or guarding, or as a means to protect your Harbinger when they're out of their Shell.

I personally prefer using Harden for Shells that emphasise speedy hit-and-run attacks, like Tiel. Your mileage may vary, but I find it not as necessary for the likes of tankier Shells, who may benefit from parrying instead.

And that's a wrap on how to Harden in Mortal Shell 2. For more on tips on getting started, check out our guides on how to fast travel between Beacons, the Immersive Camera vs the Action Camera, how to get the Axe and Dagger, and how to get the Lute. Our list of all bosses will also serve you well as you get your preferred Shell ready for combat, and our walkthrough is a vital resource to ensure you can 100% this killer Soulslike.