Mortal Shell 2: Best weapons and sidearms

Mortal Shell 2 features a bevy of stellar combat tools separated into main weapons and sidearms, and these killing machines run the gamut from a katana-axe hybrid to a rapid-fire alien machine gun. Each weapon has its quirks, and it will take time to experiment with the right combination of Tarstones to maximise their potential.

That said, it is possible to rank these fighting implements based on their ease of use and damage capabilities. In this guide, we'll do just that, providing you with a rundown of the best weapons in Mortal Shell 2 with a main weapons tier list and a sidearms tier list. We'll also present two Tarstone suggestions for each weapon and sidearm to ensure that you're well-equipped for the deadly battles ahead.

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Best weapons tier list

The following is our best weapons tier list for Mortal Shell 2, based on experimenting with each weapon alongside various Shells:

S-Tier

Axatana

The light form of the Axatana is so good. Don't bother trying to figure out the mechanism for how it switches to an axe; I can't understand it either. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

It's both an axe and a katana - how could this not be number one? Seriously though, the Axatana was a fan-favourite weapon in the first Mortal Shell, both for its ridiculous nature and sheer fluidity in combat, and the same is true here. The Axatana is the best of both the light and heavy weapon worlds, and its only quirk is a slight delay when switching between its katana and axe forms that you'll need to accommodate in your combos.

Even with this delay, the katana form is so good that you may not even bother switching to the axe. Whichever side of this dual-natured blade you prefer, equip it with the Duality Stone to ensure that every attack you make hits twice, and the Hexapod Core to do a special move that slices and dices rapidly.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Duality Stone (found in the Ravaged Tomb dungeon, east of Nochtean Gate Beacon)
• Hexapod Core (obtained after defeating the Hexapod)

A-Tier

Axe and Dagger

Tiel's favourite weapon. Sneak into the shadows and stab away. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

We've got a helpful guide on how to get the Axe and Dagger, since this pair of sharp thieves' tools can be found very early on in Mushroom Village. Perfect for a sneaky damage dealer like Tiel, the Axe and Dagger are capable of rapid strikes and swift movements that will help cleave through Mortal Shell 2's early-to-mid game opponents like a knife through butter.

While the Axe and Dagger's power does start to slide by the endgame, where the light form of the Axatana outclasses it, Magdalena's Memento is a good shout for jumping up in a spiralling attack that helps take down mobs surrounding you. Infusing these bad boys with Poison via the Serpent Stone also never gets old.

Recommended Tarstones:

Black Needle

Using Sester Genessa's clone ability to do extra pokes with the Black Needle is a great way to melt foes. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

Undeniably sleek and balanced, the Black Needle is a darn spiffy spear, and possibly has the fastest attacks in the game, with a poke that can consistently stab enemies at a relatively safe range. Fighting the annoying red sesters in the Sester's Retreat of Mammon will give you a good idea of how this weapon works - just spam light attacks and watch those thrusts deal nice damage over and over again.

The Black Needle's heavy attacks are much slower and less useful, especially when compared to the consistency of the Battle Axe. But this is an excellent weapon if you want to be like Hornet in Hollow Knight: Silksong, and who doesn't? Combine it with the Nightgrasp Stone for Phantom damage and the Zealot's Stone for an effective light combo finisher.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Nightgrasp Stone (found in a chest that requires 3 offerings near the Abbey Entrance Beacon)
• Zealot's Stone (found in the Besieged Ruins dungeon, east of the High Lord's Courtyard Beacon)

Veteran's Battle Axe

The jumping heavy attack of the Battle Axe is especially nice. Time to carve these snails up! | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

The Veteran's Battle Axe carried me through 90% of my first Mortal Shell 2 playthrough. Heavy weapons feel riskier in this game than in other Soulslikes, especially since their slow strikes often leave you open to unblockable boss moves. Nevertheless, while I admit that the Axatana is more flexible, the Battle Axe is the best of the heftier weapons. Its heavy attack chains hit hard without being too slow, and even though the second attack of its light combo is a short-range poke, you can get used to this with time.

Stick the Inflamed Clawstone on the Battle Axe to infuse it with Burn, and the Lost Clotstone to fling it, which is a fantastic way to create distance and potentially send foes falling off cliffs. It's also the only way I managed to beat Sir Isaac.

Recommended Tarstones:

B-Tier

Clockwork Scythe

A bony weapon for a bony Shell. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

This is Sariel's creepy weapon, and its wide arcs and tremendous sweeps are certainly good for clearing away mobs. Since several optional bosses in Mortal Shell 2 consist of groups, the Clockwork Scythe shines in these moments and definitely gives off a necromantic aura as you leave corpses in your wake.

Unfortunately, the Clockwork Scythe's heavy and light attacks are both fairly slow. Its running combos also lock you into long animations that look cool in theory, but make dodging or parrying difficult to pull off. In my book, this one's good for AoE crowd control and less useful in other scenarios, but infusing it with Bloodcurse via the Arbiter's Prize is still neat, as is the Clockwork Shardstone, which makes it spin rapidly.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Arbiter's Prize (obtained after defeating the Great Arbiter of Flesh)
• Clockwork Shardstone (found in the Alchemist's Workshop dungeon, which is near Castigator's Keep Beacon, but can only be accessed if you use the Makeshift Projectile to fire the catapult near the Outskirts of Mammon Beacon)

Great Martyr's Blade

That's a JRPG-style blade in my Soulslike if I ever saw one. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

An evolution of the OG Martyr's Blade in Mortal Shell 1, the Great Martyr's Blade is a heavy hitter with great reach and high damage potential. While its equivalent shone in the first game for staggering bosses (especially when paired with Tiel, who made for an oddly good glass cannon), the varied weapons of Mortal Shell 2 mean that it's unfortunately not as useful. Those light and heavy attacks are just too slow.

That said, if you avoid regular strikes and instead focus on running attacks, the Great Martyr's Blade cleaves with a superb intensity, and you have a few i-frames while performing your running heavy strike. Try equipping the Clerik's Stone to grant the blade a heavy combo finisher, and the Warden's Stone to infuse it with Frost, which is once again a carryover from its abilities in the first game.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Clerik's Stone (found in a chest behind a fake wall in the Ruins of Nochte)
• Warden's Stone (obtained after defeating Urrig, the Executioner)

Iconoclast

A longsword and a flower crown; that's all I need to kill everyone in my way. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

The Iconoclast is your starting blade, which means that all players are going to spend at least some time with it, and a few might end up preferring it to everything else. It's your standard, reliable longsword - nothing more, nothing less. When it comes to balance, the Iconoclast does exactly what you'd expect, and is consistent enough in the damage department while lacking the unwieldy feel of other weapons like the Clockwork Scythe and the Obsidian Hammer.

If you want to make the Iconoclast a tad more exciting, equip it with the Shrike Stone, which lets you jump up and slam it into the ground, triggering a shockwave. I'm also partial to the Parasitic Stone, which grants Leech stacks with every kill that can help raise your maximum health over time.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Shrike Stone (found in a chest on an alternate path not far from the Sunken Village Beacon)
• Parasitic Stone (found in the Martyr's Tomb dungeon, not far from where you fight the Great Arbiter of Flesh)

C-Tier

Obsidian Hammer

Honestly, peak physique. Sadly, the Obsidian Hammer is not as peak. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

Yes, it hits like a pile of bricks. But oof, is the Obsidian Hammer slow. At this moment, unless heavy weapons receive a significant buff in a patch, the Obsidian Hammer is only suitable for the most advanced players who can parry everything that comes their way and don't need to worry about the slow factor. Even then, this is going to be a tricky weapon to use well against any boss that has strings of unblockable attacks.

If you simply like gargantuan clubs and really want to give the hammer a go, the Colossus Stone lets you slam it into the ground for a shockwave. You can also fling it like the Battle Axe with the Lost Clotstone.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Colossus Stone (found in a chest past a Bone Gate north-east of The Silent Steps Beacon)
• Lost Clotstone (obtained after defeating the Lost Child)

Best sidearms tier list

The following is our best sidearms tier list in Mortal Shell 2, from the starting Naylshotte to the more obscure Cursed Child.

S-Tier

Caged Hystrix

Pew pew pew, went the Caged Hystrix as it bit into the flesh of its enemies. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

The Caged Hystrix is a wicked little sidearm that's basically the result of stuffing a Facehugger from the Alien franchise into a gun. Every shot makes the weird lifeform inside this gizmo spit out rapid-fire rounds, and it's a viciously speedy peashooter when compared to the other projectile weapons.

With steady upgrades, the Caged Hystrix will be unparalleled at inflicting chip damage on bosses, staggering enemies, and mowing down incoming mobs. It's also very flexible, with a wide range of Tarstones applicable for whatever situation you're in. My personal favourites include the Hag Stone, for Poison infusion, and the Splitting Stone, which ups the number of projectiles you can shoot without using Resolve.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Hag Stone (found in the Infested Den dungeon, which is accessed when you Cleanse the Outskirts of Nochte Beacon)
• Splitting Stone (found in a chest in the Lonesome Spire)

Troubadour's Lute

The Lute lets me be a bard who breaks the minds of my enemies and charms giant toads in the swamp. What's not to love? | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

It's probably a hot take for me to put the Troubadour's Lute in S-Tier, since this is an unorthodox sidearm that doesn't cause much direct damage, but instead inflicts confusion and Break damage on enemies. It has limited use in boss fights, and some folks may not get it until very late, since its location changed from the beta (see our guide on how to get the Lute for more info).

But in my book, the Lute is valuable backup for specific situations. Since enemy density is so high in Mortal Shell 2, having confusion in your pocket as a way to diminish crowds by making them fight amongst themselves is fantastic, especially in the early game. Plus, what other weapon lets you strum out to a selection of hot tunes and make friendly NPCs dance? While the Lute's Tarstones are limited, you can combine it with the Enfeebling Stone, which inflicts Fragile, letting you pick off confused enemies with your main weapon, or the Hand of Rock, which causes burst damage.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Enfeebling Stone (obtained by completing the trial near the Outskirts of Mammon Beacon)
• Hand of Rock (purchased in the One-Legged Wolf Tavern for 1,500 coins)

A-Tier

Forgotten Crossbow

The Lost Child did not like it when I rained hell down on him with the Forgotten Crossbow, to say the least. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

An excellent choice for most of the game, the Forgotten Crossbow's usability does tail off in the final dungeons, but it's still a handy sidearm for sending a torrent of bolts down upon the heads of weaklings. It lacks the pure power that the Naylshotte possesses, but makes up for this with greater range, and is especially useful while exploring the wilds of Fainweald and Mammon. Use it to blow away Grisha Hunters and the like while also hitting the environmental targets you sometimes need to finish a puzzle.

To amplify the Forgotten Crossbow's effectiveness, equip it with the Barrage Stone to explode a heavy round that detonates in the air and rains shards down on opponents, and the Myriad Stone to shoot multiple bolts in an arc without consuming Resolve.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Barrage Stone (obtained by completing the trial in the Gloomshade Grove)
• Myriad Stone (found in the Feeding Grounds dungeon, which is accessed by breaking three glowing graves in the Stones of Remembrance)

Naylshotte

Any game that gives you a fantasy shotgun from the get-go has to be pretty darn good, right? | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

The Naylshotte is the first sidearm you'll obtain in the Prologue, because why not start this heavy metal game out with the equivalent of a shotgun? It remains a reliable companion throughout most of Mortal Shell 2, though the range isn't great. Still, the Naylshotte's best used to unleash a quick shot or two before reverting back into a series of melee combos.

Lots of Tarstones work with the Naylshotte, so you have options aplenty. I personally like the Confessor's Keepsake, which really leans into those shotgun vibes with a devastating blast that can deal up to 350% damage when fully upgraded. The Emberseed Stone, which causes Burn and can be obtained early on, is also a fine option.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Confessor's Keepsake (obtained after defeating Tishina's Confessor)
• Emberseed Stone (found in a chest in the Passenger's Shrine dungeon, which is accessed when you Cleanse Mushroom Village Beacon)

Salvaged Trebuchaxe

Proxima's hurting a little in this screenshot, but trust me, these guys are gonna hurt more once that axe lands on 'em. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

A wild ranged option that fires off full-fledged axes, the Salvaged Trebuchaxe is sort of like a personal catapult. It's great for inflicting a big chunk of damage on bosses and other strong targets, but loading it is a lengthy process. Don't try to use this contraption for crowd control and quick sidearm draws - but pumping axes into a boss when they're distracted by a summon or temporarily staggered is highly satisfying.

Since the Salvaged Trebuchaxe takes forever to set up, I recommend the Charged Stone, which increases charging speed by 50% when upgraded to level 4. The Squall Stone, which makes your axes spin in place for a few seconds after hitting their target, is also good fun.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Charged Stone (found in a chest within the Odious Crevice dungeon, which is accessed when you Cleanse the Nameless Pass Beacon)
• Squall Stone (found in a chest within the Central Sewers dungeon, which is accessed when you Cleanse the Executioner's Pulpit Beacon)

B-Tier

Ballistazooka

Lazlo's clearly had it up to here with this dude and his foot-washing obsession. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

The only ranged weapon in the original Mortal Shell, the Ballistazooka cost a huge amount of coin from Vlas, the shopkeeper. In this sequel, you'll get it by defeating the Subjugated Guardian, but I do think there are better options available at that point in the game. The Ballistazooka is a rocket launcher that can make enemies burst like melons, but it takes a long time to shoot, and considering that many enemies in Mortal Shell 2 are fast bastards, that can be a real problem.

Personally, when it comes to oversized guns, I like the Triarch Repeater a bit more. But some folks will undeniably love all of the power the Ballistazooka packs, and both sidearms belong in the same tier. If you're a Ballistazooka enjoyer, equip it with the Rupturing Stone, which makes critical shots deal Break damage. The Marksman's Stone, a passive Tarstone that makes sidearms deal increased critical damage, is an additional necessity to make the Rupturing Stone worthwhile.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Marksman's Stone (found in a chest near the Mushroom Village Gate Beacon)
• Rupturing Stone (found in a chest in the Prisoner's Domain, right before fighting the Nameless Captive)

Triarch Repeater

A non-stop explosion of space bullets, right into the jaws of the Hexapod! That's how to use the Triarch Repeater. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

The Triarch Repeater has some similarities with the Ballistazooka, in that they're both huge and slow. Charging the Triarch Repeater requires some very delicate balancing, as you're highly vulnerable to enemy attacks during the wind-up process, but when it does let loose with a fast-paced stream of extraterrestrial machine gun fire, it sure is fun to witness.

As was the case with the Ballistazooka, the Triarch Repeater works well when paired with the Rupturing Stone and the Marksman's Stone. The steady onslaught of blasts from this thing means that at least some of them will be critical, and this combination is how I beat the Hexapod, a boss which seems tailor-made for using this particular sidearm.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Marksman's Stone (found in a chest near the Mushroom Village Gate Beacon)
• Rupturing Stone (found in a chest in the Prisoner's Domain, right before fighting the Nameless Captive)

C-Tier

Cursed Child

I've got a weird mutated baby on my back - I just wish it was more useful in combat. | Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Playstack

I want to like the Cursed Child, I really do. It's a baby stuck in a cage that screams at your enemies with all the fury of a human mandrake root! But it's an oddball sidearm that takes some experimentation to figure out, and even then it isn't always reliable, and only does limited-range knockback attacks.

Basically, the Cursed Child is best used to create distance between you and an aggressive foe, though there are better options for this, like tossing the Veteran's Battle Axe. If you pair it with a heavy weapon like the Obsidian Hammer, it can potentially give you more time to get a swing in, but as you can tell from this list, I don't like the hammer much either. So the baby is sadly limited in its usage, though if you really want to work with it, you can probably get by with equipping the Charged Stone, to make its scream pop a little faster, and the Enfeebling Stone, to inflict Fragile stacks.

Recommended Tarstones:

• Charged Stone (found in a chest within the Odious Crevice dungeon, which is accessed when you Cleanse the Nameless Pass Beacon)
• Enfeebling Stone (obtained by completing the trial near the Outskirts of Mammon Beacon)

That finishes our look at the best weapons in Mortal Shell 2. Our boss list and comprehensive walkthrough are a necessity if you want an idea on how to use these weapons against all of the terrible foes in your path. If you're more interested in gathering all of the Shells as soon as possible, head over to our guide on all Shell locations.