Mortal Shell 2 Shell Tier List (All 8 Shells Ranked)

Tier rankings

Quick comparison table

Why rankings differ between sites

Launch-period tier lists disagree sharply on two shells:

• Gragu — S on KeenGamer and TreyExGaming, C on allthings.how and GamesHorizon. The split is real: Gragu has the highest single-hit damage and ~78% crit ceiling, but he's strictly single-target. We rate him B — a specialist tool, not a general pick.
• Sariel — ratings from B to S. The survivability ceiling is the highest in the game, but so is the skill floor (Pain management is constant and punishing). We rate A — top tier in the right hands.
• Smert — anywhere from A to S. The only time-stop in the game and TreyExGaming's 5/5, but every Miracle costs half your current HP. We rate A.

HP and Resolve are usually inverse across shells — high HP pools generate Resolve slowly. Mortal Shell II has no Stamina: dodging, sprinting and blocking cost no independent resource, so the real economy is Durability (HP) and Resolve.

Every shell in detail

Expand any shell for its unlock route, abilities, talents, strengths, weaknesses and best weapon pairings.

Tiel, the Acolyte Tier S

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“Once you have nothing, you're free to take everything.” — Rogue / Assassin · Stealth, mobility, crit, poison stacking

HP / Resolve	Low / Medium (Lowest or near-lowest HP pool; late bosses shell out in two hits)
How to unlock	Fainweald — Widow's Overlook Beacon → SE past mushroom village → glowing corpse in a shallow grave (1 Glimpse)
Active ability	Lingering Shadow — enter Shadow state + ready Shadow Strike (close-range dagger combo); fixed stealth duration
Passive	Shadow Dash — perfect dodge (triggered just before a hit) grants Shadow state + deals Stagger Damage to the attacker
Key talents	Poison Burst (high) · Shadow Dash 300% stagger upgrade (high) · Death Mark (high) · Lethality (medium) · Critical Role (medium)
Strengths	Highest mobility; Stealth repositioning safety; Highest crit ceiling; Shadow Dash creates free attack windows; Excellent early carry; Poison bursts
Weaknesses	Very low HP — one mistake shells out; Late Resolve generation falls short; Weaker vs enemies that don't allow Shadow stacking
Best weapons	Axe and Dagger, Troubadour's Lute, Serpent Stone (poison infusion)
Memories	7 · cost 3,500 Gloom · return 4,500
Achievement	“Forever Alone?”

Plan a Tiel build

Eredrim, the Venerable Tier A

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“Peace has a price.” — Tank / Brawler · Break Damage specialist, stance breaking, executions

HP / Resolve	High / Low (Second-highest HP pool)
How to unlock	Fainweald — Citadel of Penance → central elevator → floor collapses into arena → defeat The Warden → interact with kneeling remains
Active ability	Shoulder Bash — dash dealing heavy Break Damage; makes enemies vulnerable to Riposte
Passive	Executioner — execute low-HP enemies; each Riposte grants Slaughterer stacks raising the execute HP threshold
Key talents	Resonance (high — Stasis on broken enemies) · Seal Affinity (high — easier Parry) · Anguish/Oppression (high — Shoulder Bash upgrades) · Carnage (medium)
Strengths	Highest or near-highest HP; Shoulder Bash dominates stance breaking; Forgiving boss learning; Strong single-target/boss control; Slaughterer executions for exploration
Weaknesses	Slaughterer stacks reset on rest or shelling out; Shoulder Bash can't be chained (high Resolve cost); Low Resolve limits ability use; Fragile vs grabs and multi-hit combos
Best weapons	Obsidian Hammer, Veteran's Battle Axe, Naylshotte (offhand mid-range Break)
Memories	9 · cost 4,500 Gloom · return 6,000
Achievement	“Vengeance is Mine”

Plan a Eredrim build

Genessa, the Wayward Tier S

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“Nothing is so broken it can't be made whole again.” — Summoner / Tactician · Clone damage, safe boss strategy, glass cannon with a safety net

HP / Resolve	Medium / High (Respectable health)
How to unlock	Mammon / Marrow Keep — Abbey Entrance → Revenant Graves → interact with Censer on shadow tree → defeat Sester Secundus → take Sester's Censer → return to Genessa in Marrow Keep. Bond progress: talk to Genessa, not Zhirelle
Active ability	Faithful Doubles — summon clones that perform weapon attacks (including Infusion/Tarstone effects) then vanish; clones can also apply Stasis stacks; Miracle talent lets a clone die in your place
Passive	Duality — on HP depletion become a Stray instead of shelling out; Stray form produces Stray Doubles copying attacks
Key talents	Affinity/Impetus (high — clone damage/count) · Mirage (high — die in your place) · Instigation/Communion/Causality (high — Stray Double upgrades)
Strengths	Highest DPS ceiling in the game (KeenGamer); Safe while clones fight; Duality prevents shelling out; Pairs with heaviest weapons to maximize per-summon damage; Best boss strategy shell
Weaknesses	Extremely Resolve-hungry — must play aggressively; Rhythm-dependent; Weak when Resolve generation is slow; High complexity; Late unlock limits early use
Best weapons	Axe and Dagger, Black Needle, Axatana (endgame), Slowest/heaviest weapons maximize per-Double damage (KeenGamer)
Memories	6 · cost 3,000 Gloom · return 3,750
Achievement	“Sester Hidden”

Plan a Genessa build

Smert, the Apostate Tier A

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“Truth is the final revelation before death.” — Time Control / Burst · Stops time for uninterrupted damage; high risk, high reward

HP / Resolve	Medium / Medium (Sacrifices 50% current HP per Miracle — effectively runs at low HP)
How to unlock	Fainweald — Outskirts of Nochte Beacon → SW to Prophet's Rest ritual site (big pool + 3 small pools) → fill 3 blood pools (each entry shells out; re-take by killing enemies; HP permanently kept) → interact with Smert's remains on altar
Active ability	Miracle — sacrifice 50% current HP to stop time; enter unarmed Fight Stance; each hit applies Chaos stacks that explode for massive damage when time resumes; can chain 'Overtime' (keep sacrificing HP to extend)
Passive	Deadly Revelation — at ≤10% HP gain Faith; melee attacks restore extra Resolve
Key talents	Last Vow (high — weaponless Fight Stance + healing + heavy stagger/crit) · Kicker (high — kick detonates Chaos, possibly doubled) · Beat Down (high — ground slam recovery) · Striker (high — more Chaos during Miracle)
Strengths	Only time-stopping shell — attack windows nothing else can reach; Devastating boss damage (8-10 maxed Chaos stacks); Permanent Fight Stance (built-in stagger + healing); Surprisingly beginner friendly (TreyExGaming 5/5)
Weaknesses	50% HP cost per Miracle; Overtime HP costs snowball — one hit shells you out; Random Chaos expiry effects; Perpetually low HP
Best weapons	Any fast weapon outside Miracle (Axe and Dagger), Unarmed during Miracle (Last Vow removes weapon), Mether's Pulse (offhand healing)
Memories	7 · cost 3,500 Gloom · return 3,500
Achievement	“My Brether”

Plan a Smert build

Proxima, the Broodseeker Tier A

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“Purpose gives the soul its shape.” — Crowd Control / Brawler · Pull enemies close, lightning damage, passive mitigation, beginner friendly

HP / Resolve	Medium / Medium (Grafted Armor passive supplements with mitigation)
How to unlock	Fainweald — Blackridge Pass Beacon → NE past the Treant → Shattered Beacon dungeon → interact with remains inside
Active ability	Biosampler — hook from left arm: pull weak enemies to you or pull yourself to large enemies; follow-up hits apply Lightning DoT; successful hits release a shockwave; can also harvest biosamples to sell to Merrick for gold
Passive	Grafted Armor — 15% base chance to reduce melee/ranged damage; mitigated hits deal 50% less damage and cause no stagger
Key talents	Seizure (must-pick — Stasis lock-on) · Imperion (high — lightning immunity + damage/range) · Biohunter (high — permanent damage stacking) · Discharge (medium — lightning AoE)
Strengths	Most beginner-friendly shell (TheGamer + multiple sources); Controls fight distance; Grafted Armor is zero-effort mitigation; Strong crowd control; Lightning DoT + shockwaves; Biosample gold farming; Seizure + right Infusion = permanent Stasis lock
Weaknesses	Grafted Armor is a 15% proc — unreliable to build around; Jack-of-all-trades (outclassed by specialists); Damage ceiling below S tier; Biosampler range is limited
Best weapons	Any weapon works (generalist), Fast weapons stack Lightning DoT (Axe and Dagger, Black Needle), Axatana (endgame), Lightning Infusion Tarstone synergizes with Biosampler
Memories	5 · cost 2,500 Gloom · return 2,500
Achievement	“Arrival”

Plan a Proxima build

Sariel, the Endless Tier A

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“That path to perfection is paved with blood.” — Sustain / Attrition · Pain mechanic absorbs damage, curse reflection, Rally healing

HP / Resolve	Medium+ / Medium (Pain converts 50% of damage into recoverable grey HP — effectively much higher)
How to unlock	Mammon — Silent Steps Beacon → south, meet Sariel → Phase 1: damage until retreat → Phase 2: Chamber of Becoming → defeat Sariel. Must destroy lightning rods to disable revival. Also drops Clockwork Scythe
Active ability	Exodus of Thorns — release tracking parasitic thorns applying Curse stacks; each activation self-inflicts Pain; enough Curse makes an enemy's next melee attack whiff and reflect damage
Passive	Purge — with no Pain: 50% of damage converts to Pain (recoverable grey HP); at full Pain: dodge speed increases
Key talents	Pain mitigation (high) · 100% damage-to-Pain conversion (high) · Trauma stacks (high — shockwave on Purge) · Frailty/Reaper/Restoration (high — Pain sustain loop)
Strengths	Top 'unkillable' shell (TreyExGaming 5/5 survival); Highest survivability ceiling; Enemies damage themselves via Curse reflection; Pain creates a powerful sustain loop; Reddit reports a permanent full-HP build
Weaknesses	Highest skill floor — constant, punishing Pain management; At full Pain, hits cause permanent HP loss (loop collapse); Lacks offensive tools — fights take longer; Struggles vs fast multi-hit enemies; Overflowing grey HP is lost
Best weapons	Clockwork Scythe (wide AoE, RPS), Any weapon generates Pain, Caged Hystrix offhand for damage during Pain cycling, Arbiter's Prize Tarstone synergizes with Bloodcurse
Memories	6 · cost 3,000 Gloom · return 3,250
Achievement	“The Alchemist”

Plan a Sariel build

Lazlo, the Justiciar Tier B

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“Justice is not given, it is exacted.” — Defensive Tank / AoE · Damage reduction, heat AoE burning, route clearing

HP / Resolve	Highest / High (Highest base HP of all shells (KeenGamer))
How to unlock	Mammon — Outskirts of Mammon → west to High Lord's Courtyard → down into Royal Crypt → defeat Vellen, Lord of Mammon → remains in final room. No map marker — explore or buy a Glimpse hint from Zhirelle
Active ability	Retribution — heat armor and release a shockwave; chained use causes Overheat → stronger shockwave applying Burn stacks but temporarily disables the armor passive
Passive	Fortified Plate — 10% base damage reduction while armor active; Warmed Up + Furnace talents total up to 30%
Key talents	Warmed Up/Furnace (high — 30% DR combined) · Worthy Armor/Temperament (high — AoE shockwave + Burn) · Rush (high — crit while armor on cooldown) · Breaker/Detonation (medium)
Strengths	Highest base HP; Up to 30% damage reduction; Excellent route clearing and exploration; Burn AoE crowd control; Efficient Resolve economy; Good for learning boss patterns
Weaknesses	Eredrim is the better tank (more Break/stance tools); AoE Burn tools are situational — strong vs groups, weak vs single bosses; Overheat temporarily disables armor (timing vulnerability); Late unlock limits campaign usefulness
Best weapons	Veteran's Battle Axe (heavy chains + Inflamed Clawstone Burn synergy), Obsidian Hammer for Break, Any heavy weapon with tank style, Burn Infusion Tarstones
Memories	6 · cost 3,000 Gloom · return 4,250
Achievement	“Down with the Thickness”

Plan a Lazlo build

Gragu, the Insatiable Tier B

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“The heart speaks no lies.” — Burst / Crit Heavy · Heavy stagger, crit stacking, kill-to-heal

HP / Resolve	Average / Medium (Revered Heart provides extra healing)
How to unlock	Fainweald — One-Legged Wolf Tavern → talk to Gragu → east across the rift to Temple of Vatra → take Heart of Vatra from corrupted statue at the top (beware petrified enemies) → return to Gragu → he dies → take the Shell. Needs ~5 Ova + Mether's Breath to clear the east path
Active ability	Staggering Blow — chargeable devastating punch; longer charge = more damage; knocks down, breaks stance, applies Weakened + Fragile; Gragu cannot move while charging
Passive	Revered Heart — effectively an extra healing flask; refills on kills; resets on rest/shelling out; Harvest talent raises cap to 8 hearts
Key talents	Harvest (must-pick — up to 8 hearts) · Hunger (high — crit stacks to ~78% melee / 75% ranged) · Maniac (high — bonus damage to fresh enemies) · Bloodlust (medium — Revered Heart use bonus)
Strengths	Highest single-hit damage (TreyExGaming 5/5 damage); Up to ~78% crit rate; Revered Heart gives great exploration sustain; Staggering Blow interrupts enemies; Weakened + Fragile debuffs set up follow-up damage
Weaknesses	Strictly single-target — very weak vs groups (allthings.how, TheGamer); Charging Staggering Blow is exposed + sluggish; Revered Heart sustain only works while chaining kills; Late fast bosses shrink charge windows; Boss-trap: no hearts = no sustain (KeenGamer)
Best weapons	Any weapon (damage comes from Staggering Blow + Hunger crits), Fast weapons raise crit proc frequency, Caged Hystrix offhand (75% crit), Build around crit-stacking Tarstones
Memories	6 · cost 3,000 Gloom · return 3,250
Achievement	“Heartless”

Plan a Gragu build

The Seal system (defense), in brief

Mortal Shell II replaces the first game's single Harden mechanic with 4 Seals — Guard, Harden, Parry and Gloomslayer. Only one is equipped at a time and switching is free. Red (unblockable) attacks can only be dodged.

Harden cooldowns are only publicly documented for 4 shells (Harros 12s→9s, Tiel 16s→12s, Eredrim 14s→10s, Solomon 10s→7s); the rest pending in-game testing.

FAQ

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