Mortal Shell II Shells

Mortal Shell II has eight permanent selectable Shells: Tiel, Proxima, Eredrim, Gragu, Smert, Lazlo, Sariel, and Genessa. Harros is used during the prologue but is not part of the permanent eight-Shell collection reported by release guides. Tiel and Proxima are the simplest early targets, while the other bodies require longer routes, encounters, offerings, or a returned quest item.

How Shells work

Shells are not cosmetic skins or conventional character-creator presets. The official Steam description says each lost warrior has innate strengths, unique abilities, and memories to uncover. Possessing a different body therefore changes the build decisions available to the Harbinger rather than merely changing appearance.

Weapons remain a separate layer of the build. A Shell can influence defense, movement, resource loops, or ability use, while the equipped primary weapon and sidearm determine the immediate moveset. Evaluate the complete combination instead of treating either choice in isolation.

The permanent roster

The eight permanent names cross-checked in GamesRadar and release location guides are Tiel the Acolyte, Proxima the Broodseeker, Eredrim the Venerable, Gragu the Insatiable, Smert the Apostate, Lazlo the Justiciar, Sariel the Endless, and Genessa the Wayward. Spelling matters when searching for a route, especially for Genessa and Proxima.

Harros is a tutorial body and explains why some players describe nine bodies while collection guides say eight Shells. For the Shell Seeker achievement, follow the permanent collection defined by the release guide rather than counting the prologue experience as a normal world pickup.

Start with Tiel or Proxima

After the prologue, the game marks approximate search areas for Tiel and Proxima. PowerPyx places Tiel southeast of the Widow’s Overlook Beacon, where the body outline appears at a grave. This is a direct world interaction without the longer boss or quest chain attached to later Shells.

Proxima is northeast of the Blackridge Pass Beacon in the Shattered Beacon dungeon structure. Go to the back of the area and interact with the body on the ground. The existing Proxima build page explains one sourced weapon pairing after you have unlocked her.

Using the Shellkeeper map system

Zhirelle, the Shellkeeper at Marrow Keep, can reveal locations for the remaining bodies. The release guide notes that paying to reveal a location is optional; you can find the Shell without purchasing its marker. This matters if you would rather reserve Gloom for upgrades or other progression.

The reveal economy changed around the first balance update, so older videos may refer to Glimpses where current guidance uses Gloom. Always trust the current prompt in your game. A route remains valid even when the currency cost shown in a launch video has changed.

Eredrim and Smert

PowerPyx routes Eredrim through the Citadel of Penance area. Drop to the lowest central level, use either elevator toward the top middle, and prepare for The Warden to interrupt the ascent. After defeating that encounter, interact with the body to claim the Shell.

Smert is southwest of the Outskirts of Nochte Beacon near enemies surrounding stone circles. The documented requirement is to make three blood offerings by killing enemies on the circles, then interact with the body near the statue. Clear and observe one circle at a time so the objective state is easy to verify.

Gragu and Genessa

Gragu’s unlock is tied to a delivered item rather than a simple body pickup. Release guides identify the Heart of Vatra and the One-Legged Wolf tavern as the key route elements. Confirm the item name in your inventory before making the trip, because similarly themed quest objects should not be assumed to work.

Genessa also follows a special unlock path. Recover Sester’s Censer through the relevant progression, return to Sester Genessa in Marrow Keep, and choose the dialogue option that gives her the Censer. The in-game map system may not lead you through this quest in the same way it reveals ordinary Shell locations.

Lazlo and Sariel

Lazlo is reached from the High Lords Courtyard Beacon by taking the large western stairwell into an underground route. The location guide places Vellen, High Lord of Mammon, at the end. Defeat the boss, enter the room behind the arena, and interact with the body.

Sariel requires a multi-stage encounter southeast of The Silent Steps Beacon. The first defeat opens the path into the Chamber of Becoming dungeon. Follow the target, complete the later encounter, and break the four tombstones that otherwise allow revival before interacting with Sariel’s body.

Which Shell should you choose?

Tiel is a sensible early choice for players who value movement and stealth-like recovery options, while release guidance often recommends Eredrim later for a more durable approach. Those recommendations describe broad playstyle fit, not an objective ranking for every weapon, Tarstone, patch, and player. The best first unlock is the body whose strengths address your current failure pattern.

If you are repeatedly trapped by groups, compare mobility and survivability. If boss attempts end because you cannot capitalize on posture breaks, consider ability and weapon synergy. Test a newly unlocked Shell in a familiar area before investing heavily in its tree.

Bonding and upgrade planning

Each Shell has its own progression identity, so switching has a cost in familiarity and investment. Read ability text before spending, then choose upgrades that reinforce a clear combat loop. Avoid buying disconnected bonuses solely because a build video displays them at endgame.

The early balance patch adjusted progression costs and refunded currency used under the prior Shell-location system. This is another reason not to preserve exact launch-day costs as permanent facts. Use this page for routes and roster structure, and use the current game interface for prices.

Collection order

A low-friction route is Tiel, Proxima, then whichever marked body best fits your build. Eredrim and Smert are reasonable regional objectives once you can handle their prerequisites. Save Lazlo and Sariel for the later routes unless you deliberately want their playstyles early and can survive the associated encounters.

Genessa and Gragu should be tracked as quest-item objectives rather than map-pin errands. Write down the required item when you first learn about it. That prevents a long return trip made without the object that completes the unlock.

Common mistakes

Finding the approximate search area is not the same as finishing the unlock. Look for the body interaction and confirm the new Shell is available at the hub. For encounter-based bodies, defeat the required enemy and continue into the room or interaction that actually awards the Shell.

Do not rely on beta coordinates for the retail world. Do not spend currency on every reveal if you already have a sourced route and need that currency elsewhere. Finally, do not confuse Harros with a missed permanent collectible after the prologue.

All-Shell checklist

• Tiel: grave southeast of Widow’s Overlook.
• Proxima: Shattered Beacon route northeast of Blackridge Pass.
• Eredrim: Citadel of Penance and The Warden encounter.
• Smert: three blood offerings near Outskirts of Nochte.
• Gragu: Heart of Vatra delivery route.
• Genessa: return Sester’s Censer in Marrow Keep.
• Lazlo: underground High Lords Courtyard route and Vellen.
• Sariel: Chamber of Becoming multi-stage encounter.

None of the eight is reported as permanently missable before choosing New Game+. Finish the collection in free roam, confirm Shell Seeker, and only then enter the next cycle if completion matters to you.

Sources

• Official Mortal Shell II Steam page
• PowerPyx: all Shell locations
• GamesRadar: Shell choices and locations

Last updated: 2026-09-06