Developer Cold Symmetry has released a significant update for Mortal Shell 2, focusing on a substantial overhaul of the game's economy, alongside weapon balancing and numerous bug fixes. The Week 1 Update, which launched on August 29, aims to make the game more forgiving by increasing the availability of crucial upgrade currencies.
Economy and Progression Revamped
The core of the update addresses the scarcity of Glimpses, used for upgrading shells, and Tarcores, used for Tarstones. Previously, these resources were strictly limited, often necessitating a New Game+ playthrough to fully upgrade all shells and Tarstones. Now, Glimpses and Tarcores are more abundant, allowing players to experiment with different builds and fully upgrade their preferred gear within a single playthrough. New items like Fragile Tarstones and Glimpse Stones break after use to yield Tarcores and Glimpses, respectively. Additionally, the shopkeeper Merrick now sells these upgrade materials, further easing the acquisition process.
A notable addition is Mether's Severance, an item that allows players to respec their invested Glimpses, effectively refunding spent currency and enabling a greater degree of experimentation with different shells without the penalty of losing progress. This change fundamentally alters the progression system, making it more accessible and less punishing for players looking to explore the full potential of Mortal Shell 2's mechanics.
Combat and Balance Adjustments
Beyond the economy, the update brings several combat enhancements. Heavier weapons have received a damage and poise buff, making them more viable options. For instance, the Obsidian Hammer now hits significantly harder, and The Great Martyr's Blade has had its damage output increased. Other weapon adjustments include changes to the Salvaged Trebuchaxe's Tiltshot ability, and improvements to the Axatana and Weltcap.
Enemy AI has also been tuned, with adjustments to aggression and disengage ranges, and fixes for enemies that would previously chase players indefinitely or retreat excessively. Riposte damage has been increased, and enemy tracking and magnetism have been restricted to improve fairness. Several bosses have also undergone polish passes, with bug fixes and timing adjustments for attacks, hitboxes, and overall behavior. For example, The Monolith's laser and spin attacks now have more consistent timings, and Zmey’s Tail grab no longer instantly kills players in its standard mode, though this remains an option in night mode.
Bug Fixes and Quality of Life Improvements
A wide array of bugs and glitches have been addressed. This includes fixes for environmental clipping issues, softlocks that could prevent progress, and problems with saving and loading. Shell-specific fixes have been implemented for Eredrim, Proxima, and Genessa, resolving animation and ability issues. Furthermore, interactions with objects, enemies, and story elements have been polished, ensuring smoother gameplay and narrative progression. New cosmetic rewards and items have been added to the world, and some exploration-related annoyances, like lengthy walk-backs from certain dungeons, have been streamlined with new teleporters.
Platform Availability
Currently, the Week 1 Update is only available on PC. Cold Symmetry stated that console patch certification processes take longer, and a release date for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions has not yet been provided, though the team aims to bring it to consoles as soon as possible.