The Faded Citadel, also known as the Ashen Sanctum, presents the fifth legacy dungeon in Mortal Shell 2. This area is considered by many to be the most challenging yet, though its final boss, Sir Isaac, the Scholar-Prince, is not as formidable as some previous encounters.
This walkthrough will guide you through the Faded Citadel, detailing collectibles, enemy encounters, and strategies to help you achieve 100% completion and overcome its final boss.
Cleanse the Forbidden Archives
Begin by fast traveling to the Gate Of Infinity Beacon. After resting, enter the Forbidden Archives. In the first room, collect 2000x Coin from the chest before descending via the elevator.
In the corridor ahead, defeat the two Batushkas and pull the book on the final bookshelf to proceed. The next large room is filled with enchanted books that will attack. Navigate through this area, noting a pedestal that requires the Grimorium Obscurum, which you will find later in this section.
Continue to the end of the current path and proceed to the next lane. Collect 2x Ventrium to your left, then cross a ladder to your right to find a Synaptic Vessel. Return to the start of the bookshelf area and proceed to the end of the path to collect another Ventrium. Travel to the bookshelf lane on your right, defeat the Batushka, and then collect the Grimorium Obscurum from a pile of books.
Before placing the Grimorium, return to the area above the air current and drop off the opposite side of the bookshelf. Explore this separated section of the room, which contains more enchanted books, Batushkas, and an air current in the far corner. A broken wall near the air current leads to a side room guarded by a Batushka; defeat it and collect a Glimpse from the alchemical equipment.
Use the air current to return to the top, then drop down to place the Grimorium Obscurum on the pedestal, opening the path to the final room. Here, you will face the Gloombound Wraith miniboss. This Wraith is more dangerous than a standard one due to its lunging attacks. At half health, it will create an impenetrable sphere, requiring you to destroy two red books in the walls to make it vulnerable again.
Upon defeating the Gloombound Wraith, you will receive 2x Glimpse and the Curseblood Stone, which can be used to infuse weapons with Curse. You can then cleanse the corruption in the room, obtaining an additional 3x Ova and 1x Glimpse.
Enter the Ashen Sanctum
After looting 2x Glimpse behind the Beacon, proceed through the gateway into the Ashen Sanctum. In this initial area, defeat the Roaming Head and the four additional Heads in the following small room, being careful not to get overwhelmed. Collect 3x Weltcaps before moving on.
Reach the Citadel Annex
Continue along the cliff edge, where you will find a blue invulnerability torch. A non-aggressive NPC, the "Madman," is nearby. Destroying the torch will make him hostile, but he is an easy enemy to defeat.
To your left, find a Dorsalite in a statue and two Gloom Tentacles. Enter the cave to the right and defeat the Infested Stalker across the bridge, taking care not to fight on the precarious bridge itself. Loot 1x Ventrium on the right before proceeding left.
Drop to the lower platform and proceed until you encounter another invulnerability torch guarded by a Gloom Seeker. You can shoot torches from a distance with your Sidearm to make handling them easier.
Bait the Gloom Seeker away from the torch, then defeat her. Loot 2x Galvanic Shards on either side of the torch. Destroying the torch opens a new passage behind you. Head through this passage, collect a Dorsalite up the steps, and destroy another torch to open another door ahead. Inside this area, a chest contains the Summoning Stone and 1000x Coin.
Return to the Gloom Seeker's torch and enter the room beyond. Here, you must defeat two Infested Stalkers and an Anointed Confessor, all near an invulnerability torch. Bait the enemies away from the torch and each other to manage the fight.
Loot the Dorsalite by the torch, then head up the slope. Defeat two Necropedes and another Gloom Seeker. Near the first set of steps, find a Roaming Head guarding 1x Tooth Of Nochte.
Proceed up the next set of steps to defeat an Anointed Confessor. Drop down to the right, defeat two more Roaming Heads, and then two Infested Stalkers near an invulnerability torch. Read the note on the wall by the torch. Drop off the edge to the ledge below and loot 1x Laterite from the Bone Statue.
In the next room, proceed left until you find the entrance to a circular chamber containing the Citadel Annex Beacon. Activate it to rest.
Cleanse the Hushed Sanctum
Inside the Beacon, you will find the Hushed Sanctum. Proceed through the corridor and defeat the two Necropedes. Interact with a growth-like sconce to "Give Blood Offering," which will expend some health but grant you a temporary invulnerability torch. Use this to defeat the Lithopods and Faceless Cleriks ahead.
Head up the steps, defeat the Necropedes and Infested Stalker, and collect 1x Laterite from a stone slab. Continue, defeat two more Stalkers, and loot 1x Dorsalite from a throne.
Use another sconce to gain invulnerability and defeat the Stalkers. Head out into the open and take the Bone Gate on your left to a small ledge containing a Sheep protected by an invulnerability torch. Destroy the torch, kill the Sheep for 1x Sheephead Totem, and return via the Bone Gate.
Run to the end of the platform and stand on the stone plate in the center. A gargantuan Stalker-like creature will appear; interact with it to jump onto its back and be carried across the dungeon. After dismounting, you will face a Slithering Corpseseeker, a highly dangerous foe. Play defensively and focus on parrying.
After defeating the Corpseseeker, loot 1x Laterite from the stone slab and open the chest at the start of the adjoining walkway to obtain the Stillblade's Stone. Cleanse the corruption to return to the Faded Citadel with an additional Ovum and Glimpse.
Defeat Solnir, the Gloom Seeker
Outside the Beacon, a new pathway up the stairs will be unblocked. Head up, collecting 2x Ventrium by a tree. Deal with the enemies in the room: two Foul Knights, two Roaming Heads, and an Anointed Confessor, all near an invulnerability torch. Eliminate the lesser enemies first, then focus on the Confessor.
Loot the Dorsalite from the throne below the torch, then head up the stairs. Ahead, an engraving provides lore about the main boss. Turn right and enter the archways to face the miniboss Solnir, the Gloom Seeker. The arena contains two invulnerability torches that should be destroyed first. Solnir has a blocking stance with both swords; hitting her during this stance will trigger a counter-attack. It is advisable to strike only once or twice and then retreat to avoid her powerful combos.
Upon defeating Solnir, you will acquire 1x Glimpse and the Solnir Shard Tarstone.
Activate the Citadel Atrium Beacon
The corruption blocking the far exit in Solnir's arena will disappear, allowing you to ascend an elevator to an upper platform. Follow it to a Bone Gate and proceed.
Through the doorway, you will find a series of enemies guarded by invulnerability torches. Shooting the torches from afar will simplify this encounter. At the bottom of the slope, loot 2x Laterite by a tree and open a chest for 3000x Coin. Head down the steps to the left, turn left again, and destroy a Gloom Tentacle up a brick slope.
Proceed past the brick slope to find the Citadel Atrium Beacon directly ahead. Activate it and rest.
Defeat the Servants of the Scholar-Prince
Enter the Beacon to find the Servant's Hall. Loot the Dorsalite in the first room. Proceed into the boss arena to face the Servants of the Scholar-Prince: two Gloom Seekers, two Knights Of Mammon, and two Foul Knights. Destroy the invulnerability torches with ranged attacks.
Prioritize eliminating the easier enemies like the Foul Knights. Then, bait the faster enemies such as the Knights Of Mammon away from the slower Gloom Seekers to defeat them safely. Leave the Gloom Seekers for last. Once all enemies are slain, go behind the corruption at the far end and loot a chest for 1x Winterglass Gem. Cleanse the corruption to obtain an additional Ovum and Glimpse.
Defeat Sir Isaac, the Scholar-Prince
From the Beacon, head to the far end and ascend the stairs around the corner. Use the Bone Gate to reach a higher platform.
Follow this path through another Bone Gate. To your left, you can summon the blue spirit of Lazlo for aid in the upcoming boss battle, though it is not strictly necessary. Beyond Lazlo, speak with Ruk for commentary on the boss. When ready, proceed through the corridor into the arena of Sir Isaac, the Scholar-Prince.
Sir Isaac is a tanky boss with well-telegraphed attacks, though the first swing of his combo can be faster than expected. Dodging to his side is a reliable strategy to avoid most of his attacks if parrying is not comfortable.
In his second phase, after a scripted riposte, Sir Isaac gains a third sword, becoming more aggressive and employing lengthier combos. The airborne attacks, one spinning and one stabbing, are particularly challenging. If chain-parrying the entire combo is not feasible, backing away and dodging is the safest approach.
Upon defeating Sir Isaac, you will receive the Scholar's Wormstone and 33,333x Gloom.
Cleanse the Scholar-Prince's Chamber
After defeating Sir Isaac, the final Beacon will appear. Activate the Scholar-Prince's Chamber Beacon and enter.
Inside, cleanse the corruption to return to Marrow Keep with an additional 26x Ova and 1x Glimpse.