The Flooded Village serves as an optional dungeon in Mortal Shell 2, offering players a chance to acquire a valuable new weapon. This guide details the steps required to access the area, overcome its challenges, and claim the Forgotten Crossbow.
Accessing the Flooded Village
Begin by returning to the Widow's Overlook Beacon and proceeding north past the Corrupted Statue. Speak with Gorf the Toad, who will offer a Marsh Pearl without requiring a Weltcap this time, mentioning his search for a mate.
From Gorf's location, take the left-hand path across the bridge guarded by a Shield Brigand. Continue past the area where Ruk's Map of Fainweald was found, crossing the next bridge. Defeat the subsequent Shield Brigand. In the clearing that opens up, eliminate the Cultists and Neophyte Sester guarding a wooden structure, and a Sester guarding a stone sarcophagus. Loot the sarcophagus for a Ventrium. Proceed to the far end of the clearing, collecting three Weltcaps along the way, and defeat the remaining Frog Cultists on a stone platform. Loot the sarcophagus on this platform for a Laterite.
Return to the wooden structure and strike its back side to reveal a trick archway. Enter this archway, and the previously walled-off entrance to a stone building on the right will now be open. Proceed through this entrance and pass through the fog to enter the Flooded Village.
Navigating the Dungeon and Defeating the Grisha
Upon arriving in the Flooded Village, you will be immediately attacked by a Mycellian Skulk and a Leechtongue. After defeating them, destroy the Gloom Tentacle nearby, which requires additional hits but yields a substantial amount of Gloom.
Exit the elevator and clear the area of Skulks and Cultists. Attack the bone statue atop a hut roof for a Laterite. Return to the elevator's starting point and enter the small alleyway to your right. Cut through the destructible crates to find a Common Moonshine. Beyond the crates, defeat the trio of Frog Cultists guarding a pickup containing Ventrium.
Destroy the crates blocking the other path out of the immediate area and take the right-hand route. This path leads to the edge of a boss arena where you will face a Grisha. This Grisha is a more challenging variant than the one encountered in Mushroom Village, possessing increased health and damage. Focus on parrying its common three-swipe combo to create opportunities for ripostes.
Acquiring the Damp Key and Forgotten Crossbow
After defeating the Grisha, you will receive a Synaptic Vessel. Ride the upward air current to a stone circle area populated by Cultists and a Foul Knight. Deal with the Neophyte Sester while the Frog Cultists engage the Foul Knight, then eliminate the remaining enemies.
Continue down the only available path, clearing Cultists and Mycellian Skulks on both ground level and rooftops. Go under the first and second bridges situated between two rooftops. On your right, nestled in the wall, you will find a bone statue to break for a Dorsalite.
Climb onto the roof to the right of the second bridge, cross it, and proceed to the hut on the upper ledge ahead. Around the left-hand corner of this hut, you will find the Damp Key.
With the Damp Key, return across the bridge to the rooftops and descend. Head up the staircase on the edge of the main building, eliminating any remaining Skulks. At the top of the stairs is a locked door; use the Damp Key to open it.
Inside the room, on a table at the far end, lies the Forgotten Crossbow. This sidearm offers faster firing, superior accuracy, and greater versatility compared to the starting Naylshotte, proving invaluable for dealing with various smaller enemies encountered later in the game. Once you have obtained the crossbow, interact with the white orb in the center of the room to return to the dungeon's entrance. From there, retrace your steps back to the Blackridge Pass Beacon.
It is recommended to return to Marrow Keep to upgrade the Forgotten Crossbow to maximize its effectiveness. The path forward into the challenging Blackridge Pass area awaits.