In Mortal Shell 2, the Gloomshade Grove presents a significant new area west of Widow's Overlook, serving as a gateway to various other regions. This guide details the steps necessary to fully explore and complete the Gloomshade Grove, highlighting collectibles, enemies, and bosses.
Completing Questlines and Entering Gloomshade Grove
Before delving into the Grove itself, it is recommended to complete the joint questline for Gorf and Hilga. This involves repeatedly resting at the Mushroom Village Beacon and visiting the characters to advance their story, culminating in Hilga transforming into a frog. After completing their quest, head past Gorf's lair and towards the Flooded Village dungeon entrance. Instead of entering the dungeon, proceed down the slope past a wooden cart to enter the Gloomshade Grove. The initial area features Torch Cultists, a Sester, and Frog Cultists. While a blocked corruption is visible to the left, the path forward lies elsewhere.
Navigating Northern Corruption and Finding the Beacon
Continue along the path past a wheelbarrow, where a battle may be ongoing. Loot nearby items from a Bone Statue and a tree before dealing with the remaining enemies, likely including Armed Knaves and a Headsman. Follow the path to the left, defeating Brigands and Wretches, until you encounter another area of corruption that can be cleansed.
Beyond this cleansed corruption, proceed through a cave tunnel. Upon exiting, you will find an outdoor area with Grisha Hunters battling a Grisha. Loot the available items on the platform and in the battlefield below, including coin pouches and health items. After defeating the Grisha and any remaining Hunters, follow a short path along the cliff edge to find Weltcaps and the Gloomshade Grove Beacon. This Beacon is already cleansed upon activation, granting an immediate Gloom.
Opening New Paths and Facing Trials
From the Beacon, take the right-hand path around a rock. Be aware of any respawning Grisha Hunters. Descend a slope and defeat three Lithopods, then ascend another slope, dispatching two Netopyrs from a distance. Cleanse the corruption blocking the path, completing a circuit around the northern side of the Grove.
Return down the slope to find a Corrupted Statue. After looting nearby Ventrium, interact with the statue to begin its trial, which involves fighting three Grisha Hunters and two Tarred Vestiges. Successfully completing the trial rewards you with 1000x Coin and the Barrage Stone.
The Bloodcursed Lithopod and Ravaged Hideout
Proceed down the pathway to the right of the statue, past a small Brigand camp. Use a Bone Gate to reach a lower ledge and enter a large, open pond area filled with Mycellian Skulks. Defeat them and a Leechtongue by a waterfall. On the other side of the central rock, you will awaken the Bloodcursed Lithopod boss. This boss fight is relatively straightforward, utilizing basic Lithopod attacks that are easy to parry. Upon its defeat, you will acquire the Citadel Gate Lever.
Enter the cave entrance near where the boss was located to access the Ravaged Hideout. Navigate through the area, defeating Tarred Corpses and Tarred Vestiges, and collect a Tooth Of Nochte. Continue onward, destroying a Bone Statue and squeezing through a gap. In the final room, three Wraiths will spawn. After defeating them, loot the corpse in the center to obtain the Salvaged Trebuchaxe, a new Gloomforged Sidearm.
Path to Desolate Peak and the Citadel Gate
Exit the Ravaged Hideout and proceed past a Headsman, looting a Bone Statue for Laterite. Follow the path to the end, noting a Bone Gate that leads to the Desolate Peak, which will be explored in a future walkthrough. Return to the pond area and head left from the waterfall, ascending a wooden spiral ramp. Loot additional items and defeat a Tarred Vestige. Continue along the path, dispatching Netopyrs and another Tarred Vestige and Brigands. A bridge leads to Weltcaps and another Bone Gate, while the main path continues up a slope.
Ascend the slope, defeating Brigands and an Armed Knave. At the cliff edge, collect Ventrium from small statues. Turn around to face the Citadel Gate, guarded by a Headsman. Defeat it, and you will find a note indicating the gate is controlled by a missing lever—the one you acquired earlier. While the gate can be opened, it is not yet time to enter. Instead, enter the cave area behind the gate, defeat the spawned Nocteserper, and exit the cave. Return to the Gloomshade Grove Beacon to rest and prepare.
Obtaining the Great Martyr's Blade
Take the path to the right of the Citadel Gate, squeezing through a gap and clearing out Wretches. Collect Weltcaps and loot nearby items. A cave next to a hut offers a shortcut back to earlier areas, but your final objective in this section is through a dungeon entrance in the stone brick behind the hut. Descend into the Martyr's Prison dungeon.
In the first cell, defeat a Foul Knight. In the opposite cell, defeat a Wretch and break a Bone Statue. In the next cell, defeat another Wretch and loot the statue. Press a stone button on the wall to open the main gate. Be prepared for a challenging encounter with two Foul Knights and a large Knight Of Mammon. The Knight Of Mammon attacks with a rolling charge and retaliates with spikes when melee attacked. Use strike-dodge tactics to defeat it, then deal with the Foul Knights. In the next room, defeat a hidden Foul Knight behind crates. In a side room, loot a stone slab to obtain the Great Martyr's Blade, a heavy two-handed sword.
With the Gloomshade Grove fully explored, the next part of the walkthrough will focus on the Holding Cells area.