Acquiring the Axe and Dagger in Mortal Shell 2 involves navigating the Mushroom Village and delving into the Shrine of Trials. This weapon, a quick dual-wielding set, is an early-game acquisition that complements Tiel's agile playstyle, offering rapid damage output despite lacking the raw power of heavier weapons. To obtain it, players must first locate the Chapel Key.
Begin by heading from the Mushroom Village Beacon towards the west. Locate and defeat the Babka enemies found near a bridge. After crossing the bridge, more Babkas will be encountered around a pyre. Once these enemies are dealt with, examine the archway nearby. Stepping around to the far side of this archway and looking back through it will reveal a kneeling statue that was not visible before. Interacting with the rope hanging from this statue yields the Chapel Key.
With the Chapel Key in hand, proceed to the Grisha Hunter Camp in western Mushroom Village. Use the key to unlock the Chapel Door, which grants access to the Shrine of Trials. Inside, players will first face four cultists. After their defeat, a statue in the center of the room presents a riddle: "Gaze upon your king so true, back and back you shall pass through." Facing the statue and walking backward through it will allow passage through a seemingly solid wall.
The subsequent chamber contains two Wraiths and a movable statue positioned near a pressure plate. The objective here is to push the statue onto the pressure plate to open the exit. While it's possible Tiel's Shadow form might allow bypassing this step, it is not a reliable method. The next room presents a similar puzzle, but with two pressure plates and two statues. Players must position both statues onto their respective plates to progress.
A strategic approach involves standing behind both statues with the pressure plates in front. Hit the left statue to move it north, positioning it between the plates. Then, move to activate the left plate by hitting the left statue to the left. Return to the original position behind the right statue and hit it left, then north, so it aligns with the other statue. Finally, carefully position yourself behind the right statue and push it north one last time to land it on the remaining pressure plate.
Upon completing this puzzle, the exit will open, leading to a confrontation with an armored Brigand Knight. Defeating this foe allows players to loot the Axe and Dagger from the statue in the room.
The Axe and Dagger are designed for rapid, consistent damage, allowing players to generate Resolve quickly. While their individual hits do not inflict high damage or stagger enemies significantly, their speed makes them ideal for sustained assault, particularly against bosses. They are particularly synergistic with Tiel, whose Shadow Strike playstyle benefits from quick attacks. Enhancing this weapon with the Serpent Stone Tarstone or the Magdalena's Momento Tarstone can further boost its effectiveness, with the latter adding a potent poison effect that pairs well with Tiel's poison-focused builds. The Axe and Dagger are a reinvention of Mortal Shell's Hammer and Chisel, offering a different combat feel in Mortal Shell 2 due to the removal of a stamina bar.
