To fully upgrade weapons and abilities in Valor Mortis, players will need to collect various Blade and Transmutation Materials scattered throughout the game's world. These materials come in different rarities – Crude, Pure, Distilled, and Quintessential – with rarer materials required for higher-level upgrades.
Crude Blade Materials
Crude Blade Materials can be found in numerous locations. In The Battlefield, Material #1 is in a chest after dispelling yellow growth near the first Lantern. The Abandoned Church holds Material #2 in a crypt and Material #3 in a graveyard near a shootable node. The Fallen Village contains Material #4 in a barn, Material #5 on a corpse in an open barn near the Marketplace Lantern, and Material #6 on a bedroom desk after navigating rooftops. Material #7 is found in a building after using the Grapple Transmutation.
In the Caverns, Material #8 is on a corpse within a small opening near the Last Sunlight Lantern, Material #9 is beside baskets of fruit near a burnable growth, and Material #10 is guarded by mutants after falling through the floor near the Weeping Ledge Lantern. The Vale of Wrath's Material #11 is located on a shipwreck accessible via crates near the Wolfsbane Field Lantern. Cursed Hollow offers Material #12 in a watery alleyway before a bridge, Material #13 in a hidden village after wall-riding, and Material #14 in a barn near the previous location. Material #15 requires navigating rafters and platforms near the Deep Water Lantern. The Outskirts provide Material #16 beneath a bridge after starting the The Shrike's Anthem quest and Material #17 in a barn upstairs in the poisonous village. In the City of Orphans, Material #18 is found on the floor in the sewers past Mimi and Agnes' nest.
Additionally, six sets of Crude Blade Materials can be purchased from James at the Abandoned Church for 1500 Catalysts each.
Pure Blade Materials
Pure Blade Materials are also spread across various chapters. In the Valley of Ashes, Material #1 is found in a chest after defeating a miniboss near the elevator. The Fallen Village's Material #2 is in a chest guarded by enemies in the training grounds. The Caverns yield Material #3 from a special Shambling Civilian and Material #4 in a chest guarded by a Volunteer in the Old Mine.
The Vale of Wrath offers Material #5 beside a carriage near a split path and Material #6 within a chest on a ship in the Ship Graveyard. Cursed Hollow's Material #7 is obtained after unlocking a shortcut and opening a hut containing a Nepthtoglobin node. Material #8 is inside a chest on a small island accessible via moving platforms. In Cursed Hollow, Material #9 is in a chest after navigating rafters and platforms, and Material #10 is in a chest reached by wall-riding and using Nephtoglobin platforms.
The Outskirts contain Material #11 on the coast near Lucjan, Material #12 in a building accessible by crouching through a corruption-coated opening, and Material #13 inside a barn after crossing a bridge. Material #14 is found in a house in the poisonous village. The City of Orphans offers Material #15 in an alleyway and Material #16 upstairs in a building after traversing multiple structures. The University yields Material #17 on a corpse in the library and Material #18 on the floor after crouching through an opening. Finally, Material #19 can be found on a trapped floor in the Fortress.
Three sets of Pure Blade Materials can be purchased from James at the Abandoned Church for 3000 Catalysts each.
Distilled Blade Materials
Distilled Blade Materials are rarer finds. Material #1 is located on the wooden upper floor of the Abandoned Church. In the Vale of Wrath, Material #2 is found in a chest after defeating a Remnant of the Iron Regiment enemy within a cave accessible via Nephtoglobin platforms.
Cursed Hollow's Material #3 is in a chest reached by navigating poison-filled islands and wall-riding platforms. The City of Orphans' Material #4 is in a trapped chest upstairs in a building after a series of platforming challenges. The University offers Material #5 in a chest behind a statue in the library and Material #6 inside a chest after navigating a poisonous hallway using Shield Transmutation. The Fortress provides Material #7 on a corpse in a ruined castle section and Material #8 on wooden rafters.
One set of Distilled Blade Materials can be purchased from James at the Abandoned Church for 6000 Catalysts.
Crude Transmutation Materials
Crude Transmutation Materials are necessary for early upgrades. In the Valley of Ashes, Material #1 is found on an elevated patch of land where a Grenadier enemy appears, and Material #2 is in a barn near a shortcut. The Fallen Village's Material #3 is atop a well in the orchard, and Material #4 is on a bed in the lower level of a building in the burning village after unlocking the Grapple ability. The Caverns' Material #5 is on the floor after defeating mutants in a cave.
Cursed Hollow provides Material #6 on the floor after clearing enemies and shooting a Nepthoglobin node, and Material #7 is awarded for completing the Sleeping Beauty side quest. The Outskirts' Material #8 is on the floor in a room after navigating wooden platforms and Nephtoglobin foundations. In the City of Orphans, Material #9 is found atop a crate after a series of grapple and ladder challenges. The University's Material #10 is on the floor in a section with multiple mutant enemies after riding an elevator.
A single piece of Crude Transmutation Material can be purchased from Louis at the Abandoned Church for 2000 Catalysts.
Pure Transmutation Materials
Pure Transmutation Materials are needed for more advanced upgrades. In the Vale of Wrath, Material #1 is in a chest found by exploring the Poisoned Camp and crossing bridges. Cursed Hollow offers Material #2 on a wooden balcony and Material #3 on a rooftop with a Swarm Mother enemy. The Outskirts' Material #4 is collected from a table near the Harbour Lantern.
The University's Material #5 is found on the floor in the library behind a statue, and Material #6 is located below enemies in the Fortress, accessible after navigating Nephtoglobin formations.
Two pieces of Pure Transmutation Material can be purchased from Louis at the Abandoned Church for 4000 Catalysts each.
Distilled Transmutation Materials
Distilled Transmutation Materials are essential for mid-tier upgrades. In Cursed Hollow, Material #1 is found in a chest behind an Iron Marshall-like enemy. The Outskirts' Material #2 is in a chest within a village after crossing a bridge. The City of Orphans' Material #3 is in a chest unlocked with the Sewers Master Key.
The University's Material #4 is in a chest at the top of a short staircase after unlocking a secret door, and Material #5 is found on the floor behind an Eternal Guardsman in the Fortress.
A single piece of Distilled Transmutation Material can be purchased from Louis at the Abandoned Church for 2000 Catalysts.
Quintessential Transmutation Materials
The rarest materials, Quintessential Transmutation Materials, are crucial for endgame upgrades. Material #1 is found in a chest immediately to the left after unlocking the gate beside the Traverse Lantern in the Fortress.