Ever since From Software released their Dark Souls series and other Soulsborne games, the subgenre of action RPGs has changed drastically. Modern games favor a more complex approach to combat and storytelling. Difficult boss fights, punishing predicaments, and a minimalist approach to narrative all form the base elements of games inspired by Dark Souls. Mortal Shell is no different -- it also breeds a series of tough enemies that players have to encounter and defeat at every step.
Traversing through the world of Mortal Shell is not an easy task; players face dangers at every turn, often drawing breath only at checkpoints. Having received positive feedback from the gaming community, Mortal Shell is now bringing forth its new DLC, The Virtuous Cycle. With added story elements, perilous enemies, and new environments, players will need all the help that they can find to deal with this new content. Here are a few things to keep in mind when booting up the DLC.
7 Hadern and Axatana
The first thing that players need to do when they are starting their game on The Virtuous Cycle DLC is to unlock Hadern and the Axatana. To do this, players have to start a seed with a particular weapon and a shell. After they interact with a pillar and get an instinct, they can either die or quit to the main menu to start another cycle and seed.
This time, it will involve another shell and weapon; different from the previous seed to unlock a new instinct. Players need to keep repeating this strategy until all shells and weapons are covered. Ultimately, players will unlock Hadern and Axatana, with the latter being a highly overpowered weapon for the start of the DLC.
6 Finding The Right Perks
The roguelike mode of the new DLC means that players will have to face hordes of enemies until a cycle is completed. If players want to get powerful early in the cycle, they have to choose the correct perks at the first Runic Gate. Out of all the perks listed, players should invest their Glimpses into the Retain Tar perk (as dying in the Reverie will not allow players to retain their Tar), and Improved Last Chance.
With the second perk, players can get their first life back if they interact with a Pillar, after being knocked out of their shell. If any Glimpse is left, players should also invest in Legendary Tier and Chance of Epic, as they will make multiple runs worthwhile.
5 Collecting Tar
Tar in Mortal Shell's The Virtuous Cycle DLC can only be lost if it's displayed on the lower right side of the player's screen. The Tar collected and kept in the inventory will not be lost if the player dies during a particular cycle. It is recommended that players collect as much Tar as they can at the beginning of the DLC. This will be crucial for ensuring that they become extremely powerful early into the DLC and make their runs and cycles much easier.
Whether it's luring out the small fry enemies and collect their Tar, or finding the hidden passage when fighting the Grisha to collect bags of Tar, Tar will be important throughout the game. Tar also helps the player interact with different Pillars that glow yellow.
4 Eredrim's Anointed Butcher Shade
Unlocking Eredrim's Butcher Shade early into the DLC will really help the player's cause to become almost invincible during cycles, and ease the game's difficulty. The Eredrim Shell itself is quite hefty and can take a beating. Adding the Anointed Butcher Shade will also increase Eredrim's base damage by another 20 points.
For the players to unlock the Anointed Butcher Shade, they will have to kill the Grisha inside the cave at least five times. Each time the Grisha is killed, Eredrim's base damage increases through an Instinct, and the Grisha drops quite a bit of Glimpse as well. These extra Glimpse can be used at the Runic Gate for better perks.
3 Getting the Abundance Perk
The Abundance perk is quite useful if the player is going on Foundling runs or Obsidian runs, as it replaces all the items on the map with Mortal Instincts. However, players should continue making their runs and cycles until they use all the shells and weapons (including Hadern and Axatana).
Once these runs are done, they can start on their Foundling runs and include the Abundance perk at the Runic Gate. This will also ensure that all the items collected in the previous runs remain intact, and their effects are added to the Mortal Instincts that can be picked up through the Abundance perk.
2 Buy The Simple Lute
Three Lutes can be bought in The Virtuous Cycle DLC with a predetermined amount of Tar. They can be a bit difficult to find, as they are slightly hidden in the game world. Once players find the Lutes, they should buy the Simple Lute for 25,000 Tar. The Simple Lute adds another 30 points to the player's health bar.
In the roguelike nature of the DLC, health is the most important thing, as it will enable players to continue going on multiple runs. Players should also buy the Simple Lute if they are planning to go on Foundling and Obsidian runs, as the boost in HP with it is still applicable.
1 Get The Super Hard Instinct
The Super Hard Instinct can be found in Pillars when players want to go for a different Instinct. While this can be random sometimes and differs a lot on the order of approaching and interacting with the Pillars, players should get this Instinct whenever possible. It will allow players to use the Harden ability and also move around for a specific amount of time.
Basically, it makes the player's character invulnerable to attacks for a few seconds, while players can move about and damage their enemies. In the normal Harden ability, players are invulnerable to an attack, but cannot move without letting go of their shell.