Mortal Shell 2 Best Weapons Tier List: Post-Balance Patch 1

How this tier list is built

This is a player-report tier list, not an official ranking. It combines launch-week testing from Rock Paper Shotgun, Destructoid and community weapon breakdowns, then adjusts placements for the Balance Patch 1 changes:

• Great Martyr’s Blade: +20% damage
• Troubadour’s Lute: +100% damage
• Caged Hystrix / Triarch Repeater: Resolve minimum removed
• Axatana / Black Needle / Clockwork Scythe: improved light-attack tracking

Primary weapon tiers

S tier breakdown

Axatana

The returning fan favorite is both an axe and a katana. It switches between fast, mobile light attacks and heavier axe swings, giving it flexibility no other primary weapon matches. Balance Patch 1 improved its light-attack tracking, so it connects more reliably than at launch.

• Best paired with shells that generate Resolve quickly.
• Location: Forgotten Tower in Mammon.

Black Needle

A fast spear with excellent reach and safe pokes. It became even cleaner after the tracking buff and is the natural melee weapon for Genessa’s Phantom-stacking builds.

• Best paired with Genessa or any Shell that wants safe, fast hits.
• Location: Sester’s Gate route in Mammon.

Great Martyr’s Blade

The slow, heavy blade rewards patient timing. Its +20% damage buff in Balance Patch 1 pushed it firmly into the top tier for players who can handle the commitment.

• Best paired with Eredrim or any Shell with a large health pool.
• Location: Martyr’s Prison in Fainweald.

A tier breakdown

Iconoclast

The starting weapon is not a throwaway. It has solid range, speed and Tarstone flexibility, and it can carry a full playthrough with upgrades.

Caged Hystrix

A rapid-fire sidearm-style primary that no longer requires a minimum Resolve to fire after the patch. Strong for shells that want consistent ranged pressure.

Triarch Repeater

Similar to the Caged Hystrix but slightly less reliable at long range. The removal of the Resolve minimum makes it much more usable.

Veteran’s Battle Axe

Heavy and hard-hitting, but slow. The charged attack is strong, and it pairs naturally with Eredrim. Balance Patch 1 did not change it directly, but the slower weapons around it improved, so it stays in A tier by consistency rather than raw power.

B tier breakdown

Clockwork Scythe

Tied to Sariel in the Chamber of Becoming. The tracking buff helped it, but it still wants a build that can exploit its moveset.

Troubadour’s Lute

The +100% damage buff made the Lute much stronger, but it still relies on the Confusion mechanic and specific builds. Use it deliberately; do not expect it to outperform a standard melee weapon without setup.

C tier breakdown

Obsidian Hammer

Highest single-hit damage in the game and the slowest moveset. That combination makes it difficult to use against fast bosses and grouped enemies, even after enemy HP nerfs.

Cursed Child

A close-range sound-wave weapon that does not stand out in most situations. Replace it as soon as a better option appears.

Sidearms at a glance

The game has eight sidearms: Ballistazooka, Caged Hystrix, Naylshotte, Salvaged Trebuchaxe, Triarch Repeater, Troubadour’s Lute, Forgotten Crossbow and one more tied to later exploration.

Sidearms build Resolve through primary-weapon attacks and are best treated as part of a build, not a separate weapon slot. A sidearm that applies break, confusion or ranged pressure can change how a Shell performs more than switching primaries.

Which weapon should you rush first?

Methodology note

Tier lists change as patches land and community tech develops. This page reflects Balance Patch 1 and will be updated if later patches move weapons significantly.

Last verified: 2026-08-28.