How to complete the open beta

In our Mortal Shell 2 walkthrough, we will cover the first major act as well as the open world segment of the game. This essentially covers all the major parts of the open beta up to the final boss, Magdalena, the Lady of the Woods. Although the demo is fairly linear, there are plenty of optional paths that can make navigating the map a tad tricky.

Here’s a comprehensive walkthrough to help you finish Mortal Shell 2’s open beta and all its major boss fights.

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Mortal Shell 2 open beta: Prologue and first boss fight

The prologue in Mortal Shell 2’s open beta is very linear with optional paths that converge into the main progression path. The main story automatically leads you to your very first ShellHarros, the Vassal. Once you get the Shell, you need to make your way past the Village Outskirts. You will also come across 2 Beacons during this part of the game.

While cleansing is optional, doing so does reward you wilth additional XP and Ovawhich can be used later, once you get access to Marrow Keep. Once you complete Village Outskirts, you will reach the Disciple’s Grotto. Since XP is only accounted for once you get access to Marrow Keep, you can rush past most enemies in the Village.

However, once you reach the Widow’s Overlookwe recommend defeating all enemies to accumulate XP. Disciple’s Grotto is fairly linear with just one dungeon and a few enemies.

Once you reach the outer part of the Grotto, you will get the first major cutscene of the game, which introduces the Tar Golem. This is the first major story boss in Mortal Shell 2 open beta. However, you don’t necessarily need to defeat the Tar Golem at this point in the Mortal Shell 2 open beta.

Regardless of whether you beat the boss or die while trying to do so, the Tar Golem will end up killing Harros, the Vassalleaving you without a Shell. Once the cutscene concludes, you can exit the Grotto, which then leads you to the Marrow Keep.

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Mortal Shell 2 open beta: Marrow Keep

The Marrow Keep is essentially the central hub of Mortal Shell 2, akin to Dark Souls’s Firelink Shrine. You will be visiting the Marrow Keep to Siphon rewards from the Ova, upgrade your weapons, and also get more information of other Shells, which serve as the driving force of the main story.

Upon arriving at the Marrow Keep, your first task will be to talk to Zhirelle who will inform you about another lost Shell, Thus. Apart from the brief introduction to Harros, Tiel is the only Shell available in the open beta.

To find Tiel, you need to venture to the Widow’s Overlook. However, before you do so, take a walk around Marrow Keep. Right where you find the Beacon of Marrow Keep, take the path to the left and head inside the chamber to talk to Franzthe Forgesmith.

After talking to Franz, you can use the Tarforge to upgrade your weapon(s). Furthermore, once you deposit the Ova, visit the central chamber and take the lift in the room in front of you. This leads you to the top of the Marrow Keep, where you can fast travel to the available Beacons in the open world.

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Mortal Shell 2 open beta: Widow’s Overlook

Your first and only (in the Mortal Shell 2 open beta) destination is the Widow’s Overlook. This is the first major “open-ended” zone in Mortal Shell. Right at the start of the Widow’s Overlook, you will face the Great Arbiter of Fleshone of the many optional bosses in the open beta. However, we recommend not engaging the boss and instead, taking the path right in front of you.

This path leads to the Mushroom Villagewhere you will face new enemies as well as witches. Your first task in the Mushroom Village is to find Thusthe Shell that you will be using for the rest of the open beta.

Tiel can be found in the northeast of the Mushroom Village. We highly recommend cleansing the Beacon at the center of the village to make it easier to traverse. Once you acquire Tiel, make it to the Hunter’s Outlook, which is to the left of the Mushroom Village Beacon.

Before you head to the Hunter’s Outlook, clear the enemy ambush in the southern part of the village. This will reward you with the Mushroom Village Key. You need this key to unlock the door that leads to the Axe and Dagger weapon within the Hunter’s Outlook.

From the Mushroom Village, take the path that leads to the north towards the swamp. This is the most difficult part of the open beta due to the sheer volume of enemies that can inflict Poison status. Thnakfully, you can simply run past most enemies if you want to.

However, we do recommend cleansing the two Beacons in this area, including the Sunken Village Beacon that leads to the final boss fight.

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Mortal Shell 2 open beta: How to defeat Magdalena, the Lady of the Woods

Before you can fight the final boss of Mortal Shell 2’s open beta, you need to defeat a mini-boss, The Wandering Shepherd. To defeat this boss, we recommed using Tiel’s Shell ability twice in a row. Using the ability upgrades as well as the Axe and Dagger weapon, you can easily deplete the boss’s HP to half with the character ability or ranged attacks.

After that, you need maintain distance from the boss and attack the sheep that are trying to overwhelm you. This helps refill your ability gauge and lets you perform the Shell ability again.

Once you defeat the Wandering Shepherd, you can progress deeper into the woods, which leads you to Magdalena, the Lady of the Woods. Magdalena is arguably the most challenging boss in the open beta. However, there are ways to easily defeat this boss.

To defeat Magdalena, the Lady of the Woods:

• Don’t charge towards the boss right from the get-go. Instead, you want Magdalena to get close to you. At this point, you have two options, either use Harden to counter Magladena, or dodge at the right moment to trigger Tiel’s passive (i-frames).
• Once you avoid the first attack, Magdalena will always retreat and then charge at you with the spinning flame attack. This is the moment you can counter the boss with a ranged attack or a melee attack.
• We highly recommend using ranged attack as getting into melee range of Magladena can be quite lethal.
• The trick to defeating Magdalena is to max out her stagger gauge.
• Attacking the boss’s chariot/wheelchair or using ranged attacks can easily max outher stagger gauge and open her up for a critical attack.
• Once you land the first critical hit, Magdalena will become somewhat passive. However, at the same time, she will summon her minions that can deal a ton of explosion damage if you get close to them.
• During this phase, you want to stay and medium distance and attack Magdalena’s chariot. Do keep and eye on the minions and dodge if they get too close.
• Once you land the second critical attack on the boss, she will summon a barrage of bees. However, if you play your cards right, you can take down Magdalena with just melee strikes in the final phase.

Edited by Suman Biswas