Mortal Shell 2 Tarstones Upgrade Guide: How to Find Etching Needles and Max Levels
There are plenty of ways to make your character stronger in Mortal Shell 2, but the Tarstone system is easily one of the most interesting. It starts out looking like another layer of Soulslike build clutter, the kind of menu you glance at once and forget about. Then you find a Tarstone that perfectly complements your weapon, upgrade it a couple of times, and suddenly your entire combat style feels different.
That is where the system gets good.
Tarstones can change weapon attacks, introduce elemental effects, improve critical damage, modify Resolve costs, and add passive bonuses to your Shell. Since Mortal Shell 2 leans so heavily into aggressive, stamina-free combat, these bonuses are not minor stat bumps. A well-upgraded Tarstone can genuinely change how you approach an encounter.
The catch? Tarstone upgrades are locked behind the Etching Needles, and the game does not exactly put a giant sign over the item telling you where to find them.
After spending far too much time poking around the Glutted Mire, here is the route I would recommend, along with how Tarstone XP works, when Tar Cores become important, and which part of the upgrade system deserves your attention first.
What Tarstones Actually Do in Mortal Shell 2
Before worrying about upgrades, it helps to understand how Tarstones fit into your overall loadout.
You can have up to 10 Tarstones equipped at once, although they are distributed across different categories rather than sitting in one giant inventory of passive bonuses.
| Slot Type | Number | Main Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Support | 4 | Shell-focused passive bonuses |
| Combat | 1 per weapon | Changes combat properties |
| Infusion | 1 per weapon | Adds elemental or special effects |
| Ability | 1 per weapon | Modifies weapon abilities and Resolve |
| Sidearm Slots | 3 | Dedicated firearm Tarstone effects |
That distinction matters more than it might seem.
A Support Tarstone can improve things like survivability, critical chance, or general damage scaling. Weapon Tarstones are more specialized. One might add elemental damage to your attacks, while another can alter the way an ability interacts with your Resolve.
Personally, I think this is where Mortal Shell 2 gets much more interesting than a basic upgrade tree. You are not simply making numbers bigger. You are tuning how your character actually fights.
And every Tarstone can ultimately reach Level 4, which is where some of the more dramatic effects appear.
First Problem: The Tarforge Is Locked
Once you reach Marrow Keep, you will eventually find the Tarforge, operated by the blacksmith Franz.
This is your central upgrade station for weapons, sidearms, and eventually Tarstones.
The important word there is eventually.
When you first meet Franz, the Tarstone upgrade functionality is unavailable. You can use the forge for its normal smithing functions, but the dedicated Tarstone progression system remains locked.
The solution is not another conversation with Franz or a hidden dialogue option.
You need an item called the Etching Needles.
And this is where the game sends you into the Glutted Mire.
Where to Find the Etching Needles
The Etching Needles are hidden in the Glutted Mire, close to the area leading toward the encounter with Magdalena, the Lady of the Woods.
If you are already exploring the Mire, you are probably closer than you think.
The easiest route is:
- Travel toward the Mushroom Village Gate on the eastern side of the map.
- Activate and cleanse the nearby beacon.
- Enter the newly accessible route into the Glutted Mire.
- Continue through the swamp until you approach Magdalena’s boss area.
- Look for Ruk, who is positioned near the wooden bridge.
- Do not simply walk across the bridge.
- Instead, look for the opening below and carefully drop down.
- At the bottom, turn right before entering the tunnel.
- Search the small hidden alcove for the bone chest.
- Open it and collect the Etching Needles.
The sixth step is the one that is easiest to miss.
If you are standing near Ruk and thinking, “Surely the game wants me to cross this bridge,” stop.
It doesn’t.
The item is tucked underneath the obvious route, which is very much in keeping with the way Mortal Shell 2 likes to hide useful rewards.
A Quick Navigation Tip
Don’t rush through the Mire just because you are trying to reach Magdalena.
The area is full of little vertical paths and side spaces that are easy to overlook when enemies are pressuring you. If you see a drop that looks suspiciously deliberate, check it.
In this case, that instinct pays off.
Returning to Franz and Unlocking Tarstone Upgrades
Once you have the Etching Needles, return to Marrow Keep.
Speak with Franz at the Tarforge and hand over the item when the option appears.
After that, the Tarforge gains the Tarstone upgrade functionality.
This is an important point: finding the Etching Needles is what unlocks the system.
You do not need to collect another special currency just to make the upgrade menu appear. Once Franz has the required tool, Tarstones become a proper part of your progression loop.
And this is where the system starts asking you to actually use your equipment rather than simply hoard it.
How Tarstone XP Works
Tarstones do not level up just because you own them.
You need to equip the Tarstone first.
Put it into one of your available Support, weapon, or sidearm slots, then go back into the world and start killing enemies.
Enemies defeated while the Tarstone is equipped contribute toward its experience progression. Once the Tarstone reaches the required XP threshold, it becomes ready for its next upgrade.
That creates an interesting little loop:
Equip → Fight → Earn XP → Return to Franz → Pay for Upgrade → Repeat
It is simple, but it encourages experimentation.
If you find a Tarstone you think might work with your build, equip it instead of leaving it buried in your inventory. The sooner you start accumulating XP, the sooner you can find out whether the upgraded version is actually worth building around.
And because Mortal Shell 2 does not use the traditional stamina system of its predecessor, combat can be much more aggressive. That makes active Tarstone XP farming feel fairly natural rather than like a separate grinding activity.
Coins Are Only Part of the Cost
XP gets the Tarstone ready, but Coins are what actually pay for the upgrade.
The exact price increases as you climb the progression ladder. Early upgrades are relatively manageable, with Level 1 to Level 2 starting around the low hundreds of Coins.
That sounds cheap until you start upgrading several Tarstones at once.
And honestly, I would recommend resisting the temptation to dump all your currency into one item immediately. The Tarstone system rewards a broader approach, especially once higher levels become available.
| Tarstone Stage | Main Requirement | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Tarstone XP | Base effect |
| Level 2 | Max XP + Coins | Stronger modifier |
| Level 3 | Max XP + Coins + Tar Core | Major improvement |
| Level 4 | Max XP + Coins + Tar Core | Maximum effect |
The higher you climb, the more expensive and resource-intensive the process becomes.
When Tar Cores Become Important
This is the part of the system that can catch you off guard.
Early Tarstone upgrades mostly revolve around XP and Coins. Once you begin pushing toward Levels 3 and 4, however, you will also need Tar Cores.
Tar Cores are rare crafting materials that become increasingly important for serious endgame build optimization.
The interesting thing is that the game encourages you to upgrade more than just your favorite Tarstone.
Upgrading lower-tier or secondary Tarstones can contribute to your supply of Tar Cores, while exploration can also provide them through valuable chests and hidden dungeon rewards.
That means your “junk” Tarstones aren’t necessarily junk.
If you find yourself staring at a Tarstone you would normally never use, consider leveling it anyway. It can help feed the larger progression system.
With dozens of hidden dungeons and plenty of exploration opportunities, this is one of those mechanics that quietly rewards players who refuse to ignore side content.
Example: The Acolyte’s Stone
The Acolyte’s Stone is a good example of why Tarstone upgrades can be much more meaningful than simple +5% damage bonuses.
At its first level, it allows you to spend a portion of your Resolve to perform a heavy charged Light Attack.
That is already useful, but the later levels start changing the value of the mechanic.
- Level 1: Unlocks the Resolve-powered charged Light Attack.
- Level 2: Adds +15% Critical Hit Chance to that charged attack.
- Level 3: Increases its critical damage output to 150%.
- Level 4: Reduces the Resolve activation cost to 10 points.
That final upgrade is the one I particularly like.
Instead of simply making the attack hit harder, Level 4 changes how economically you can use the ability. You can work the attack into your normal combat rhythm more frequently without burning through Resolve as aggressively.
That is exactly the sort of upgrade I want from a system like this.
How I Would Approach Tarstone Upgrades
If you are playing Mortal Shell 2 for the first time, I would not try to immediately create the most complicated possible build.
Start with one weapon you genuinely enjoy using.
Then find Tarstones that complement what that weapon already does well.
For example, if you naturally play around critical attacks, prioritize Tarstones that improve critical chance and critical damage. If you are using a weapon with strong elemental interactions, look toward Infusion Tarstones that reinforce that element rather than randomly stacking unrelated bonuses.
The same principle applies to Resolve.
Don’t treat Resolve-based Tarstones as isolated abilities. Treat them as part of your entire combat economy.
If a Tarstone makes an attack dramatically stronger but drains Resolve too quickly, it may feel great in a boss fight but terrible during a long dungeon run. A later upgrade that reduces the cost can completely change that equation.
Best Way to Farm Tarstone XP
There is no need to make XP farming unnecessarily miserable.
Keep the Tarstone equipped while exploring normally.
Clear groups of enemies, explore side routes, enter optional dungeons, and fight bosses when appropriate. You are already earning combat rewards, so there is little reason to stand in one location repeatedly killing the same enemy unless you are specifically trying to finish a Tarstone level immediately.
I prefer rotating several Tarstones through my build.
That keeps the progression moving and gives you a better understanding of which effects actually fit your playstyle.
It also makes the eventual Tar Core requirements less painful because you are not starting from scratch with every secondary item.
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Common Tarstone Mistakes to Avoid
A few mistakes can make this system feel much more annoying than it actually is.
Don’t leave good Tarstones unequipped.
If you know you want to use one later, equip it early and start earning XP.
Don’t ignore the Etching Needles route.
The bone chest is easy to miss because the obvious path leads directly toward the boss.
Don’t spend every Coin immediately.
Higher-level upgrades become more demanding, so keep some currency available.
Don’t discard secondary Tarstones too quickly.
They can contribute to the broader upgrade economy and help you work toward Tar Cores.
Don’t build around a single effect in isolation.
The strongest Tarstone setup is usually the one where Support, weapon, sidearm, Resolve, and elemental effects all reinforce one another.
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Final Thoughts
The Tarstone system is one of those Mortal Shell 2 mechanics that gets better the longer you use it.
At first, it looks like another menu full of percentages and upgrade materials. Once you understand the relationship between Tarstone XP, Coins, Tar Cores, weapon slots, and Shell bonuses, it becomes one of the game’s most flexible buildcrafting systems.
The biggest hurdle is simply unlocking it.
Find the Etching Needles in the hidden bone chest beneath the bridge near Magdalena’s arena in the Glutted Mire, bring them back to Franz in Marrow Keep, and the Tarforge finally opens its deeper functionality.
From there, the rule is simple: equip the Tarstone, use it, level it, and build around the effects that actually change how you play.
And don’t be afraid to experiment.
Some of the best Tarstone combinations aren’t necessarily the ones that look strongest on paper. They are the ones that make your favorite weapon feel completely different in your hands.
