The Barrage Stone is an Ability Tarstone in Mortal Shell 2 that reshapes how your Sidearm fires. When equipped, it lets you spend Resolve to launch a heavy round that bursts above an enemy and rains explosive projectiles down onto everything below. It is tied to a single reward, so the only way to add it to your collection is to find and clear its trial.
Quick answer: Travel northeast of the Ravaged Hideout in Gloomshade Grove, activate the gauntlet trial at the monument, defeat both waves of enemies, then interact with the monument again to claim the Barrage Stone.
What the Barrage Stone does
The Barrage Stone slots into the Sidearm and belongs to the Ability category, so it modifies a specific attack rather than passively buffing your character. Activating it consumes 40 Resolve to fire a heavy round that detonates over the target and scatters explosive projectiles across the area beneath the blast. Each upgrade increases how many times the round detonates and how much splash damage the falling projectiles deal.
| Level | Effect |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Consume 40 Resolve to launch a heavy round that detonates above the target, scattering explosive projectiles below. |
| Level 2 | The heavy round detonates 2 times; each explosive projectile deals 4 splash damage. |
| Level 3 | The heavy round detonates 2 times; each explosive projectile deals 8 splash damage. |
| Level 4 | The heavy round detonates 3 times; each explosive projectile deals 8 splash damage. |
Where to find the Barrage Stone in Gloomshade Grove
The stone is a reward for clearing a gauntlet trial northeast of the Ravaged Hideout in Gloomshade Grove. The nearest fast-travel point is the Gloomshade Grove Beacon, and the route runs through a swampy, rocky canyon with tree-like enemies along the way.
How to upgrade the Barrage Stone
Raising the Barrage Stone past Level 1 needs two things: the Etching Needle quest item and enough experience on the stone itself. The Etching Needle expands the upgrade options of the Tarforge back at Marrow Keep once you hand it to Franz.
You can loot the Etching Needle from a chest just before the fight with Magdalena, the Lady of the Woods. When you spot Ruk past the bridge, drop through the opening and turn right before the tunnel to reach a small nook holding a bone chest. Open it to collect the item.
After delivering the Etching Needle to Franz, keep the Barrage Stone equipped and slay enemies as you explore to fill its experience bar. Once the bar is full, return to Franz in Marrow Keep and pay Coin to push the stone to its next level.
Note: Tarstones only gain experience while they are equipped, so leave the Barrage Stone in a Sidearm slot during regular combat if you want it ready to upgrade sooner.
None of the Tarstones in Mortal Shell 2 are missable, and you can return to Gloomshade Grove in free-roam after the final boss if you skipped the trial earlier. With the Barrage Stone equipped and enough Resolve banked, your Sidearm becomes a reliable way to punish grouped enemies with area explosions rather than single shots.
