Transmutations are the magic side of William’s kit in Valor Mortis, and you will pick up Transmutation Materials long before the game ever shows you what to do with them. The bench that upgrades these abilities stays hidden for a good stretch of the early game, which is exactly why so many players assume they missed it.
Quick answer: Finish the Rendezvous main quest, return to the Abandoned Church, speak with James and then Louis, and use Louis’s Laboratoire on the workbench next to him with Transmutation Materials in hand.
Unlock the Transmutation bench by finishing Rendezvous
The ability to upgrade Transmutations is tied to the Chapter 3 main quest, Rendezvous. James asks you to track down his comrade Louis, who went to the Fallen Village and never came back. You need to find Louis and bring him back to the Abandoned Church to open up the bench.
Until that quest wraps up, there is no way to spend Transmutation Materials, so hold onto anything you find while exploring. Nothing is lost by stockpiling them.
Upgrade Transmutations at Louis’s Laboratoire
You know the upgrade worked when the ability’s damage values climb and, at set levels, the bench prompts you to pick a new passive effect for it.
Transmutation Materials you need for each tier
Every Transmutation upgrade runs on Transmutation Materials, and the tier you need rises with the level. The same four materials cover all three Transmutations (Fire, Stasis, and Shield), so plan your stock around whichever ability you lean on most.
| Material | Price | Fire level | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
 Crude Transmutation Material | $2,000 | Level 2 | x2 |
 Pure Transmutation Material | $4,000 | Level 3 | x2 |
 Distilled Transmutation Material | $8,000 | Level 4 | x2 |
 Quintessential Transmutation Material | — | Level 5 | x1 |
Louis’s Laboratoire stocks these as you progress. Crude Transmutation Material is on sale from the start, Pure Transmutation Material opens up in Chapter 5 (Crime), and Distilled Transmutation Material arrives in Chapter 9 (In Ruins). You will also find all of them in chests and lying around the world, with the higher tiers concentrated in later areas like the University, Fortress, and City of Orphans.
Enemies drop Transmutation Materials too, though at low rates. Carrion and Spewer can drop Crude, while Abomination, Eternal Guardsman, and Volunteers can drop Pure, so farming them while clearing areas adds up over a run.
Fire Transmutation stats at every level
The Fire Transmutation sets foes and world objects ablaze, while affected enemies lose health gradually. It reaches a ceiling of level 5; each rank boosts base damage, direct damage, and ignite damage.
| Level | Base damage | Damage | Ignite damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 15 | 4 |
| 2 | 7 | 17 | 4.5 |
| 3 | 8 | 18 | 5 |
| 4 | 9 | 19 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 10 | 20 | 6 |
Passive effects you choose as Fire levels up
Beyond raw numbers, reaching certain levels lets you add passive traits to the Fire Transmutation. The first two unlock outright, while levels 4 and 5 force a choice between two options, so you commit to one path per rank.
| Unlocks at | Upgrade | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 |  Brittleness | Burning foes are more vulnerable to melee hits |
| Level 3 |  Back-Burner | Sustained use raises damage and status buildup |
| Level 4 |  Fireworks | Extends the flame’s range |
| Level 4 |  Wildfire | Widens the flame’s spread |
| Level 5 |  Never-Ending Inferno | Landing melee hits keeps Ignite active for longer |
| Level 5 |  Unstable Blaze | A shot causes an ignited foe to detonate |
Fireworks and Wildfire sit opposite each other at level 4, and Never-Ending Inferno and Unstable Blaze do the same at level 5. Pick the one that suits how you fight. Brittleness pairs naturally with a melee-heavy build, since it makes your saber hit harder against anything already burning.
Once the bench is unlocked at the Abandoned Church, it stays available for the rest of the run, so you can keep returning to Louis’s Laboratoire to spend materials as the higher tiers come into stock. Keep feeding your preferred Transmutation and it will stay relevant deep into William’s journey.
