Sidearms give you a second line of attack in Mortal Shell 2, adding ranged damage and status effects on top of your main weapon. There are eight to collect across Fallgrim, and none of them are missable. You can still grab every one after clearing the final boss, and finding all eight earns the “Guns. Lots of Guns” trophy. Merrick can mark each location on your map for Gold, but you do not need to pay if you know where to go.
Quick answer: The Naylshotte comes free in the prologue. The Troubadour’s Lute, Forgotten Crossbow, Salvaged Trebuchaxe, Triarch Repeater, and Cursed Child are all found inside dungeons. The Ballistazooka and Caged Hystrix are boss rewards from the Subjugated Guardian and Sariel, the Endless.
All 8 sidearm locations in Mortal Shell 2
| Sidearm | How you get it | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Naylshotte | Prologue starter | Given by the Undermether |
| Troubadour’s Lute | Found on the stage | One-Legged Wolf Tavern |
| Forgotten Crossbow | Behind a locked door | Flooded Village dungeon |
| Salvaged Trebuchaxe | End of the dungeon | Ravaged Hideout dungeon |
| Triarch Repeater | Deep inside the cave | Blackwell Cavern dungeon |
| Cursed Child | Destroy the light source | Revered Beacon dungeon |
| Ballistazooka | Boss drop | Sentry’s Grave (Subjugated Guardian) |
| Caged Hystrix | Post-boss pickup | Chamber of Becoming (after Sariel) |
Sidearms you receive through story progress
Naylshotte
The Naylshotte is your starting sidearm and cannot be missed. After the Festival in the prologue, speak with the Undermether to collect your opening kit, which includes the Naylshotte, your first weapon, and the Untarnished Seal. This is also where you unlock the Harros shell. If you played the Open Beta and skipped the prologue, the Naylshotte is already equipped when the main game begins. It behaves like a shotgun, firing a spread of projectiles.
Troubadour’s Lute
The Lute sits on the stage inside the One-Legged Wolf Tavern in eastern Fainweald, but you need the Mother’s Breath ability to reach the area. You unlock that ability after collecting and siphoning eight Ova, which lets you clear the corruption blocking the path.
The Lute is the one sidearm that cannot be upgraded. Instead, it inflicts Confusion, which makes affected enemies fight each other for a few seconds.
Sidearms hidden inside dungeons
Forgotten Crossbow
The Forgotten Crossbow is locked away in the Flooded Village dungeon. From the Blackridge Pass Beacon, head down and west until you reach a stone doorframe blocked by a wooden barricade.
Salvaged Trebuchaxe
Start at the Gloomshade Grove Beacon and head south, passing the Citadel and continuing toward the water below. Near here you can fight the Bloodcursed Lithopod, which drops the Citadel Gate Lever when defeated. The entrance to the Ravaged Hideout dungeon is close by. Work your way to the very end of the dungeon to claim the Salvaged Trebuchaxe. This sidearm fires axes and hits hard against single targets, and holding the fire button charges the shot for extra damage.
Triarch Repeater
Fast travel to the Castigator’s Keep Beacon and head north. You will need to drop down into the area below to find the mouth of Blackwell Cavern. The dungeon is extremely dark, so visibility is limited to a few feet ahead as you move through the tunnels. Keep pushing to the final area to reach the Triarch Repeater.
Cursed Child
The Cursed Child is inside the Revered Beacon dungeon near the Abbey Entrance.
Sidearms earned from boss fights
Ballistazooka
From the Gate of Mammon Beacon, head northwest until you reach a fort containing the entrance to Sentry’s Grave. Inside, the halls are packed with ballista-wielding enemies, and more wait near the boss arena. You can run past most of them toward the arena to avoid taking unnecessary hits.
In the final chamber, you face the Subjugated Guardian, a heavier ballista enemy whose shots explode. Clear the two enemies on either side by using the stairs to reach them, then focus the boss. Running into close range limits the Guardian to slam attacks that are easy to block and parry. Defeating it rewards the Ballistazooka.
Caged Hystrix
Begin at the Silent Steps Beacon and use the Bone Gate directly ahead to reach the upper area. Go up, then left, to find Sariel, the Endless. Beat him to open the door behind the nearby statue.
Head through the door, climb the stairs, and enter the Chamber of Becoming. Sariel appears again with a gimmick that stops you from killing him normally. Destroy the four stone tablets around the arena, then finish him to end the fight. You receive a weapon and Sariel’s Shell for the win. Continue up the stairs afterward to grab the Caged Hystrix.
How to confirm you have every sidearm
Each sidearm shows up in your equipment menu the moment you collect it, and a separate trophy pops for every individual one. Once all eight are in your inventory, the “Guns. Lots of Guns” trophy unlocks. If a sidearm is not appearing, the usual cause is a missing prerequisite rather than a wrong route. The Troubadour’s Lute needs the Mother’s Breath ability first, and the Forgotten Crossbow will not be reachable until you have found the Damp Key inside the Flooded Village.
Every sidearm except the Troubadour’s Lute can be strengthened at the Tarforge in Marrow Keep, so keep enough coins and smithing materials on hand once you start pairing them with Tarstones.
