The Gloombound Flame is the key item in Mortal Shell 2 that flips the world into Night Mode, the game’s harder state with tougher enemies, extra encounters, and night-only content. You collect it in Fainweald and burn it at the top of Marrow Keep to summon an NPC named Thestus, who then lets you turn day into night whenever you want.
Quick answer: Fast travel to the Widow’s Overlook beacon in Fainweald, run into the Great Arbiter of Flesh arena, and pick up the Gloombound Flame from beside a stone pillar. Take it to the top of Marrow Keep, light the extinguished lantern, and speak to Thestus to enable Night Mode.
Where to find the Gloombound Flame
The Gloombound Flame sits inside the Great Arbiter of Flesh arena in Fainweald, right next to the Widow’s Overlook beacon. It rests on one of the horn-shaped stone pillars in the clearing where that fight takes place, marked by a visible glowing pickup. The fastest route is to travel there directly rather than walk the whole region.
Do you have to beat the Great Arbiter of Flesh?
No. You can grab the Gloombound Flame while the Great Arbiter of Flesh is still alive and active in the arena. The pickup does not require killing the boss, so you can run in, take the item off the pillar, and leave without finishing the fight.
That said, the arena is still dangerous. If you are underleveled, treat the run as a stealth grab and focus on reaching the pillar safely rather than trading blows.
How to use the Gloombound Flame to unlock Night Mode
The Flame only works at the lantern altar at the top of Marrow Keep. Lighting that lantern summons Thestus, the NPC who calls forth the night.
LIGHT EXTINGUISHED LANTERN prompt. This consumes the Gloombound Flame and lights the altar.CALL FORTH THE NIGHT, which reads as “Enable increased difficulty.” Selecting yes switches the world to night and raises the difficulty.You know it worked when the world shifts to nighttime and enemies become more aggressive. If Thestus never shows up, the most common reason is that the lantern was not lit. Interacting with an unlit lantern alone will not summon him, so make sure you use the Gloombound Flame first.
What Night Mode changes
Night Mode is Mortal Shell 2’s harder world state. It increases overall difficulty, makes enemies more threatening, and adds extra hazards and encounters. It also opens up content you cannot reach during the day.
| Change | Details |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Enemies hit harder and behave more aggressively; more mobs spawn. |
| Rewards | Higher reward pressure and more Gloom, though exact figures are not published. |
| Night-only dungeon | The Shrine of Sorrows dungeon is only accessible in Night Mode. |
| Night vendor | The Collector, a merchant near the Abandoned Outpost, only appears at night. |
| Puzzles | Certain puzzles, such as one at Mushroom Village, can only be solved at night. |
Community reports point to additional night-only encounters and loot differences, but the exact reward multipliers and Gloom amounts have not been confirmed. Treat those numbers as unverified.
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How to switch back to daytime
Night Mode is toggleable. Return to the top of Marrow Keep and speak to Thestus again to reverse it, choosing the daylight option when it appears. You can move between day and night as often as you like, which is useful when you want to farm night-only rewards or step back to a calmer world to explore.
Note: The Gloombound Flame is consumed when you light the lantern, but you do not need it again afterward. Once Thestus is summoned, he handles all future switches between day and night.
