Gaming Guide

Valor Mortis: Where to Find All 29 Ambers and What Each One Does

All 29 Ambers, their effects and ranks, and where each one turns up across the campaign.

All 29 Ambers, their effects and ranks, and where each one turns up across the campaign.

Purple tendrils spreading across the snow beside a fallen soldier, from the Valor Mortis opening cinematic

In Valor Mortis, Ambers are perks you equip on William at a Lantern once their Amber Slots open (see how to equip Ambers) to alter his combat, healing and Nephtoglobin management. The collection contains 29: fourteen have one rank, and the remaining fifteen have ranks I, II and III, unlocked by finding duplicates. Chests across the regions contain most of them; tougher foes drop a few, and conversations award four.

Quick answer: Earn the Ambersmith trophy by collecting all 29 Ambers. Find them in chests, as enemy drops or through four conversations. None can be missed, and you can collect every one after finishing the story.

See every Amber pickup spot by region on the Valor Mortis map.

Purple Nephtoglobin fluid spreads across snow beside a fallen soldier's scattered gear
The opening cutscene, where William falls on the plague-soaked battlefield before rising again.

All 29 Ambers and where to find them

For every Amber, this lists its effect, rank count and possible locations. If an Amber has multiple listed locations, it can be found at each one; the extra copies increase the rank of an Amber you already have.

AmberEffectRanksWhere to find
Bottomless WellNephtoglobin gradually recovers after being lost3The Battlefield chest; City of Orphans drop; conversation
Bountiful HarvestNephtoglobin Remnants restore Health3The Deserter quest reward (Vale of Wrath); City of Orphans drop (Volunteers)
Butcher’s CarnageMelee hits heal you; Flasks no longer heal3Look for chests first in The Battlefield, then in Vale of Wrath, with The Outskirts also on the list.
Dilated MomentAiming slows time, drains Endurance, cuts gun damage1The Battlefield, Vale of Wrath chests
DominatusCritical Attacks restore Health3The Outskirts (two), Valley of Ashes chests; Caverns drop
Duellist’s FocusLonger melee parry window1The Battlefield chest
Equivalent ExchangeSpend Health when Nephtoglobin is empty1Vale of Wrath drop (Risen Sapeur)
Fire BreathingAttacking mid-dodge causes a burning blast1Fortress drop (Remnants of the Iron Regiment)
Glass SoldierMore melee damage, more damage taken3Fallen Village, The Outskirts chests; Outskirts and Fortress drops
Indestructible ShellLess damage from explosions3Search Valley of Ashes first, followed by Cursed Hollow and Fortress. One chest is trapped.
Iron GripFaster, uninterruptible Flask use1The Battlefield chest
Life DivertedFlasks restore Nephtoglobin; Transmutation damage heals you3Start with The Battlefield, continue to Cursed Hollow, and check City of Orphans and Fortress for chests.
Limit BreakExcess Flask healing becomes temporary Health1Caverns chest
Lucky ShotChance a shot costs no ammo3Caverns, Vale of Wrath, Fortress chests (one trapped); conversation
Lunatic’s GraspFaster Ignite and Stasis buildup, lower resistance3Caverns, The Outskirts, University chests (one trapped)
Marksman’s BaneParry bullets; each parry grants a Pistol round1Valley of Ashes chest
PaybackTaking a hit at low Health triggers a Stasis blast1University drop (Remnants of the Iron Regiment)
Perfect CopyRanks up your other Tier 1 and 2 Ambers1Valley of Ashes chest
PerfectionismMore melee damage at full Health3Search Valley of Ashes, followed by Caverns and then Vale of Wrath (the beekeeper’s hut), for chests.
Potent ConcoctionFlask restores Nephtoglobin and Health3Valley of Ashes, Fortress chests (one trapped)
Silent SqueakQuieter movement, harder to detect1Conversation
Sixth SensePerfect Dodges boost Firearm damage1City of Orphans chest
Sleight of HandFaster reloads and weapon swaps1Conversation (An Unheard Farewell)
SurplusMore Catalysts per kill3For chests, visit Valley of Ashes first, then Caverns, and finally The Outskirts.
Tomorrow’s PromiseHealth regen after Flask use; timer resets3Fortress chests (one trapped)
Transmuted PersistenceTransmutation damage restores Recoverable Health1The Battlefield chest
Volatile EndWeak Point shots trigger an explosion1The Battlefield, Fallen Village chests
Warrior’s FuryKills briefly boost movement speed and damage3Fallen Village chest; Cursed Hollow and University drops
Wound that HealsLost Health gradually returns3The Battlefield, Vale of Wrath chests; Vale of Wrath and Cursed Hollow drops

Amber values by rank

Each Amber effect has specific numerical values. When three numbers are listed, they correspond to ranks I, II and III, respectively.

AmberValues
Bountiful HarvestHealth per Remnant 3% / 4% / 5%
DominatusHealth per Critical Attack 50% / 75% / 100%
Equivalent ExchangeHealth per Nephtoglobin point 1.1
Fire BreathingExplosion damage 20; radius 5m
Indestructible ShellExplosion damage reduction 40% / 50% / 60%
Iron GripFlask use speed x1.5
Life DivertedTransmutation damage returned as Health 60%
Limit BreakBonus Health lasts 15 seconds
Lucky ShotAmmo-save chance 10% / 15% / 20%
PaybackExplosion damage 20; radius 5m
PerfectionismMelee damage at full Health 10% / 15% / 20%
Potent ConcoctionNephtoglobin restored 20% / 30% / 40%
Sleight of HandReload and switch speed x1.2
SurplusExtra Catalysts 10% / 12.5% / 15%
Tomorrow’s PromiseRegeneration 10 / 10 / 10 s; healing factor 1.1 / 1.2 / 1.3
Transmuted PersistenceRecoverable Health factor 2
Volatile EndExplosion damage 50
Warrior’s FuryDuration 8 s; movement speed x1.05 / 1.1 / 1.2; extra damage 10% / 20% / 30%

Nine Ambers waiting in the opening area

The Battlefield, the Chapter I region, hides a cluster of Ambers in chests before you move on. Clearing it thoroughly hands you nine in a single pass, which is the fastest early jump in options for your first few Amber slots.

Inventory menu on the Ambers tab with Duellist's Focus selected, an orange pyramid amber, and its description panel.
The Inventory screen’s Ambers tab shows the Duellist’s Focus amber, which increases the Parry window for Melee Weapons.
  • Bottomless Well
  • Butcher’s Carnage
  • Dilated Moment
  • Duellist’s Focus
  • Iron Grip
  • Life Diverted
  • Transmuted Persistence
  • Volatile End
  • Wound that Heals

The Valley of Ashes is the next dense pocket. Its chests hold Dominatus, Indestructible Shell, Marksman’s Bane, Perfect Copy, Perfectionism, Potent Concoction and Surplus, so comb the Military Camp and the quarry areas as you pass through.


Three Ambers to grab in the Vale of Wrath

Wound that Heals (“Slowly regenerate lost Health over time.”) comes off an elite two-handed Volunteer who carries a red-hot burning greatsword. You find him standing among dead soldiers by a log cabin on a forest path about 110 m south of the Poisoned Camp Lantern, and his fire swing sets you Burning, so keep moving as you close the gap. When he falls you collect 7,000 Catalysts and the Amber drops straight into your inventory with the “Wound that Heals” toast, its screen reading “Upgrade Level: 1 / 3”. It can also be found in a cellar chest near the Wolfsbane Field Lantern, in a Battlefield chest near the Trenches Lantern, and on an elite Cannonhand in Cursed Hollow near the Deep Water Lantern; see how to get Wound that Heals.

Wound that Heals toast notification
The “Wound that Heals” toast as the burning-sword Volunteer falls.

Perfectionism (“Increase melee damage dealt when your Health is full.”) sits in a red chest with gold fittings inside the beekeeper’s hut, beside the beehive meadow west of the Wolfsbane Field Lantern. The hut stays locked until you take the Beekeeper’s Hut Key from the Eternal Guardsman that patrols the meadow. Clear the guardsman, step inside, and hold E on the chest (“[E] OPEN (HOLD)”) to pop the lid and bring up the “Perfectionism” toast.

The open hut chest with the Perfectionism toast
Perfectionism from the chest in the beekeeper’s hut.

Bountiful Harvest (“Picking up Nephtoglobin Remnants restores Health.”) is the reward for finishing The Deserter side quest in the Vale of Wrath, which opens from the Wanted Notice about Private Henri Dufour. Track down the three Anubis Figurine pieces hidden in the beehives, and when the last piece goes in you receive the Anubis Figurine, 2,500 Catalysts and the Amber Bountiful Harvest with its “Bountiful Harvest” toast, its screen showing “Upgrade Level: 1 / 3”. For the full route through the beehives, follow The Deserter walkthrough; the Amber also drops from an elite Volunteer in the City of Orphans.

The Deserter quest complete with the Anubis Figurine and Bountiful Harvest toasts
Bountiful Harvest arrives with the Anubis Figurine when The Deserter is complete.

Four Ambers come from conversations

Bottomless Well, Lucky Shot, Silent Squeak and Sleight of Hand can each be given to you through dialogue rather than pulled from a chest. Bottomless Well also sits in a Battlefield chest and drops from a Risen Lancer in the City of Orphans, and Lucky Shot appears in several chests as well, so missing a talk does not lock you out of either one. Another copy is the reward for the Homesick side quest in the Caverns.

Silent Squeak is the exception. It comes only from conversation, so it is the one to be deliberate about. Sleight of Hand is the reward for finishing the An Unheard Farewell side quest, started near the Demolished Path Lantern in the Valley of Ashes.


Trapped chests to approach carefully

Several chests detonate the moment you open them. The ones holding Indestructible Shell, Lucky Shot, Lunatic’s Grasp, Potent Concoction and Tomorrow’s Promise can each be trapped, often surrounded by explosive horse carcasses or barrels. Open them, then dodge backwards and wait out the blast before collecting the Amber from what remains.

With the trapped chests that sit among explosive carcasses, you can shoot one of the carcasses from range first to clear the area, which makes the final pickup far safer.


Two Ambers that rewrite your Ferrofluid Flask

Before equipping either one, note how Butcher’s Carnage and Life Diverted alter your Ferrofluid Flask. Butcher’s Carnage restores Health when you land melee hits, but Flasks no longer heal you. Life Diverted makes Flasks restore Nephtoglobin rather than Health and returns 60% of your Transmutation damage to you as Health.

Ferrofluid Flask
Ferrofluid Flask. Image: One More Level

If you lean on Flasks to survive, either Amber pulls that safety net away. Pair them with a healing source you trust, such as melee lifesteal for Butcher’s Carnage or steady Transmutation damage for Life Diverted, before you commit.


Unlocking the Ambersmith trophy

You equip Ambers at any Lantern through LEVEL UP in the Lantern menu. Your first Amber slot unlocks at level 5, the second at level 15 and the third at level 25; the last two open further up the level track, for five equipped at once.

Dark Level Up skill tree menu showing rows of upgrade icons, level 1, catalyst cost and maximum health, nephtoglobin and endurance stats.
The Level Up screen in Valor Mortis shows skill upgrade slots at Level 1, with 40 Catalysts owned against 400 required, alongside Detailed Statistics for Maximum Health, Nephtoglobin and Endurance.

Thirteen of the 29 exist in only a single spot, so those are the ones most likely to slip past you. Watch for these in particular:

  • Duellist’s Focus, Equivalent Exchange, Fire Breathing
  • Iron Grip, Limit Break, Marksman’s Bane, Payback
  • Perfect Copy, Silent Squeak, Sixth Sense, Sleight of Hand
  • Tomorrow’s Promise, Transmuted Persistence

Visit every region, open its chests, defeat Amber-dropping enemies and collect the four Ambers from conversations. The Ambersmith trophy, “Gather all Ambers,” unlocks as soon as the last Amber enters your inventory; duplicate copies used to increase ranks aren’t required.