Mortal Shell 2: How To Beat The Warden

There are quite a few bosses in Mortal Shell 2 that will give you a pretty tough time if you aren't careful, but most of these tend to be essential bosses. At least in my opinion, the optional bosses tend to be a little lackluster. 

However, one that stood out from the crowd was The Warden, the main boss of the Citadel of Pennance. This guy hits hard, and hits relentlessly. So, if you want to avoid getting knocked out of your shell, here's how to go about it. 

Where Is The Warden In Mortal Shell 2? 

The Warden is located in the Citadel of Pennance, an area found near the Gloomshade Grove Beacon. However, you will need to find the Citadel Gate Lever to access this area. It is found by defeating the Bloodcursed Lithopod boss in the body of water below the beacon. 

Or alternatively, you can access the Citidel by interacting with a smoking pouch on a wall near the One Legged Wolf Tavern beacon, just up a staircase to the left of the beacon. 

Once inside the Citadel, you'll want to head to the cells on the lower level at the center of the fortress. Then, use an elevator to access the raised platform in the center. When you walk into the middle of this platform, the Warden will leap towards you, shattering the platform and initiating the fight. 

How To Prepare 

To prep for this fight, it's all about being as agile as possible. But you'll also want to make sure you have a solid build that can deal damage when windows of opportunity present themselves. Here is what we would suggest: 

Level: 12-15 

Shell: Tiel 

Weapon: Iconoclast or Axe & Dagger 

Sidearm: Naylshotte or Troubadour's Lute 

Seal: Vatra's Seal

Useful Tarstones: Bulwark Stone, Grudge Stone, Duality Stone 

The key to this fight is using Tiel, ideally with the Axe and Dagger combo for the highest DPS option possible to make the most of the tight windows of opportunity. 

Tiel's Shadow abilities prove vital in this fight, as you'll be doing a lot of dodging unblockable attacks in this fight. So, being able to go ghost and get a sneak attack in while avoiding their barrage of attacks is very welcome. 

How To Beat The Warden 

In truth, the warden is a very one-note fight. But that doesn't mean it's not a very tricky one to get right, as there is very little margin for error. 

This boss basically only has one attack. They will come at you with an unblockable spinning slice attack that will hit four times. The only way to avoid this is to analyze the timing and get into a rhythm of dodging in that pattern of four. 

Then, when they finish the attack, it's best to try and stay close, get a few shots in without being too greedy, and then get set up for another round of four attacks. 

They will also use blockable attacks occasionally, but due to how fast and aggressive they are. Playing the long game and going for stagger damage isn't the play here, as it just elongates an already tricky encounter. So try to utilize well-timed dodges rather than blocks and parries.

Also, I would urge players to stay close to the center of the arena, as it's tight as it is. But their aggressive moveset will push you back, and if you're pinned against a wall, dodging and visibility become an issue. 

The reality is, if he hits you once, he's kicking you right out of your shell. Twice, and you're as good as dead. So only heal if you are very confident they won't strike, and focus on getting that dodge choreography right. 

The Warden Rewards

When you beat The Warden, you'll gain 6542x Gloom. But the real reward is the new shell that you'll find in the boss arena after they are vanquished. 

This is the shell of Eredrim. A shell that is mainly focused on dealing break damage, executing enemies with a riposte, and then chaining those ripostes to raise the HP threshold needed for an instant execution. 

Eredrim is mainly useful for exploration and for taking on large crowds of weak-to-mid-power enemies.