Last Updated: August 19, 2026
Tarstones are one of the most important parts of Mortal Shell 2's character-building system.
They aren't simply collectibles. Tarstones can change how your weapons, sidearms, Resolve generation, survivability, stagger potential and special abilities work, giving you a lot of room to build around a particular Shell, Seal and weapon.
There are 75 Tarstones to find, divided into four categories, and you can equip up to 10 at once. Some Tarstones are also tied to particular weapons or sidearms, so finding a powerful stone doesn't necessarily mean you can use it with every setup.
The other important part is Tarforge progression. Tarstones can be leveled, but you first need to unlock the Tarforge function that allows them to be Tempered. Once that system is available, Tarstone XP and upgrade materials become an important part of long-term build progression.
This guide covers how Tarstones work, how to unlock upgrades, where to find them, how to farm Tarstone XP, which Tarstones are worth upgrading and how to build around them.
📋 Quick Navigation
- What Are Tarstones?
- How the Tarstone System Works
- How Many Tarstones Are There?
- Tarstone Categories Explained
- How to Unlock Tarstone Upgrades
- The Tarforge: What It Does
- How to Upgrade Tarstones
- Should You Upgrade Every Tarstone?
- Best Early Tarstones to Look For
- Best Tarstone XP Farming Locations
- All Confirmed Tarstone Locations
- Best Tarstones for Posture and Riposte Builds
- Best Tarstones for Aggressive Builds
- Best Tarstones for Ranged Builds
- Best Tarstones for Tiel
- Tarstones and Seals: How They Work Together
- Tarstone Upgrade Mistakes to Avoid
- Are Any Tarstones Missable?
- Tarstone Progression: The Best Overall Strategy
- Quick Reference
- FAQ
- Related Guides
What Are Tarstones in Mortal Shell 2?
Tarstones are equipable modifiers that let you customize your character's combat and progression. Unlike ordinary consumables, Tarstones become part of your build.
Depending on the stone, they can:
- Improve melee attacks
- Increase critical-hit potential
- Improve stagger or Break damage
- Affect sidearms
- Generate or modify Resolve
- Provide healing or sustain
- Add special abilities
- Modify infusions
- Improve defensive effects
- Change how you approach particular weapons
This makes Tarstones particularly important once you've settled on a preferred Shell and weapon. The game separates them into Support, Combat, Infusion and Ability categories, with different equipment limits for each category.
How the Tarstone System Works
You can equip multiple Tarstones simultaneously rather than building around a single stone.
The current system allows:
- 4 Support Tarstones
- 2 Combat Tarstones
- 2 Infusion Tarstones
- 2 Ability Tarstones
for a maximum of 10 equipped Tarstones.
You can also change your equipped Tarstones without needing to rest at a Beacon, which makes experimenting with different builds considerably easier. That means you shouldn't feel locked into your first Tarstone setup. If you discover that a stone doesn't work well with your weapon, simply change the loadout and try another combination.
How Many Tarstones Are There?
There are 75 Tarstones in Mortal Shell 2. That's a substantial collection, and not every stone is obtained in the same way.
You can find Tarstones through:
- Chests
- Exploration
- Dungeons
- Trials
- Bosses
- Special encounters
- NPC purchases
- Other unique rewards
Some are also associated with a special mode, so completing the standard campaign isn't necessarily the same thing as collecting every Tarstone. This is why a good Tarstone build isn't simply about finding one powerful item. You need to understand where the stones come from and which ones actually complement your build.
Tarstone Categories Explained
Support Tarstones: Generally provide passive bonuses or utility effects. These are particularly useful for improving critical chance, critical damage, survivability, resource generation, and general combat efficiency. You can equip up to four Support Tarstones. For a beginner, this category is often the easiest place to make meaningful improvements without dramatically changing your combat style.
Combat Tarstones: Focus more directly on fighting. They can affect melee attacks, stagger, Break pressure, weapon-specific effects, damage, and combat interactions. You can equip two Combat Tarstones. If you're building around the Posture system discussed in our combat guide, this category deserves particular attention.
Infusion Tarstones: Modify special weapon effects. They can be activated during combat and interact with whether you're currently holding your main weapon or sidearm. This makes them especially interesting for players who want a more specialized weapon setup.
Ability Tarstones: Give you additional active abilities. These aren't simply passive stat bonuses. They can change what your character can do during combat and may consume Resolve when activated. For example, Unwieldy Stone is an Ability Tarstone that can be purchased from Merrick for 2,000 Coins.
How to Unlock Tarstone Upgrades
Finding Tarstones is only the beginning. To upgrade them, you need to unlock the appropriate Tarforge function.
The Tarforge is located in Marrow Keep, beside Franz, but several of its functions are initially unavailable.
There are five important Tarforge-related upgrade items:
- Muradean Actuator
- Obsidian Lathe
- Etching Needles
- Foundry Stone
- Endless Core
The Etching Needles are the item specifically associated with unlocking Tarstone Tempering.
Where to Find the Etching Needles: The Etching Needles are found in Fainweald, inside the Corrupted Gate dungeon in the Glutted Mire. The route takes you through the area toward the Sunken Village Beacon before continuing toward the relevant boss encounter and the location of the Tarforge upgrade item.
This is one of the most important early progression goals if you intend to invest heavily in Tarstones.
Why get the Etching Needles early?: Because Tarstone XP progression becomes much more useful once you can actually Temper your stones. You don't want to spend a large amount of time building XP on a Tarstone and then discover that you haven't unlocked the system needed to upgrade it.
The Tarforge: What It Does
The Tarforge eventually becomes your central upgrade station.
Its functions include:
The first four functions are unlocked by bringing the corresponding items to Franz. The Endless Core works differently and is installed through the Tarforge itself. That means Tarstone progression is part of the larger Tarforge progression system, rather than being a completely separate upgrade mechanic.
How to Upgrade Tarstones
Once Tarstone Tempering has been unlocked, equipped Tarstones can gain XP as you fight.
The basic progression loop is: Equip Tarstone → Defeat enemies → Earn Tarstone XP → Reach the upgrade threshold → Return to the Tarforge → Temper the Tarstone → Continue leveling it.
Current guides confirm that Tarstones can be upgraded at the Tarforge using Coins and Tarstone XP, while launch-window coverage also identifies Tarcore and Etching Needles as important parts of the upgrade system.
Tarstone Ranks Explained: Tarstones start at a lower rank and can be developed through multiple upgrade stages. The important thing for beginners is that you shouldn't immediately treat every Tarstone as a permanent endgame investment.
Instead, think about Tarstones in two stages:
- Early progression: Use different Tarstones and raise them enough to see what they do.
- Build optimization: Once you know which Shell, weapon and Seal you actually want to use, concentrate your better resources on the Tarstones that support that setup.
This prevents you from wasting your early resources on a Tarstone you eventually stop using.
Should You Upgrade Every Tarstone?
No — not equally. Experimenting with multiple Tarstones is useful, but deeper investment should be reserved for stones that fit your build.
A good strategy is:
- Rank up several Tarstones early – This lets you experiment with different effects.
- Identify your core build – Choose: Shell, main weapon, sidearm, Seal, combat style.
- Invest heavily in the Tarstones that support it – This is especially important because some Tarstones are compatible only with specific weapons or sidearms.
Best Early Tarstones to Look For
There isn't one universal "best Tarstone." The strongest choice depends on what you're trying to accomplish. However, several early Tarstones stand out because they support common playstyles.
Auspicious Stone – Type: Support. Found in a chest near the entrance to Mushroom Village. Improves melee Critical Chance. It's an attractive early pickup for players who want a straightforward damage increase.
Berserker's Stone – Type: Support. Found in the grounds of the Temple of Vatra. It's an early exploration reward worth picking up if you're already moving through the area.
Marksman's Stone – Type: Support. Found through a trial near Mushroom Village Gate. This is particularly relevant if you're building around ranged attacks or a sidearm-focused setup.
Unwieldy Stone – Type: Ability. Purchase it from Merrick for 2,000 Coins. Unwieldy Stone is particularly interesting because it adds an active combat option and gives players another way to build around charged heavy attacks and sustain.
Unwieldy Stone: A Good Example of Tarstone Upgrading – Unwieldy Stone is a useful example of why Tarstone upgrades matter. Rather than simply collecting it and moving on, you can develop the Tarstone through the Tarforge system. Its effect and upgrade progression make it particularly interesting for players who prefer a heavier, more committed melee style. That also makes it a good candidate for testing how Tarstone XP and Tempering work before you commit expensive resources to your final build.
Best Tarstone XP Farming Locations
Once you've unlocked Tarstone upgrades, you'll eventually want a fast way to generate XP. Two current routes stand out.
Gate of Mammon –
Best for: Mid-game.
XP per run: Approximately 3,700.
Run time: Around 1.5–2 minutes.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Gate of Mammon is the better option while you're still progressing through the middle portion of the game.
Faithful Shelter — The Unfound Path –
Best for: Endgame.
XP per run: Approximately 7,000.
Run time: Around 1.5–2 minutes.
Difficulty: High.
Faithful Shelter provides substantially more XP, but the enemies are more dangerous.
Which farm should you use? Don't automatically choose the location with the biggest XP number. The better farm is the one you can clear quickly, consistently, and without dying. If Gate of Mammon takes you two minutes and you almost never die, while Faithful Shelter takes the same time but occasionally kills you, the safer farm can produce better progression over a longer session.
Tarstone Farming Also Helps Character Progression: One useful feature of these farms is that you're not necessarily farming only one resource. Repeated enemy kills can help advance your character and your equipped Tarstones at the same time. That makes Tarstone farming considerably more efficient than simply looking for isolated Tarstone rewards. You can combine character XP, Tarstone XP, and build testing into the same farming session.
All Confirmed Tarstone Locations
There are 75 Tarstones overall, so listing every stone without context can make the guide difficult to use. Instead, the most useful way to organize them is by category and acquisition method.
Support Tarstones
Examples include:
Auspicious Stone - Mushroom Village entrance chest
Berserker's Stone - Temple of Vatra
Marksman's Stone - Trial near Mushroom Village Gate
Deadeye Stone - Chest north of Sanguine Caves
Siegebreaker's Stone - Sunken Village arena
Retribution Stone - Widow's Overlook trial
Gloombound Stone - Stones of Remembrance graveyard
Justiciar's Stone - Broodshell field cave.
Combat Tarstones
Examples include:
Wounding Stone - Mushroom Village
Grudge Stone - Citadel of Penance,
Duality Stone - Ravaged Tomb
Unyielding Stone - Trial north of Deserted Mine
Parasitic Stone - Church dungeon behind Arbiter of Flesh
Corroded Stone - Sunken Village Beacon
Volatile Fragment - Vrannic, Grand Illusionist
Myriad Stone - Feeding Grounds dungeon
Ironpiercer's Stone - Central Sewers
Blackblood Stone - Mawbreak Cavern
Infusion Tarstones:
Known examples include:
Arbiter's Prize - Great Arbiter of Flesh
Serpent Stone - Lucian, the Thirsting Knight
Voltaic Crown - Nochtean Gate Beacon boss
Emberseed Stone - Mushroom Village Beacon
Hag Stone - Outskirts of Nochte Beacon
Ability Tarstones
Known examples include:
Unwieldy Stone - Merrick, 2,000 Coins
Acolyte's Stone - Merrick, 2,000 Coins
Shrike Stone - Sunken Village arena chest
Magdalena's Memento - Magdalena
Hand of Rock - One Legged Wolf tavern
Tarred Fragment - Tarblighted Stoner
Lost Clotstone - Lost Child
Confessor's Keepsake - Tishina's Confessor
Captive's Scabstone - Nameless Captive
The complete 75-item list continues to evolve in launch-window coverage, so this guide should be updated as remaining locations and effects are independently confirmed.
Best Tarstones for Posture and Riposte Builds
This is where Tarstones become particularly interesting alongside the combat system. If you're using Untarnished Seal, Vatra's Seal or Infinite Seal, you can build around creating Posture breaks and converting them into Riposte opportunities.
Look for effects that improve: stagger, Break damage, Riposte damage, Resolve generation, critical damage, and sustain after kills.
For example, Shattering Stone is particularly interesting for a Posture-focused setup because its effect increases the stagger potential of your next melee attack after killing an enemy. That makes it a natural candidate for a build centered around: Attack → Break → Riposte, rather than simply maximizing raw HP damage.
Best Tarstones for Aggressive Builds
Aggressive builds generally benefit from effects that reward continuous offense. Prioritize Tarstones that improve: melee damage, critical chance, critical damage, stagger, charged attacks, and sustain from kills.
The important thing is to avoid stacking several effects that all require conditions you rarely trigger. A slightly weaker Tarstone that activates constantly can be more valuable than a stronger one that almost never triggers.
Best Tarstones for Ranged Builds
If your build relies heavily on sidearms, pay close attention to compatibility. Some Tarstones are restricted to particular weapons or sidearms, so always check the equipment requirement before planning your entire setup around an effect.
This is particularly relevant to the Slayer Seal, because Slayer changes the role of sidearms by allowing them to deal Break damage. That creates an interesting alternative to traditional melee Posture pressure: Sidearm → Break → Riposte.
Best Tarstones for Tiel
Tiel is particularly well suited to a build that emphasizes aggressive damage, critical hits and Riposte interactions.
A current Tiel build recommendation uses a combination including: Acolyte's Stone, Arbiter's Prize, Deadeye Stone, and Retribution Stone, alongside Untarnished Seal.
The important lesson isn't that this is the only Tiel build. Instead, it demonstrates how Tarstones should be selected around the entire character setup. Don't choose your Tarstones first and then try to force your Shell and weapon around them.
Build in this order: Shell → Weapon → Seal → Combat strategy → Tarstones. That produces a much more coherent build.
Tarstones and Seals: How They Work Together
Your Seal determines how you interact with combat. Your Tarstones can then reinforce that strategy.
- Untarnished Seal: Build around Guard, Perfect Guard, Break, Riposte, and counterattacks.
- Vatra's Seal: Build around Harden, Perfect Harden, aggressive melee, stagger, and sustained pressure.
- Infinite Seal: Build around Parry, counterattacks, Break, and Riposte.
- Slayer Seal: Build around sidearms, ranged Break, Riposte, and ranged pressure.
This is why Tarstones shouldn't be considered independently from the Seal system.
Tarstone Upgrade Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't ignore the Tarforge – Finding Tarstones is only half of the system. Unlocking Tempering is what lets you turn them into meaningful long-term upgrades.
- Don't invest equally in everything – You can experiment with many Tarstones, but your best resources should eventually go toward the ones that define your build.
- Don't ignore weapon compatibility – A Tarstone can look incredible on paper but be useless for your current weapon or sidearm. Always check compatibility before committing.
- Don't farm before unlocking the upgrade system – If you're deliberately farming Tarstone XP, make sure you have the Tarforge functionality needed to convert that progression into upgrades.
- Don't automatically use the hardest XP farm – A high XP-per-run number isn't useful if you constantly die. Consistency matters.
- Don't forget to rotate Tarstones – You can change equipped Tarstones without resting at a Beacon, so experiment freely.
- Don't spend all your Coins immediately – Coins are useful for other progression systems as well. If a Tarstone isn't central to your build, there's little reason to rush its deepest upgrades.
Are Any Tarstones Missable?
There is currently no strong evidence that ordinary Tarstone pickups are permanently missable simply because you progress the main story. However, there are two things to keep in mind.
Special-mode Tarstones: Some Tarstones are tied to a special mode, so collecting every Tarstone may require more than a normal campaign playthrough.
Boss and NPC Tarstones: Several Tarstones are tied to bosses, NPC purchases, special enemies, optional areas, and trials. Because of that, completionists should avoid assuming that every Tarstone will simply appear along the main story path. If you're attempting all 75, keep a checklist.
Tarstone Progression: The Best Overall Strategy
For a first playthrough, I'd recommend this progression:
Early game: Explore thoroughly, pick up every Tarstone you naturally encounter. Unlock Tarforge functions, prioritizing the items that open weapon and Tarstone upgrading. Experiment by equipping different Support and Combat Tarstones rather than immediately committing.
Mid-game: Identify your core build. Choose your Shell, weapon and Seal. Start concentrating upgrades, spending more resources on Tarstones that directly support your playstyle. Use XP farms when needed; Gate of Mammon is a useful mid-game option.
Endgame: Optimize your final loadout. Replace temporary Tarstones with the strongest combinations for your build. Farm efficiently; Faithful Shelter becomes an attractive high-level XP option if you can clear it consistently. Finish the collection by returning to unexplored dungeons, trials and optional encounters to find the remaining Tarstones.
Mortal Shell 2 Tarstones: Quick Reference
The category limits and 75-total figure are documented in current launch-window coverage, while the Tarforge and XP systems are corroborated by multiple current guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Tarstones used for in Mortal Shell 2?
Tarstones modify your character through passive bonuses, weapon and sidearm effects, Infusions and active Abilities. They are a major part of build customization.
How many Tarstones can you equip?
You can equip up to 10 Tarstones: four Support, two Combat, two Infusion and two Ability Tarstones.
Can you change Tarstones without resting?
Yes. You can swap your equipped Tarstones without needing to rest at a Beacon.
Where do you upgrade Tarstones?
Tarstones are upgraded at the Tarforge in Marrow Keep after unlocking its Tarstone Tempering function with the Etching Needles.
How do you unlock Tarstone upgrades?
Find the Etching Needles in the Corrupted Gate dungeon in the Glutted Mire and bring the Tarforge upgrade item back to Franz.
How do Tarstones gain XP?
Equipped Tarstones gain progression as you defeat enemies, allowing them to be Tempered and improved once you have unlocked the relevant Tarforge function.
What is the best Tarstone in Mortal Shell 2?
There isn't one universally best Tarstone. The best choice depends on your Shell, weapon, Seal and combat style.
What is the best Tarstone for Tiel?
A current Tiel build recommends Acolyte's Stone, Arbiter's Prize, Deadeye Stone and Retribution Stone, combined with Untarnished Seal.
Where is the best place to farm Tarstone XP?
Gate of Mammon is a strong mid-game option at roughly 3,700 XP per 1.5–2 minute run, while Faithful Shelter in The Unfound Path offers roughly 7,000 XP in a similar time for endgame players.
Are Tarstones tied to specific weapons?
Some are. Certain Tarstones are compatible only with particular weapons or sidearms, so check the requirement before building around one.
Are Tarstones missable?
There is no reliable evidence that ordinary Tarstones become permanently unavailable through normal story progression, but some are tied to optional content or special modes. Completionists should track them rather than assuming the main path will collect everything.
Related Mortal Shell 2 Guides
- Posture Guide: How to Break Enemies & Trigger Ripostes
- Seals Guide: All Locations, Guard, Harden, Parry & Slayer
- Slayer Seal Question — useful for the important clarification that equipping Slayer locks achievements for the save, even if you later unequip it. Reddit — Slayer Seal Question.
- Official Mortal Shell 2 website
Final Tips
Tarstones are easiest to understand when you stop thinking of them as ordinary collectibles. They are building blocks for your entire character.
A strong Mortal Shell 2 setup looks something like: Shell → Weapon → Sidearm → Seal → Tarstones → Tarforge upgrades → XP farming.
The biggest beginner mistake is trying to optimize everything immediately. Instead, explore first, unlock the Tarforge, experiment with different Tarstones, identify the combat style you enjoy, and then concentrate your upgrades on the stones that actually support it.
For a Posture-focused character, prioritize effects that help create Break → Riposte opportunities. For an aggressive build, look for damage, stagger and sustain. For a ranged setup, check sidearm compatibility carefully.
And if you simply want to experiment, take advantage of the fact that Tarstones can be swapped without returning to a Beacon.
The result is a system that gives Mortal Shell 2 considerably more build flexibility than simply choosing a Shell and weapon. Once you understand Tarstone categories, Tarforge progression and XP farming, you can start shaping the character around the exact way you want to fight.
Guide for Mortal Shell 2
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