Valor Mortis: Should You Upgrade Your First Weapon?
Wondering if you should upgrade your starting weapon in Valor Mortis? Learn why you should save your materials and which weapon to prioritize instead.
Published: Valor Mortis Wiki Editorial Team
Table of Contents
Should You Upgrade Your First Weapon in Valor Mortis?
When you first land in the main hub of Valor Mortis, it is tempting to interact with the workbench and immediately boost the stats of your starting Saber. It feels like the logical first step in any RPG—strengthen what you have to survive the next encounter. However, based on community experience and game flow, you should hold off on upgrading the Saber.
Materials in Valor Mortis are a finite resource. As you progress, you will encounter rare upgrade components that are essential for mid-to-late game power boosts. Spending these early on a weapon that is quickly outclassed is a common trap. Instead, you should aim to acquire the Rapier shortly after leaving the main hub. This weapon offers superior parry efficiency and the ability to target weak points, making it a much more reliable companion for your journey.
The Case for the Rapier: Why It Outclasses the Saber
While the Saber is a competent starter weapon that allows you to block, it lacks the specialized utility required for the tougher challenges that follow the first two hours of gameplay. The Rapier, which can be found in the area just outside the main hub (travel through the graveyard to the right), is a high-skill, high-reward tool.
Weak Point Targeting: The Rapier allows you to strike enemy weak points directly. This is crucial for dealing massive damage, especially against bosses or elites. You can even detonate explosive pustules on enemies for area-of-effect damage.
Parry Efficiency: The Rapier deals more posture damage than the Saber. In Valor Mortis, parrying is your primary method of breaking enemy defenses and executing them. While the Rapier’s parry window might feel tighter, the payoff is significantly higher.
Skill Synergy: Upgrading the Rapier unlocks specific abilities, such as restoring endurance and eventually health upon successful parries, which significantly increases your survivability.
Tactical Weapon Choices
Unlike your melee options, you should upgrade your ranged weapons. You will eventually need all three:
Musket: Essential for engaging enemies at long range.
Blunderbuss: Highly effective against bosses and elites at close range.
Pistol: Perfect for precision shots into weak points when your melee options fall short.
Managing Your Upgrade Materials
Because upgrade materials are limited, your strategy should revolve around "investment with intent." Do not spread your materials thin across weapons you do not plan to use long-term.
Conserve Early: Resist the urge to use materials at the first workbench you find in the main hub.
Acquire the Rapier: Head out of the main hub, pass through the graveyard, and locate the Rapier. This will be your primary melee weapon.
Upgrade Strategically: Focus your materials on the Rapier and your three ranged weapons.
Seek Rare Materials: As you progress, keep an eye out for specific materials like "Pure Blade Material" (for Level 4 upgrades) and "Distilled Blade Material" (for Level 7 upgrades). These are often tucked away in hidden paths or guarded by challenging enemies.
If you find yourself struggling with a specific boss, remember that you can backtrack to earlier areas. Once you unlock fast travel after defeating the first boss, you can return to regions like the "Valley of Ash" to farm materials, find hidden Ambers, or complete missed side quests.
Essential Combat Tips for Valor Mortis
Mastering combat in Valor Mortis requires a shift in mindset, especially if you are coming from other Souls-like games. The combat is first-person, which changes your spatial awareness and timing perception.
The Importance of Parrying
Parrying is not optional; it is the core mechanic of the game. You must learn to time your parries to stagger enemies and open them up for critical executions.
General Lothaire (First Boss): Treat this fight as your "graduation exam." If you cannot consistently parry his attacks, you will likely hit a wall later in the game.
Posture Management: Keep an eye on the bar below an enemy's health. Parrying is the most effective way to break this bar, leaving them vulnerable to a lethal strike.
Utilizing Ambers and Skills
As you level up, you will unlock slots for "Ambers," which are fossilized resins that grant passive bonuses.
Surplus Amber: Highly recommended for early game to gain more Catalyst (the game's currency/XP equivalent) when killing enemies.
Indestructible Shell: Useful for reducing damage from explosions, which is a common hazard in many environments.
Don't Ignore Weak Points
Many enemies, from small soldiers to hulking elites like the Risen Lancer, have obvious weak spots. Shooting or stabbing these spots is often faster and safer than trying to parry an entire combo. Always scan your enemies for glowing pustules or exposed armor.
Flask Upgrades and Passive Benefits
Your survival also depends on your Ferrofluid Flask. You start with three charges, which refill only when you rest at a Lantern. Do not treat these as infinite resources.
[ ] Increase Charges: Look for "Empty Ferrofluid Flasks" in chests to increase the number of times you can heal.
[ ] Improve Potency: Find "Ferrofluid Flask Power Upgrades" to make each sip of your flask more effective.
[ ] Use Consumables Wisely: Items like Whetstones (for blade damage) or Refreshing Vials (for health regeneration) should be saved for difficult boss encounters, not wasted on common mobs.
FAQ
Can I reset my weapon upgrades if I make a mistake?
The game allows you to reset your character skills (like health, endurance, and damage stats) at the cost of Catalyst. However, there is no indication that you can reset weapon upgrades. This reinforces the importance of being selective with your materials.
Is the Rapier harder to use than the Saber?
The Rapier has a slightly tighter parry window, which makes it feel more demanding initially. However, once mastered, its ability to break posture and target weak points makes it significantly more powerful for both standard combat and boss fights.
How do I get more Catalyst if I am stuck on a boss?
Even if you fail to defeat a boss, you can collect Catalysts dropped by enemies in the arena or the immediate vicinity. If you are stuck, focus on farming these Catalysts to level up your stats before attempting the boss again.
Are there specific weapons for specific situations?
Yes. While the Rapier is your melee workhorse, your ranged weapons are designed for specific tactical needs—the Musket for distance, the Blunderbuss for close-range elites, and the Pistol for weak-point precision. You are encouraged to upgrade all three to handle the diverse threats in Valor Mortis.
