Valor Mortis Walkthrough: Complete Collectibles and Beginner Guide

Understanding the Structure of Valor Mortis

Valor Mortis developed by One More Level delivers a linear, story-driven action adventure experience infused with souls-like elements. The journey is structured across 11 main quests and divided into 10 distinct regions that do not overlap. Players utilize lanterns at the end of paths to rest, level up, and eventually fast travel after Chapter 2.

Unlike traditional open-world titles, each region operates as a contained area with linear progression and no optional areas. However, exploration remains vital. According to community reports and player experiences, levels feature multiple routes and branching paths. Navigating these environments effectively requires keeping an eye out for environmental cues, such as lit lanterns pointing toward the critical path, which helps players distinguish main story routes from side branches holding valuable loot like upgrade materials and amber.

Combat Mechanics and Advanced Strategies

Combat in Valor Mortis relies heavily on mastery of your blade, timed parries, and strategic use of your secondary tools. Players often encounter early enemies displaying large red infectious globs. While initial attacks with a standard saber might bounce off, unlocking the pistol early on allows you to target these weak points for massive bonus damage and even sever appendages to weaken foes.

1. Identify Critical Path Cues: Look for lit lanterns at forks in the road to differentiate main story progression from side paths containing upgrade materials and amber.
2. Target Weak Points: Use ranged options like the pistol to pop glowing red infectious growths on enemies for extra damage and limb dismemberment.
3. Exploit Fire Transmutation: Ignite enemies carrying explosive substances to trigger massive chain-reaction explosions, crippling their offense.
4. Utilize Running Attacks: Execute quick dash attacks with heavy weapons like the claymore to instantly interrupt incoming enemy ranged attacks.

Players should also experiment with fire transmutation. When facing crimson plague-infected foes carrying explosive materials or substances on their bodies, applying a burn status effect detonates these payloads. This eliminates their ability to use explosives and whittles down health bars safely. Furthermore, every sword features unique running or dash attacks. Heavy weapons like the claymore benefit from faster dash animations, making them exceptional tools for interrupting ranged enemies before launching into regular combos.

Leveling Up, Skills, and Resource Management

Leveling up William functions similarly to traditional souls-like titles. Resting at rekindled lanterns allows you to invest earned catalysts into various skill tree nodes for passive bonuses. If a chosen playstyle—such as focusing heavily on mana reserves—leaves your stamina drained, you can respec your skill points at any lantern.

Warning

Respecifying your skill tree is not free and requires spending catalysts, with the cost scaling upward as you level further. Additionally, weapon upgrade levels cannot be reset or refunded once applied.

While skill points are re-allocatable, weapon upgrades are permanent. Catalyst materials spent upgrading a specific weapon cannot be reclaimed. Fortunately, exploration yields more than enough upgrade materials to enhance your entire arsenal eventually. When upgrading weapons such as the pistol, players can freely switch between mutually exclusive branch upgrades at the abandoned church hub without spending additional resources, allowing for risk-free experimentation.

Essential Collectibles and Side Quests

Completing the game entirely requires tracking down 91 total collectibles alongside 20 side quests. These tasks reward players with critical items necessary for achievements such as We Wear the Same Colours, Ambersmith, and various character-driven stories.

Amber Equipment System

Ambers do not provide base defensive stats. Instead, they grant specialized gameplay modifiers, such as health regeneration or increased damage following successful dodges and parries. There are 29 unique Ambers to discover, with 15 capable of being upgraded to level 3 via duplicate pickups.

Ferrofluid Upgrades

Ferrofluid serves as your healing flask in Valor Mortis. Upgrades governing its potency and maximum usage charges can be purchased through Lewis's station in the abandoned church. Because consumable stocks for healing improvements have no purchase limits, prioritizing these items early drastically improves survivability.

Side quests are scattered throughout the chapters and usually require interacting with notes, unlocking doors with specific keys, or assisting NPCs. Most objectives reside in the immediate vicinity of the quest giver. Reaching a rekindled lantern without completing an active side quest generally indicates a missed branching path or overlooked key nearby.

Chapter Breakdown and Completion Roadmap

Progress through Valor Mortis is divided across eleven distinct narrative chapters. Keeping track of your progression helps ensure no side activities or regional secrets slip by unnoticed.

• Early Game Chapters: Chapter 1 (Revival), Chapter 2 (Regroup), Chapter 3 (Rendezvous), and Chapter 4 (Dark Descent) establish core mechanics and unlock fast travel via lanterns.
• Mid Game Chapters: Chapter 5 (Crime), Chapter 6 (Punishment), Chapter 7 (Witch Hunt), and Chapter 8 (Blasphemy) introduce tougher enemies and expand merchant inventories.
• Endgame Chapters: Chapter 9 (In Ruins), Chapter 10 (Shackled), and Chapter 11 (Reflection + Cleanup) wrap up the narrative and allow players to revisit earlier zones for missing collectibles.

Community guides and comprehensive walkthrough references confirm that missing items do not permanently lock players out of completion. Even after defeating the final boss, you retain the freedom to explore prior locations and clean up any remaining amber, ferrofluid upgrades, or unfinished side quests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I miss collectibles permanently in Valor Mortis?

No. Nothing in the game is missable. You are free to return to all prior regions after defeating the final boss to collect any missed items or complete unfinished side quests.

Are weapon upgrades refundable?

Weapon upgrade levels cannot be reset or refunded. However, the game provides more than enough upgrade materials through thorough exploration to fully upgrade every weapon in your arsenal over the course of a playthrough.

How do I fast travel between lanterns?

Fast travel functionality unlocks after progressing past Chapter 2, allowing you to easily travel back to any previously discovered and activated lantern for exploration and resource management.