Mortal Shell II — Axe and Dagger Location & How to Get It (Shrine of Trials)

The Axe and Dagger is the pairing an early sage practically hands you — and for good reason. Its chains come out fast, every finisher leaves you free to dodge away, and its dash-heavy heavy attack is one of the best damage-per-second tools of the entire opening game. The catch is reach: you must fight close, and polearm enemies will punish lazy spacing.

What it plays like

• Agile by design. Every chain ends recoverable — you can bail out of a string and reposition better than with almost any other weapon, which suits hit-and-run aggression.
• Strong early damage. Its output holds up through the whole opening stretch, and the dash heavy attack remains a legitimate boss-fight tool long after early game ends.
• Short reach is the tax. Against long-handled enemies you must commit to gaps, or eat counter-hits for free. Base hits are light; the weapon lives on combos and that dashing heavy.

How to get it: the Chapel Key route

1. Fast travel to the Mushroom Village Beacon.
2. Head south toward the area with the huge burning pyre, where enemies are camped.
3. Find the stone archway on the north edge of the platform. Walk straight through it facing the fire, and a statue is revealed.
4. Take the Chapel Key hanging from the statue's rope.
5. Return to the village and head north-west, where the Chapel Key opens the door to the Shrine of Trials dungeon.

Inside the Shrine of Trials

The dungeon is short and mostly puzzle-flavored. In the first room, face the statue and walk backwards to pass through the hidden wall. The following rooms are simple block puzzles: strike the stone blocks with your weapon to shove them onto their pressure plates. Clear the final room's elite and the Axe and Dagger is yours.

Keep reading:

• Beginner's Guide — Parry Timing & Early Seals
• Veteran's Battle Axe — Location & Moveset
• Mushroom Village Walkthrough