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Choosing the right Sidearm in Mortal Shell 2 can make a big difference in how you approach combat. With eight Sidearms offering different attack styles, damage profiles, utility effects, and Tarstone combinations, knowing which ones are worth investing in can save you from spending resources on a weapon that doesn't suit your playstyle. In this Mortal Shell 2 sidearm tier list, we rank all eight Sidearms from SS to B and explain what makes each one effective, where it falls short, and which Sidearms are best for different combat situations.
If you want to keep exploring even when you're away from your PC, OSLink gives you a convenient way to play your Mortal Shell 2 PC session from your mobile device. You can continue experimenting with different Sidearms and builds, practice your favorite setups, and keep pushing through the game even when you aren't sitting at your PC.
Mortal Shell 2 Sidearm Tier List Overview
Not every Sidearm in Mortal Shell 2 is equally useful. Some excel at boss damage, while others are better for clearing groups, staggering enemies, or safely dealing damage from range.
For this tier list, we rank Sidearms based on their overall performance, considering damage, versatility, reliability, boss performance, Tarstone synergy, crowd control, and Resolve efficiency.
The Caged Hystrix takes the top spot as the best overall Sidearm thanks to its rapid-fire attacks, strong sustained damage, and flexible Tarstone options. The Naylshotte also reaches SS Tier because of its powerful close-range burst and how easily it fits into normal melee combat.
The Salvaged Trebuchaxe is the standout choice for players looking for huge single-target and boss damage, while the Forgotten Crossbow is one of the safest and most reliable ranged options.
Lower-tier Sidearms aren't necessarily useless. The Troubadour's Lute, for example, offers strong crowd-control utility, while the Cursed Child can create valuable space with its knockback. They are simply more situational than the higher-ranked choices.
Quick Mortal Shell 2 Sidearm Tier List
|
SS Tier |
Caged Hystrix |
Naylshotte |
|
S Tier |
Salvaged Trebuchaxe |
Forgotten Crossbow |
|
A Tier |
Triarch Repeater |
Ballistazooka |
|
B Tier |
Troubadour's Lute |
Cursed Child |
SS-Tier Mortal Shell 2 Sidearms
SS-tier Sidearms offer the strongest overall performance in Mortal Shell 2. They combine high damage with strong versatility, reliable combat performance, and useful Tarstone combinations, making them excellent choices for a wide range of PvE situations.
Caged Hystrix — Best Overall Sidearm
The Caged Hystrix is the best all-around Sidearm in Mortal Shell 2. Its rapid-fire projectiles provide consistent ranged pressure without relying on long charge times, making it useful against both individual targets and groups.
Its biggest advantage is its Tarstone flexibility. The weapon can be adapted for additional projectiles, poison, curse, and other effects, allowing it to fit different builds instead of being locked into a single role.
Best For: General PvE and all-around ranged combat
The Caged Hystrix doesn't have to rely on a specific boss opening or complicated setup to be effective. That combination of damage, flexibility, and consistency is what puts it above the other Sidearms.
Naylshotte — Best Close-Range Burst
The Naylshotte takes the other SS-tier spot because of its exceptional close-range burst and how naturally it fits into melee combat. Rather than keeping your distance, you can use it when an enemy gets close, unload a powerful burst, and immediately return to your main weapon.
It also has strong potential with Critical-focused and status-oriented builds, giving it more depth than its simple shotgun-style attack initially suggests.
Best For: Close-range burst and aggressive melee builds
The Naylshotte isn't as versatile at long range as the Caged Hystrix, but it doesn't need to be. Its ability to deliver fast, powerful burst damage exactly when an enemy enters melee range makes it one of the most dependable Sidearms for aggressive players.
S-Tier Mortal Shell 2 Sidearms
S-tier Sidearms are exceptionally strong choices that can deliver outstanding results in the right situations. They may have a more noticeable weakness than SS-tier options, but their strengths can make them the better choice for specific builds or encounters.
Salvaged Trebuchaxe — Best Sidearm for Boss Damage
The Salvaged Trebuchaxe is the Sidearm to choose when your priority is massive single-target burst damage. Its heavy projectiles can take large chunks of health from tough enemies and give you a powerful ranged punish during boss openings.
Its biggest advantage is its damage ceiling. With the right Tarstone setup, the Trebuchaxe can become devastating, especially when combined with ranged Critical bonuses and effects that keep enemies in the projectile's path.
Best For: Bosses, elites, and high-damage ranged builds
The main drawback is its slow firing rate and long charge time. Fast enemies can make it difficult to use effectively, and getting maximum value often requires you to create a safe opening first. That's why it falls just short of the more universally useful SS-tier Sidearms.
Forgotten Crossbow — Best Safe Ranged Sidearm
The Forgotten Crossbow is one of the most reliable Sidearms in Mortal Shell 2. Its accurate bolts and comfortable range let you weaken enemies safely before entering melee, while its straightforward design makes it easy to use without requiring a highly specialized build.
The Crossbow also becomes considerably more powerful with the right Tarstone combinations, giving it options for burst damage, explosions, and elemental effects.
Best For: Safe ranged combat and general exploration
The Crossbow doesn't have the extreme burst of the Trebuchaxe or the flexibility of the Caged Hystrix, but its consistency and safety make it one of the easiest Sidearms to recommend.
A-Tier Mortal Shell 2 Sidearms
A-tier Sidearms are strong and dependable choices that can perform extremely well, especially when matched with the right playstyle. They have clear strengths but also more noticeable limitations than the SS- and S-tier options.
Triarch Repeater — Best for Sustained Fire
The Triarch Repeater is built around sustained ranged pressure. Once it gets going, it can unleash a rapid stream of projectiles, making it particularly effective against bosses, large enemies, and targets that stay exposed for several seconds.
Its Tarstone options also give it plenty of build potential. Critical-focused setups can improve its damage while effects such as Break Damage, stagger, and elemental infusions can give it additional utility.
Best For: Sustained ranged damage and long attack windows
The main drawback is its wind-up and Resolve requirement. It needs time to get going, so it isn't as reliable when enemies constantly pressure you or when you only have a brief opening to attack.
Ballistazooka — Best Heavy Ranged Burst
The Ballistazooka is a specialist Sidearm designed around powerful, deliberate shots. Its heavy projectiles can deal significant damage and work particularly well when you have enough time to line up a charged attack.
It becomes even more interesting with abilities that allow charged shots to create explosions, giving it potential for both single-target burst and crowd control.
Best For: Heavy ranged attacks and charged-shot builds
Its biggest weakness is speed. Its slow aiming and firing speed make it difficult to use against fast or aggressive enemies . When you have time to prepare, however, the Ballistazooka can hit extremely hard.
B-Tier Mortal Shell 2 Sidearms
B-tier Sidearms are useful but more situational than the higher-ranked options. They can be very effective when their specific strengths match your build or the encounter, but they have larger limitations that make them harder to recommend as an all-purpose Sidearm.
Troubadour's Lute — Best for Crowd Control
The Troubadour's Lute is unlike the other Sidearms, focusing on utility rather than direct ranged damage. Its Confusion effect can turn groups of enemies against each other, creating openings to reposition or safely attack.
It is particularly useful when you're surrounded or dealing with several enemies at once, but its limited direct damage makes it less versatile than the higher-tier Sidearms.
Best Use: Crowd control and group encounters
The Lute's biggest weakness is that its value depends heavily on the situation. Against a single powerful target, its utility is much less impressive than the direct damage offered by the higher-ranked Sidearms.
Cursed Child — Best for Knockback and Spacing
The Cursed Child is primarily a defensive utility Sidearm. Instead of competing with conventional ranged weapons for damage, it pushes enemies away and gives you valuable space to reposition or prepare your next attack.
This makes it especially useful alongside slower melee weapons, where creating even a small amount of distance can give you enough time to commit to a heavy attack.
Best Use: Knockback, spacing, and defensive utility
Its main limitation is that it doesn't function like a conventional ranged damage weapon. Its very short effective range and narrow purpose make it difficult to recommend over the higher-tier Sidearms for general combat.
Mortal Shell 2 Sidearm Recommendations by Playstyle
There is no single Sidearm that fits every build. Your best choice depends on whether you want maximum damage, safer ranged attacks, fast burst, or utility.
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For most players: Go with the Caged Hystrix. It offers the most complete package and doesn't require a highly specialized playstyle to perform well.
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For boss fights: Choose the Salvaged Trebuchaxe if you're comfortable waiting for openings and charging heavy attacks. Its damage potential makes it particularly valuable against tough single targets.
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For safer exploration: The Forgotten Crossbow is an excellent choice. Its range and accuracy let you weaken or isolate enemies before committing to melee combat.
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For aggressive melee builds: The Naylshotte works particularly well when you prefer fighting at close range. Its burst damage lets you punish enemies without disrupting your normal melee rhythm.
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For sustained ranged damage: Pick the Triarch Repeater when you regularly get long attack windows. It rewards players who can keep enemies exposed long enough to make use of its rapid fire.
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For utility-focused builds: The Troubadour's Lute and Cursed Child are the specialist choices. They don't compete with the top Sidearms for raw damage, but their control effects can solve situations where damage alone isn't the best answer.
There are eight Sidearms in the game, covering ranged burst, sustained fire, crowd control, and utility roles, so choosing one that complements your main weapon is often more important than simply picking the highest tier.
Pre-set Keymaps for Easy Play
Conclusion
And that's the wrap-up of our Mortal Shell 2 sidearm tier list! The Caged Hystrix is our best overall choice, while the Salvaged Trebuchaxe excels at boss damage and the Naylshotte delivers powerful close-range burst. Every Sidearm has its strengths, so choose one that fits your build and playstyle. When you want to keep playing away from your PC, OSLink lets you play Mortal Shell 2 remotely on your mobile device and continue your journey wherever you are.
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