Valor Mortis Guide | All Transmutations and How to Unlock Them

Transmutations are powerful supernatural abilities in Valor Mortis that allow William to unleash elemental attacks, control enemy movements, and protect himself from dangerous encounters. Unlike conventional weapons, these abilities consume Nephtoglobin, making resource management an important part of combat.

There are three combat Transmutations in Valor Mortis: Fire, Stasis, and Shield. Each ability serves a different purpose, offering offensive, defensive, and crowd-control advantages. All three are unlocked through main story progression, although their effectiveness can be improved through upgrades.

This guide covers all Transmutations in Valor Mortis, including their unlock locations, how to obtain them, and the best ways to use them during combat.

All Transmutations in Valor Mortis

Each Transmutation becomes available at a different stage of the campaign, gradually expanding William's combat abilities.

• Fire Transmutation: Unlocked in Chapter 1, allowing William to ignite enemies and deal damage over time.
• Stasis Transmutation: Unlocked in Chapter 4, allowing William to slow and temporarily freeze enemies.
• Shield Transmutation: Unlocked in Chapter 8, creating a protective barrier against incoming damage and environmental hazards.

Although these abilities are obtained through story progression, understanding their strengths and limitations is essential for handling increasingly difficult encounters.

How to Unlock All Transmutations in Valor Mortis

Fire Transmutation

Location: The Battlefield, near Onslaught Arch Lantern

Chapter: Chapter 1 – Revival

Ability Type: Offensive

Fire is the first Transmutation players unlock in Valor Mortis. It becomes available during the opening chapter while progressing through The Battlefield.

To unlock Fire Transmutation:

• Progress through Chapter 1 until reaching the Onslaught Arch Lantern.
• Continue along the main route and defeat the enemy emerging from the nearby lake.
• Climb the slope beyond the encounter.
• Locate the infected corpse surrounded by plague growths.
• Interact with the corpse to obtain Fire Transmutation.

Once unlocked, Fire allows William to project flames toward enemies, gradually building their Ignite meter. When the meter fills, the affected enemy begins burning and takes damage over time.

This makes Fire particularly useful against enemies with larger health pools, allowing you to inflict additional damage while maintaining distance or preparing another attack.

Fire can also destroy certain white web-like growths found throughout the environment.

Stasis Transmutation

Location: Caverns, Old Mine

Chapter: Chapter 4 – Dark Descent

Ability Type: Crowd Control

Stasis is the second combat Transmutation available in Valor Mortis. Unlike Fire, which focuses primarily on offensive damage, Stasis allows William to restrict enemy movements and create opportunities for follow-up attacks.

To unlock Stasis Transmutation:

• Progress through Chapter 4 until entering the Caverns.
• Activate the Old Mine Lantern.
• Continue exploring the mine tunnels along the main route.
• Locate the infected officer surrounded by dark roots and purple growths.
• Interact with the corpse to acquire Stasis Transmutation.

Once obtained, Stasis allows William to slow enemies by building their Stasis meter. Completely filling the meter temporarily freezes the affected opponent, leaving them vulnerable to additional attacks.

Attacking frozen enemies can deal substantial damage, making Stasis particularly effective against aggressive opponents and enemies with difficult attack combinations.

Using Stasis strategically can also create valuable opportunities to recover Endurance or reposition before continuing an encounter.

Shield Transmutation

Location: University, Upper Floors

Chapter: Chapter 8

Ability Type: Defensive

Shield is the final combat Transmutation unlocked in Valor Mortis. Unlike Fire and Stasis, which focus on damaging or controlling opponents, Shield provides additional protection against incoming attacks.

To unlock Shield Transmutation:

• Progress through Chapter 8 until reaching the University.
• Activate the Main Hall Lantern.
• Head upstairs and locate the elevator.
• Use the elevator to access the upper floors.
• Find the infected corpse and interact with it to obtain Shield Transmutation.

Once activated, Shield creates a protective barrier around William that absorbs incoming damage while consuming Nephtoglobin.

The ability is especially useful against powerful enemies whose attacks are difficult to avoid consistently.

Shield also protects against certain environmental hazards, including poisonous gas, toxic areas, and burning ground, making it useful when revisiting dangerous locations.

How to Upgrade Transmutations in Valor Mortis

Upgrading Transmutations improves their effectiveness, allowing players to strengthen supernatural abilities as they progress through the campaign.

Combat Transmutations can be upgraded at Louis's Laboratoire, located inside the Abandoned Church hub. The upgrade station becomes available after completing the Rendezvous chapter and bringing Louis back to the church.

To upgrade a Transmutation:

• Travel to the Abandoned Church.
• Locate Louis's Laboratoire.
• Interact with the upgrade station.
• Select the Transmutation you want to improve.
• Spend the required Transmutation Materials to complete the upgrade.

Each Transmutation can reach Level 5, with the final upgrade requiring a rare Quintessential Transmutation Material.

Since high-level upgrade materials are limited, prioritize the abilities that complement your preferred combat style.

How to Restore Nephtoglobin

Nephtoglobin is the resource required to activate Transmutations. It is represented by a purple meter beneath William's health bar and decreases whenever supernatural abilities are used.

Players can replenish Nephtoglobin by performing certain offensive actions during combat.

The most effective methods include:

• Landing melee attacks: Successfully striking enemies helps restore Nephtoglobin.
• Destroying enemy weak points: Targeting vulnerable areas provides additional resource recovery.
• Maintaining offensive pressure: Combining melee attacks with Transmutations allows you to continue generating resources during combat.

Avoid relying exclusively on supernatural attacks, as exhausting your Nephtoglobin can leave you without access to important abilities during difficult encounters.

Which Transmutation Should You Upgrade First?

Choosing which Transmutation to upgrade depends largely on your preferred fighting style.

Fire is a strong option for players who favor aggressive combat and damage over time. It allows you to maintain offensive pressure while focusing on melee attacks and defensive positioning.

Stasis is particularly useful for players who struggle against fast or aggressive enemies. Temporarily freezing opponents creates safer opportunities to attack and recover resources.

Shield is better suited to defensive playstyles, providing additional protection during difficult battles and against environmental hazards.

For most players, prioritizing Fire or Stasis during the early and middle portions of the campaign is a practical approach, as Shield does not become available until considerably later.

Final Thoughts

Valor Mortis features three combat Transmutations, each providing unique advantages during battle. Fire allows players to deal sustained elemental damage, Stasis controls enemy movements, and Shield offers additional protection against dangerous attacks.

Although all three abilities are unlocked through story progression, upgrading them and learning how to manage Nephtoglobin can significantly improve combat effectiveness.

Experiment with different Transmutations and combine them with melee attacks, firearms, and defensive techniques to overcome increasingly challenging encounters.

FAQ

Q. How many Transmutations are there in Valor Mortis?

A. There are three combat Transmutations in Valor Mortis: Fire, Stasis, and Shield.

Q. How do you unlock Stasis Transmutation in Valor Mortis?

A. Stasis is unlocked during Chapter 4 in the Caverns. Progress beyond the Old Mine Lantern and interact with the infected corpse containing the ability.

Q. What is the best Transmutation in Valor Mortis?

A. Stasis is particularly useful for controlling aggressive enemies, while Fire provides sustained damage. The best choice ultimately depends on your combat style.

Q. How do you upgrade Transmutations in Valor Mortis?

A. Visit Louis's Laboratoire at the Abandoned Church and spend Transmutation Materials to upgrade your abilities. Each combat Transmutation can reach Level 5.