Valor Mortis Transmutations
Three left-hand abilities unlocked at fixed story points, plus the Grappling ability that people often file under the same name.
Confirmed facts on this page carry their sources.
Transmutations are not chosen, they are given: Fire from the start, Stasis in the Caverns, Shield beneath the University. All three consume Nephtoglobin, which is why the Ambers that improve recovery matter more than raw damage.
All three Transmutations
| # | Name | Unlocked at | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fire | Available from the start of the game | Damage over time and crowd control: it applies Ignite, which is also how you trigger weak-point staggers on most bosses. |
| 2 | Stasis | Chapter 4: Dark Descent, after the first crank in the Caverns | Slows and freezes. The standard answer to enemies immune to Fire, and close to mandatory for the Sphinx fight. |
| 3 | Shield | Chapter 8: Blasphemy, mid-chapter | Absorb and defensive upgrades. Level 5 Shield is what the only missable trophy (Abyssal Eviction) is built around. |
Grappling is not a Transmutation
Grappling is a traversal ability granted in Chapter 3. It is filed separately here because it changes routes rather than combat, and because several early-region ledges only exist for it.
| Ability | Unlocked at | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grappling | Chapter 3: Rendezvous | Traversal ability, not a Transmutation. It re-opens grapple points in earlier regions. |
Upgrades and the one irreversible choice
Each Transmutation has an upgrade path, and the materials are not interchangeable with weapon materials:
- Upgrades are paid for with Transmutation materials, tiered the same way as weapon materials.
- Only two max-level Transmutation materials exist in the whole game.
- That scarcity is why Shield to level 5 is the single decision the missables page is built around.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
What are Transmutations in Valor Mortis?
Left-hand abilities unlocked through the story: Fire from the start, Stasis in Chapter 4 and Shield in Chapter 8. Grappling is a traversal ability, not a Transmutation.
Which Transmutation should I upgrade first?
Shield to level 5, because the only missable trophy depends on it and max-level materials are limited to two in the whole game.
Do Transmutations open routes?
Yes. Stasis covers poison and freeze-dependent routes, and Shield makes several late boss fights practical.