You’ll encounter numerous enemies and non-physical threats in Valor Mortis, and funnily enough, it’s the latter that can be just as destructive. Plummeting to your death, fire, exploding barrels, and the ever-fearsome poison cloud. It’s not immediately apparent how you’re supposed to go toe-to-toe with poison, but there is an answer.
Valor Mortis is a soulslike, which means it takes great pleasure in kicking you down at every given opportunity. You can’t beat walking along in a village, and a random body just explodes and takes a lovely chunk of health away. Or an enemy basically pushing you off a cliff ledge on a precarious path. So let’s move on to the ever-delightful poison cloud.
Also, check out our Valor Mortis review!
*MINOR SPOILER WARNING ON HOW TO CONTEND WITH POISON*
How Do I Get Past Poison in Valor Mortis?
The only way to safely get through poison clouds in Valor Mortis is using the Shield Transmutation.
Firstly, you might have tried it yourself, but if you’re in poison for too long, you can’t just tank the damage with constant heals. Once the build-up is maxed out, it’s pretty much an instant death.
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You CAN use dodges to briefly power your way through, but you can’t sprint in it. If you have decent Stamina, you should be able to dodge through smaller poison patches to reach chests and other hidden items and paths. But to get through certain locations, such as Fortress, you’ll need the Shield Transmutation.
When do You Get the Shield Transmutation in Valor Mortis?
You get the Shield Transmutation as an unmissable ability in Valor Mortis’ ‘University.’
Valor Mortis has 10 unique locations, shown as a number at the top of the Lantern’s fast travel screen, and University is listed as location level nine. It’s one of the final main chunks of the game, and Shield Transmutation acts as both a protective field against poison and can be used to absorb enemy attacks and retaliate as a counterattacking weapon.
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Toward the end of University, you’ll reach a part of the level where you lower a chandelier, ascend an elevator, and climb a set of stairs to acquire the final ability at the top. Again, this is a compulsory item needed to continue the level and reach the boss waiting at the end.
Can You Cure or Protect Against Poison in Valor Mortis?
Valor Mortis doesn’t have any consumables that can prevent poison build-up, nor remove any poison build-up you’ve accumulated.
One of the game’s most surprising gameplay features is its Metroidvania level design. Certain areas are inaccessible until you obtain a certain item or ability later on—just like the structure of a Metroidvania game.
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Any poison sections you encounter in the first 10-15 hours are pretty much there as a reminder that you need to come back later. If you do wander through some poison, extricate yourself as quickly as possible, and any poison should slowly begin to dissipate.
Have you fallen victim to poison in Valor Mortis? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more, read ‘How to Access Fortress in Valor Mortis,’ and don’t forget to sign up for our weekly news.
Andy is Insider Gaming's Senior Evergreen Editor and has been in the games journalism sphere in one way or another for over 7 years. His video game taste is as…
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