Tarstones are one of the most useful parts of the build system in Mortal Shell 2, but their upgrade system is easy to misunderstand at first. You cannot simply find a Tarstone and immediately spend Coins to improve it. The Tarstone must first earn XP through combat, and the Tarforge itself has to be unlocked for Tarstone tempering.
The current retail version uses a three-level progression for Tarstones. The first upgrade is relatively straightforward, while the final upgrade introduces Tarcores, meaning you will need to level multiple Tarstones if you want to completely max out your favorite ones.
| Quick overview | Details |
|---|---|
| Upgrade station | Tarforge in Marrow Keep |
| NPC | Franz |
| Unlock item | Etching Needles |
| Etching Needles location | Glutted Mire, near Ruk |
| Level 1 → 2 | 10,000 XP + 100 Coins |
| Reward | 1 Tarcore |
| Level 2 → 3 | 20,000 XP + 150 Coins + 6 Tarcores |
| Maximum level | Level 3 |
| XP source | Enemy kills while the Tarstone is equipped |
| XP lost on death | No |
| Best general strategy | Level several Tarstones to Level 2 to generate Tarcores |
How to unlock Tarstone upgrades at the Tarforge
The first thing you need is the Etching Needles. Until you give this item to Franz, the Tarforge will not provide the option to Temper Tarstones. This is why you can sometimes have a Tarstone sitting at its XP limit and still be unable to upgrade it.
The Etching Needles are located in the Glutted Mire, specifically in the Corrupted Gate area of Fainweald. The route takes you through the area around the Sunken Village Beacon and the Wandering Shepherd encounter. The chest containing the Etching Needles is located beyond the wooden gate near Ruk.
How to find the Etching Needles
Step 1
Travel into the Glutted Mire through the Corrupted Gate and progress through the area until you reach the Sunken Village Beacon.
Step 2
Continue across the bridge and deal with the Wandering Shepherd/Tarblighted Shepherd encounter.
Step 3
After the encounter, look for the wooden area with crates blocking a passage. Break through the obstruction and continue along the route.
Step 4
Cross the next bridge and continue toward the area where Ruk is positioned.
Step 5
Search the chest near Ruk. The Etching Needles are inside.
Step 6
Return to Marrow Keep and speak with Franz at the Tarforge. Giving him the Etching Needles unlocks Temper Tarstones.
Once this is done, you can begin leveling your Tarstones normally.
How Tarstone XP works
Tarstone XP is earned through combat rather than by spending a special currency. You need to place the Tarstone into a compatible slot on an equipped weapon or sidearm, then kill enemies while using that equipment. Simply carrying a Tarstone in your inventory does nothing.
You also do not need to manually activate the Tarstone’s effect every time you want XP. The important requirement is that the Tarstone is actively equipped and compatible with the weapon or sidearm you’re using when enemies die.
This makes normal exploration surprisingly effective for progression. Dungeon runs, enemy camps, boss attempts and general exploration all contribute as long as the correct Tarstone is equipped.
Another useful detail is that Tarstone XP is not lost when you die. However, you should avoid leaving a stone sitting at its maximum XP threshold while continuing to farm, because additional progress is wasted until you return to the Tarforge and complete the upgrade.
How to upgrade a Tarstone from Level 1 to Level 2
After unlocking Temper Tarstones, equip the Tarstone you want to develop and start earning XP. The first threshold is 10,000 XP.
| Upgrade | XP required | Coins | Tarcore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 → Level 2 | 10,000 XP | 100 | +1 |
| Level 2 → Level 3 | 20,000 XP | 150 | Requires 6 |
When the Tarstone reaches 10,000/10,000 XP, return to the Tarforge. Select the stone and pay 100 Coins to complete the first upgrade. You will also receive one Tarcore, which is extremely important for later progression.
The XP bar then resets for the next tier. Continue using that upgraded Tarstone until it reaches the next threshold.
How to reach Tarstone Level 3
The final upgrade works differently because it introduces Tarcores into the cost.
Once your Level 2 Tarstone has accumulated 20,000 XP, you can return to the Tarforge for its final upgrade. The current retail requirements are 150 Coins and six Tarcores.
The important part is that you don’t need to obtain Tarcores from random drops. Tarcores are generated by upgrading Tarstones from Level 1 to Level 2.
That creates a deliberate progression loop. You can level several Tarstones that you don’t necessarily intend to use, pay 100 Coins for each Level 2 upgrade, and collect a Tarcore from each one. Those Tarcores can then be invested into the Tarstone you actually want to take to Level 3.
How to farm Tarcores efficiently
- Equip an unfinished Level 1 Tarstone in a compatible weapon or sidearm.
- Fight enemies until the stone reaches 10,000 XP.
- Return to the Tarforge and spend 100 Coins to raise it to Level 2.
- Collect the one Tarcore produced by the upgrade.
- Repeat the process with other Level 1 Tarstones rather than immediately trying to max one stone.
- Once you have six Tarcores, use them to unlock the Level 3 upgrade for your chosen Tarstone.
- After a Level 3 upgrade, the Tarcore requirement effectively becomes easier to sustain because the current system returns three Tarcores after the final tempering.
For your first Level 3 Tarstone, therefore, the practical goal is to get six separate Tarstones to Level 2. This is why you should not ignore Tarstones just because their effects don’t fit your current build.
How to tell why a Tarstone will not level up
If your Tarstone is stuck at 10,000/10,000 XP, the most likely problem is that Tarstone tempering has not been unlocked yet. Make sure you have collected the Etching Needles and delivered them to Franz.
If the Tarstone isn’t gaining XP at all, check whether it is actually equipped in an active and compatible weapon or sidearm slot. A stone sitting in your inventory will not gain XP, and an incompatible stone cannot progress through an unsuitable slot.
If you have reached the second threshold but cannot complete the final upgrade, check your Tarcore balance. The Level 3 upgrade requires six Tarcores available at the time of tempering, along with the required Coins.
Choosing which Tarstones to max first
The best Level 3 Tarstone depends on your weapon, build and the effect you are trying to amplify. A Tarstone that dramatically improves your preferred weapon’s attack pattern, survivability or infusion is generally a better investment than a stone whose effect you rarely use.
This is particularly important because the current game contains a large collection of Tarstones with different categories and weapon restrictions. A current retail database tracks 75 obtainable Tarstones, divided among Support, Combat, Infusion and Ability types.
Rather than automatically chasing the highest rarity-looking effect, consider which Tarstone you are actually going to keep equipped for most of the game. A Level 3 stone that complements your main weapon is usually more valuable than several partially upgraded stones that don’t fit your build.
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