To dispel Ma Fishface’s ward, find Freddie’s Urn by attacking the non-instrument-playing figure in the wall painting after Cold Storage, then bring the urn back to the Abandoned Office barrier.
The occult barrier sealing Ma Fishface’s Shop in the Arkham Fish Market stops the story cold, and it shrugs off every gadget you throw at it — including the Leyden Jar Jars you may already be carrying. The only thing that removes it is Freddie’s Urn, a hidden item you pry out of a wall painting shortly after leaving Cold Storage. Grab that, carry it back to the 2F Abandoned Office, and Faye does the rest.
The clues that point to Freddie and his song
| Clue | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Eulogy for Old Freddie | On the bar, second floor of the pub |
| Tide Runners clue | Basement, just off Cold Storage |
| Freddie wall painting | On the wall shortly after Cold Storage |
Before the ward makes sense, the game scatters a couple of hints that name Freddie as the singer whose melody keeps the barrier alive. You do not need to hold them as inventory items — they are lore that explains why an urn, of all things, is the key. The Eulogy for Old Freddie sits on the bar on the pub’s second floor and paints him as a well-loved crooner, while the Tide Runners clue down in the basement hints those sailors were “more than just sailors.” Put together, they tell you the wall painting nearby is worth a second look.
Key That painting is where the actual item lives. Most figures in it are holding musical instruments; the one that is not is Freddie, and hitting him is what coughs up the urn.
How to dispel Ma Fishface’s ward in The Sinking City 2
Work through it in the order the game feeds you the clues — read the eulogy, register the Tide Runners hint, pull Freddie’s Urn from the painting, then carry it up to the barrier.
STEP 1/7
Read the Eulogy for Old Freddie
Head to the pub’s second floor and check the bar to pick up the Eulogy for Old Freddie, which flags him as the singer.
STEP 2/7
Find the Tide Runners clue
Drop into the basement just off Cold Storage to read the Tide Runners note, confirming Freddie was more than a sailor.
STEP 3/7
Attack the figure without an instrument
At the nearby wall painting, hit the one figure not holding a musical instrument — shoot its head or strike it — to break open the hidden compartment.
STEP 4/7
Take Freddie’s Urn from the wall
Interact with the revealed spot to collect Freddie’s Urn into your inventory.
STEP 5/7
Go to the 2F Abandoned Office
Climb to the second floor and reach the Abandoned Office doorway, where the magic ward blocks the way into the shop.
STEP 6/7
Use Freddie’s Urn on the ward
Present the urn at the barrier so Faye can finally catch the melody woven into it.
STEP 7/7
Let Faye sing Freddie’s song
Faye picks up the tune and sings along, the ward collapses, and the door into Ma Fishface’s Shop opens.
Attack only the figure that is not holding a musical instrument — hitting any of the other players in the painting does nothing and can waste a lot of time.
Video help
What waits past the barrier
With the ward gone, the route runs straight into Ma Fishface’s Shop, where a cutscene and her dialogue kick in as she introduces herself. Once that plays out, your next objective is the second Leyden Jar Jar tucked inside the shop — pick it up before heading out the far door. That jar is for the puzzles ahead, not for the barrier you just cleared
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Related The Sinking City 2 guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a Leyden Jar Jar to remove Ma Fishface’s ward?
No. Leyden Jar Jars do nothing to this barrier — only Freddie’s Urn interacts with it. The jars are for a different puzzle entirely, powering the Starfish mechanism that guards the Workshop where you retrieve the Antikythera, which is why so many players stall here trying the wrong item.
Which figure in the painting is Freddie?
Freddie is the second man from the right and the only figure in the painting who is not playing a musical instrument. Everyone else holds an instrument, so he stands out once you look for the odd one out.
Can you melee the painting instead of shooting it?
Yes. You can either shoot Freddie in the head or strike his head with a melee attack — both crack open the hidden compartment and reveal the urn, so use whichever is handier in the moment.
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