Mortal Shell II Sidearm Tier List: The “Best” Ranged Weapon May Have Changed After the Latest Balance Patch

🔥 THE MORTAL SHELL II SIDEARM META JUST GOT SHAKEN UP — AND ONE “B-TIER” WEAPON MAY NO LONGER BELONG THERE.

Caged Hystrix was called the best overall… but after the latest balance changes, Troubadour’s Lute got a MASSIVE damage buff while other sidearms had their restrictions removed — so which one is actually worth your Resolve now? 👀

🔥 The current Sidearm tier list may NOT be what you think — see the rankings 👇

Mortal Shell II Sidearm Tier List: The “Best” Ranged Weapon May Have Changed After the Latest Balance Patch

Mortal Shell II’s sidearms were already becoming a major part of the game’s build meta. Now, a balance update has given players a reason to reconsider which ranged weapon deserves the top spot.

At launch, a widely circulated tier list from KeenGamer ranked Caged Hystrix and Salvaged Trebuchaxe in S tier, followed by Forgotten Crossbow and Naylshotte in A tier. Troubadour’s Lute, Triarch Repeater and Ballistazooka were placed in B, while Cursed Child occupied C tier.

That ranking made sense within its original context. But Mortal Shell II has already changed the equation.

Balance Patch 1 increased Troubadour’s Lute attack damage by 100% and removed the minimum Resolve requirement for both Caged Hystrix and Triarch Repeater. Those changes do not automatically prove that the old rankings are wrong, but they do make a static launch-day tier list increasingly difficult to treat as the final word.

And that has sparked a broader discussion among players: Is Caged Hystrix still the best all-around sidearm, or has the new patch created room for some of the previously overlooked options?

Caged Hystrix remains the leading all-purpose candidate

For now, Caged Hystrix still has one of the strongest cases for the overall top spot.

KeenGamer’s launch assessment placed it at S tier, describing it as a rapid-fire sidearm capable of maintaining pressure against both individual targets and groups. Its appeal also comes from its flexibility with different Tarstone setups.

That reputation is supported by other current guides. A patch-aware community field guide continues to describe Caged Hystrix as the strongest general-purpose candidate, while cautioning that there is not enough controlled post-patch testing to establish a definitive universal ranking.

The weapon’s biggest strength is not simply damage.

It is consistency.

A sidearm that can keep applying ranged pressure can serve several purposes in a single build: softening enemies before melee combat, punishing exposed targets, contributing to stagger and exploiting short openings against bosses.

That versatility matters because sidearms consume Resolve, the same resource used by Shell abilities. Players therefore cannot simply assume that the hardest-hitting projectile is automatically the best weapon. The sidearm has to justify what the player is giving up to use it.

The latest patch also removed Caged Hystrix’s minimum Resolve requirement to fire. That makes the weapon easier to access during combat, although it does not by itself establish that the weapon has the best Resolve efficiency or highest damage output.

For that reason, Caged Hystrix remains a strong S-tier candidate, but claims that it is mathematically unbeatable should be treated with caution.

Salvaged Trebuchaxe is the burst-damage specialist

If Caged Hystrix represents sustained pressure, Salvaged Trebuchaxe occupies the opposite end of the spectrum.

The weapon is designed around committing Resolve to powerful single-target attacks. KeenGamer ranked it S tier specifically because of its heavy burst potential against tougher enemies and bosses.

That makes the Trebuchaxe particularly attractive when a player understands an enemy’s attack patterns.

A boss finishes an attack.

There is a recovery window.

Instead of immediately rushing back into melee range, the player can use that opening to deliver a heavy ranged punish.

The trade-off is obvious: a weapon built around high-impact attacks is less flexible than something capable of maintaining rapid pressure.

A current patch-aware guide therefore describes Salvaged Trebuchaxe as a heavy single-target candidate, rather than claiming it has definitively the highest numerical damage in the current build. Exact post-patch comparisons involving damage, ammunition, Resolve efficiency and animation commitment remain insufficiently documented.

That distinction is important for players building around boss fights.

The best sidearm for a boss opening is not necessarily the best sidearm for clearing an entire area.

Forgotten Crossbow may be the safest choice

One of the most interesting sidearms in the current discussion is Forgotten Crossbow.

It does not necessarily create the same spectacle as Caged Hystrix or Salvaged Trebuchaxe. But that may be exactly why players continue to value it.

GamesRadar recently named Forgotten Crossbow and Caged Hystrix as its two best Mortal Shell II sidearms, with the publication specifically praising the Crossbow for its speed and magazine capacity despite relatively modest individual projectile damage.

The Crossbow’s practical advantage is safety.

It can weaken an enemy from range.

It can help isolate individual targets.

And it gives players a way to deal damage without committing to a dangerous melee opening.

KeenGamer similarly placed it in A tier and described it as one of the safest choices for early progression.

For newer players, that can arguably matter more than raw DPS.

A weapon that is slightly less explosive but consistently helps the player control engagements can be more valuable than a theoretically stronger option that requires precise timing.

Naylshotte remains the close-range option

Naylshotte is another weapon whose usefulness depends heavily on how the player fights.

The sidearm functions as a close-range explosive option, making it particularly useful when enemies are already threatening melee distance. KeenGamer ranked it A tier and described it as an effective burst tool for finishing weakened enemies or responding to aggressive opponents.

It is also notable because Naylshotte is part of the game’s early sidearm roster.

A recent community post listing all eight sidearms confirms the current lineup as Naylshotte, Forgotten Crossbow, Salvaged Trebuchaxe, Troubadour’s Lute, Triarch Repeater, Caged Hystrix, Ballistazooka and Cursed Child.

So while Naylshotte may not dominate endgame tier lists, it should not be dismissed simply because later weapons have more specialized mechanics.

It solves a straightforward problem:

What do you do when something is already in your face?

Troubadour’s Lute is the wild card

This is where the latest patch becomes particularly interesting.

At launch, Troubadour’s Lute was placed in B tier by KeenGamer. Its main strength was not conventional ranged damage but crowd control through Confusion, which can redirect enemy aggression and create opportunities to reposition or attack.

Then Balance Patch 1 arrived.

The Lute’s attack damage was increased by 100%.

That is an enormous relative change.

But it would be premature to simply declare the Lute an automatic S-tier weapon.

The patch tells players how much the damage changed relative to its previous value. It does not provide a complete new tier ranking, nor does it establish that the Lute now outperforms Caged Hystrix or Salvaged Trebuchaxe in every situation.

A patch-aware guide therefore specifically warns that the launch B-tier placement should no longer be treated as a current absolute conclusion.

In other words, the Lute is now the biggest question mark in the sidearm meta.

Its combination of increased damage and crowd-control utility could make it much more attractive, particularly in builds that already benefit from manipulating enemy behavior.

But controlled post-patch testing is still needed before confidently moving it to the top of the tier list.

Triarch Repeater also received an important change

The Triarch Repeater received a different kind of buff.

Balance Patch 1 removed its minimum Resolve requirement for firing.

Before the patch, launch guides described a minimum stored Resolve threshold for using the weapon. That information should no longer be presented as current advice.

However, removing an activation threshold does not automatically mean the Repeater is now highly Resolve-efficient.

Players still need to consider how much Resolve is consumed, how long the weapon can sustain fire, its damage output and how much time an enemy gives the player to use it.

KeenGamer originally viewed the Repeater as a B-tier sustained-pressure weapon, particularly against larger or slower targets that remain exposed for longer periods.

The patch makes that weapon more accessible, but its final post-patch ranking remains less certain.

Ballistazooka is powerful — but highly situational

The Ballistazooka represents the traditional heavy ranged option.

Its projectile can deliver substantial burst damage, but the weapon’s slow handling and limited opportunities to fire make it more situational than rapid-fire alternatives.

KeenGamer placed it in B tier and recommended it primarily for situations in which bosses or enemies provide predictable recovery windows.

That does not mean Ballistazooka is weak.

It means the weapon asks the player to understand the encounter.

Against a fast enemy that constantly pressures the player, a slow heavy sidearm can become difficult to use.

Against a predictable boss that repeatedly exposes itself, the equation can change dramatically.

This is why tier lists can sometimes be misleading.

A sidearm’s value depends heavily on the problem it is being asked to solve.

Cursed Child is the most specialized choice

At the bottom of the launch tier list sits Cursed Child, but even this placement requires context.

KeenGamer describes it primarily as a short-range knockback and spacing tool rather than a conventional ranged damage weapon. It can create breathing room when an enemy gets too close, potentially benefiting builds that rely on slower melee weapons such as Great Martyr’s Blade or Obsidian Hammer.

That makes Cursed Child a highly specialized tool.

If the player wants maximum ranged damage, it is unlikely to be the first choice.

If the player’s biggest problem is surviving long enough to land a slow heavy attack, however, its utility becomes much easier to understand.

Calling it simply “bad” therefore misses the point.

It is more accurate to call it niche.

The current tier list is becoming less clear-cut

The most important development in the sidearm meta may be that the community no longer has a single obvious answer.

At launch, the conventional ranking was straightforward:

S: Caged Hystrix, Salvaged Trebuchaxe
A: Forgotten Crossbow, Naylshotte
B: Troubadour’s Lute, Triarch Repeater, Ballistazooka
C: Cursed Child.

But that list was created before Balance Patch 1 altered several of the weapons.

A separate current editorial tier list has already moved Troubadour’s Lute into S tier alongside Caged Hystrix, while putting Salvaged Trebuchaxe into A tier. That disagreement illustrates how quickly the post-launch meta is developing.

Meanwhile, GamesRadar continues to favor Caged Hystrix and Forgotten Crossbow, demonstrating that even major guide outlets are emphasizing different qualities when deciding what makes a sidearm “best.”

Community experimentation is adding another layer.

One recent NG++ Reddit player who reported testing fully upgraded weapons and Shell combinations recommended Forgotten Crossbow with Poison for a Lazlo build, specifically using it as a way to soften enemies before melee combat.

That is a useful reminder that the “best” sidearm can change dramatically depending on the Shell, weapon, Tarstones and combat strategy.

So, which Sidearm is actually the best?

For players looking for the safest current conclusion, Caged Hystrix remains the strongest general-purpose candidate.

Its rapid-fire behavior, flexibility and ability to contribute consistent ranged pressure make it difficult to ignore. Current guides continue to identify it as one of the leading choices.

But the latest patch has created two major challengers.

Troubadour’s Lute is now the biggest wildcard because its attack damage was doubled.

Triarch Repeater deserves renewed testing because its minimum Resolve firing requirement was removed.

Meanwhile, Salvaged Trebuchaxe remains an attractive choice for players who prioritize heavy single-target burst, while Forgotten Crossbow continues to make a strong case for safe, dependable ranged combat.

The bigger lesson is that Mortal Shell II does not appear to have a sidearm that dominates every possible situation.

Instead, the current meta is increasingly divided by purpose:

Caged Hystrix for versatility.
Salvaged Trebuchaxe for burst.
Forgotten Crossbow for safety.
Naylshotte for close-range pressure.
Troubadour’s Lute for crowd control and, potentially, much more damage after the patch.
Triarch Repeater for sustained fire.
Ballistazooka for heavy ranged punishment.
Cursed Child for spacing and utility.

That makes the next round of community testing particularly important.

As players gather more post-patch NG+ and NG++ data, the biggest question may no longer be whether Caged Hystrix is good.

It clearly is.

The real question is whether Troubadour’s Lute’s 100% damage increase has finally pushed it from a clever utility pick into a genuine top-tier sidearm.

And that is a tier-list argument Mortal Shell II players are likely to keep having for some time.