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You can’t get through the green poison gas in Valor Mortis when you first find it, and there’s no trick or item that fixes that early. The gas is a locked route. You get past it with the Shield Transmutation, which you unlock late in the story at the University, around Chapter 9. Once you have it, switch it on before you step into the gas and you’ll walk through without picking up poison.
Why you can’t cross the poison gas yet
The thick yellow-green gas you run into in the early chapters isn’t a damage check you can tank with enough healing. Poison builds up fast inside it, slows you down, and kills you when the bar fills. Fire Transmutation doesn’t burn it away, and shooting nearby objects doesn’t clear it either. We couldn’t find any antidote or resistance item that lets you push through.
The most common place players get stuck is Chapter 2 (Regroup) in the Valley of Ashes. From The Other Side Lantern, the side road on the left, away from the normal road to the Military Camp, is covered in this gas. You can grab the Emissary’s Seal from the abandoned carriage near the edge, but the rest of that path stays closed until much later. If you’re stuck here, the game isn’t asking you to solve anything. Carry on with the main story.
How to unlock the Shield Transmutation
The Shield Transmutation is part of the main story, so you can’t miss it. You get it at the University, one of the later areas, at roughly the three-quarter mark (around Chapter 9).
- Open the shortcut in the Main Hall. It’s the leftmost door at the top of the stairs.
- Start from the Main Hall Lantern. Go through that door and walk down the hall.
- Take the elevator on the left up.
- Climb the stairs on the left in the next room.
- Interact with the corpse at the top. This is the soldier wrapped in plague vines, and it gives you the Shield Transmutation.
How to walk through the poison gas
- Switch the shield on before you enter. While it’s active, poison stops building up and you can walk straight through the gas.
- Bring Nephtoglobin. The shield drains it the whole time it’s up. If you run dry mid-crossing, the shield drops and poison starts building again right away.
- Don’t stop halfway. Cross the gas in one go, then lower the shield once you’re out.
Where to use it once you have it
Every green gas corridor in the game opens up after you get the shield. These are worth going back for:
- The Valley of Ashes side road (Chapter 2). Past the gas, a path leads down to a ruined military camp. This finishes The Emissary side quest, which rewards Sands of Time. Expect a fight with shooters when you inspect the escort’s body. A tent there also holds a chest with the optional Perfect Copy Amber.
- The crypt under the Abandoned Church.
- A gas-filled room in the Fortress on the way to the Frenzied Flame secret, which hides a sword.
Go back soon after you unlock the shield. Later story events can close off parts of earlier areas, so don’t leave these detours until the end.
FAQ
Can you get past the poison area early in Valor Mortis?
Not on the normal route. The green gas corridors are locked until you have the Shield Transmutation, so keep following the main story and come back later.
When do you get the Shield Transmutation?
Late in the game, at the University, around Chapter 9. It’s part of the main story, so everyone gets it.
Is there a cure for poison in Valor Mortis?
We couldn’t confirm an antidote that works against the green gas. The Shield Transmutation is the intended way through.
What does the Shield Transmutation cost to use?
It drains Nephtoglobin for as long as it’s active. Carry enough to cross the whole gas area before you go in.
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Source & credit
This guide draws on the video walkthrough by SpawnYaGuides. Watch it for the full visual run-through, and give the creator your view:
