Fire Transmutation, a weapon in Valor Mortis

Fire Transmutation vs Shield Transmutation Valor Mortis Transmutation comparison

Transmutation
Fire Transmutation
The Battlefield
Shield Transmutation
University
Max level
5
Methodology
Data Methodology
Author
Dakota Chinnick

Fire Transmutation or Shield Transmutation? Both are Transmutations that spend Nephtoglobin and max out at level 5. The Fire Transmutation comes from The Battlefield and the Shield Transmutation from University. Here is what each one does, their stats at every level, both upgrade trees and our verdict.

Max level
5
Upgrade traits
6 / 5
Materials to max
7 / 7
Catalysts to max
28,000
Fire Transmutation · Where you get it
The Battlefield
Shield Transmutation · Where you get it
University
Related guideBest Weapons in Valor Mortis: Tier List & Upgrade Costs

Fire Transmutation vs Shield Transmutation: which to use

Game data

How the two Transmutations differ, from their tutorials, level stats, traits and the game's combat rules.

Fire Transmutation · Role
VolatileCan deal damage over time. Focused on eliminating hordes of enemies.
Shield Transmutation · Role
DurableCan block all sorts of threats. Focused on retaliating against enemies.
Upgrade traits
6 / 5Fire Transmutation / Shield Transmutation
Catalysts to max
28,000 / 28,000Fire Transmutation / Shield Transmutation

Fire is your first Transmutation (The Battlefield) and the Shield your last (the University), so for most of the game this is not a choice. Late on they cover opposite needs: Fire for packs and fire-weak enemies (15 to 20 damage, Ignite, a 0.8x slow), the Shield for survival (a full block, Infestation protection and, at level 4, immunity to red attacks through Impenetrable Defence).

Both upgrade with the same Transmutation Materials at Louis's Laboratoire (2 Crude, 2 Pure, 2 Distilled and 1 Quintessential to reach level 5), so decide which one gets them first. Against the Orphan and Entity, whose red attacks hit for 75 to 100, the Shield's level-4 trait is the stronger investment; for crowd-heavy areas Fire stays better.

Level stats side by side

Game data

Each Transmutation's own stats at every level, as the game stores them; they measure different things, so compare each one with itself across levels.

Fire Transmutation

Fire Transmutation
LevelDamageBase damageIgnite damage
11554
21774.5
31885
41995.5
520106

Shield Transmutation

Shield Transmutation
LevelDamage
11
21.15
31.3
41.45
51.75

Fire's numbers are hit and Ignite damage; Stasis and Shield store a scaling factor instead of hit damage, which grows with each level.

Combat rules that apply

Game data

The defaults the game's ability assets set for these Transmutations.

Combat rules that apply
RuleValueApplies to
Ignite damage5Fire Transmutation
Ignite build-up20%Fire Transmutation
Burning enemy speed×0.8Fire Transmutation
Ignite tick on enemies0.2 sFire Transmutation
Nephtoglobin drain while held0.8Shield Transmutation
Shield parry window0.2 sShield Transmutation
Nephtoglobin pool100Fire Transmutation, Shield Transmutation

In-game tutorials

Game data

The game's own tutorial video and card text for each Transmutation.

In-game tutorial
Fire TransmutationHold [Aim] to activate a Fire Transmutation, which consumes Nephtoglobin. Extract Nephtoglobin by shattering enemy Weak Points or striking them with your Melee Weapon.
In-game tutorial
Shield TransmutationHold [Aim] to veil yourself in a protective barrier that can fully block enemy attacks at the cost of Nephtoglobin. Releasing [Aim] after defending an attack will launch a damaging wave in front of you. The damage of the wave scales with the amount of damage blocked. This barrier will also protect you from pesky Infestation effects.

Upgrade trees

Game data

The Fire Transmutation has 6 traits and the Shield Transmutation 5 traits; dashed boxes are either/or picks.

Fire Transmutation

  1. Weapon lv 2
    Brittleness upgrade iconBrittleness

    Ignited enemies take more damage from Melee Attacks.

    • Grace period 0.5 s
    • Damage multiplier ×1.1
  2. Weapon lv 3
    Back-Burner upgrade iconBack-Burner

    Prolonged use increases damage and Status Effect buildup.

    • Duration 2 s
    • Damage multiplier ×1.3
    • Build-up multiplier ×1.3
  3. Weapon lv 4
    Pick one
    Fireworks upgrade iconFireworks

    Increases the range of the flame.

    • Multiplier ×1.4
    Wildfire upgrade iconWildfire

    Widens the spread of the flame.

    • Multiplier ×1.6
  4. Weapon lv 5
    Pick one
    Never-Ending Inferno upgrade iconNever-Ending Inferno

    Melee Attacks extend the duration of the Ignite effect.

    • Duration 2 s
    • Duration extension 0.1 s
    • Minimum extension 0.3 s
    Unstable Blaze upgrade iconUnstable Blaze

    Ignited enemies explode when shot at.

    • Radius 8 m
    • Damage to the target 200
    • Damage to others 100

Shield Transmutation

  1. Weapon lv 2
    Reach upgrade iconReach

    Increases the range of the damaging wave released after defending against attacks.

    • Wave width scale 1
    • Wave depth scale 1
    • Wave height scale 1.8
  2. Weapon lv 3
    Pick one
    Absorb upgrade iconAbsorb

    Incoming projectiles are transformed into Nephtoglobin.

    • Conversion multiplier ×1
    Deflect upgrade iconDeflect

    Incoming bullets are deflected back at enemies.

  3. Weapon lv 4
    Impenetrable Defence upgrade iconImpenetrable Defence

    Protects from Unblockable Attacks.

  4. Weapon lv 5
    Shield Bash upgrade iconShield Bash

    Press [Attack] to bash enemies with the Shield.

    • Damage 20
    • Posture 100
    • Endurance 15
    • Nephtoglobin cost 40
    • Lunge distance 8 m
    • Knockback distance 5 m

Materials to max

Calculated

Each needs 7 Transmutation Materials to reach level 5 (28,000 Catalysts for the Fire Transmutation and 28,000 Catalysts for the Shield Transmutation in bought materials), upgraded at Louis's Laboratoire.

Data: Steam build 25907482 (1.0 launch). How we source this

More comparisons

Change the level or swap in another weapon in the comparison tool.

The Fire Transmutation and the Shield Transmutation both max at level 5 for 7 Transmutation Materials. The Fire Transmutation has 6 upgrade traits and the Shield Transmutation 5; the Fire Transmutation arrives in The Battlefield, the Shield Transmutation in University. Both upgrade with the same Transmutation Materials at Louis's Laboratoire (2 Crude, 2 Pure, 2 Distilled and 1 Quintessential to reach level 5), so decide which one gets them first.

See Also

Fire TransmutationShield TransmutationCompare WeaponsFire Transmutation vs Stasis TransmutationStasis Transmutation vs Shield TransmutationWeaponsBosses
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Fire Transmutation vs Shield Transmutation FAQ

Should I use the Fire Transmutation or the Shield Transmutation in Valor Mortis?

Fire is your first Transmutation (The Battlefield) and the Shield your last (the University), so for most of the game this is not a choice. Late on they cover opposite needs: Fire for packs and fire-weak enemies (15 to 20 damage, Ignite, a 0.8x slow), the Shield for survival (a full block, Infestation protection and, at level 4, immunity to red attacks through Impenetrable Defence).

Where do you get the Fire Transmutation and the Shield Transmutation?

The Fire Transmutation is obtained in The Battlefield and the Shield Transmutation in University.

How much does it cost to max the Fire Transmutation and the Shield Transmutation?

Each needs 7 Transmutation Materials to reach level 5 (28,000 Catalysts for the Fire Transmutation and 28,000 Catalysts for the Shield Transmutation in bought materials), upgraded at Louis's Laboratoire.

What upgrades do the Fire Transmutation and the Shield Transmutation have?

The Fire Transmutation has 6 traits (Brittleness, Back-Burner, Fireworks, Wildfire, Never-Ending Inferno, Unstable Blaze); the Shield Transmutation has 5 traits (Reach, Absorb, Deflect, Impenetrable Defence, Shield Bash).