Equip ambers at a lantern in the Level Up menu. The early Valor Mortis ambers are easy to walk past: Bottomless Well sits in a secret area you can only open with fire power, and Dominatus and Surplus are in Valley of Ash chests. Picking one up does nothing on its own. You still have to slot it at a lantern.
How do you equip ambers in Valor Mortis?
Go to a lantern, open Level Up, and select your amber for an unlocked slot in the skill tree. The interface shows Choose Amber above the stones; selecting Surplus displays its bonus to Catalysts from killing enemies.
- Collect the amber you want to use.
- Return to a lantern and enter the Level Up interface.
- Select the amber in an available slot.
You'll see five amber slots right away, but they open one at a time as you level up, so don't expect to fill them all early. How the slots tie into leveling is covered in the skill tree guide.
Where is the Bottomless Well amber and secret cave?
After obtaining fire power, turn back toward the starting route where you initially jumped across the cliff, burn the obstruction, and enter the secret area for Bottomless Well. The tangled barrier looks like a dead end on your first pass; fire turns it into a route you can take.
Open the chest beyond the barrier to collect Bottomless Well. You will reach a red chest with gold trim in the snowy secret area.
Bottomless Well slowly regenerates your mana over time. Take the detour after getting fire power, then equip the stone at a lantern if you want that regeneration.
Where is the Dominatus chest in the military camp?
The Dominatus chest is on the left after you drop into the cleared military camp in Valley of Ash. To get it, start at the Military Camp lantern and approach from above to thin out the enemies before collecting it.
Travel to the Military Camp lantern
Once fast travel is unlocked, return to the Valley of Ash military camp lantern. In the travel menu, choose Military Camp; the region heading reads Valley of Ashes.
Clear enemies from above
Turn away from the open gate and lantern, head up the stairs, and use the cannon at the top to clear some of the camp. This makes the approach easier than rushing into the whole group. Then head down, deal with the dog, and go along the right side toward the tower.
Climb the ladder into the tower and kill the enemy there. Bring your pistol for the explosive barrels below; if you don't have it yet, here's where to get the pistol.
Wait for enemies to move near the barrels before firing. For the shielded elite, waiting until he reaches a barrel gives you another way to clear him with an explosion.
Drop down and open the chest on the left
After clearing the camp, jump down and head left to the Dominatus chest. Look for the red chest beside a small glowing lantern and pale sacks.
Dominatus restores health when you perform critical attacks, including backstabs and executions after parrying. If you want to turn those openings into healing, get your parry timing down first.
Where is the Surplus chest in Valley of Ash?
The Surplus chest is at the end of the platforming route beyond the cave uphill from the military camp. After collecting Dominatus, head up the hill alongside the road to reach that cave.
Cross the cave along the left side
Enter the cave and jump along its left side. The interior has wooden walkways beneath hanging stalactites.
Two blob enemies attack from above. Fire transmutation is a useful way to take them out before you continue to the ladder.
Climb the ladder and finish the platforming route
Go up the ladder, cross the platforming section beyond it, and open the chest at the very end for Surplus.
Surplus gives you more Catalysts when killing enemies. Return to a lantern after collecting it so you can equip it before heading out to fight again.
Which amber should you equip for Catalysts or healing?
Pick Surplus if you're short on Catalysts, Dominatus if you parry a lot, and Bottomless Well if you keep running dry on mana. With only one slot open early on, Surplus is the safest first pick because every kill pays out.
| Amber | What it does | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Surplus | More Catalysts from kills | You're saving up for levels or upgrades |
| Dominatus | Heals you on critical attacks, backstabs and parry executions | You're comfortable parrying |
| Bottomless Well | Slowly regenerates mana | You lean on transmutations |
Does Marksman's Bane let you parry bullets?
Marksman's Bane lets you parry bullets and grants a pistol round. Collect the hidden amber, then equip it at a lantern to use that effect.
Once they're slotted, pick up where you left off in the walkthrough.