What Do You Use Tar and Glimpses For in Mortal Shell?

In the Mortal Shell beta, you’ll come across a variety of useful items including ones that give you Tar and Glimpses. In the beginning, it can be confusing as to what Tar and Glimpses are used for. Looking for some additional insight? Read on to find out what you can do with Tar and Glimpses in Mortal Shell!

What Do You Use Tar and Glimpses For in Mortal Shell?

As you wander around killing enemies in Mortal Shell, you’ll encounter a plethora of items that you can use to your advantage. For example, you can pick up a Lute and play yourself a quaint little tune, or you can grab a Spectral Token and get a one-time damage boost the next time you attack after hardening.

You can also pick up currency in Mortal Shell. The primary form of currency in Mortal Shell is called Tar. To earn Tar, you’ll need to pick up and consume Tar-related items like the Bag of Tar which grants 300 Tar upon consumption.

The more Tar you have, the easier it’ll be for you to buy items from merchants like Vlas in Falgrim Outskirts. Tar isn’t the only form of currency in Mortal Shell as you’ll also need to acquire Glimpses if you want to unlock new abilities for Shells like Tiel, the Acolyte.

You can earn Glimpses by picking up and consuming items like the Glimpse of Wisdom or the Glimpse of Futility. If you consume a Glimpse of Futility, you’ll earn 1 Glimpse. If you consume a Glimpse of Wisdom, you’ll earn 2 Glimpses.

As you’ll quickly find out, you won’t be able to use Glimpses to buy items from Vlas like you can with Tar. Instead, Glimpses are often used to unlock abilities for your Shell. To unlock Shell abilities, head to the Catacombs and speak with Sester Genessa.

If you see an ability you want to unlock, you’ll need to spend Glimpses as well as Tar, so make sure you have a healthy supply of both on hand. For example, you can unlock an ability for Tiel called Accretion of Endurance in exchange for 750 Tar and 4 Glimpses.

To quickly view how much Tar and Glimpses you have, take a look at the bottom right corner of your screen. There, you’ll see a bar under where your items are displayed that shows how much Tar you have on the left and Glimpses on the right.

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You can also open your inventory and view your Tar and Glimpses next to the Shell you’re currently using. In addition to abilities, Glimpses are also be spent when using special items like the Tarnished Mask.

Given to you by Sester Genessa, the Tarnished Mask transports you back to her location in the Catacombs in exchange for all your Glimpses. All of them. It can be a good way to get out of a dangerous area in a pinch, but spending all your Glimpses is certainly a steep price to pay.

To recap, Tar is one of the main forms of currency in Mortal Shell. You can use Tar to purchase items from merchants like Vlas, and you’ll need Tar to unlock abilities for your Shell. In addition to Tar, you’ll also need Glimpses to unlock new abilities and use items like the Tarnished Mask.

Mortal Shell has an open beta available right now on the Epic Games Store. If you’d rather wait for the game’s full release, you’ll be happy to hear it’s expected to launch sometime later this year for PC via the Epic Games Store, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4!

Now that you know what Tar and Glimpses are for in Mortal Shell, we have a few other guides that we think you’ll find useful including:

• How to Heal in Mortal Shell
• How to Get Into the Mortal Shell Beta 
• All Shell Types in the Mortal Shell Beta

Have you been enjoying Tar and Glimpses in Mortal Shell? Be sure to let us know on our Twitter or Facebook page!