Those pulsing red-orange orbs scattered across Valor Mortis are one of the game's most disorienting early roadblocks. Your saber swings right through them. Fire Transmutation does nothing. And the game offers zero explanation. Most players hit the first one within the opening hour, shrug, and move on, only to find three more blocking side routes they want to explore. The answer is simpler than you'd expect, but the tool you need arrives later than it should.
What actually destroys red blobs in Valor Mortis?
Red blobs, or orbs, seal off side rooms, shortcuts, and optional stretches of levels. They require a ranged or specific melee strike to break. Your default saber cannot touch them, and neither can Fire Transmutation, which handles fleshy barriers instead. These are two distinct obstacle types, so make sure you're targeting the glowing node itself rather than the surrounding material.
Two weapons work on red orbs:
- Pistol — The reliable option throughout the entire game. Aim at the orb and fire. Distance doesn't matter.
- Rapier — Works only when the orb is close enough for a melee strike. Equip it and hit the orb directly.
The Pistol handles every situation since some orbs sit too far away for the Rapier to reach. Once you have it, clearing any sealed route takes a single shot.
Valor Mortis Guide: How to Destroy the Red Blobs
Where to get the Pistol in Valor Mortis
The Pistol is a required story item, so you cannot permanently miss it. The confusion comes from timing. Players who tried the Steam Next Fest demo remember picking up the Pistol almost immediately. The full release moved it much later: you collect it during Chapter 2: Regroup, typically after more than an hour of play.
To reach it, you first need to encounter General Lothaire at The Battlefield for the first time, then push forward into the Valley of Ashes. From there, the route to the Pistol is short.
- Follow the road and turn left. Head to the plank extending over the cliff edge, jump from its tip, and swing across to the opposite side.
- Continue along that side and take the first left. A Risen Grenadier blocks the path. You can fight it or sprint past; the Pistol is accessible either way.
- Push forward until you spot a Lantern beside the Adjutant Sous-Officier. Talking to the officer starts the optional side quest An Unheard Farewell, but that quest is not required to grab the Pistol.
- Pass the Lantern and parkour down toward the stranded carriage below.
- Enter the carriage and look left. The Pistol sits in an ornate gun-holder. Take it, then descend to the next Lantern and follow the main path back out.
Valor Mortis Guide: How to Destroy the Red Blobs
How to use the Pistol on orbs and enemy weak points
Equip the Pistol, aim at the glowing node, and fire. The barrier vanishes immediately when the shot connects. If it doesn't, you hit the surrounding geometry rather than the orb itself.
The Pistol does more than clear blocked routes. Many enemies carry glowing pustules called weak points on their bodies. Shooting a weak point deals extra damage and drops Nephtoglobin Remnants, the resource that fuels your Transmutations. A single clean shot breaks the weak point and hands you fuel for abilities like Fire Transmutation at the same time.
| Target | Tool Required | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Red orbs (far) | Pistol | Clears blocked route instantly |
| Red orbs (close) | Rapier or Pistol | Clears blocked route instantly |
| Fleshy barriers | Fire Transmutation | Burns away the obstacle |
| Enemy weak points | Pistol | Extra damage + Nephtoglobin Remnants drop |
How do you go back for the first red orb?
The very first orb you encounter sits past the broken bridge early in the game. At the junction beyond the bridge, take the right-hand path to find it. You'll almost certainly reach it before obtaining the Pistol, which is expected. Leave it and continue.
Once you have the Pistol, returning is straightforward. You can retrace the route on foot, but the faster option is waiting until Fast Travel unlocks, then teleporting directly to the area. The return trip on foot is long enough that Fast Travel is worth waiting for unless your path already takes you back there naturally.
The same logic applies to every other orb you spotted before Chapter 2. Keep a mental note of sealed routes as you explore, then sweep back through them after picking up the Pistol. Some of those side paths contain materials you'll want for upgrades.
For a broader look at surviving Valor Mortis's early game, the Valor Mortis beginner's guide covers parrying, Catalysts, Transmutations, and Lanterns in one place. If you're pushing into tougher zones, check the guide on how to access poison areas safely before heading into the University. For everything else, the full Valor Mortis guide collection has you covered.
