- Mortal Shell II cage key: Search beneath crates close to the swamp cave.
- Swamp route: Break nearby crates and check the ground around the cave entrance.
- Two cage uses: The key can open the hunter’s dog cage or the poison-area cage.
- Backup method: Strike the cage lock with your normal weapon to open it without a key.
- Open Beta note: Key behavior and loot may change in later versions.
Mortal Shell II cage key location
The Mortal Shell II cage key is reported to be under breakable crates near the cave in the swamp area. Search the ground closely rather than looking for a glowing chest or a large landmark. The key may be easy to miss because the crates partially conceal its pickup location.
Start near the swamp cave and clear the surrounding crates one group at a time. After each group is destroyed, move across the exposed ground and check for the key prompt. This approach is safer than wandering through the swamp and also helps reveal nearby cage entrances and loot.
A Steam Community discussion dated June 16, 2026, identifies the location as “under the crates” somewhere very close to the cave. You can review the Mortal Shell II Open Beta cage key discussion for the original player reports.
| Search Area | What to Do | Expected Result |
|---|---|---|
| Swamp cave approach | Break crates around the cave | Exposes the ground |
| Crate pile | Walk over the cleared area | Reveals a possible pickup prompt |
| Nearby cage | Inspect the lock and interior | Confirms which reward you want |
| Swamp chest route | Track the candle objective | Helps identify the poison-area cage |
Search the Crates
Break every crate close to the swamp cave. The key is reported to rest on the ground beneath them.
Check the Ground
Move slowly across the cleared area. The pickup can blend into the swamp floor or nearby debris.
Mark the Cages
Identify the dog cage and the candle or poison-area cage before spending the key.
Clear crates in small groups and inspect the exposed floor immediately. This keeps the key location easy to track.
Cage choices and key management
The Open Beta reports describe more than one cage that can interact with a cage key. One is the hunter’s dog cage near Mushroom Village. Another is the swamp cage containing a candle connected to the local chest objective. The second cage is also described as the poison-area cage.
Because the reported key supply can be limited, decide which reward matters most before using it. If you open the dog cage first, you may still need to use the weapon-lock method for the poison cage. Player reports also mention buying one key from the hunter near Mushroom Village.
The hunter’s key is not the same as the swamp pickup described under the crates. Treat the two locations as separate possibilities and avoid assuming that opening one cage automatically provides another key.
| Cage | General Area | Reported Purpose | Key Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog cage | Near the hunter and Mushroom Village | Releases the caged dog-like enemy | Use the key if you want this encounter first |
| Candle cage | Swamp, near the chest route | Holds one candle needed for the objective | Consider the weapon-lock method if the key is unavailable |
| Poison-area cage | Swamp section | Contains the item associated with the locked area | Do not assume a second key will drop |
| Hunter source | Near Mushroom Village | Can sell one cage key | Availability may depend on the current Beta build |
Opening the dog cage first may leave the candle or poison-area cage locked. Check both cages before choosing your first use.
The dog cage can also involve combat. Reports describe a dog-like creature inside, with coins and souls listed as its observed loot. The exact reward or behavior may change, so treat those details as Open Beta information rather than a permanent loot table.
Step-by-step swamp cage walkthrough
Use the following route to locate the key, compare the cage options, and open the locked area with the fewest wasted actions.
Reach the swamp cave
Travel to the cave area in the swamp and use it as your navigation anchor. The reported key location is very close to this landmark.
Break the nearby crates
Destroy the crates surrounding the cave approach. Search every cleared patch of ground instead of checking only the largest crate stack.
Collect or confirm the key
Look for the cage key on the ground. Pick it up, then inspect both the dog cage and the candle or poison-area cage.
Choose the higher-priority cage
Use the key on the cage that matches your current objective. If the candle cage is needed for the swamp chest, prioritize that reward.
Attack the lock if necessary
If the key was used elsewhere, strike the cage lock with your regular weapon. Multiple reports say the lock can be destroyed without consuming another key.
| Step | Action | Common Mistake | Better Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Find the swamp cave | Searching the entire swamp | Use the cave as the central landmark |
| 2 | Destroy crates | Leaving small piles untouched | Clear every nearby crate group |
| 3 | Compare cages | Opening the first cage you see | Inspect both cage types first |
| 4 | Use the key | Expecting another key automatically | Reserve it for the objective you value |
| 5 | Break the lock | Assuming the key is mandatory | Test a normal weapon on the lock |
The lock-breaking method is the most important backup technique. It appears unusual because the cage presents a key lock, yet the lock can still be damaged by a standard weapon. If the first strike does not work, reposition close to the lock and attack the visible locking mechanism rather than the cage bars.
If the swamp cage remains locked after you spend the key, attack the lock with your normal weapon. This method has been reported to open the cage without another key.
Troubleshooting the cage key
Several problems can make the swamp cage seem impossible to open. The most common is using the available key on the dog cage first. Another is searching around the cave without breaking every crate. A third is attacking the bars instead of the lock itself.
The key may also appear absent if the crates have not been fully cleared. Circle the cave entrance, destroy remaining debris, and inspect the floor from multiple angles. Keep your character close enough for the pickup prompt to appear.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Recommended Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No key near the cave | Crates still cover the pickup | Clear every nearby crate |
| Dog cage opened first | Key was spent on the hunter’s cage | Attack the swamp cage lock |
| Weapon attack fails | You hit the bars, not the lock | Aim directly at the locking mechanism |
| No second key after combat | Extra key drop is not guaranteed | Use the lock-breaking alternative |
| Cage still appears closed | Poor position or blocked view | Stand directly beside the lock |
Reports about obtaining a second key are inconsistent. Some players described buying one from the hunter and receiving another through additional actions, while others did not find a second key after defeating the caged creature. Do not build your route around an unconfirmed duplicate.
The cage key economy, enemy drops, and lock interaction may be experimental in the 2026 Open Beta. Verify the current build before relying on a second key.
For the most consistent route, treat the weapon method as the fallback and the crate location as the primary search. If the lock does not respond, move closer, change your angle, and target the lock rather than repeatedly hitting the cage wall.
Swamp chest checklist and FAQ
The swamp cage is tied to a candle-based chest objective. The reported route requires three candles, with one candle located inside a cage. Completing the objective may therefore require both careful key management and knowledge of the lock-breaking alternative.
Swamp Cage Objectives:
- Reach the cave in the swamp area
- Break and search the crates near the cave
- Inspect both the dog cage and candle cage
- Reserve the key for the preferred objective
- Attack the lock if the candle cage remains closed
| Objective | Required Check | Completion Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Find the key | Search beneath crates near the cave | Cage key pickup appears |
| Open the dog cage | Use the key or test the lock | Caged creature is released |
| Open the candle cage | Use the key or damage the lock | Candle-area cage opens |
| Complete the chest route | Activate three candles | Swamp chest becomes accessible |
The safest completion order is to locate the swamp key first, inspect both cages, and then decide whether the dog encounter or candle objective is more valuable. If the dog cage has already been opened, switch immediately to the weapon-lock solution instead of searching indefinitely for a replacement key.
The candle cage is the important target when your goal is the swamp chest. The dog cage is a separate use of the same key interaction.
Q: Where is the Mortal Shell II cage key in the swamp?
The key is reported to be beneath breakable crates very close to the swamp cave. Clear the crates and inspect the exposed ground carefully.
Q: Can I open the poison or candle cage without a key?
Yes. Open Beta reports indicate that striking the cage lock with a normal weapon can open it. Aim at the lock rather than the bars.
Q: Should I use the key on the dog cage first?
Only if the dog cage is your priority. If you need the candle for the swamp chest, inspect both cages first and consider saving the key for that objective.
Q: Does the hunter near Mushroom Village sell a cage key?
Player reports say the hunter near Mushroom Village can sell one key. A second key from combat is inconsistent, so do not rely on that outcome.