All eight permanent selectable Shells with unlock dependencies, role context, stage warnings, and individual owner pages.
The permanent roster is Tiel, Proxima, Eredrim, Smert, Gragu, Genessa, Lazlo, and Sariel. Every card below shows its location or encounter dependency, role evidence, stage warning, source state, checked date, and a link to the individual route. Tiel and Proxima are direct early targets; the remaining Shells use encounter, offering, quest, or boss dependencies.
Counter-focused Frost and heavy-weapon play
Unlock: Defeat The Warden at Citadel of Penance.
The observed setup is execution-dependent and its relative position may have shifted after the Great Martyr's Blade buff.
Clone pressure with a survivability and reliability tradeoff
Unlock: Defeat Sester Secundus, obtain Sester's Censer, and return it to Sester Genessa at Marrow Keep.
Community testing reports high potential but also low durability and occasional clone behavior issues.
Self-heal, stagger, and flexible equipment
Unlock: Bring the Heart of Vatra to the One Legged Wolf Tavern route.
The available author explicitly says other players may rank Gragu very differently.
High-investment durability with flexible gearing
Unlock: Defeat Vellen, High Lord of Mammon, west of High Lords Courtyard Beacon.
Community testing describes Lazlo as point-hungry before the late game.
Lightning area clear with strong equipment dependency
Unlock: Reach the rear of Shattered Beacon Dungeon northeast of Blackridge Pass Beacon.
The documented setup depends on Axatana and Lightning context; that does not prove every other pairing is weak.
Curse-focused self-damage and risk-reward play
Unlock: Find the Sariel encounter southeast of The Silent Steps Beacon.
The available ranking is explicitly uncertain and self-damage breakpoints are not documented.
Late-scaling time-control and fist play with low gear dependence
Unlock: Complete the three blood-offering route near the Outskirts of Nochte.
Community testing describes weak early performance and a high point requirement.
Stealth, Shadow Strike chains, and boss burst
Unlock: Find the Shell southeast of Widow's Overlook Beacon.
Use a Shell's role as the first filter, then check weapon and sidearm locations, Tarstone focus, Seal, and the boss or progression task.
The official and current launch-route evidence supports eight permanent selectable Shells.
Harros is used in the prologue, but the permanent selectable roster after the opening contains eight Shells.
The current route guide says they remain obtainable before choosing to enter New Game+.
No universal best is established; compare role, stage, unlock dependency, equipment, and player execution.
