Hello everyone,
Another noob question 101… I can't seem to locate mantra at all.
I have a mantra-token as well as the license installed but when I tab in shop it just doesn't show up (though it's visible in vex …?! ).
Does it need to be initiated specifically or…?
Any quick feedback would be deeply appreciated.

mantra standalone is only invoked at the commandline, as it has no gui. The only gui-related options for that (currently) is Houdini. Otherwise you need to spit out ifd (mantra scene files) and render them manually on the commandline.

See this page for more information: http://www.sidefx.com/docs/current/rendering/commandline [sidefx.com]

Good luck!

echo
Hello everyone,
Another noob question 101… I can't seem to locate mantra at all.
I have a mantra-token as well as the license installed but when I tab in shop it just doesn't show up (though it's visible in vex …?! ).
Does it need to be initiated specifically or…?
Any quick feedback would be deeply appreciated.

I think you want the “out” context, not shop context

Ah yes, got it now! Thank you kindly

I think output to .ifd files is disabled in the Apprentice editions. But yes, you're looking for “/out”. Also check out the Render menu at the top main menu.