WoW Upgrades - The Item Upgrader

Upgrades provide a guaranteed boost to certain stats. Each upgrade boosts the item level by +3. Each upgrade also increases the random substatus.

The upgraded gear typically has a more value in trade, unless it has inherently low requirements (like the FB shield of the sorc) or very high stat variance (like the eth titan weapons). These types of gear get less value from upgrading due to the requirement to roll for a perfect model.

Recycle Points

The item upgrader enables players to upgrade gear to a higher level by providing the appropriate currency to the NPC. Upgrades can be applied to any type of armor or weapon. However, the item that is used to upgrade will remain in use for a long time and will not be able to be used again. Upgrades can also be used to create enchantments.

The upgrader can be found in all major cities, and is accessible anytime to upgrade your gear. To keep your gear up-to-date, it is recommended that you visit the upgrader every several weeks.

The cost of upgrading will vary based on the current level of the gear being upgraded however, they will always be less expensive than buying new gear from other sources. For example, upgrading a Benthic chest to 385 ilvl will cost 20 recycle points, while buying a similar item from another player will costs 105.

Valorstones

Upgrades are useful items which can be used to upgrade weapons, tools, armor, and other accessories. They can be bought by players from NPCs that sell upgrades to items in exchange for different currencies, and can be found in random treasure lists. Once an upgrade has been purchased, it can be used on any weapon, tool, or armor with an button, which will show an item upgrades's preview at the next upgrade level if the player has sufficient materials.

The upgrade cost depends on the slot of the item and the current item level, with weapons costing more than gloves or bracers for example. Each upgrade cost 15 Flightstones and a few crests, with some upgrades offering discounts to lower the cost of the Flightstones or the crests used. Once an item has been upgraded to a certain level it is able to be downgraded and sold to the upgrader at a lower price.

Many locations offer item upgraders which include the main island and a few outposts. The NPCs provide both an upgrade discount and the chance to get a brand new upgrade recipe. The discount for upgrading increases when more items are upgraded. It can be increased if players finish certain achievements or quests.

In contrast to Cromwell in Baldur's Gate II, there is no item upgrades upgrader available at the beginning of Icewind Dale. The NPCs who can facilitate upgrades are only accessible via a variety of ways. This is both a positive and a drawback.

In Season 3, the upgrade system was modified a bit, and several new features added. When a player has an upgrade to a specific level for an item upgrades in an armor slot, upgrading additional items to the same level will be l to the highest possible level on all their characters rather than relying on seasonal loot.

Another notable change is that crests only have one purpose and it's crucial to use them wisely. For instance it's best to make use of all your Whelpling-rank crests on the top equipment available, and then save Drake and Wyrm crests for the next round of upgrades you're planning to create. This is particularly relevant for rings and trinkets that take up multiple slots on the character, which will only be able to benefit from the account-wide discount if all slots are filled with high-quality gear.