WoW Upgrades - The Item Upgrader

Upgrades provide a guaranteed boost to specific stats. Each upgrade item increases item level by 3. A random additional substat is also added to every upgrade.

The more modernized gear generally has a higher trade value regardless of whether it has low requirements (like the FB sorc's shield) or very high stat variation (like eth titan weapons). These types of gear get less value from upgrading due to the requirement to roll to get a perfect version.

Recycle Points

The item upgrader lets players upgrade their gear by transferring the currency to an NPC. Upgrades can be applied to any kind of armor or weapon. However, the Item level Upgrade that is used for the upgrade will be consumed for the duration of time and can't be used again. Upgrades can be applied to the enchantments.

The upgrader is located in every major city, and can be accessed anytime to upgrade your equipment. It is recommended that you visit the upgrader every few weeks, to keep your equipment up-to-date.

Upgrades will cost more depending on the item level, however they'll always be cheaper than purchasing new gear. Upgrades like upgrading a Benthic chest to 385 ilvl will cost you 20 recycle points. A similar item will cost you 105.

Valorstones

Upgrades are useful items that can be used to upgrade weapons, tools, armor, and other items. They can be bought by players from item upgrader NPCs in exchange for a variety of currencies, and can be found in random treasure lists. Once purchased, an upgrade is able to be used on any weapon, tool, or armor. The button will display a preview of an item's next level of upgrade, in the event that there are enough materials.

The cost of upgrading varies based on the item upgrades slot, and the current level of the item. For example, weapons will cost more than gloves, bracers, or bracers. Each step costs 15 Flightstones plus a set number of crests. Some upgrades give a discount on the Flightstones. Once an item is upgraded to a certain level it is able to be downgraded and sold to the upgrader at a lower cost.

Many locations offer item upgraders, including the main Island and some outposts. The NPCs offer both an upgrade discount and a chance to obtain a new upgrade recipe. The discount on upgrades increases as more items are upgraded. It can be increased if players complete certain achievements or quests.

Icewind Dale does not have an item upgrader at the beginning, unlike Cromwell from Baldur's gate II. The NPCs who can facilitate upgrades are only accessible through a variety of methods. This is both a positive and a disadvantage.

In Season 3 the upgrade system has been modified a bit, and several new features added. Once a player obtains an upgrade to a specific level of an item for a specific armor slot, upgrading additional items to the same level will cost less, even in the eveacters, instead of relying on seasonal loot.

Another notable change is that crests have one use, item level upgrade so it's important to use them wisely. For instance it's a good idea to use all of your Whelpling-rank crests with the Best item upgrade gear you have available and Item Level Upgrade then save Drake and Wyrm crests for the next round of upgrades you plan to create. This is especially applicable to rings and trinkets that fill multiple slots on the character, that will be able to avail the account-wide discount if all slots are filled with top-quality gear.