WoW Upgrades - The Item Upgrader

Upgrades will give you a boost to specific stats. Each upgrade increases the level of the item upgrader kit by +3. Each upgrade also increases an unspecified substat.

The more modernized gear generally has a higher trade value as long as it meets low requirements (like the FB sorc's shield) or a very high stat variance (like the eth titan weapons). The latter see less value from upgrading due to the requirement to roll for a perfect model.

Recycle Points

The item upgrader lets players upgrade their gear by giving the currency to an NPC. Upgrades can be applied to any kind of armor or weapon. However, the item that is used for the upgrade will be consumed forever and cannot be used again. Upgrades can be applied to enchantments.

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

Upgrades will cost more, based on the item level upgrade (the full details) level, but they will always be cheaper than buying new gear. Upgrades such as upgrading a Benthic chest up to ilvl385 will cost you 20 recycle points. A similar item will cost you 105.

Valorstones

Upgrades are items that can be used for tools, armor, weapon and accessory upgrades. They are purchased by players from NPCs who sell upgrades for items in exchange for various currencies, and can be found in random treasure lists. Once purchased, an upgrade is able to be used on any tool, weapon, or armor. button, which will show an item's preview at the next upgrade level if the player has sufficient materials.

The cost of upgrades varies based on the item slot and current item level, with weapons costing more than gloves or bracers, for example. Each upgrade costs 15 Flightstones plus a set number of crests. Some upgrades offer a discount on the Flightstones. Once an item has been upgraded to a certain degree it can be re-downgraded and sold to the upgrader at a lower price.

Upgraders for items can be found in a variety of locations, including the main island as well as some outposts. The NPCs offer both an upgrade coupon and the chance to obtain the latest recipe. The upgrade discount increases as more items are upgraded. It can also be increased by having players finish certain achievements or quests.

Unlike Cromwell in Baldur's Gate II is no upgrader for items available in the beginning of Icewind Dale. The NPCs that can assist with upgrades are only available via a variety of ways. This is both a positive and a disadvantage.

In Season 3, many new features were added to the upgrade system. When a player has an upgrade to a certain item level for a particular armor slot, upgrading other items to that level will cost less, even when they belong to a different gear set.

The amount of Valorstones needed to upgrade is reduced and the discount of relying only on seasonal loot.

Another significant change is that crests only have one purpose and it's crucial to use them wisely. It is best to put your Whelpling-rank Crests on the best gear you can locate, and keep Drake and Wyrm Crests for the next round of upgrades. This is especially applicable to items like trinkets and rings that fill multiple slots. The discount on the account is only applicable when all the slots on the character are filled with top-quality gear.