WoW Upgrades - The Item Upgrader
Upgrades can give you boost in specific statistics. Each upgrade increases the level of the item by +3. Each upgrade also increases a random substat.
The upgraded gear typically has a more value in trade, unless it has inherently low requirements (like the FB shield of the sorc) or a very high stat variation (like the eth titan weapons). Upgrades are not as valuable for those with lower requirements because of the requirement to roll an exact version.
Recycle Points
The upgrader for items allows players to upgrade gear to a higher level by supplying the appropriate currency to the NPC. Upgrades can be applied to any kind of weapon or armor. 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 applied to the enchantments.
You can upgrade your equipment at any time by visiting the upgrader in any major city. To ensure that your equipment is up-to-date, it is recommended that you visit the upgrader each couple of 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. Upgrades such as upgrading a Benthic chest up to the level of ilvl385 will cost you 20 recycle points. If you purchase a similar item, it will cost you 105.
Valorstones
Upgrades are items that can be used to upgrade tools, armor, weapon and accessory upgrades. They can be bought by players from NPCs who sell upgrades for items in exchange for different currencies, and can also be found in random treasure lists. Once an upgrade has been purchased, it can be applied to any weapon, tool, or armor using the help of button, which will show an item's preview at its next upgrade level if the player has sufficient materials.
Upgrade costs vary depending on the slot for the item and the current item level. For example, weapons will cost more than bracers, or gloves. Each upgrade cost 15 Flightstones plus a set number of crests. Some upgrades give discounts on Flightstones. Once an item has been upgraded to a certain level, it can be degraded and returned to the upgrader for a lower amount of the two currencies.
A lot of locations offer upgraders for items which include the main island and some outposts. The NPCs provide both an upgrade discount as well as a chance to obtain a new upgrade recipe. The discount on upgrades increases with the number of items that are being upgraded, and can be boosted by having players complete some specific achievements or complete quests.
Icewind Dale does not have an item upgrader at beginning unlike Cromwell from Baldur's Gate II. The NPCs who can facilitate upgrades are available only through a variety means. This is both a benefit as well as a drawback.
In Season 3 the upgrade system was modified a bit, and numerous new features added. After the player has upgraded to a certain level of item for an armor slot upgrading other items to the same item level, will cost less. This is true even if those items come from another set of equipment.
The discount is applicable to all accounts. The amount of Harbinger Crests needed to upgrade is also reduced and is not available until players reach certain achievement milestones.
Crests
When it comes to upgrading gear in WoW players have a couple of choices. Flightstones are an item that is available to all players for upgrading. Crests are more special and are utilized during specific item level upgrades. Crests are the main component of the Dragonflight gear progression system that was introduced in 10.1, and come in four ranks.
item upgrading to remember is that crests are only available for gear that is of a particular rank. Each rank comes with an upgrade path that is different. The simplest and simplest upgrade is 15 crests. The most complex upgrade could require as much as 20 crests, contingent on the kind of equipment that is being upgraded.
Players can earn crests through completing content of the appropriate level, which involves walking around and performing outdoor activities to get lower-tier gear, dungeons or raids of all difficulty for items of higher tier or Mythic+ heroic raid bosses and dungeons to obtain endgame gear. Crests can be exchanged at an upgrader NPC, like Cuzolth in Dornogal, or Vaskarn in Valdrakken to get the appropriate upgrade pathways and steps.
Utilizing these new currencies isn't too difficult however, the system will introduce a few changes to the overall upgrade process. Once a piece of gear reaches the highest level of upgrade for any rank (Explorer or Adventurer) it no longer requires Flightstones. This allows players to upgrade their gear to the highest level possible on all of their characters instead of relying on seasonal loot.
It's also crucial to choose crests wisely, as they only have one use. It is best to use your Whelpling-rank Crests on the best gear you can locate, and keep Drake and Wyrm Crests to be used for the next set of upgrades. This is particularly relevant for items like rings and trinkets that occupy multiple slots. The discount on the account is only applicable when all the slots on the character are filled with top-quality equipment.