WoW Upgrades - The Item Upgrader
Upgrades can give you boost in certain stats. Each upgrade boosts the level of an item by 3. Each upgrade also boosts a random substat.
The more modernized gear generally 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 Eth titan weapons). Upgrades aren't as important for those with lower requirements due to the need to roll an exact version.
Recycle Points
The item upgrader allows players to upgrade gear to a higher item 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 for the upgrade will be consumed forever and can't be used again. Upgrades can also be used to create enchantments.
The upgrader can be found in every major city, and can be visited at any time to upgrade your equipment. It is recommended that you visit the upgrader every couple of weeks to ensure that your equipment is up to date.
The cost of upgrading will be based on the current item Level upgrade level of the Best item upgrade being upgraded but they will always be cheaper than buying new gear from other sources. For instance, upgrading a Benthic chest to ilvl 385 will cost 20 recycle points purchasing a similar piece from another player will cost 105.
Valorstones
Upgrades are items that can be used to upgrade weapons, armor, tools and accessory upgrades. They can be purchased by players through NPCs who sell upgrades to item owners in a variety of currencies. They can also find them on random treasure lists. Once an upgrade is purchased, it can be applied to any weapon or tool using the help of The button will display the preview of an item's next upgrade level in the event that there are enough materials.
The upgrade cost depends on the item upgrader kit slot and current item level as well as the level of the weapon, which is more than bracers or gloves, for instance. Each upgrade costs 15 Flightstones plus a specific number of crests. Some upgrades offer discounts on Flightstones. After an item has been upgraded to a certain level it can be re-downgraded and sold to the upgrader for a lower price.
Many locations have upgraders for their items in addition to the main island and a few outposts. The NPCs provide an upgrade discount as well as a chance to get a brand new upgrade recipe. The discount for upgrading increases as more items are upgraded. It can be increased by having players complete certain achievements or quests.
Icewind Dale does not have an upgrader for items at the start, unlike Cromwell from Baldur's gate II. Instead, the NPCs that can be used to upgrade are acquired via various methods, which is both an improvement but also a drawback.
In Season 3, many new features were added to the upgrade system. After an upgrade has been completed to a certain level of item upgrader kit for an armor slot, upgrading other items to the same item level will cost less. This is regardless of whether the items come from an entirely different set of equipment.
The amount of Valorstones required for upgrades is decreased, and the discount is affixed to all accounts. The amount of Harbinger Crests required to upgrade is cut as well, but is only available when certain milestones are reached.
Crests
Players have several options for upgrading their gear in WoW. Flightstones are an option that is accessible to everyone for upgrading. Crests are more specific and are utilized during specific item level upgrades. Crests are a key element of the Dragonflight gear progression system introduced in 10.1 and are available in 4 ranks.
The first thing to remember is that the crests can only be purchased for equipment of a certain rank. Each rank has distinct upgrade paths. The simplest and most straightforward upgrade route costs 15 crests while the most complicated can require as much as 20 crests based on the type of equipment that is being upgraded.
Players can earn crests by working through content at the appropriate level. This could be done by doing outdoor activities, or by completing dungeons and raids in any difficulty to earn lower-level gear or Mythicbosses for raids, or dungeons with heroic difficulty for gear in the endgame. These crests can then be exchanged at an upgrader NPC like Cuzolth in Dornogal or Vaskarn in Valdrakken to get the appropriate upgrade paths and steps.
Using these new currencies isn't too complicated however, the system will introduce a few modifications to the upgrade process. When a piece reaches the highest level of upgrade for any rank (Explorer or Adventurer) it is no longer required to purchase Flightstones. This change is designed to allow players to get their equipment to the highest possible ilvl for all their characters rather than relying solely on seasonal loot.
It's also essential to use crests wisely, as they are only used for one purpose. It is recommended to put your Whelpling-rank Crests on the highest-quality gear you can locate and save Drake and Wyrm Crests for the next set of upgrades. This is particularly applicable to rings and trinkets that take up multiple slots on the character that will be able to benefit from the discount for all accounts when all slots are filled with high-quality equipment.