Upgrades
This page was last checked against game version 0.2.1; the game is now at 0.3.0. Some explanations may be out of date (tables are always current).
At the Smithy you can upgrade any piece of gear up to +15. Each level makes the item stronger and raises its sell value. Up to +6 an upgrade always works; after that it can fail, but you never lose the item or its level.
How do you upgrade an item?
Section titled “How do you upgrade an item?”Go to the Smithy in Dawnmere Village and pick an item from your inventory — weapons, armour, rings and necklaces all work, equipped or not. The smith shows the cost and the success chance of the next level before you confirm. Broken items must be repaired first.
What does an upgrade give?
Section titled “What does an upgrade give?”Each level adds 8% of the item’s base stats, rounded. Every level also gives at least one point on a main stat, so each upgrade is visible: the larger of attack and defence, or, on items without them such as rings and necklaces, their largest attribute. Speed and crit are never that main stat; they only grow by the percentage.
The bonus is based on the item’s base stats, not on the extra stats from rarity or affixes. Upgrades also raise the item’s sell value and its repair cost.
How much does an upgrade cost?
Section titled “How much does an upgrade cost?”The Gold cost depends on the item’s value and grows steeply with each level. Very cheap items are treated as if they had a minimum value of 25 Gold, so upgrading junk is not cheap.
Formula
gold = round(max(item value, 25) × 2.4 × (current level + 1)^1.5)Example: Upgrading a Wooden Sword from +2 to +3 costs 312 Gold (success chance 100%).
Data from game version 0.3.0 · f8531c1 (2026-10-01)From +5 each attempt also needs 
Ember Shard, more for the higher levels. Many monsters drop them, from 
Wild Boar and 
Moss Golem in the forest to most monsters of the marshes and the coast, and you find them while chopping wood and mining. From +12 each attempt also needs a 
Spirit Herb, found while gathering herbs or kelp and on Moss Golem and 
Fen Hag.
What are the chances per level?
Section titled “What are the chances per level?”The table shows every level for one item: chance, Gold, materials, the total stat bonus and the sell value at that level. Gold scales with the item’s value; the chances and materials are the same for every item.
| Upgrade | Success chance | Gold | Materials | Stat bonus (total) | NPC buys for (Gold) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +0 → +1 | 100% | 60 | — | +1 Attack | 28 |
| +1 → +2 | 100% | 170 | — | +2 Attack | 30 |
| +2 → +3 | 100% | 312 | — | +3 Attack | 32 |
| +3 → +4 | 100% | 480 | — | +4 Attack | 35 |
| +4 → +5 | 100% | 671 | +5 Attack | 38 | |
| +5 → +6 | 100% | 882 | +6 Attack | 40 | |
| +6 → +7 | 80% | 1,111 | +7 Attack | 42 | |
| +7 → +8 | 70% | 1,358 | +8 Attack | 45 | |
| +8 → +9 | 60% | 1,620 | +9 Attack | 48 | |
| +9 → +10 | 50% | 1,897 | +10 Attack | 50 | |
| +10 → +11 | 45% | 2,189 | +11 Attack | 52 | |
| +11 → +12 | 40% | 2,494 | +12 Attack | 55 | |
| +12 → +13 | 35% | 2,812 | +13 Attack | 58 | |
| +13 → +14 | 30% | 3,143 | +14 Attack | 60 | |
| +14 → +15 | 25% | 3,486 | +15 Attack | 62 |
A low chance means more attempts: on average you need 1 ÷ chance tries, so the last levels usually take several tries. Plan your Gold and materials for that.
What happens when an upgrade fails?
Section titled “What happens when an upgrade fails?”The Gold and materials of that attempt are gone. The item itself is safe: it keeps its current level and does not break or lose durability. You can try again right away if you can pay again.
Tips and common mistakes
Section titled “Tips and common mistakes”- Upgrade gear you will keep. Take your main weapon and armour to +6 first — it is guaranteed.
- Don’t waste it on starter items. The
Rusty Knife still costs the minimum price per level, and you will replace it soon. - Collect Ember Shard before you start a risky level, so one failure doesn’t stop you.
- Lock your materials. If you use Sell all materials, lock your shards and herbs first. Locking only protects against selling: the smith still uses locked materials.
- Upgraded gear sells for more. If you replace an upgraded item, selling it returns a part of the investment.