WoW Upgrades - The Item Upgrader
Upgrades give a guaranteed boost to specific stats. Each upgrade increases item level by 3. Each upgrade also increases the random substatus.
The upgraded gear typically has a more value in trade regardless of whether it has low requirements (like the FB shield of the sorc) or a very high stat variation (like Eth titan weapons). The latter are less valuable from upgrading due to the requirement to roll to get a perfect version.
Recycle Points
The upgrader for items allows players to upgrade their gear to a higher item level by providing the appropriate currency to the NPC. Upgrades can be applied to any type of weapon or armor. However, the item that is used for the upgrade will be consumed forever and will not be able to be used again. Upgrades can be used to create the enchantments.
The upgrader can be found in all major cities, and is accessible anytime to upgrade your gear. To keep your gear current it is recommended you visit the upgrader each couple of weeks.
Upgrades will cost more depending on the level of the item but they will always be less expensive than purchasing new gear. For example, upgrading a Benthic chest piece to ilvl 385 will cost 20 recycle points, while buying a similar item from a different player will cost 105.
Valorstones
Upgrades are functional items that are used to improve the quality of weapons tools, armor, and accessories. Players can purchase them from NPCs of item upgraders for various currencies. They are also available on 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, if there are enough materials.
The upgrade cost depends on the slot of the item and current item level and the weapon's price is higher than gloves or bracers, for example. Each step costs 15 Flightstones plus a certain number of crests. Certain upgrades provide discounts on Flightstones. Once an item is upgraded to a certain amount it is able to be downgraded and sold to the upgrader at a lower cost.
A lot of locations offer upgraders for items in addition to the main island and some outposts. The NPCs provide both an upgrade coupon and the chance to obtain a new recipe. The upgrade discount increases when more items are upgraded. It can also be increased by having players complete certain achievements or quests.
Contrary to Cromwell in Baldur's Gate II there is no item upgrader available at the start of Icewind Dale. The NPCs who are able to facilitate upgrades are only available through a variety means. This is both a benefit as well as a disadvantage.
In Season 3, a number of new features have been added to the upgrade system. Once a player obtains an upgrade to a certain level for an item in an armor slot, upgrading other items to that same item level will be less expensive, even in the event that they belong to an entirely different set of gear.
The discount applies to all accounts. Similarly, the amount of Harbinger Crests needed for upgrades is also cut and is not available until players reach certain milestones in their achievements.
Crests
Players have a number of options for upgrading their gear in WoW. Flightstones are a currency that is available to everyone who wants to upgrade. item upgrading are more specific, and are used during specific upgrades to the level of an item. Crests are an essential part of the Dragonflight gear progression system that was introduced in 10.1, and come in four ranks.
The first thing to note is that crests can only be used on equipment that is of a particular rank, and that each rank has its own requirements for its upgrade path. The simplest and simplest upgrade is 15 crests. The most complicated upgrade can require up to 20 crests, depending on the type or equipment being upgraded.
Players can obtain crests by finishing content at the appropriate level, which involves walking around and engaging in outdoor activities for lower-tier gear, raids or dungeons with any difficulty for higher-tier items, or Mythic+ heroic raid bosses or dungeons to obtain endgame gear. The crests can later be exchanged at an item upgrader NPC, such as Cuzolth in Dornogal or Vaskarn in Valdrakken, for the appropriate upgrade paths and steps.
The new currency system isn't complicated to use, but it does bring some modifications to the upgrade process. When a piece of equipment has reached the highest level of upgrade for any rank (Explorer or Adventurer), it will no longer require Flightstones. This change allows players to upgrade their equipment to the highest possible ilvl for all their characters instead of relying on seasonal loot.
Another important modification is that crests have one usage, so it's important to use them wisely. It is recommended to use your Whelpling-rank crests on the best gear that you can find, and save Drake and Wyrm Crests for the next round of upgrades. This is particularly true for items such as trinkets and rings that take up multiple slots. The discount for the entire account will only be applicable if all the slots on the character are filled with top-quality gear.