Weapon and armor upgrades in Dark Souls and Dark Souls Remastered are special enhancements that allow you to reinforce your equipment and apply elemental qualities or specializations to them. This section contains an overview of possible reinforcements and modifications as well as lists of farming locations for the Ore required to upgrade items
- Please note: to ascend a weapon to a higher tier or a different path, for example from +5 to +6, or from normal to raw, you must select the "Modify" menu at the blacksmith.
Upgrade Paths in Dark Souls
Regular Upgrade
Upgrade Regular weapons from +0 to +15.
Regular ascension path allows weapon to increase base damage with STR and DEX scaling. This is suitable for a long term use as it allows weapon to be repaired and thus the weapon will not break unlike crystal weapons.
Crystal Upgrade
Upgrade Crystal weapons from +0 to +5.
Crystal ascension path allows weapon to deal more physical damage than the regular weapons. Mainly, increasing STR and DEX scaling while reducing its durability. This is suitable for short-term use as the weapon breaks and cannot be repaired at +5.
Raw Upgrade
Upgrade Raw weapons from +0 to +5.
Raw ascension path allows weapon to deal more damage early in the game by increasing their base damage.
Lightning Upgrade
Upgrade Lightning weapons from +0 to +5.
Lightning ascension path allows weapon to deal Lightning Damage. This is popular in low level player vs player (PVP) as most armor and shields have low lightning defense.
Magic Upgrade
Upgrade Magic weapons from +0 to +10.
Magic ascension path allows weapon to deal Magic Damage and increase Intelligence stat. However, it reduces Dex and STR scaling.
Enchanted Upgrade
Upgrade Enchanted weapons from +0 to +5.
Enchanted ascension path allows weapon to deal Magic Damage and increase Intelligence stat at a higher rate than the magic upgrade path. However, it reduces Dex and STR severely.
Divine Upgrade
Upgrade Divine weapons from +0 to +10.
Divine ascension path allows weapon to deal Magic Damage, adds Divine Auxiliary Effects with increase Faith Scaling.However, it reduces Dex and STR scaling.
Fire Upgrade
Upgrade Fire weapons from +0 to +10.
Fire ascension path allows weapon to deal Fire Damage. However, it removes all stat scaling bonuses. Recommended for low level players with low stat.
Occult Upgrade
Upgrade Occult weapons from +0 to +5.
Occult ascension path allows weapon to deal Magic Damage, adds Occult Auxiliary Effects with increase Faith Scaling. However, it reduces Dex and STR scaling.
Chaos Upgrade
Upgrade Chaos weapons from +0 to +5.
Chaos ascension path allows weapon to deal Fire Damage and scales with Humanity but has no physical stat scaling. This is recommended for low level players with low stats.
Unique Upgrade
Upgrade Unique weapons from +0 to +5.
Unique Upgrade does not increase parameter bonus per upgrade level. It has a maximum upgrade to +5 that increases Base Damage greater than that of the regular weapons in terms of the damage output.
Reinforcement and Ascension in Dark Souls
How do I upgrade Weapons?
There are two terms used when referring to weapon upgrades: Reinforcement and Ascension.
Reinforcement refers to incremental upgrades of a weapon state whether that is normal, raw, divine, fire, etc. These incremental upgrades can be performed at any blacksmith (or bonfires provided you have the Weapon Smithbox). Depending on what type and state of weapon you are reinforcing will determine how many souls are needed and what type and quantity of Ore is required.
Ascension is the process of changing the weapon state entirely whether that is to raw, divine, enchanted, lightning, etc. Only blacksmiths can ascend a weapon and they need to have the appropriate Ember. Weapon ascension cannot be done at bonfires. Blacksmiths also give the option to downgrade or descend a weapon back to an unmodified state. This is done in the [Modify Weapon] menu. Once ascended, reinforcement can be continued at any blacksmith (or bonfires provided you have the Weapon Smithbox).
- Weapon Smithbox: Weapon reinforcement available at bonfires (can be purchased from Blacksmith Andre).
- Blacksmith Andre: Ascend Normal, Raw, Divine, & Occult weapons.
- Blacksmith Rickert of Vinheim: Ascend Magic & Enchanted weapons.
- Giant Blacksmith: Ascend Lightning, Crystal, & Unique (created with Boss Souls) weapons.
- Blacksmith Vamos: Ascend Fire & Chaos weapons.
Note:
- Upgrading a shield in an elemental path will increase its damage reduction for that element, to varying degrees depending on the shield, at the cost of stability.
How do I upgrade Armor?
All blacksmiths can upgrade Armor. Armor Upgrades can also be done at a Bonfire after buying an Armor Smithbox.
- All normal armors are upgraded with normal Titanite, up to a level of +10. This means no colored Titanite is needed.
- All unique armors are upgraded with Twinkling Titanite, up to a level of +5.
- Some armors can not be upgraded, but they either have special properties or are already at a fully upgraded level.
- Armor Smithbox: Armor reinforcement available at bonfires (can be purchased from Andre under keys, and you must buy each playthrough).
What is Occult and Divine?
Occult and Divine are two different magic augmented weapon upgrades that scale with faith. Their magic properties are just magic damage, and are identical to any other magic augmented weapon. Their damage outputs are also very similar, but each of the upgrade paths have an added bonus against a select few enemies:
- Divine weapons have increased damage against Skeletons and Harpies.
- Occult weapons have increased damage against Black Knights, Silver Knights, Ornstein, Gwyndolin, and Gwyn.
- Divine weapons will also prevent skeletons from re-assembling while their necromancer is still alive.
- This is only true for hosts in their own world, meaning that phantoms can't utilize this feature.
- The number rating given to Occult and Divine indicates the extra percentage of damage it will deal. For example, a weapon with 110 Divine does +10% damage to enemies that take more damage from Divine weapons.
- Divine means holy damage. Divine weapons, thus, are strong against undead creatures. Deals NO extra damage to invaders.
- Occult is heretical damage and is strong against gods and their kin. For example against silver knights.
- Some weapons have excellent faith scaling when they are Occult.
Dark Souls Weapons Upgrade Chart:
**NOTE - 7 Titanite Chunks are needed from +10 to +14, not 9
Upgrade Ore
Ore
Ore are Items used in the upgrading of weapons and armor. Some ores can be fed to Kingseeker Frampt, and then broken down into smaller variants.
Please visit the Titanite Farming page for ideas on where to obtain Ore.
Icon & Name | Usage | How to Obtain it | Total needed (to get one weapon in each upgrade path to max) |
---|---|---|---|
Titanite Shard |
Reinforce standard weapons to +5 Reinforce standard armor to +3 |
|
90 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths An additional 153 would be needed for all boss weapons |
Large Titanite Shard |
Reinforce standard weapons to +10, Raw weapons to +5 Reinforce standard armor to +6 |
|
37 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths An additional 153 would be needed for all boss weapons |
Titanite Chunk |
Reinforce standard weapons to +14, Crystal and Lightning weapons to +4 |
|
27 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
Titanite Slab |
Reinforce standard weapons to +15, Crystal and Lightning weapons to +5, reinforce standard armour to +10 |
|
3 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
Green Titanite Shard |
Reinforce Magic, Divine, and Fire weapons to +5 |
|
62 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
Blue Titanite Chunk |
Reinforce Magic weapons to +9, Enchanted weapons to +4 |
|
17 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
Blue Titanite Slab |
Reinforce Magic weapons to +10, Enchanted weapons to +5 |
|
2 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
Red Titanite Chunk |
Reinforce Fire weapons to +9, Chaos weapons to +4 |
|
17 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
Red Titanite Slab |
Reinforce Fire weapons to +10, Chaos weapons to +5 |
|
2 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
White Titanite Chunk |
Reinforce Divine weapons to +9, Occult weapons to +4 |
|
17 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
White Titanite Slab |
Reinforce Divine weapons to +10, Occult weapons to +5 |
|
2 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths |
Twinkling Titanite |
Reinforces weapons that cannot normally be reinforced |
|
10 are needed to upgrade any weapon to its max level (+10) -no linked achievement- |
Demon Titanite |
Reinforce weapons made with boss souls to +5 |
|
10 are needed for a single weapon |
Dragon Scale |
Reinforce Dragon weapons |
|
10 are needed to upgrade any weapon to its max level (+10) -no linked achievement- |
Upgrade Embers
Embers
Embers are given to blacksmiths so they can grant weapon ascension used in modifying weapons. These items are listed as keys. Once you obtain an ember and hand it over to the qualified Blacksmith, he will be able to do that upgrade to any weapon as many times as you want (as long as you have the materials of course) The embers must be acquired again each playthrough!
Icon & Name | Details | Blacksmith |
---|---|---|
Large Ember |
Depths. Found in a chest behind the first Butcher in the kitchen.
|
Andre |
Very Large Ember |
New Londo Ruins. After lowering the water level, go up the staircase found in a corner of the room with the Mass of Souls closest to Valley of Drakes. Ember is on the third floor.
|
Andre |
Divine Ember |
Darkroot Garden. After defeating the Moonlight Butterfly, continue across the bridge and up to the top of the tower. The ember is held by a petrified Blacksmith.
|
Andre |
Large Divine Ember |
Among several giant skeletons inside a tomb, in Tomb of Giants, above the first bonfire. The ember is held by a petrified Blacksmith.
|
Andre |
Dark Ember |
Found after unlocking the Annex in Painted World of Ariamis. The ember is held by a petrified Blacksmith.
|
Andre |
Large Magic Ember |
The Duke's Archives. After defeating Seath the Scaleless, return to the archives where you first confronted it and open the chest.
|
Rickert |
Enchanted Ember |
Located at the heart of the Darkroot Garden, between the cats and Alvinas' tower. It is stored inside a treasure chest, in shallow water, guarded by big mushrooms. If you attack a small mushroom it will lead you to the big mushrooms.
|
Rickert |
Crystal Ember |
The Duke's Archives. Behind some bookshelves in the archives, in the room with stairs leading down to the garden and the Crystal Cave.
|
Giant Blacksmith |
Large Flame Ember |
In the Demon Ruins, after descending the great stairs, taking the left path before walking up to the fog-gate will ultimately lead to the Ember.
|
Blacksmith Vamos |
Chaos Flame Ember |
Demon Ruins. After killing Ceaseless Discharge, and then all the Taurus Demons after the lava flows away below. The Ember is on a corpse in the former lava bed.
|
Blacksmith Vamos |
Upgrades and Parameter Bonus (Weapons)
The table below shows the calculation for the Base Damage and Parameter Scaling.
Regular Upgrades Formula.
Crystal Upgrades Formula
Lightning Upgrades Formula
Raw Upgrades Formula
Magic Upgrades Formula
Enchanted Upgrades Formula
Divine Upgrades Formula
Occult Upgrades Formula
Fire Upgrades Formula
Chaos Upgrades Formula
Special (Twinkling) Weapon Upgrades Formula
Boss (Demon) Weapon Upgrades Formula
Dragon (Dragon Scale) Weapon Upgrades Formula
Upgrades and Parameter Bonus (Bows)
The table below shows the calculation for the Base Damage and Parameter Scaling.
Regular Upgrades Formula.
Crystal Upgrades Formula
Lightning Upgrades Formula
Raw Upgrades Formula
Magic Upgrades Formula
Enchanted Upgrades Formula
Divine Upgrades Formula
Occult Upgrades Formula
Fire Upgrades Formula
Chaos Upgrades Formula
Special (Twinkling) Weapon Upgrades Formula
Boss (Demon) Weapon Upgrades Formula
Upgrades and Parameter Bonus (Crossbows)
The table below shows the calculation for the Base Damage and Parameter Scaling.
Regular Upgrades Formula.
Crystal Upgrades Formula
Lightning Upgrades Formula
Magic Upgrades Formula
Divine Upgrades Formula
Fire Upgrades Formula
Upgrades and Parameter Bonus (Shields)
The table below shows the calculation for the Base Damage and Parameter Scaling, Damage Reduction and Stability.
Regular Upgrades Formula
Crystal Upgrades Formula
Lightning Upgrades Formula
Magic Upgrades Formula
Divine Upgrades Formula
Fire Upgrades Formula
Special (Twinkling) Weapons Formula
Boss (Demon) Weapons Formula
Upgrades for Armor
The table below shows the calculation for the Physical, Magical Defense and Resistance.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
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- Anonymous
That picture is incorrect, you only need 7 chunks to get a +10 weapon to +14
- Anonymous
How good is lightning? I’m using a uchigatana. If I made it a lightning uchigatana, would that be a bad move or good?
- Anonymous
You can't repair crystal weapons at all, what's this wiki on about tryna imply that you can before +5? You can't revert it to something else either, and if this is specific to a version of the game, that should be specified in the shared wiki for DS1, PTD, and Remastered.
- Anonymous
Is the silver knight straight sword ascendable? I can only get it to +5 but the page says it's "enchantable". I can use resins on it. And even just a regular +5 silver knight straight sword does more damage than all my other higher weapons that should do more damage based on their stats. For example, my chaos dark sword +10 does more overall damage with or without humanity *according to the stats*, but it takes 3-4 hits to kill something that a silver knight sword kills in 2 hits.
- Anonymous
I love the upgrading sistem on this game, it is complex but not overly grindy like in DeS or Bloodborne but also not extremely simple like in DS3
- Anonymous
I got the crystal halberd in anor londo, but i'm not afan of the crystal upgrade. Can i make it into a regular +10 halberd?
- Anonymous
what is the best path for a balder side sword in a pve dex/str build
- Anonymous
The graphic says you need 9 chunks to upgrade a normal weapon from 10 to 14, but you actually need only 7 including the ascension
- Anonymous
Can anyone explain how damage system work? I used Gargoyle halberd +15 (287+245) and lightning +5 (287 + 287) on minor capra NG+6(weak against lightning), deal 367 dame with +15 and 217 with lightning +5. And i see almost all the time pure physical dame deal more damage than element damage, even at low str and dex (2x).
- Anonymous
While playing, I've seen that you can also ascend shields as well as weapons. Does ascending shields do anything? I'm assuming It can augment the shields damage when you put it in your right hand but does it effect their main purpose of blocking? (Which is my main question.)
- Anonymous
Occult means heretical and does more damage against gods and their kin (Gwyn, his son and his knights), not against the living as a whole.
- Anonymous
I come from the future (DS3) and this looks like a massive pain in the ass, should I still Dark Souls 1?
- Anonymous
is there any way can make a normal plus ten weapon without andre i accidentally killed him
- Anonymous
Are there stat requirements for divine/magical ascended weapons?
- Anonymous
I'm doing a str/dex build and I infused my weapon with raw when I had the chance. How do I know when Raw is no longer worth it? when is a good time to switch to regular again?
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
I can't upgrade my uchikatana past +6 because it doesn't apear in Andres menu. Is this a bug? pls help
- Anonymous
Extremly complex which is pretty neat, only problem is as far as ive seem the stats it appears to me somewhat mose elemental infusions arent exactly the best for lategame, im very new to dark souls 1 so im not accustomed to what players will normally call low or high level so idk what level is the norm for pvp and where the late game level is, so please someone help me with this im so so confused.
- Anonymous
Im doing a low level pvp battle and im wondering if getting boss weapon (soul of ...) will break the +5 mechanics...
- Anonymous
For some reason I get a artorias picture as my avatar when I'm not signed in. It only happens when I'm on the upgrades page though.
- Anonymous
There is no such thing as Astoria in Dark Souls... Could someone delete this chart from internet? Or correct it?
Oh*****, didn't expect THIS. Well, guess I have a lot to learn.
- Anonymous
So in the old DS1 I'm pretty sure you needed 7 Titanite Chunks to upgrade standard weapons to +14, but now it's 9 in the remastered? Can anyone confirm that?
- Anonymous
Am I able to reinforce Divine weapons to +10 with the weapon smithbox or do I need to ascend it from +5 to +6?
- Anonymous
> Divine weapons will also prevent skeletons from re-assembling while their necromancer is still alive.
> This is only true for hosts in their own world, meaning that phantoms can't utilize this feature.
I don't believe the second part is true, maybe just for the Remaster. I was summoning to other player's world and killing skeletons with the necromancer alive in the Catacombs and during the boss fight with Nito. It definitely only worked if my divine weapon dealt the killing blow, but I think it may also have only worked when a divine weapon did the majority of the damage (a wild guess >50% damage?). Would definitely need further testing, but I'm pretty certain I was able to keep a few skeletons down after they had come back up.
- Anonymous
i am playing dark souls 1 for the first time and this is way more complicated than what dark souls 3 provided.. lol.. not that i am complaining.. i like the diversity
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Can upgrade materials be dropped from one player to another? And is there a limit to which materials can and can't be dropped?
- Anonymous
Can upgrade materials be transferred without limit? E.g. could a soul level 6 player summon a friend and get slabs from them or is there a limit to this?
- Anonymous
Oh boy, get to use this chart for when the remaster hits. At least it isn't as convoluted as Demon's Souls weapon reinforcement...
- Anonymous
Edited the Andre links in Embers table; was misspelled (Andrei) and linking to non-existent "Blacksmith Andrei" page.
- Anonymous
Weapons that need twinkling titanite connot be upgraded further than +5.
- Anonymous
I upgraded a weapon to plus 5 with twinkling titanite. why cant i upgrade it more?
- Anonymous
is it possible to upgrade spells?
1
+10
-1