Upgrades | Dark Souls

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

Ammunition Consumables Embers Key Bonfire Items Keys Multiplayer Ore Projectiles Souls Tools Unequippable

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	Merchant: Blacksmith Andre (800 souls) Merchant: Giant Blacksmith (800 souls) Merchant: Blacksmith Vamos (800 souls) Merchant: Hawkeye Gough (800 souls) Drops from: Undead Soldiers (Spear), Undead Soldiers (Sword), Balder Knights (Swords/Spears)	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	Merchant: Crestfallen Merchant Sen's Fortress (4000 souls) Merchant: Giant Blacksmith (3800 souls) Merchant: Hawkeye Gough (3800 souls) Drops from: Slimes (The Depths), Balder Knights in Sen's Fortress, Berenike Knights in Sen's Fortress and Painted World of Ariamis guarding the path to Priscilla (100% Drop Rate), Giant Leeches in Blighttown	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	Drops from: Crystal Lizards, Black Knights, Darkwraith Knight, Giant (Bomber and the one through secret door in Sen's Fortress), Giant Knight Guards (the two just before the Ornstein and Smough boss fight in Anor Londo), Black Knights (respawns in: Kiln of the First Flame) Trade: Snuggly with Rubbish	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	Drops from: Crystal Lizards, Stray Demon (on return to Northern Undead Asylum), Darkwraiths (very rare drop, New Londo Ruins) Siegmeyer quest line reward (AotA Only) Royal Wood: In a chest behind waterfall in Kalameet's area	3 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths
Green Titanite Shard	Reinforce Magic, Divine, and Fire weapons to +5	Merchant: Giant Blacksmith (4800 souls) Merchant: Crestfallen Merchant,Sen's Fortress (5000 souls) Merchant: Hawkeye Gough (4800 souls) Drops from: Slimes (Depths), Giant Leeches (Blighttown), Burrowing Rockworms (Demon Ruins), Oolacile Sorceresses, Vagrants Cat Covenant invasion kills	62 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths
Blue Titanite Chunk	Reinforce Magic weapons to +9, Enchanted weapons to +4	Drops from: Crystal Golems, Black Knights (respawns in: Kiln of the First Flame) Trade: Snuggly with Dried Finger	17 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths
Blue Titanite Slab	Reinforce Magic weapons to +10, Enchanted weapons to +5	Crystal Cave: Take long invisible path near Crystal Lizard Rare drop from: Moonlight Butterflies (Crystal Cave) (AotA Only) Royal Wood: Chest in the water in the middle of the wood	2 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths
Red Titanite Chunk	Reinforce Fire weapons to +9, Chaos weapons to +4	Drops from: Sunlight Maggots (Lost Izalith), Chaos Eaters beneath the collapsed floor in Lost Izalith, Black Knights in Kiln of the First Flame Trade: Snuggly with Pyromancy Flame	17 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths
Red Titanite Slab	Reinforce Fire weapons to +10, Chaos weapons to +5	In chest of sewer area near The Bed of Chaos (Lost Izalith) Rare drop from: Chaos Eaters beneath the collapsed floor (Lost Izalith) Trade: Snuggly with Pyromancy Flame (Ascended)	2 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths
White Titanite Chunk	Reinforce Divine weapons to +9, Occult weapons to +4	Drops from: Black Knights (respawns in: Kiln of the First Flame), rare drop from Bone Towers. (Tomb of Giants) Rare drop from Pinwheel Servants in the skeleton baby area (Tomb of Giants) Trade: Snuggly with Sunlight Medal	17 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths
White Titanite Slab	Reinforce Divine weapons to +10, Occult weapons to +5	Tomb of Giants, looted from a corpse in the skeleton baby area. (AotA Only) Chasm of the Abyss, looted from a corpse near Manus, Father of the Abyss. ‍‍Rare drop from: Pinwheel Servants in the skeleton baby area (Tomb of Giants)	2 are needed for all normal weapon upgrade paths
Twinkling Titanite	Reinforces weapons that cannot normally be reinforced	Merchant: Giant Blacksmith (8000 souls) Drops from: Crystal Lizards, Man-Eater Shells: Crystal Lizard (Crystal Cave, Ash Lake) Trade: Snuggly with Purple Moss Clump, Bloodred Moss Clump, 2 for Blooming Purple Moss Clump	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	Trade: Snuggly with Prism Stone or Dung Pie Drops from: Any Titanite Demon (respawns in: Lost Iizalith)	10 are needed for a single weapon 170 are needed to upgrade all boss weapons to max level (+5) -no linked achievement-
Dragon Scale	Reinforce Dragon weapons	Blighttown bonfire near the treasure chest, etc. Various places in Ash Lake Trade: Snuggly with Egg Vermifuge Rare drop from: Drakes (Valley of Drakes)	10 are needed to upgrade any weapon to its max level (+10) -no linked achievement-

Upgrade Embers

Ammunition Consumables Embers Key Bonfire Items Keys Multiplayer Ore Projectiles Souls Tools Unequippable

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. Modify +5 Normal weapons into +10 Normal. Modify +5 Normal weapons into +5 Raw.	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. Modify +10 Normal weapons into +15 Normal.	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. Modify +5 Normal weapons into +5 Divine.	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. Modify +5 Divine weapons into +10 Divine.	Andre
Dark Ember	Found after unlocking the Annex in Painted World of Ariamis. The ember is held by a petrified Blacksmith. Modify +5 Divine weapons into +5 Occult.	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. Modify +5 Magic weapons into +10 Magic.	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. Modify +5 Magic weapons into +5 Enchanted.	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. Modify +10 Normal weapons into +5 Crystal.	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. Modify +5 Fire weapons into +10 Fire.	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. Modify +5 Fire weapons into +5 Chaos.	Blacksmith Vamos

Upgrades and Parameter Bonus (Weapons)

The table below shows the calculation for the Base Damage and Parameter Scaling.

Regular Upgrades Formula.

Upgrade Level
	Attack Values				Parameter Bonus
Regular	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +1	× 1.1	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.05	× 1.05	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +2	× 1.2	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.05	× 1.05	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +3	× 1.3	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.05	× 1.05	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +4	× 1.4	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.05	× 1.05	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +5	× 1.5	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.05	× 1.05	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +6	× 1.6	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.1	× 1.1	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +7	× 1.7	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.1	× 1.1	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +8	× 1.8	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.1	× 1.1	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +9	× 1.9	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.1	× 1.1	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +10	× 2.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.1	× 1.1	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +11	× 2.1	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.15	× 1.15	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +12	× 2.2	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.15	× 1.15	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +13	× 2.3	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.15	× 1.15	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +14	× 2.4	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.2	× 1.2	× 1.0	× 1.0
Regular +15	× 2.5	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.0	× 1.2	× 1.2	× 1.0	× 1.0