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Players will start forging pieces of armor almost immediately after starting their time withMonster Hunter Wilds, and the armor crafting process is quite straightforward. What may not be straightforward is the way by which armor is upgraded, and, indeed, players may be confused about how to engage with that mechanic. Fortunately, it is not particularly difficult to upgrade armor inMonster Hunter Wilds, and this guide is here to explain how players can go about improving their defensive gear.
For those players who just want a small push in the right direction, it may be enough to say that the ability to upgrade armor unlocks as story progress is made.
How Unlock Armor Upgrading in Monster Hunter Wilds
Reach Chapter 2-2
The first step towards upgrading armor is reachingChapter 2-2inMonster Hunter Wildsmain story. For the uninitiated, this chapter immediately follows a battle withRompopolo, a large mosquito-like monster that resides in theOilwell Basin, and it begins in the village of Azuz, the Everforge.
Oilwell Basin is the thirdecosystem inMonster Hunter Wilds, and players are guaranteed to travel to it as they work through main story quests.
Talk to Gemma
After defeating Rompopolo and reaching Chapter 2-2, players should speak withGemma, the Smithy.As per usual, this NPC can be found in the various ecosystem’sBase Camps, including the one that is near Azuz, the Everforge inMonster Hunter Wilds' Oilwell Basin. While it is expected that most readers will have no trouble finding Gemma, her precise position within the Oilwell Basin Base Camp has been marked on the following map for the sake of full clarity.
Upon speaking with Gemma, players will encounter a short prompt that mentions usingArmor Spheresto increase the level of their armor. This prompt confirms that the armor upgrading mechanic has been unlocked, and it is a relatively easy system to understand.
How to Upgrade Armor in Monster Hunter Wilds
Once a player has unlocked armor upgrading, they should take these actions to engage with the mechanic:
Monster Hunter Wildsplayerswill have now reached a menu where they can put any Armor Spheres in their possession toward upgrading the selected piece of armor. Here, players should direct their attention to the information that is displayed beneath the armor piece. Among this information, players will find that a certain number of points are needed to upgrade the piece to its next level, and adding the Armor Spheres that appear on the left side of the screen is the way that those points are generated.
Armor Spheres are worth 10 points, and Armor Spheres+ are worth 50 points.
As players add Armor Spheres, they will see the information beneath the selected armor piece change. These changes indicate how the added Armor Spheres will affect the piece’s Level and Defense score, and players can click “Upgrade” to execute the transformation when they are satisfied with the improvements.
Players should be in possession of a number ofArmor Spheres inMonster Hunter Wildsby the time that they unlock armor upgrading, and they will earn more through continued questing and smelting.
Should You Upgrade Armor in Monster Hunter Wilds?
While players should definitely plan to upgrade their armor at some point, they may not want to do so immediately upon unlocking the feature. Indeed, players will be replacing their gear quite rapidly at this stage of the game, and they may want to hold onto their Armor Spheres until they have created pieces that they will use for a while. That said, if the player feels as though they could use a little additional defense when battlingmonsters inMonster Hunter Wilds, they should not be afraid to take at least a few pieces to max level straightaway.
