Upgrading your equipment in Phantom Blade Zero is one of the most important things you can do to improve your combat performance. As you progress through the game, enemies become more challenging, and having stronger weapons can make it easier to deal damage, break enemy guards, and apply status effects such as Bleed. Upgrades also unlock new weapon abilities, passive bonuses, and additional combo options that can make a big difference during difficult fights.
In this guide, we will explain how the upgrade system works in Phantom Blade Zero, where you can upgrade your equipment, which materials you need, and how to improve both Main Weapons and Phantom Edges. We will also cover weapon-level milestones, the different material tiers, merchant prices, and how the Revert feature lets you recover the materials you have already spent.
If you are unsure which materials to collect or whether you should upgrade your favorite weapon immediately, this guide will help you understand the entire process. I will also explain how the three upgrade brackets work and which materials you need at each stage, so you can plan your upgrades without wasting time searching for the wrong resources.
Phantom Blade Zero Upgrades Guide – How to Upgrade Equipment
Before you can start upgrading weapons, you need to meet Forge. This unlocks the equipment upgrade system and allows you to improve your Main Weapons and Phantom Edges.
Once the feature is unlocked, follow these steps to upgrade your equipment.
- Find and interact with a Bell.
- Open the Bell menu.
- Select Upgrade Equipment.
- Choose either the Main Weapons or Phantom Edges tab.
- Select the weapon or Phantom Edge you want to upgrade.
- Check the required Remnant Dust and upgrade materials.
- Confirm the upgrade if you have enough resources.
The upgrade menu is divided into two categories, allowing you to improve your regular weapons and Phantom Edges separately.
Main Weapons vs. Phantom Edges
Main Weapons are your primary combat weapons. Upgrading them improves their core combat stats and can unlock weapon-specific abilities, passive effects, and combo extensions.
Phantom Edges are additional combat tools that provide abilities such as martial attacks, destructive strikes, ranged attacks, mechanical effects, and summons. They have their own upgrade materials and progression system.
Both equipment categories require Remnant Dust alongside their respective upgrade materials.
How Weapon Upgrade Levels Work
Equipment upgrades in Phantom Blade Zero progress through three main brackets. Each bracket requires a different tier of materials, so you cannot rely on the same basic resources throughout the entire game.
| Upgrade Bracket | Material Tier | Sell Price of Listed Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1–10 | Tier 1 materials | 100 each |
| Level 10–20 | Tier 2 materials | 1,000 each |
| Level 20–Max | Tier 3 materials | 10,000 each |
These brackets apply to both Main Weapons and Phantom Edges, although the specific materials depend on the equipment category.
For example, a one-handed weapon uses Forged Metal in the first bracket, Polished Forged Metal in the second, and Flawless Forged Metal in the final bracket. A dual-wield weapon uses the corresponding Twinned Metal materials instead.
Phantom Edges follow a similar progression, but their materials depend on their combat type.
How to Get Weapon Upgrade Materials
You can collect upgrade materials in several ways while exploring Phantom Blade Zero.
1. Explore Levels and Open Chests
One of the easiest ways to build your upgrade material collection is to explore the areas you visit instead of rushing straight toward your next objective.
Search chests, investigate side paths, and check areas that you might otherwise overlook. Exploration and loot can provide materials that help you improve your equipment without relying entirely on merchants.
2. Defeat Enemies
Enemies can also provide upgrade materials. Fighting enemies as you progress through an area can help you gather additional resources for your weapons and Phantom Edges.
If you are planning to upgrade several pieces of equipment, make sure you collect resources along the way instead of spending everything on a single upgrade as soon as you obtain it.
3. Purchase Materials From Merchants
You can also purchase upgrade materials from merchants such as The Peddler. Once the relevant shop access is available through the Bell menu, you can check the available inventory and buy the resources you need.
However, merchant stock is limited for each material type.
The listed early-tier stock examples include:
| Material Type | Available Stock | Price per Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 weapon ingots | 6 | 1,040 currency |
| Solvent | 12 | 832 currency |
| Tier 1 Phantom Edge materials | 3 | 1,040 currency |
These quantities and prices are useful when planning your purchases, but remember that the available stock and material tiers can limit how many upgrades you can complete immediately.
My tip: Check the Bell shop before heading into another area. If you are close to an important weapon-level milestone, buying the missing materials can help you finish an upgrade sooner.
Main Weapon Upgrade Materials
Every Main Weapon requires two types of upgrade materials, along with Remnant Dust:
- A metal ingot matching the weapon’s archetype.
- A universal solvent matching the weapon’s upgrade bracket.
The three Main Weapon archetypes are One-Handed, Dual-Wielded, and Two-Handed. Each archetype has its own metal ingot progression, while the solvent is shared across all Main Weapons.
One-Handed Weapon Materials
One-handed weapons use the Forged Metal material line.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Forged Metal | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Polished Forged Metal | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Flawless Forged Metal | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Forged Metal: This is an ingot refined from ore mined deep within mineral veins. It is used as a foundation for crafting single-edged blades.
Polished Forged Metal: This material is ground and polished repeatedly to remove impurities and produce a sharper, stronger metal.
Flawless Forged Metal: This is the highest-tier material in the Forged Metal line. It represents exceptionally refined metal intended for the most advanced weapon upgrades.
If you mainly use one-handed weapons, collect these three materials as you progress through the different upgrade brackets.
Dual-Wield Weapon Materials
Dual-wield weapons require Twinned Metal materials.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twinned Metal | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Polished Twinned Metal | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Flawless Twinned Metal | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Twinned Metal: A pair of metal ingots with matching shapes and weights, intended for dual-wield equipment.
Polished Twinned Metal: Refined metal processed to achieve matching quality and a smoother finish, helping support the speed and precision of twin blades.
Flawless Twinned Metal: A perfectly matched pair of high-quality ingots used for advanced dual-wield upgrades.
If you prefer fast weapons that let you chain attacks together, remember to collect the appropriate Twinned Metal materials before attempting higher-level upgrades.
Two-Handed Weapon Materials
Two-handed weapons use Broadplate Metal.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Broadplate Metal | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Polished Broadplate Metal | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Flawless Broadplate Metal | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Broadplate Metal: This material provides the foundation for crafting heavy blades, with its quality and properties helping determine the weapon’s final characteristics.
Polished Broadplate Metal: A refined, elongated ingot with a smooth surface and substantial weight, suited to weapons designed to deliver powerful strikes.
Flawless Broadplate Metal: A rare, exceptionally refined material used for the highest upgrade bracket of two-handed weapons.
If you use heavy weapons, prioritize these materials instead of spending your resources on ingots intended for another weapon archetype.
Universal Solvent Materials
All Main Weapons require a solvent in addition to their archetype-specific metal ingot.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Solvent | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Concentrated Solvent | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Universal Solvent | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Solvent: A solution used to remove rust and refine metal during the early upgrade stages.
Concentrated Solvent: A more potent solution used to process metal during the middle upgrade bracket.
Universal Solvent: A high-tier material used in advanced upgrades to combine different materials and refine weapons further.
The important thing to remember is that having the correct metal ingot is not enough. You also need the appropriate solvent and sufficient Remnant Dust to complete the upgrade.
Phantom Edge Upgrade Materials
Phantom Edges have their own upgrade material system. Unlike Main Weapons, which use archetype-specific metal ingots and solvents, Phantom Edges require materials corresponding to their combat category.
There are five Phantom Edge categories:
- Martial
- Destruction
- Artifice
- Ranged
- Summon
Each category has three material tiers for the Level 1–10, Level 10–20, and Level 20–Max brackets.
Martial Phantom Edge Materials
Martial Phantom Edges use copper-based materials.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Exotic Copper Ingot | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Otherworldly Copper | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Forged Otherworldly Copper | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Exotic Copper Ingot: Copper refined from unusual ores. Its toughness and rarity make it valuable for supplies and equipment.
Otherworldly Copper: An unusually hard material with a corroded surface that requires repeated treatment with acid and heat to refine.
Forged Otherworldly Copper: A high-tier material that develops distinctive patterns after extensive forging, reflecting the martial techniques associated with its category.
If you rely on Martial Phantom Edges, collect these materials to keep your equipment progressing through the upgrade brackets.
Destruction Phantom Edge Materials
Destruction Phantom Edges require Darkfire Charcoal and its upgraded variants.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Darkfire Charcoal | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Blazing Darkfire Charcoal | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Searing Darkfire Charcoal | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Darkfire Charcoal: Charred remains of timber that has been exposed to intense fire.
Blazing Darkfire Charcoal: A powerful cinder that continues to burn and is associated with the destruction of an ancient clan.
Searing Darkfire Charcoal: A high-tier charcoal infused with potent Sha-Chi, known for its intense heat and destructive properties.
These materials are necessary when upgrading Phantom Edges classified under Destruction.
Artifice Phantom Edge Materials
Artifice Phantom Edges use mechanical components.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Gear | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Precision Mechanical Gear | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Ying Mechanical Gear | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Mechanical Gear: A basic gear used in mechanisms and devices, providing a foundation for Artifice equipment.
Precision Mechanical Gear: A more refined gear used in different mechanical applications, including systems that require carefully adjusted movement.
Ying Mechanical Gear: A high-tier component developed through advanced mechanical techniques. Its design supports mechanisms intended to attack, defend, or redirect an enemy’s force.
If Artifice Phantom Edges are part of your setup, make sure you collect the appropriate gear tier before upgrading them.
Ranged Phantom Edge Materials
Ranged Phantom Edges use timber materials.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Timber | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Camphor Timber | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Forbidden Camphor Timber | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Ancient Timber: A branch taken from an ancient tree that endured many seasons before falling.
Camphor Timber: Dense wood from an ancient camphor tree. Its properties make it useful for equipment associated with Phantom Arts.
Forbidden Camphor Timber: A rare material taken from a forbidden ancient tree and associated with the mysterious power of the Discordance.
Collect these materials if you want to improve your Ranged Phantom Edges.
Summon Phantom Edge Materials
Summon Phantom Edges use Incense Ash and its higher-tier variants.
| Material | Upgrade Bracket | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Incense Ash | Level 1–10 | 100 |
| Illusory Incense Ash | Level 10–20 | 1,000 |
| Incense Ash for the Lady | Level 20–Max | 10,000 |
Incense Ash: Coarse ash mixed with fragments of herbs and wood, traditionally associated with rituals intended to summon wandering souls.
Illusory Incense Ash: A refined incense material associated with the worship of the Lady of the Veil. Its smoke and scent are said to affect the mind.
Incense Ash for the Lady: A high-tier mixture containing the ashes of wooden puppets and fragments of red silk flowers. It is associated with old beliefs about calling back missing friends and family.
If you use Summon Phantom Edges regularly, these are the materials you should focus on collecting.
Weapon-Level Milestones and Unlockable Abilities
Upgrading weapons does more than increase their base stats. Main Weapon upgrades can also unlock new abilities, passive effects, and combo extensions at specific levels.
The main milestones are typically Level 5, Level 10, Level 15, and Level 25.
Level 5: Weapon-Specific Abilities
The Level 5 milestone can unlock a weapon-specific passive or ability.
Depending on the weapon, this may improve its performance, provide a useful combat effect, or introduce a new part of its moveset.
Level 10: Global Weapon-Class Abilities
Level 10 is particularly important because certain upgrades unlock abilities that apply to an entire weapon class.
For example, an ability may be tagged as applying to all One-Handed, Dual-Wielded, or Two-Handed weapons. Once you unlock that class-wide ability by upgrading a weapon of the relevant archetype to Level 10, you can use it across other Main Weapons of the same class.
Examples of these abilities include Phantom Execution and Shadow Execution.
This means upgrading one weapon can provide benefits beyond that individual piece of equipment.
Level 15: Additional Weapon-Specific Upgrades
At Level 15, certain weapons unlock additional passives, defensive counters, or combo follow-ups.
These upgrades can make your preferred weapon more versatile and improve how it performs during longer encounters.
Level 25: Further Weapon-Specific Abilities
Level 25 provides another important milestone for weapon-specific improvements.
Depending on the weapon, the upgrade may unlock another passive effect or extend its available combat options.
My tip: Check the weapon’s upgrade information before spending materials. If you are close to an important milestone, reaching that level may be more valuable than spreading your materials across several weapons without unlocking their key abilities.
How to Revert Weapon Upgrades and Recover Materials
One of the most useful features of the upgrade system is the ability to revert an upgraded weapon.
If you have spent resources improving a weapon and later decide to use something else, you do not necessarily have to accept the loss of your investment.
How the Revert Feature Works
To revert an upgraded weapon:
- Interact with a Bell.
- Open the Upgrade Equipment menu.
- Select the upgraded weapon.
- Choose the Revert option.
- Hold the required input to complete the action.
The weapon returns to Level 1, its starting level, and the system refunds 100% of the Remnant Dust and upgrade materials spent on it, according to the described mechanics.
This makes it easier to experiment with different weapons without permanently losing your investment.
When Should You Revert a Weapon?
Reverting can be useful in several situations.
- You upgraded a weapon but discovered that another weapon better suits your playstyle.
- You want to move your resources to a different weapon for a difficult boss.
- You want to experiment with another weapon archetype.
- You want to test different builds without permanently committing your materials.
For example, you might initially invest in a one-handed weapon because you prefer its range. Later, you may discover that dual-wield weapons work better with your preferred combat style. The Revert feature allows you to recover your upgrade investment and redirect those resources.
Before confirming any revert, check the in-game menu to ensure you understand the reset and refund conditions.
The upgrade system in Phantom Blade Zero gives you several ways to improve your equipment, unlock new combat abilities, and prepare for tougher enemies.
The most important thing is to understand which materials your equipment needs. Main Weapons require an archetype-specific metal ingot and the correct solvent, while Phantom Edges use materials based on their combat category. Both also require Remnant Dust.
I recommend focusing on your favorite weapons, collecting the appropriate materials as you explore, and planning around important level milestones. Remember to check merchants for limited-stock materials and take advantage of the Revert feature if you want to experiment with different weapons.
With the right upgrades, you can improve your damage, strengthen your guard-breaking potential, unlock useful combat abilities, and build an equipment setup that suits your playstyle.