Upgrading gear in Phantom Blade Zero is crucial for progression, with systems in place to enhance main weapons, secondary weapons, accessories, and medicines. Players will need to seek out specific NPCs and gather various materials to achieve these improvements.
Four key NPCs are central to the gear upgrade system. After an initial interaction, their services become available at any fast travel point via the 'Upgrade Equipment' menu. Forge, located in the Outpost in Weeping Creek Valley, handles main weapon and Phantom Edge upgrades. Jewel, found in the Village of Lu, manages accessory enhancements. Myst, who resides in a tavern in Pangzhen, unlocks the Soul Temper system. Finally, Xie Xaorong operates the Green Serpent House in western Pangzhen and oversees medicine upgrades.
Weapon upgrades require different materials based on the weapon type. Forged Metal is used for one-handed weapons, Broadplate Metals for two-handers, and Twinned Metals for dual-wielded armaments. Phantom Edges have their own specific upgrade materials tied to their classification, such as Destructive, Ranged, Martial, Artifice, and Summoning. Weapons gain additional perks at levels 5, 10, 15, and 25. Players can upgrade items to their maximum level and can freely refund all spent materials and dust. Resetting equipment to level 1, however, requires Weapon Reforge Talismans or Phantom Reforge Talismans.
Accessory upgrades, managed by Jewel, provide significant stat boosts. Most accessories can be upgraded to level 2 using Tainted Crystal Shards, while some reach level 3 with Refined Indigo Crystals.
Medicine upgrades involve using Healer's Memory items. Apprentice Healer's Memory allows upgrades from level 1 to 2, Skilled Healer's Memory from level 2 to 4, and Master Healer's Memory from level 4 to 6. Maximizing preferred consumables enhances their effects and increases their usage count.
The Soul Temper system, unlocked by speaking with Myst, offers permanent additional effects to weapons. This process requires a unique item specific to each weapon, often found in hidden or late-game areas. For example, the Flying Dagger's Quickhand Mastery perk increases the number of daggers thrown and poison application, while the Jagged Steel's Open Wounds perk causes blocked attacks to build up bleed. Some weapons, like the Sanguine Reach, can transform into Blazing Edge when imbued with fire damage through Soul Tempering.