Introduction

There are five item grades in Black Desert. These indicate the rarity of the item by color (ordered lowest to highest):

• White Grade
• Green Grade
• Blue Grade
• Yellow Grade
• Orange Grade

You can increase the grade of your gear to give bonuses such as Critical Hit Chance, Attack Speed, Casting Speed, Melee/Ranged/Magic Defense, additional AP/DP, etc. This is done using reform stones and your Black Spirit. Only certain weapons and armor can be upgraded and the highest grade you can currently get them to is Ultimate grade (yellow). This guide will go over the basics of how to begin upgrading your gear.

Reform Stones

There are currently 4 levels of Reform Stones for armor and weapons:

Grade 1 Armor Reform Stone

• Obtainable from: Refinery Lv 1
• Production Materials: Zinc Ore x10, Mud Crystal x1, Bloody Tree Knot x1, Sinner’s Blood x1, Black Stone Powder x10
• 0% chance to reform to Ultimate
• 20% chance to reform to Iron Wall
• 30% chance to reform to Agility
• 30% chance to reform to Intimidation
• 20% chance to reform to Green Grade

Grade 1 Weapon Reform Stone

• Obtainable from: Refinery Lv 1
• Production Materials: Tin Ore x10, Translucent Crystal x1, Red Tree Lump x1, Sinner’s Blood x1, Black Stone Powder x10
• 0% chance to reform to Ultimate
• 20% chance to reform to Temptation
• 30% chance to reform to Destruction
• 30% chance to reform to Crimson Flame
• 20% chance to reform to Green Grade

Grade 2 Armor Reform Stone

• Obtainable from: Refinery Lv 2
• Production Materials: Bronze Ingot x3, Green Crystal x2, Spirit’s Leaf x2, Legendary Beast’s Blood x2, Black Stone Powder x20
• 1% chance to reform to Ultimate
• 20% chance to reform to Iron Wall
• 20% chance to reform to Agility
• 20% chance to reform to Intimidation
• 10% chance to reform to Green Grade

Grade 2 Weapon Reform Stone

• Obtainable from: Refinery Lv 2
• Production Materials: Brass Ingot x3, Red Crystal x2, Monk’s Branch x2, Wise Man’s Blood x2, Black Stone Powder x20
• 1% chance to reform to Ultimate
• 20% chance to reform to Temptation
• 20% chance to reform to Destruction
• 20% chance to reform to Crimson Flame
• 10% chance to reform to Green Grade

Grade 3 Armor Reform Stone

• Obtainable from: Refinery Lv 3
• Production Materials: Steel x4, Melted Platinum Shard x3, Black Crystal x3, Old Tree Bark x2, Tyrant’s Blood x2, Black Stone Powder x40
• 5% chance to reform to Ultimate
• 30% chance to reform to Iron Wall
• 30% chance to reform to Agility
• 20% chance to reform to Intimidation
• 10% chance to reform to Green Grade

Grade 3 Weapon Reform Stone

• Obtainable from: Refinery Lv 3
• Production Materials: Steel x5, Melted Platinum Shard x3, Black Crystal x3, Red Tree Lump x2, Clown’s Blood x2, Black Stone Powder x40
• 5% chance to reform to Ultimate
• 30% chance to reform to Temptation
• 30% chance to reform to Destruction
• 20% chance to reform to Crimson Flame
• 10% chance to reform to Green Grade

Ultimate Weapon Reform Stone

• Crafting Recipe: Grade 3 Weapon Reform Stone x10, Sharp Black Crystal Shard x1
• Open the Processing Window (L) then select “Heating”
• Click here to learn more about crafting them
• 100% chance to reform to Ultimate

Ultimate Armor Reform Stone

• Crafting Recipe: Grade 3 Armor Reform Stone x10, Hard Black Crystal Shard x1
• Open the Processing Window (L) then select “Heating”
• Click here to learn more about crafting them
• 100% chance to reform to Ultimate

 

How to Upgrade your Gear

You can upgrade your gear at any enhancement level for the extra stats. There are theories that it changes the chances of success when enhancing, but I personally don’t believe this and haven’t had any evidence to support it. If you do want to hold off, I recommend upgrading it once you are at PRI/DUO at the very latest.

Upgrading your gear is completely safe, you will not lose enchant levels or break/lose the item itself.

 

Almost any green grade weapon/armor is able to be upgraded to give additional stats. Boss gear cannot be upgraded because it is already at the highest grade. You cannot upgrade liverto weapons, but blue grade awakening weapons can be upgraded.

Once you have your reform stone, summon your Black Spirit and click the “Item Reform” option. You can also open the reform window directly by right-clicking the reform stone from your inventory. Place the weapon/armor into the slot by right-clicking it, then right-click the reform stone and press the “Reform” button below.

Below is a list of all the possible stats you can get by upgrading your gear:

Mainhand Weapons

• Crimson Flame
  
  • Longsword – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Amulet – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Longbow – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Axe – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Shortsword – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Staff – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Blade – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Krigsmesser – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Gauntlet – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Crescent Pendulum – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Crossbow – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Florang – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Battle Axe – Critical Hit Rate +1
  • Shamshir – Critical Hit Rate +1
• Destruction
  
  • Longsword – Attack Speed +1 & Casting Speed +1
  • Amulet – Attack Speed +1
  • Longbow – Attack Speed +1
  • Axe – Attack Speed +1
  • Shortsword – Attack Speed +1
  • Staff – Attack Speed +1
  • Blade – Attack Speed +1
  • Krigsmesser – Attack Speed +1
  • Gauntlet – Attack Speed +1
  • Crescent Pendulum – Attack Speed +1
  • Crossbow – Attack Speed +1
  • Florang – Attack Speed +1
  • Battle Axe – Attack Speed +1
  • Shamshir – Attack Speed +1
• Temptation
  
  • Longsword – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1 & Casting Speed +1
  • Amulet – Casting Speed +1
  • Longbow – Movement Speed +1
  • Axe – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
  • Shortsword – Casting Speed +1
  • Staff – Casting Speed +1
  • Blade – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
  • Krigsmesser – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
  • Gauntlet – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
  • Crescent Pendulum – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
  • Crossbow – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
  • Florang – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
  • Battle Axe – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
  • Shamshir – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1
• Ultimate
  
  • Longsword – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1 & Casting Speed +1, AP +4
  • Amulet – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Casting Speed +1, AP +4
  • Longbow – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Axe – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Shortsword – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Staff – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Casting Speed +1, AP +4
  • Blade – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Krigsmesser – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Gauntlet – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Crescent Pendulum – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Crossbow – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Florang – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Battle Axe – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4
  • Shamshir – Critical Hit Rate +1 & Attack Speed +1, AP +4

Offhand Weapons

• Crimson Flame – Additional Back Attack Damage +1
• Destruction – Additional Down Attack Damage +1
• Temptation – Additional Air Attack Damage +1
• Ultimate – Additional Special Attack Damage +1, AP +1 OR Accuracy +2 (depends on weapon)

Armor Pieces

• Iron Wall – Close (melee) damage reduction +2
• Agility – Ranged damage reduction +2
• Intimidation – Magic damage reduction +2
• Destruction – Attack +2
• Sacrifice – Damage Reduction +1
• Ultimate – Damage Reduction +2, DP +5