Main weapons are upgraded with Forge, at the Mandate outpost in Weeping Creek Valley (chapter 1), and later from any bell. Each level costs metal for the weapon type + solvent + Remnant Dust. The maximum is level 30, and levels 5, 10, 15 and 25 unlock techniques and passives.
Materials by tier
| Tier | One-handed | Dual | Two-handed | Universal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | Forged Metal | Twinned Metal | Broadplate Metal | Solvent |
| 10-20 | Polished Forged Metal | Polished Twinned Metal | Polished Broadplate Metal | Concentrated Solvent |
| 20-30 | Flawless Forged Metal | Flawless Twinned Metal | Flawless Broadplate Metal | Universal Solvent |
Real cost examples
| Weapon | Upgrade | Materials | Dust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jagged Steel | 1 → 2 | 2 Forged Metal + 1 Solvent | 1,080 |
| Scarlet Wraithblade | 3 → 4 | 4 Broadplate Metal + 2 Solvent | 2,160 |
Costs observed by GamerFuzion in one playthrough and confirmed against Wikily’s full table. To work out the Dust and materials for any weapon from 1 to 60, use the upgrade calculator.
Level milestones
- Level 10 on the basic weapons: the Sanguine unlocks Phantom Execution (all one-handed weapons) and the Sanguine Twin unlocks Shadow Execution (all dual weapons). The Sanguine Reach does the same for two-handed weapons.
- Levels 5, 15 and 25: passives and techniques specific to each weapon.
Reverting an upgrade
You can return a weapon to level 1 and get back 100% of the materials and dust. According to Vandal (Spanish guide), it’s free up to level 10; from level 11 you need a Weapon Reforge Talisman. There are 3 in the Valley: next to a broken cart at the outpost entrance, in a house at the The Axemaster’s Holding Cell bell and in a chest under the Waterfall Bridge, guarded by two brutes. Reverting doesn’t remove tempering.
The merchant at the Mandate outpost (The Peddler) sells metals, solvent and Phantom Edge materials on your first visit; after that you access him from the bell menu.
Next step: Soul Temper, which transforms weapons and Phantom Edges. See also how to upgrade Phantom Edges.
See also: where every merchant is, what they sell and which quests they give in Phantom Blade Zero NPCs and merchants.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you upgrade weapons?
With Forge, at the Mandate outpost in Weeping Creek Valley, and later from any bell.
How high can they go?
Up to 30 in the first playthrough. In the New Cycle (New Game+), each time you get the weapon again its cap rises by 5 levels, up to 60.
Do I lose anything when reverting?
No: you get all the materials and dust back, and the tempering is kept.
Kaarosu Damu Kira is a soulslike player with 13 platinum trophies, from Dark Souls and Bloodborne to Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong, and the author of PBZ Guide. Kaarosu earned the Phantom Blade Zero platinum on 14 Nov 2026 in a single playthrough and turns every fight into clear, fact-checked guides.
