Weapon upgrades and Tempering
Facts checked 2026-10-28
Weapons upgrade to level 30 with materials such as Broadplate Metal and Solvent, and Tempering resets a weapon while returning what you put in, so an early investment is never wasted.
Weapons in Phantom Blade Zero upgrade to level 30, and the upgrade path is more interesting than a damage slider. Each weapon has its own material list, each set level can unlock a new effect, and Tempering lets you undo the whole investment and get the materials back.
That last part matters. It means the correct strategy is to commit early and change your mind later, not to hoard materials in case you pick wrong.
The upgrade loop
- Find materials. Broadplate Metal and Solvent are the two named in the launch build; later weapons ask for their own components.
- Upgrade at the workshop. Each level raises damage and guard break, and specific levels add effects.
- Check the effect list before you spend. A weapon's level 10 effect can change how you use it, not just how hard it hits.
- Temper when your build changes. The weapon resets and the invested materials come back.
The trophy list confirms the shape of the system: one weapon to level 30, one Phantom Edge to level 30, Tempering performed on ten weapons and on ten edges. That is not a grind request; it is the game telling you to try things.
Worked example: Scarlet Wraithblade
The Scarlet Wraithblade upgrades with Broadplate Metal and Solvent. Its level 10 upgrade is Hidden Thorns, which increases explosion damage and sha-chi depletion. That is a weapon-defining change: the blade goes from a straight damage option to a posture tool.
Read every weapon's effect list that way. A level 10 effect that adds sha-chi depletion is worth more than ten levels of raw damage if your problem is breaking posture.
Tempering, precisely
Tempering is the reforge: it strips a weapon's upgrades and returns the materials you put in. It does not destroy the weapon, and it does not cost you the weapon's identity.
Use it when:
- You found a blade whose moveset suits you better.
- A boss needs a different damage type or element.
- You want the Tempering trophies without wasting a full upgrade path.
Do not use it mid-fight or mid-region if you can avoid it. Re-levelling is instant if you have the materials, but if you spent them elsewhere you will be fighting the next boss at level 1.
Where materials should go first
| Priority | What | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One primary blade to level 30 | The trophy, and a reliable damage floor |
| 2 | One Phantom Edge to level 30 | Covers the situations your blade cannot |
| 3 | Ten Tempers across weapons and edges | Two trophies, no material loss |
| 4 | Everything else | Collection, not power |
The weapon database lists the named blades; the Phantom Edges page covers the secondary slots. If you are still choosing, weapon switching explains why two weapons beat one.
FAQ
Does Tempering return all materials?
It returns the materials invested in the weapon's upgrades. That is the point of the mechanic and the reason early investment is safe.
Is level 30 the maximum?
Yes. The trophy Overwhelming Force asks for a weapon at level 30, and Skill Over Strength asks for an edge at the same cap.
Do upgrades carry between weapons of the same family?
No. Each weapon levels separately, which is why Tempering exists.
Should I upgrade armour?
There is no armour slot in the same sense. Defence comes from accessories and permanent Blackstone Shards; see accessories.
