Each weapon and shield has a reinforcement path, allowing you to upgrade its stats in exchange for certain materials and souls. Reinforcement can be performed by Blacksmith Andre in Firelink Shrine or at any Bonfire (Pyromancy Tools can only be upgraded by Cornyx of the Great Swamp).
Weapon and Shield Reinforcement
Regular
Regular reinforcement goes up to +10, and applies to most normal weapons (i.g. Long Sword) or normal shields (i.g. Knight Shield).
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 2 Titanite Shard |
| +2 | 4 Titanite Shard |
| +3 | 6 Titanite Shard |
| +4 | 2 Large Titanite Shard |
| +5 | 4 Large Titanite Shard |
| +6 | 6 Large Titanite Shard |
| +7 | 2 Titanite Chunk |
| +8 | 4 Titanite Chunk |
| +9 | 6 Titanite Chunk |
| +10 | 1 Titanite Slab |
Unique
Unique reinforcement goes up to +5, and applies to weapons (i.g. Black Knight Greataxe) or shields (i.g. Black Knight Shield) with unique elements, or which drop from special enemies.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 2 Twinkling Titanite |
| +2 | 3 Twinkling Titanite |
| +3 | 4 Twinkling Titanite |
| +4 | 5 Twinkling Titanite |
| +5 | 1 Titanite Slab |
Boss
Boss reinforcement goes up to +5, and applies to weapons (i.g. Yhorm's Great Machete) or shields (i.g. Yhorm's Greatshield) that are transposed from boss souls.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 2 Titanite Scale |
| +2 | 3 Titanite Scale |
| +3 | 4 Titanite Scale |
| +4 | 5 Titanite Scale |
| +5 | 1 Titanite Slab |
Dragon
Dragon reinforcement goes up to +5, and applies to weapons (i.g. Drake Sword) or shields (i.g. Immortal Dragon Greatshield) that are associated with dragons.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 2 Dragon Scale |
| +2 | 3 Dragon Scale |
| +3 | 4 Dragon Scale |
| +4 | 5 Dragon Scale |
| +5 | 1 Titanite Slab |
Spell Tool Reinforcement
Crystal
Crystal reinforcement goes up to +5, and applies to Sorcery Tools and Sorcery Hybrids.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 3 Crystal Fragment |
| +2 | 6 Crystal Fragment |
| +3 | 9 Crystal Fragment |
| +4 | 12 Crystal Fragment |
| +5 | 1 Prismatic Slab |
Holy
Holy reinforcement goes up to +5, and applies to Miracle Tools and Miracle Hybrids.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 3 Holy Fragment |
| +2 | 6 Holy Fragment |
| +3 | 9 Holy Fragment |
| +4 | 12 Holy Fragment |
| +5 | 1 Prismatic Slab |
Flame
Flame reinforcement goes up to +5, and applies to Pyromancy Tools and Pyromancy Hybrids.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 3 Fire Seed |
| +2 | 6 Fire Seed |
| +3 | 9 Fire Seed |
| +4 | 12 Fire Seed |
| +5 | 1 Prismatic Slab |
Abyssal
Abyssal reinforcement goes up to +5, and applies to Hex Tools and Hex Hybrids.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 3 Abyssal Fragment |
| +2 | 6 Abyssal Fragment |
| +3 | 9 Abyssal Fragment |
| +4 | 12 Abyssal Fragment |
| +5 | 1 Prismatic Slab |
Ascension
The only requirement to Ascend a weapon is to first reach their normal max upgrade level (i.e. Weapons: Regular +10, Unique +5, Boss +5, Dragon +5, Spell Tool +5).
All weapons and spell tools can then be further upgraded beyond their normal max reinforcement level by 5 with Ascension.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +11/+6 | 3 Primordial Shard |
| +12/+7 | 3 Large Primordial Shard |
| +13/+8 | 3 Primordial Fragment |
| +14/+9 | 3 Primordial Chunk |
| +15/+10 | 1 Primordial Slab |
Special Reinforcement
Estus
Only the Handmaid's Ladle uses this reinforcement path.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 1 Estus Shard |
| +2 | 1 Estus Shard |
| +3 | 1 Estus Shard |
| +4 | 1 Estus Shard |
| +5 | 1 Estus Shard |
| +6 | 1 Estus Shard |
| +7 | 1 Estus Shard |
| +8 | 1 Estus Shard |
| +9 | 2 Estus Shard |
| +10 | 3 Estus Shard |
| +11 | 3 Estus Shard |
| +12 | 3 Estus Shard |
| +13 | 3 Estus Shard |
| +14 | 3 Estus Shard |
| +15 | 3 Estus Shard |
Rubbish
Only the Fool's Catalyst uses this reinforcement path and uses the Ascension path after +5.
This path uses the following materials:
| Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| +1 | 3 Rubbish |
| +2 | 6 Rubbish |
| +3 | 9 Rubbish |
| +4 | 12 Rubbish |
| +5 | 1 Prismatic Slab |
Notes
Upgrade materials can be picked up as floor loot, dropped by Enemies and forged at Bonfires after defeating certain Bosses.
Information here is accurate for version 1.84.
