Metin2 Upgrade Guide: How to Get Your Gear to +9 Safely

Upgrading in Metin2 means taking your gear to the Blacksmith and raising it step by step from +0 to +9. An upgraded weapon hits harder and upgraded armor defends better; in Pvp, these levels often decide the gap between two characters. But there's a flip side: a botched upgrade can wipe out your most valuable item in an instant. Here's how upgrading works and how to reach +9 without risking your item.

How does upgrading work?

You take the item to the Blacksmith, who asks for Yang for each upgrade and, from a certain grade on, for upgrade materials that depend on the item. If the upgrade succeeds, your item goes up one grade. If it fails at the regular Blacksmith, the item is destroyed completely. The higher the item's grade, the lower the success chance usually gets, so the risk grows at high upgrade levels.

On the official servers, the Guild Blacksmith offers a 10% higher success chance than the regular Blacksmith but asks for more Yang. If your guild has a blacksmith on its Guild Land, it makes sense to do your valuable upgrades there.

Upgrade items and how they differ

Where these items come from and what they cost can differ on Pvp servers. Some servers sell them in a shop or in the item shop. Check the server's guide and market prices before you start stockpiling.

The safe +9 strategy

1. Upgrade first, add bonuses later. If your item is destroyed during an upgrade, its bonuses go with it. Adding valuable bonuses only once the item reaches your target level keeps losses to a minimum.
2. Regular upgrades are enough at low levels. Don't waste expensive upgrade items on the first grades of cheap, easy-to-find items.
3. Use Blessing Scrolls at mid levels. Once the item is around +4 or +5, don't let a failure send you back to the start; with a Blessing Scroll the worst case is losing one grade.
4. Do the last grades with Magic Stones. On the way from +7 to +9, protecting your valuable item with Magic Stones usually costs you less in the long run, because a failed attempt doesn't cost you a grade.
5. Stock up on spare materials. Before you start, have enough Yang and materials for several attempts. An upgrade run you abandon halfway can leave your item stuck at a low grade.
6. Use the Guild Blacksmith. The 10% difference is a serious advantage, especially at high upgrade levels.
7. Make the most of the Demon Tower chance. The blacksmith that appears on the 6th floor of the Demon Tower offers an upgrade chance without asking for materials. Decide which item you'll use it on before you enter the dungeon.

Common mistakes

• Testing with your most valuable item. Use cheap items while you're learning how upgrading works.
• Trusting rumors about lucky hours. The success chance depends on the item's grade and the upgrade item you use. Rumors that the chance goes up at certain hours or on certain channels are unproven.
• Buying materials in a hurry. Market prices change during the day and run especially high in the first days of a new server.
• Spending without doing the math. Work out the total cost of taking an item to +9 and compare it with buying the same item ready-made on the market. Sometimes buying it is cheaper.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a Blessing Scroll and a Magic Stone?

If an upgrade with a Blessing Scroll fails, your item drops one grade. If it fails with a Magic Stone, your item keeps its grade. That makes the Magic Stone the safer choice, especially at high upgrade levels.

Do I lose my bonuses if an upgrade fails?

If the item is destroyed, its bonuses are lost with it. That's why it's safer to add valuable bonuses once your item has reached your target level.

What's the cheapest way to get to +9?

Regular upgrades for the low grades, Blessing Scrolls for the middle grades and Magic Stones for the last grades is usually the most balanced approach. Still, do the math based on your server's market prices.

I'm new to Metin2. When should I start upgrading?

First learn the basics of the game and save up some Yang. You'll find our tips for beginners in our 20 golden rules article.