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To upgrade armor in Monster Hunter Wilds, visit Gemma’s smithy in Azuz, open the Forge/Upgrade menu, and reinforce a piece you have already forged. Each upgrade consumes Armor Spheres and zenny to raise the piece’s defense; the available levels and costs depend on the armor and your progression.
Where to upgrade armor
Armor upgrading takes place at Gemma’s smithy in Azuz. Reach Azuz and speak with Gemma to access the upgrade option; the forge menu handles both making new armor and reinforcing pieces you already own. Gamer Guides’ upgrade guide describes the unlock after Chapter 1, though progression details can vary with the game’s current version and save state.
How to reinforce a piece
- Speak with Gemma in Azuz and open the Forge/Upgrade menu.
- Select a piece of armor you have already crafted. You cannot upgrade a piece you have not made yet.
- Choose the upgrade option. Review the Armor Sphere and zenny cost, the next defense value, and the level cap shown for that piece.
- Confirm the upgrade, then check the piece’s updated defense in your equipment.
The game’s displayed cost and cap are the reliable values to use: they vary by armor and progression. Don’t assume every piece shares one universal maximum level. Armor Spheres are the reinforcing materials, while zenny is also required. PC Gamer’s Armor Sphere guide explains the smithy and foundry workflows.
How to get more Armor Spheres
Earn them from hunts and quests
Hunts and quest rewards are sources of Armor Spheres. Check a quest’s listed rewards before taking it if you specifically want upgrade materials; rewards are not identical across quests. The Wilds Field Guide recommends considering optional activities that explicitly list relevant upgrade rewards.
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- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Players can also now ride atop the Seikret, an agile new mount enabling hunters to traverse difficult terrain, perform actions like sharpening weapons on the move, and switch between two weapons while out on hunts!
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
Exchange spare monster parts at the foundry
Once the service is available, speak to Roqul at the Smelting Foundry in Azuz and choose the option to smelt Armor Spheres. You contribute monster materials toward the displayed points requirement; higher-rarity parts contribute more points, according to PC Gamer’s guide. PlayStation’s endgame guide also confirms that Roqul can turn excess parts into Armor Spheres.
Before exchanging materials, consider whether you need those parts for forging or other crafting. The guides do not establish one fastest sphere-farming route across all current updates, so compare the quest rewards, materials you can spare, and costs shown in your game rather than relying on a universal farm recommendation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which armor is worth upgrading?
Use spheres on pieces that help solve a real defense problem or are likely to stay in your build. Defense matters, but so do a piece’s skills and elemental resistances, as well as how soon you expect to replace it. PlayStation’s endgame guidance recommends tailoring loadouts to a target’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Compare the defense increase with the sphere and zenny cost shown in the menu.
- Check how much upgrade capacity remains before the displayed cap.
- Keep a piece’s skills and resistances in view rather than choosing by defense alone.
- Consider whether the armor will remain useful for your next hunts or be replaced soon.
Armor Sphere requirements, costs, caps, and quest rewards can change with armor tier and progression. Check Gemma’s current menu and each quest’s reward list for the values that apply to your save.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
Rank #3
- Wild New Adventure – Monster Hunter Wilds follows the story of a special Research Commission investigating the Forbidden Lands. Fully voiced for the first time in the series, the hunter is joined in their journey by a colorful cast of characters, including a Palico partner, Guild-appointed Handler Alma, trusty smithy Gemma, and the mysterious child Nata. Together, the team ventures into an unexplored new frontier where surprises await around every corner.
- A Living World – The Forbidden Lands spans multiple biomes with dynamic identities, such as the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, where the ecosystems shift between vibrant seasons brimming with life, and unforgiving climates where monsters fight over limited resources. Changes in the landscape will impact the creatures that live there and push hunters to adapt as well.
- New Monsters and Wildlife – Monster Hunter Wilds features a variety of new creatures, ranging from herds of small species to large monsters – some of which roam the Forbidden Lands in packs. Every creature hunters encounter in the wild has carved out a special place in its habitat and possesses unique attacks and behaviors.
- Evolved Hunting Action – The series’ acclaimed action-packed gameplay is back and more exciting than ever! Hunters can look forward to tracking down monsters with an array of new moves, special abilities, equipment, and more. The action also now flows seamlessly from cutscenes to gameplay, resulting in a new level of immersion.
- Crossplay Multiplayer – Alongside the option to enjoy the story of Monster Hunter Wilds solo, hunters can join up to three other players across any platform to explore the world together and take on the game’s challenges as a hunting party or receive aid from notable story characters as Support Hunter NPCs.
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