In Monster Hunter Wilds, having strong armor is just as important as knowing how to use your weapon. The game throws plenty of tough monsters your way, and if your defense isn’t up to par, you’ll be spending more time getting carted than actually hunting. While crafting new armor is simple enough, upgrading it takes a little more effort. You’ll need armor spheres to carry out any upgrades on your armor. If you’re not sure how it all works, don’t worry—this guide will break it down so you can upgrade your gear and stay in the fight longer.

How to Unlock Armor Upgrading in Monster Hunter Wilds

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Get Started

Before you can upgrade armor, you will need to progress far enough in the main story. This feature isn’t available from the start so you will first need to reach a certain point in the campaign before accessing it.

Step 1: Proceed through Chapter 2-2

Armor upgrade becomes available in Chapter 2-2 in Monster Hunter Wilds. This chapter begins as soon as you defeat Rompopolo, a mosquito-like huge monster that lives in Oilwell Basin. Oilwell Basin is the third major ecosystem in the game, so you will naturally reach this point as you advance in the main story missions. Upon defeating Rompopolo, the armoring upgrade system is unlocked.

Step 2: Talk to Gemma, the Smithy

After reaching Chapter 2-2, head to the nearest Base Camp and talk to Gemma, the Smithy. You can always find her Base Camp in the different ecosystems. She will introduce you to the Armor Upgrade system and inform you of how Armor Spheres work. After completing this short tutorial, you can start upgrading your gear.

How to Upgrade Armor in Monster Hunter Wilds

Once you unlock the upgrade feature, here's how you upgrade armor:

1. Talk to Gemma, the Smithy, and select "Forge/Upgrade Armor.".
2. Select the armor item that you want to upgrade. The stored armor is marked by a red chest icon while equipped armor is marked by a yellow checkmark.
3. Select "Upgrade" from the pop-up menu. You’ll be taken to the Armor Upgrade menu at this juncture where you can use Armor Spheres to upgrade your selected armor item.

How Armor Spheres Work

Every piece of armor has a level and a Defense rating, which can be improved by spending Armor Spheres. The process is straightforward, Armor Spheres give 10 points per Sphere while Armor Spheres+ gives 50 points per Sphere

Every piece of armor needs a number of points to advance to the next level. You can check how many points are required, and the adjustment to your Defense stat will be updated as you add Spheres. Once you're content with the upgrade, confirm your decision to finalize the improvement.

Where to Get Armor Spheres in Monster Hunter Wilds

Armor Spheres are the primary material for armor improvements, and you'll find them along the way as you progress through the game. This is how you can farm Armor Spheres efficiently:

1. Finish the Main Story and Side Quests Most of your Armor Spheres in the early parts of the game will be from quests. The main story, naturally, has a steady stream, but Optional Tasks and side quests have a tendency to reward extra Armor Spheres.

2. Fight Monsters and Shatter Parts There are some major monsters that offer Armor Spheres as rewards that fall when you shatter their parts during combat. Attack weak spots and shatter horns, tails, or wings to stand a good chance of receiving Spheres.

3. Smelting and Crafting You will gain the ability to smelt some materials into Armor Spheres as you progress. It is a great way of converting excess monster parts into upgrade material rather than selling them.

4. Exploration and Gathering Happens less often, but Armor Spheres can be discovered in the world from time to time, especially in areas rich in resources or hidden chests in the game's various ecosystems. Should You Upgrade Armor Immediately? Although it might be an obvious thing to level up your armor, you have to strategically decide how and when you use your Armor Spheres.

When to Level Up Right Away

• If you're finding it difficult to keep up in combat, leveling up your armor immediately will help you absorb more damage.
• If you have a go-to armor set and plan to continue using it for a while, leveling up early is worth it.
• If you do not craft new armor frequently, upgrades may make your equipment more useful.

When Not to Upgrade

• If you frequently replace your armor, upgrading early on might be unfruitful since you will move into an even better equipment soon.
• The further you progress in the game, the more valuable the upgraded armor is. Saving Armor Spheres for the best armor might be the smart thing to do.

Pro Tip: If you’re in doubt, focus on upgrading chest and leg armor first, as these typically provide the most defense per upgrade.

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FAQs

Can I reverse armor upgrades in Monster Hunter Wilds?

No, once you upgrade a piece of armor, the upgrade is permanent. If you regret an upgrade, you will have to make a new copy of the armor instead of undoing the upgrade.

Can I upgrade one piece of armor many times?

There’s a maximum number of times that you can upgrade an armor depending on the gear. More powerful armor tends to have more slots for upgrades than weaker gear.

What if I use up Armor Spheres?

You'll need to earn more by completing quests, smashing monster fragments, or smelting materials. Constant farming of Armor Spheres ensures you have enough quantities for upgrades.

Conclusion

Armor upgrades in Monster Hunter Wilds are the key to keeping up with the toughest fights within the game. For a novice player and even an experienced hunter, knowing when and how much to upgrade armor can be the difference between a win and loss in battle. By farming Armor Spheres, choosing upgrades wisely, and investing in long-term armor sets, you’ll be well-prepared for the hardest monsters in the game.