Understanding the Gear Upgrade System

Gear upgrades in No Rest for the Wicked enhance your weapons and armor, increasing their effectiveness. Upgrades are performed at the blacksmith in Sacrament after completing the initial quests. Each upgrade requires specific materials and a fee.

Upgrading gear in No Rest for the Wicked is not just a quality-of-life improvement — it’s the foundation of your survival. As you face brutal enemies, explore corruption-soaked lands, and tackle increasingly punishing bosses, your weapons and armor must evolve with you. But upgrading gear in Wicked isn’t a mindless grind — it’s a layered system involving materials, enchanting, infusions, and resource management.

Whether you’re just stepping into Sacrament or knee-deep in Breach dungeons, this comprehensive guide will show you how to upgrade your gear efficiently. From farming Bear Paws and Copper Ingots to slotting gems and selecting enchantments that match your build, we’ll cover everything you need to stay one step ahead of the hunt

Upgrade Materials and Their Sources

Common Materials

These materials are essential for early-tier upgrades and are relatively easy to obtain:

Copper Ingots: Crafted from copper ore, which can be mined in various locations.
Pine Planks: Obtained by processing pine wood, found throughout the game world.
Craft Leather: Produced from animal hides collected by hunting wildlife.
Jute Garments: Made from jute fibers, which can be harvested in specific areas.

Tip: Regularly explore and gather resources as you progress to maintain a steady supply of these materials.

Uncommon Materials

These materials are required for mid-tier upgrades and may require more effort to acquire:

Bear Paws: Used for upgrading certain weapons. They are rare drops found in specific areas like the Nameless Pass and can occasionally be purchased from vendors such as Grinnich.
Wolf Claws: Needed for upgrading light armor and dual daggers. They can be obtained by defeating wolves in areas like the Hollow Thicket.

Tip: Focus on farming these materials in the specified areas and check vendors regularly for availability.

Rare Materials

These are endgame components used for high-tier upgrades and exotic enchantments:

Cursed Blood Crystals: Required for enchanting cursed weapons. They can be found in Breach dungeons and are dropped by specific enemies.
Essence of the Forgotten: Used for legendary gear upgrades and infusion crafting. These are obtained in co-op dungeons and high-tier rift events.
Golden Shards: Necessary for ultimate gear tier upgrades. They are rare drops from bosses in Sacrament’s Arena Mode and can be purchased from vendors after reaching Reputation Rank 3.

Tip: Engage in endgame content and maintain a high reputation with vendors to access these materials.

Vendor Tips & Material Farming Efficiency

Upgrade Vendor Stock: Vendors in Sacrament evolve based on your reputation. Completing errands and merchant contracts, donating items, and participating in town events can unlock better materials.
Resource Respawn Mechanics: Zones reset loot after resting at a Sanctum. Repeatedly farm high-yield areas by resting, fast-traveling back, and farming again.
Invest Early: Don’t hesitate to buy rare crafting materials like Bear Paws, Ghost Silk, or Arcane Embers if vendors offer them.

🧠 Summary: Upgrade Material Cheat Sheet

Material	Main Use	Farm Location	Tip
Copper Ingots	Early weapon upgrades	Various mining locations	Regularly mine copper ore
Pine Planks	Early armor upgrades	Forested areas	Harvest pine wood frequently
Craft Leather	Light armor upgrades	Hunting wildlife	Hunt animals for hides
Jute Garments	Clothing upgrades	Fields and meadows	Harvest jute fibers
Bear Paws	Tier 3+ weapon upgrades	Nameless Pass	Check vendors like Grinnich
Wolf Claws	Light gear upgrades	Hollow Thicket	Farm wolves in the area
Cursed Blood Crystals	Cursed gear enchantments	Breach dungeons	Engage in Breach content
Essence of Forgotten	Legendary gear upgrades	Co-op rift dungeons	Participate in co-op events
Golden Shards	Ultimate gear tier upgrades	Sacrament’s Arena Mode	Increase vendor reputation

By focusing on these materials and utilizing the tips provided, you can efficiently upgrade your gear in No Rest for the Wicked.

Enchanting and Infusing Gear

Enhancing your gear through enchanting and infusing is pivotal for optimizing your character’s performance in No Rest for the Wicked. These processes allow you to tailor your equipment to your playstyle, providing significant boosts to various stats and abilities.

Enchanting Gear

NPC to Visit: Eleanor, the Enchanter in Sacrament.

Purpose: Enchanting upgrades your gear’s rarity, adding powerful modifiers that can significantly enhance your combat effectiveness.

Mechanics:

Rarity Tiers:
- Common: Basic gear with no enchantments.
- Rare: Gear with positive enchantments.
- Cursed: Gear with stronger enchantments accompanied by a negative effect.
- Unique: Special gear with fixed, powerful enchantments.
Process:
- Select the gear piece you wish to enchant.
- Choose the desired enchantment tier (Rare or Cursed).
- Pay the required fee in gold and materials.
- Note: Enchanting will remove existing runes and gem slots from the gear.

Tips:

Early Game: Focus on enchanting weapons first, as they provide the most noticeable impact on combat.
Cursed Enchantments: While they offer stronger bonuses, ensure the negative effect doesn’t hinder your build.
Re-rolling: If unsatisfied with the enchantment, you can re-enchant the gear, but it will require additional resources.

Infusing Gear

NPC to Visit: Eleanor, the Enchanter in Sacrament.

Purpose: Infusing allows you to socket gems into your gear, granting additional passive bonuses.

Mechanics:

Gem Types:
- Chipped Ruby: Increases fire resistance or adds fire damage, depending on the gear piece.
- Chipped Sapphire: Enhances cold resistance or adds cold damage.
- Chipped Emerald: Boosts poison resistance or adds poison damage.
- Chipped Topaz: Improves lightning resistance or adds lightning damage.
Process:
- Ensure the gear piece has an empty gem slot.
- Select the appropriate gem based on your desired bonus.
- Pay the required fee to infuse the gem into the gear.

Tips:

Synergy: Match gem bonuses with your build’s focus (e.g., fire damage gems for a fire-based build).
Upgrading Gems: Combine multiple chipped gems to create a higher-tier gem with stronger effects.
Removal: Currently, infused gems cannot be removed without destroying the gear piece. Plan accordingly.

Enchantment and Infusion Cheat Sheet

Gear Type	Recommended Enchantments	Suggested Gems	Notes
Weapons	+% Damage, Life on Hit, Focus Regen	Ruby, Topaz	Prioritize damage and sustain
Helmets	+% Focus, Stamina Regen	Sapphire, Emerald	Enhance resource management
Chest Armor	+% Health, Damage Resistance	Emerald, Sapphire	Boost survivability
Gloves	+% Attack Speed, Crit Chance	Topaz, Ruby	Increase offensive capabilities
Boots	+% Movement Speed, Stamina Regen	Emerald, Sapphire	Improve mobility and endurance

Additional Tips and Tricks

Resource Management: Enchanting and infusing can be resource-intensive. Prioritize upgrading gear that aligns with your long-term build goals.
Experimentation: Don’t hesitate to try different enchantment and gem combinations to discover synergies that best suit your playstyle.
Community Insights: Engage with the game’s community forums and discussions to learn about effective enchantment and infusion strategies.

By effectively utilizing enchanting and infusing, you can significantly enhance your gear, tailoring your character’s strengths to overcome the challenges in No Rest for the Wicked.

Strategies for Efficient Upgrading

To optimize your gear upgrades:

Focus on Preferred Gear: Invest in upgrading weapons and armor that complement your playstyle.
Farm Materials Strategically: Identify areas where specific materials drop and plan your farming accordingly.
Utilize Vendors: Some rare materials can be purchased from vendors, especially after upgrading their shops.
Balance Upgrades and Enchantments: While upgrading increases base stats, enchantments can provide significant bonuses. Consider both when enhancing your gear.
Plan for Resource Management: Upgrading and enchanting require resources. Prioritize based on your current needs and available materials.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Overcommitting to Early Gear: While it’s tempting to upgrade early finds, consider the long-term value and potential replacements.
Neglecting Enchantments: Upgrades improve base stats, but enchantments can offer game-changing effects.
Ignoring Vendor Upgrades: Upgrading vendors can unlock access to rare materials, easing the upgrade process.

Conclusion

Mastering the gear upgrade system in No Rest for the Wicked transforms you from a survivor into a true threat against the corruption plaguing the world. By understanding where to find the right materials, how to work with NPCs like Eleanor, and which enchantments or infusions complement your playstyle, you’ll minimize waste and maximize impact.

Remember: it’s not just about pushing your gear to higher tiers — it’s about upgrading with purpose. Stay focused, optimize smart, and your build will carry you through even the cruelest trials that Wicked has to offer.

No Rest for the Wicked – How to Efficiently Upgrade Your Gear