Upgrading/Dismantling Equipment

Learn how to upgrade weapons and accessories in Final Fantasy XIII using components at Save Stations. Discover how to dismantle unwanted gear for parts and transform items.

Alright, let's talk about making your gear even better in Final Fantasy XIII! Later in the game, you'll get the chance to really beef up your weapons and accessories. You do this at any Save Station using your Omni-kit and all those handy components you've been collecting on your adventures.

Here's the rundown: First, just walk up to a Save Station and press X/A to interact with it. You'll see a menu pop up, and you'll want to select “Upgrade”. This will bring up the workbench where the magic happens.

Once you're in the upgrade screen, pick the weapon or accessory you want to improve. Then, you'll choose which components you want to use for the upgrade and how many. The total EXP from those components gets added to your chosen gear. As you pour enough EXP into an item, its level will go up, making its abilities and stats better.

Keep an eye out, because some components actually give you a bonus to the EXP you're spending! Using these can make your upgrades way more efficient. On the flip side, some components might actually reduce an item's EXP bonus, so you'll need to think carefully about which ones you use to get the best results.

When a piece of equipment reaches its absolute max potential, you'll see a star next to its level instead of a number. At this point, you can't level it up anymore. But here's the cool part: you can actually transform it into a completely different item using special components! This changes both its name and its properties. The new item might seem a bit weaker at first compared to its fully upgraded predecessor, but it can be leveled up again. With more upgrades, it can eventually become even more powerful than it was before!

Got some gear you don't need anymore? No problem! You can scrap it for parts by selecting “Dismantle”. The item you dismantle will be destroyed, but you'll get components back – and some of these you can't get any other way. There are well over 100 different components out there, so try to collect as many as you can. Experimenting with their effects is key to figuring out the most efficient and effective ways to customize your loadout.

For super detailed info and tips on the most efficient ways to upgrade, definitely check out the “Upgrading Equipment“ section of the guide.