Here's how weapon crafting and upgrades work in Monster Hunter Outlanders: when they unlock, what they cost, how upgrade caps rise with your Adventurer Rank, the upgrade path and materials for each weapon type, and which weapons to make first.
How to Unlock Crafting and Upgrades
Crafting at the Workshop unlocks in the Chapter 1 quest "Ready for Another Adventure!". Upgrading weapons and armor unlocks after you clear the Chapter 2 quest "Departure Preparations", and from then on your Adventurer Rank raises how far you can upgrade.
Once you unlock the Quick Forge invention, you can craft from the menu without going to the Workshop. It works the same, so it's the easier way.
How to Craft and Upgrade Weapons
Crafting and upgrading both happen at the Workshop. You can reach the upgrade screen from several places, and they all work the same, so use whichever is handiest. The upgrade screen for adventurers is the most convenient, since you can jump to your other upgrades from there.
To the gear upgrade screen| Where | How |
|---|---|
| The Workshop in Kulune | Talk to the Workshop staff |
| Upgrade screen for adventurersRecommended | Open the upgrade menu and pick the gear |
| Equipment screen in your Item Pouch | Pick the third icon from the top |
Switch between weapon types and armor with the icons on the leftWhat Crafting and Upgrading Cost
Crafting costs monster materials and Zenny, and upgrades cost monster materials too. Every craft and upgrade also needs Hunter's Jade, so keep collecting it from Free Hunt, Trial Expedition, and Research Points exchanges, and farm it efficiently in Co-op Hunt.
New weapons and armor unlock the first time you defeat a monster, so check what's new at the Workshop after every new monster.
Upgrade Caps by Adventurer Rank
Your Adventurer Rank sets how far you can upgrade weapons and armor. Each time you reach one of these ranks, upgrade your gear as well. You raise your Adventurer Rank by progressing quests and clearing Hunt Requests and Free Hunts.
| Adventurer Rank | Upgrade cap |
|---|---|
| 16 | Rarity 3 |
| 18 | Rarity 4 |
| 21 | Rarity 5 |
| 26 | Rarity 6 |
| 31 | Rarity 7 |
| 34 | Rarity 8 |
| 41 | Rarity 9 |
| 44 | Rarity 10 |
| 47 | Rarity 11 |
At certain rarities, armor also gains either a new skill or a stronger version of an existing one, which can add resistance to more status ailments or boost a skill's effect.
What to Make and Upgrade First: Weapons and Armor
Upgrade Your Weapon First
When upgrading, put your weapon first. Quests have time limits, and without enough damage you won't finish the hunt in time. Gear can be dismantled to get some of the materials back, so don't hold back on upgrading what you need to push through the story.
Dismantling can't be undone, so check before you confirm. Crimson Crest gear gives no materials back, so there's no reason to dismantle it.
Only some of the materials come backUpgrade Armor if You Go Down in One or Two Hits
If a few monster attacks are enough to take you down, upgrade your armor too. If a piece with higher defense is unlocked, crafting that instead is also a good idea.
Prioritize Armor That Suits Your Weapon
Each piece of armor comes with skills, such as Capacity Boost and Charged Power Shot for gunners or Flash Draw for melee weapons like the Long Sword and Great Sword. When armor that suits your weapon type unlocks, it's fine to prioritize upgrading it.
First Weapon and Goal Weapon for Each Type
Start with the first weapon from Early Game Gear, then work toward the weapon from Best Builds. Weapons in the database link to their pages, which list every material.
Upgrade Paths and Materials by Weapon Type
Each weapon is upgraded one rarity at a time along its own line. Below is the line of each type's first weapon, with the materials for crafting it and for each upgrade. Open a weapon type to see it, or check the weapon list for every line.
Great Sword: Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) I
| Rarity | Weapon | Attack | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) ICraft | 24 |
|
| 2 | Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) IUpgrade | 52 |
|
| 3 | Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) IUpgrade | 75 |
|
| 4 | Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) IUpgrade | 107 |
|
| 5 | Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) IIUpgrade | 149 |
|
| 6 | Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) IIUpgrade | 199 |
|
| 7 | Guild Crimson Crest Great Sword (Fire) IIIUpgrade | 259 |
|
Long Sword: Bone Shotel I
| Rarity | Weapon | Attack | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |  Bone Shotel ICraft | 101 | |
| 4 | Bone Shotel IUpgrade | 144 | |
| 5 | Bone Shotel IUpgrade | 200 |
Dual Blades: Blazing Hatchets I
| Rarity | Weapon | Attack | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |  Blazing Hatchets ICraft | 79 | |
| 4 | Blazing Hatchets IUpgrade | 113 | |
| 5 | Blazing Hatchets IUpgrade | 157 | |
| 6 | Blazing Hatchets IIUpgrade | 211 | |
| 7 | Blazing Hatchets IIUpgrade | 274 |
|
Lance: Iron Lance I
| Rarity | Weapon | Attack | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Iron Lance ICraft | 52 |
|
| 2 | Iron Lance IUpgrade | 69 |
|
| 3 | Iron Lance IUpgrade | 99 |
|
| 4 | Iron Lance IUpgrade | 141 |
|
Hammer: Carapace Sledge I
| Rarity | Weapon | Attack | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |  Carapace Sledge ICraft | 70 | |
| 3 | Carapace Sledge IUpgrade | 101 | |
| 4 | Carapace Sledge IUpgrade | 145 | |
| 5 | Carapace Sledge IIUpgrade | 200 | |
| 6 | Carapace Sledge IIUpgrade | 269 |
Charge Blade: Girros Strongarm I
| Rarity | Weapon | Attack | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |  Girros Strongarm ICraft | 67 | |
| 3 | Girros Strongarm IUpgrade | 96 | |
| 4 | Girros Strongarm IUpgrade | 138 | |
| 5 | Girros Strongarm IIUpgrade | 191 | |
| 6 | Girros Strongarm IIUpgrade | 256 |
Heavy Bowgun: Bone Shooter I
| Rarity | Weapon | Attack | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |  Bone Shooter ICraft | 78 | |
| 4 | Bone Shooter IUpgrade | 111 | |
| 5 | Bone Shooter IUpgrade | 154 |
Bow: Blazing Bow I
| Rarity | Weapon | Attack | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |  Blazing Bow ICraft | 79 | |
| 4 | Blazing Bow IUpgrade | 113 | |
| 5 | Blazing Bow IUpgrade | 157 | |
| 6 | Blazing Bow IIUpgrade | 211 | |
| 7 | Blazing Bow IIUpgrade | 274 |
|