Upgradable Weapons - Final Fantasy XV Guide - IGN (2024)

In Final Fantasy XV, Noctis can find a variety of rare but potentially powerful Upgradable Weapons throughout the land of Eos. While mildly powerful on their own, these weapons can be given to Cid the Mechanic, an in exchange for certain Treasures, they can be upgraded to become even more powerful in combat - sometimes several times! Many times, upgrading a weapon may take time to prepare, requiring Noctis to go on a different quest or bounty hunt to pass the time.

Machinery Weapons

• Auto Crossbow
• Bioblaster
• Circular Saw
• Gravity Well
• Noiseblaster
• Drillbreaker

Special Moves of Machinery Weapons:

Elemental Weapons

• Engine Blade
• Drain Lance
• Force Stealer
• Plunderers
• Valiant
• Absorb Shield

See below for a list of weapons, where to find them, and how they can be upgraded.

Engine Blade

• Found: The Engine Blade is Noctis' starting weapon, but can only be upgraded after the end of Chapter 1: Departure.

Engine Blade II

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Engine Blade - and find and give him a Rusted Bit. Rusted Bits are common items found on the ground in various places, including along the ridge to the East of Hammerhead, or across the street from the Motel and Diner at Longwythe Rest Area, or at at the end of the ferry dock at Galdin Quay
• Time to Upgrade: The Engine Blade can be upgraded immediately without delay.

Engine Blade III

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Engine Blade II - and find and give him a Glass Gemstone. Glass Gemstones are less common than Rusted Bits, but can be found in various locations, including the building next to the street in Lestallum to the left of the Cup Noodle truck, or down the stairs and around the corner on the Eastern side of Old Lestallum, or on the North side of the lone cabin at Cape Caem.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least one quest or hunt and rest.

Ultima Blade

• How to Upgrade: The Ultima Blade is the final form of the Engine Blade, and can be upgraded from the Engine Blade III by doing Cid's quest - A Better Engine Blade III - and finding and giving him a Sturdy Helixhorn. This is a fairly rare item, and has a very small chance of dropping by breaking the appendage of Duplicorn's during the Old Lestallum Bounty Hunt - The Last Spiracorns or from Leukorns during the Old Lestallum Bounty Hunt - Scrap it Now! (Requires Hunter Rank 7). Both bounty hunts are repeatable.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least three quests or hunts and rest.

Drain Lance

• Found: The Drain Lance is automatically found by defeating the last group of enemies during Chapter 1: Departure - Ill Tidings. It can then be brought to Cid immediately in Chapter 2: No Turning Back.

Drain Lance II

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - Cid Sophiar, Master Mechanic - and find and give Cid a Metal Scrap. Metal Scraps are common items found on the ground in many locations - including three locations in Hammerhead: In the bushes by the road in front, at the southeastern corner of the parking lot, and behind the garage among tires and barrels. They can also be found at Longwythe Rest Area behind the Crow's Diner or along the motel rooms, and even on the main boardwalk of Galdin Quay leading to the resort.
• Time to Upgrade: The Drain Lance can be upgraded immediately with no delay.

Drain Lance III

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Drain Lance II - and find and give Cid Coeurl Whiskers. This item is fairly rare, and has a chance of dropping from Coeurls, found in areas like southwestern Duscae near Taelpar Rest area, or later on outside the Keycatrich Trench in northern Leide. They will also always drop from an Elder Coeurl, which can be hunted in the Taelpar Bounty Hunt - Old Denizens of the Woods.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least one hunt or bounty and rest.

Auto Crossbow

• Found: The Auto Crossbow machinery can first be found during the quest in Chapter 2: No Turning Back - The Power of Kings, inside Keycatrich Trench Dungeon. It is located in the door right after defeating the Arachne.

Auto Crossbow II

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Auto Crossbow - and find and give Cid a Cactaur Needle. This is a very rare item, and can either be found South of the Vesperpool (located by the curving road right before the dirt path on the Western road), or can be obtained by killing the very rare Slactuar that may appear in the early mornings either North of Alstor Slough, Northwest of Hammerhead, East of Steyliff Grove, and North of Fort Vaullerey.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least two quests or hunts and rest.

Bioblaster

• Found: The Bioblaster is a machinery weapon that can be found during Chapter 2: No Turning Back - Legacy, when Cor accompanies you to the entrance of the Keycatrich Trench Dungeon. Just to the left of the entrance on a small ridge you can find the weapon.

Bioblaster II

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Bioblaster - and find and give him a Dynamo. This is a fairly rare item, and can either be found outside of the Glacial Grotto Dungeon in Cleigne where the high level Midgardsormr is found. It can also potentially drop from certain Magitek Arm mechs, like the MA-Veles fought during the quest Engaging the Empire, or the MA-Veles-Bis, or the high level MA-Hoplomachus found at Formouth Garrison.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least two quests or hunts and rest.

Circular Saw

• Found: The Circular Saw is a machinery weapon automatically looted by fighting Loqi's MA-X Cuirass during the end of Chapter 2: No Turning Back - Declaration of War.

Circular Saw Plus

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Circular Saw - and find and give him a Sky Gemstone. This is a rare item that can only be found by completing A Feline Feast, found in Cape Caem at the end of Chapter 8: Seaworthy, or you can find it in Lestallum, near the Newfields building on a table by the street.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least two quests or hunts and rest.

Gravity Well

• Found: The Gravity Well is a machinery weapon located at Aracheole Stronghold, which can be found either during Chapter 5: Dark Clouds - Engaging the Empire, or re-entering the base later. It is found in the large hangar in the middle of the base, in a tiny building against the south wall of the hangar.

Gravity Well Plus

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Gravity Well - and find and give him a Hydraulic Cylinder. This is a rare item that can be found in Cleigne, North of Fort Vallerey, just to the West of Old Lestallum. It can be found on the floor in Chapter 13 in the top leftroom of the puzzle where you open and close the 3 circuit breakers.It can also be obtained by defeating an MA-X Patria, which may appear from an Empire Dropship after Chapter 5.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least two quests or hunts and rest.

Noiseblaster

• Found: The Noiseblaster is a machinery weapon located at Fort Vaullerey, and can be obtained during Chapter 6: A Way Forward - All Set to Sail. It can either be found during the quest after capturing the enemy commander, and looking in a small building to the left of a locked gate that the commander was heading to - or you can go back to the base after the quest is over.

Noiseblaster Plus

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Noiseblaster - and find and give him a Magnetron. This is a very rare item, only found in Graela during Chapter 13, in a locked room south of the third rest area, which requires a security clearance to open. There is also a very rare chance of obtaining the item from defeating the MA-Hoplomachus at Formouth Garrison in Leide.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least two quests or hunts and rest.

Drillbreaker

• Found: The Drillbreaker is a machinery weapon that can only be found deep within Formouth Garrison (recommended level 45 or higher), a very heavily defended base in Northern Leide that requires you to defeat powerful bosses before you can explore the base. Once dealt with, you can find the weapon at the top right of the base, to the left of a large sealed hangar.

Drillbreaker Plus

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Drillbreaker - and find and give him a Magitek Core. This rare item can actually be obtained by defeating the MA-X Dux boss inside Formouth Garrison, or by finding one in Graela during Chapter 13, located South of the third rest area, going right down a long corridor near where you fight the Uttu and upgrade your security clearance.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least two quests or hunts and rest.

Absorb Shield

• Found: Like the Force Stealer, Plunderers, and Valiant - the Absorb Shield can possibly be obtained by trading in four Caem Carrots harvested through the Living Off the Land side quest at the end of Chapter 8: Seaworthy. Trade four carrots to Tony for a chance to get the weapon.

Absorb Shield II

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Absorb Shield - and find and give him Spiked Armor. This rare item has a chance of being obtained by breaking the appendage of a Skarnbullete, which can be hunted at the Cauthess Rest Area bounty - Hamer the Cannibals.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least one quest or hunt and rest.

Plunderers

• Found: Like the Force Stealer, Absorb Shield, and Valiant - the Plunderers are daggers that can possibly be obtained by trading in four Caem Carrots harvested through the Living Off the Land side quest at the end of Chapter 8: Seaworthy. Trade four carrots to Tony for a chance to get the weapon.

Plunderers II

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Pair of Plunderers - and find and give him a Barbed Scythe. This rare item can only found by defeating the Killer Wasps that inhabit the Malmalam Thicket in Southwestern Duscae on the road to Cape Caem.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least one quest or hunt and rest.

Valiant

• Found: Like the Force Stealer, Absorb Shield, and Plunderers - the Valiant pistol can possibly be obtained by trading in four Caem Carrots harvested through the Living Off the Land side quest at the end of Chapter 8: Seaworthy. Trade four carrots to Tony for a chance to get the weapon.

Valiant II

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Valiant - and find and give him an Earth Gemstone. This item can be found in areas like West behind Tealpar Rest Area in Duscae, or in the small water-filled crater Southeast of Cauthess Rest Area, or down the stairs on the East side of Old Lestallum.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least one quest or hunt and rest.

Force Stealer

• Found: Like the Plunderers, Absorb Shield, and Valiant - the Force Stealer greatsword can possibly be obtained by trading in four Caem Carrots harvested through the Living Off the Land side quest at the end of Chapter 8: Seaworthy. Trade four carrots to Tony for a chance to get the weapon.

Force Stealer II

• How to Upgrade: Start Cid's quest - A Better Force Stealer - and find and give him a Monster Claw. This very rare item can only be obtained by defeating the Bandersnatch that guards the Malmalam Thicket dungeon in far Southwestern Duscae.
• Time to Upgrade: Complete at least one quest or hunt and rest.