Gear Upgrade System
How to upgrade items to +10 and use Exaltations.
Item Upgrading (+0 to +10)
EQL introduces a gear upgrade system. Items can be upgraded from +0 to +10 through two methods:
Method 1: Merging Duplicates
Combine two copies of the same item to increase its + value. A +0 and +0 combine to make +1. A +1 and +1 make +2. This continues up to +10.
Method 2: Motes
Motes are a tiered drop currency that can be used as upgrade material in place of duplicate items. Different tiers of Motes exist for different item levels/ranges. Motes are found as normal drops from mobs throughout Norrath.
💡 Upgrade Strategy
Prioritize upgrading: Weapon → Chest → Shield → Helm → Rings → Rest. Each +1 adds stats and effectiveness. A +10 weapon is dramatically stronger than its base version.
Exaltations
Exaltations replace the classic EQ vendor augment system. They allow you to:
- Merge focus effects between items (e.g., take the heal focus from a robe and merge it to your chest)
- Merge proc effects (e.g., move a weapon proc to a different slot)
- Merge appearances (transmog — change how your gear looks)
Haste is NOT an Exaltation — it remains a separate stat on items.
Stat Caps
- Stats currently cap at 510
- Mix of hard caps, soft caps, and uncapped stats
- Haste cap: An upgraded 41% item + clicky/proc reaches cap. External haste buffs are less critical for geared characters.
Item Trading Rules
- Planar gear is no-trade
- Pre-planar gear (like Cloaked Flames) is tradable
- No level requirements on gear currently planned
- Recommended levels under consideration (player-friendly design)
Motes Farming Tips
- Higher level zones drop higher tier Motes
- Dungeon crawl mode offers bonus Mote rewards
- Group up for faster farming — 4-player groups clear faster
- Named mobs drop better Mote tiers