RuneScape Dragonwilds Guide | How to Upgrade Weapons and Gear with Ascension Cores

Ascension Cores let you increase the Power Level of eligible Masterwork and Vestige equipment in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. The upgrade is performed at a Mystic Forge, but ordinary equipment made directly from metals such as Bronze or Adamant cannot use the Ascension system.

Open Ascension Upgrades at the Mystic Forge

Interact with a Mystic Forge and select Ascension Upgrades instead of the normal Crafting or Repairing options. This menu displays eligible equipment and the Ascension Core required for its next Power Level.

Craft the Required Ascension Core

Most Ascension Cores require 99 Ascension Shards matching the destination Power Level, along with tier-appropriate Bars, Leather, and Cloth. For example, Ascension Core 4 requires Power Level 4 shards and raises eligible lower-level equipment to Power Level 4. Core 5 handles the move from Power Level 4 to 5, while Core 6 upgrades Power Level 5 equipment to 6.

In the current version, Power Level 7 Ascension Cores are obtained directly from Nightmare Crucibles rather than through the old Power Level 7 shard recipe. Power Level 8 Ascension Cores can be crafted using 99 Power Level 8 Ascension Shards, 10 Rune Bars, 10 Black Dragon Leather, and 10 Vis Cloth.

Ascend Your Weapon or Armour

Place an eligible Masterwork or Vestige item into the Ascension slot at the Mystic Forge and provide the core for the next Power Level. Confirming the upgrade consumes the core and increases the item's Power Level and base stats.

Continue using the appropriate Ascension Core for each additional level. An upgraded item displays an Ascension indicator, while an item at the highest currently available Power Level displays a star.

Weapons can scale differently depending on their original stats, so an ascended older weapon may perform slightly above or below another weapon that naturally starts at the same Power Level. Armour upgrades are more standardized and can bring older eligible sets up to the defensive values expected at the higher tier.

Using the correct Ascension Core at a Mystic Forge lets you keep eligible Masterwork and Vestige equipment competitive as you progress into higher Power Levels.

FAQ

Q. Can every weapon and armour piece use Ascension Cores?

A. No. Ascension is limited to supported Masterwork and Vestige equipment; standard ore-based gear does not automatically qualify.

Q. How many Ascension Shards are needed for one core?

A. Craftable Ascension Cores require 99 matching Ascension Shards along with the required tier-specific materials.

Q. Where do you get a Power Level 7 Ascension Core?

A. Power Level 7 Ascension Cores are obtained from Nightmare Crucibles; the unintended Power Level 7 shard recipe was removed in version 1.0.