There is not currently any system for creating items - instead the crafting system allows you to modify equipment you find in a number of ways. Each Crafting Room is used to work on different types of equipment but they all function in the same ways.
¶ Upgrade
Upgrading items increases the level of the item, and provides a small boost to the item's stats. This can be performed even when no one is in the room, and the upgrade is instantaneous. Each level costs one upgrade item, as well as a small amount of stone and metal that increases with the level of the item.
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| A level 16 Trinket upgraded to level 28. | |
¶ Reforge
Reforging items allows you to change the stat distribution of an item that is Rare or higher quality. This requires Chrome Readjusters and is performed instantly and without workers in the room. Just be aware that Chrome Readjusters are difficult to come by, and you will go through a lot of them.
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| Reforging an Intelligence weapon to get better stats. |
The cost of reforging is 3 readjusters regardless of rarity.
Note: Some clothing seems to be stuck on a limited selection of stats when reforging - for example you may get a Dissolved Cloth top that cycles between a mix of Intelligence, Fortitude and Utility, but always has extremely low Willpower and Agility. Its not clear if this is a bug or intentional, but watch out for it so you don't waste too many reforges trying to get a stat that is unavailable on that item.
¶ Enhance
Enhancing an item increases the rarity of an item. This requires one enhancement gem, and some stone and metal. Dresses require two enhancement gems. This also requires having characters working in the room, and often takes many hours to complete. Only one item can be enhanced at one time.
Enhancing an item provides only minimal improvements to the item's WAIFU stats. However, it significantly improves the DPS, DEF, Dodge and Crit stats of the item.
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| Three different Prototype Tesla Guns being enhanced from Common to Rare, Rare to Epic, and Epic to Legendary. |
Along with an improvement to equipment's stats, enhancing an item changes its appearance. In most cases this simply means changing the colors of the item - but the appearance of some clothing changes completely with each rarity.
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| Shorts | Mercenary | Cross |
| Irma's Top changes to match some of her Preset outfits. | ||
¶ Disassemble
Disassembling an item is used to create crafting supplies by destroying an item. This takes some time, but is much quicker than enhancing an item - also you can queue up many items to be disassembled and it occurs simultaneously while enhancing an item. The most common outcomes from disassembly are upgrade items, while chrome readjusters and enhancement gems are much less common. Still, collecting and disassembling gear is the most reliable way to fill up your crafting supplies. A word of warning - you cannot disassemble equipment on Champions on expeditions, but you can disassemble items being worn by characters in your shelter. Be very careful which items you select to disassemble or you may suddenly find your favorite weapon missing, or some of your Workers naked.