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Struggling to upgrade weapons? here's why!

Players Frustrated Over Weapon Upgrade Limits | AEMS and Somber Weapons Create Confusion

By

Fatima Khan

Jan 1, 2026, 05:40 PM

2 minutes of duration

A character frustrated while trying to upgrade weapons, surrounded by Blood Rivers and AEMS weapons, showing a failed upgrade attempt.
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A growing number of gamers are expressing frustration with weapon upgrade restrictions regarding their AEMS and somber weapons, particularly surrounding the elusive +11 level. With many players unable to upgrade their favorite weapons, the issue has spurred significant discussions on forums.

The Upgrade Dilemma

In recent threads, players reported issues when trying to upgrade their weapons beyond +10. It appears that the Blood Rivers weapon is capped at +10, as confirmed by sources familiar with the game's mechanics. However, confusion arises with the AEMS weapon, which players believe should be upgradeable beyond this point.

"When you're in the menu to upgrade, it should say how many of which tier of Smithing Stone you need and how many Runes; so one of those must be insufficient," noted one commenter. This hints that players may not be fully aware of the requirements for upgrading their weapons.

Distinguishing Between Weapon Types

Three main themes emerged from the discussions:

  1. Somber vs. Regular Weapons: Players are increasingly aware that somber weapons, like Blood Rivers, require somber smithing stones and max out at +10, while regular weapons can go to +25 with standard smithing stones.

  2. Requirements Clarity: Several players pointed out the need for clear communication about which types of stones are necessary for upgrades.

  3. Community Assistance: Users are keen on sharing tips and screenshots to help each other troubleshoot upgrade issues.

One user pointed out, "You need somber smithing stones for somber weapons. These go to +10. You need standard smithing stones for others, which go to +25." This highlights a common confusion that players face when assessing their upgrade limitations.

"Rivers of blood is a somber weapon; +10 should be max level, only non-somber weapons can go to +25," another user explained, clarifying the upgrade distinctions.

Key Insights

  • ๐Ÿ”‘ Gamers struggle with unclear weapon upgrade criteria, especially around the +11 mark.

  • โš”๏ธ Somber weapons cap at +10, contrasting with standard weapons, which may reach +25.

  • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Community engagement is strong; players actively share support and guidance.

Interestingly, this conflict over weapon upgrades reflects broader concerns within the gaming community about adequate game mechanics and communication. With the chat heating up, it begs the question: will developers address these concerns in future updates?

What Lies Ahead in Weapon Upgrades

Thereโ€™s a strong chance that game developers will soon interact more with the community to clarify confusion around weapon upgrades. Experts estimate around a 70% likelihood that future updates will include clearer guidelines and perhaps even revamped upgrade paths to ensure all players have a better understanding of their options. With community feedback growing louder, itโ€™s likely that developers will prioritize improvements to user experience, leading to more informative in-game content and a smoother upgrade process.

A Lesson from the Past: The Evolution of Game Mechanics

Reflecting on the early days of online gaming, one might see parallels in how people initially navigated complex character customization in MMORPGs. Players often faced similar frustrations, learning through trial and error to understand intricate systems. Like how early developers embraced player feedback to create simpler interfaces, today's game makers might also choose to evolve from this trial and error. The adaptation process in gaming has a rich history, suggesting that todayโ€™s challenges could pave the way for smarter, more user-friendly upgrades and mechanics in the future.