Last updated on November 20th, 2019

Lower rarity weapons will have more augment slots, exactly how it used to be in base game. I think Stygian Zinogre patch will add an extra slot to all weapons, but that's it. Slot is okay but not really for rarity 8 weapons because it's only 1 lvl 1 slot. That's not really helpful at all. It'd be better on a lower rarity where you could have multiple slot augments and get more than just 1 lvl 1. Attack is only good if you already have high affinity. And Defense is both great and bad. Although lower-rarity weapons are typically weaker than higher-rarity weapons, they actually get more augment slots. This can make them just as viable or even more viable than alternatives with.

Monster Hunter World Iceborne Guardian Armor Limits Despite the + marking on the Guardian Armor Set acts similarly to a high rank armor. It completely maxes out at 82 defense and with only 2 x level 1 decoration slots, this set will be limited to what it can provide.

Monster Hunter World Iceborne has re-worked the Augment System for weapons. In this guide I will go over the Augment System along with the required materials.

More Augment Slots Mhw Shara

Monster Hunter World Iceborne Augment System Guide

Back in Monster Hunter World, a weapon could be augmented a set amount of times depending on its rarity. Each augment type was weighted the same. In Iceborne, each augment type has a different “weight” or cost assigned to them and each weapon’s socket number is based on rarity. Below you will find each Augment‘s, sockets, costs and limits.

Yellow Text means that it was added in the Rajang update.

Augment’s Socket Usage & Benefit

  • Attack
    • 1st Attack Augment takes 3 sockets
    • 2nd Attack Augment takes 2 sockets
    • 3rd Attack Augment takes 2 sockets
    • 4th Attack Augment takes 2 sockets
    • Each Attack Augment provides 5 true raw to the weapon
  • Affinity
    • Each Affinity Augment takes 2 sockets
    • 1st Affinity Augment provides 10% Affinity to weapon
    • 2nd Affinity Augment provides 5% Affinity to weapon
    • 3rd Affinity Augment provides 5% Affinity to weapon
    • 4th Affinity Augment provides 5% Affinity to weapon
  • Defense
    • 1st Defense Augment takes 1 socket and provides 15 extra defense along with a % chance to lessen damage taken
    • 2nd Defense Augment takes 1 socket and provides 10 extra defense along with a % chance to lessen damage taken
    • 3rd Defense Augment takes 1 socket and provides 10 extra defense along with a % chance to lessen damage taken
    • 4th Defense Augment takes 2 sockets and provides 15 extra defense along with a % chance to lessen damage taken
  • (Decoration) Slot
    • 1st (Decoration) Slot Augment takes 3 sockets and provides 1 level 1 Decoration slot.
    • 2nd (Decoration) Slot Augment takes 3 sockets and upgrades the previous level 1 Decoration slot into a level 2 Decoration slot.
    • 3rd (Decoration) Slot Augment takes 1 socket and upgrades the previous level 2 Decoration slot into a level 3 Decoration slot.
    • 4th (Decoration) Slot Augment takes 1 socket and upgrades the previous level 3 Decoration slot into a level 4 Decoration slot.
  • Health
    • 1st Health Augment takes 3 sockets and recovers a tiny bit of health in proportion to damage dealt to an enemy
    • 2nd Health Augment takes 2 sockets and recovers a bit of health in proportion to damage dealt to an enemy
    • 3rd Health Augment takes 2 sockets and recovers health in proportion to damage dealt to an enemy
    • 4th Health Augment takes 2 sockets and recovers a lot of health in proportion to damage dealt to an enemy
  • Element/Status Effect Up
    • 1st Element/Status Effect Up Augment takes 1 socket and increases the weapon’s element by 30
    • 2nd Element/Status Effect Up Augment takes 2 socket and increases the weapon’s element by 30
    • 3rd Element/Status Effect Up Augment takes 2 socket and increases the weapon’s element by 30
    • 4th Element/Status Effect Up Augment takes 2 socket and increases the weapon’s element by 30

Rarity 10 Augment’s Costs in Iceborne

Sockets’ Limits & Costs

Starts at 5 sockets can be augmented to 7

  • 3 Spiritvein Slogbone
  • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
  • 3 Tempered Great Horn

Previous limit of 7 sockets can now be augmented to 9

  • 1 Spiritvein Gem
  • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
  • 3 Tempered Glimmerpelt

Attack’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Attack Augment
    • 9 Flickering Flamepelt
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Wasteland Cragbone
  • 2nd Attack Augment
    • 7 Twisted Temperhorn
    • 5 Crackling Thunderpelt
    • 3 Dragonvein Solidbone
    • 3 Tempered Cragbone
  • 3rd Attack Augment
    • 7 Tempered Jaw
    • 3 Tempered Red Scale
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 1 Guiding Wasteland Dragonbone
  • 4th Attack Augment
    • 7 Tempered Glimmerpelt
    • 5 Heavy Jaw
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 5 Simmering Wildbone

Affinity’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Affinity Augment
    • 9 Colorful Plume
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Decayed Crystal
  • 2nd Affinity Augment
    • 9 Stormcall Steelwing
    • 5 Assassin Cutwing
    • 3 Dragonvein Solidbone
    • 5 Forest Crystal
  • 3rd Affinity Augment
    • 7 Tempered Cutwing
    • 3 Tempered Cathode
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 3 Prosperous Crystal
  • 4th Affinity Augment
    • 7 Tempered Blastscale
    • 5 Incandscent Magmafin
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 5 Magma Crystal

Defense’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Defense Augment
    • 9 Rugged Mane
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Mossy Greatbone
  • 2nd Defense Augment
    • 9 Fragrant Poison Sac
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Woodland Greatbone
  • 3rd Defense Augment
    • 9 Obsidian Fur
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Slumbering Greatbone
  • 4th Defense Augment
    • 7 King’s Scale
    • 5 Ancient Great Horn
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 1 Guiding Forest Dragonbone

(Decoration) Slot’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Slot Augment
    • 9 Blackcurl Tyranthorn
    • 5 Crackling Thunderpelt
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Wasteland Crystal
  • 2nd Slot Augment
    • 9 Moonlight Scale
    • 5 Charged Deathly Shocker
    • 3 Dragonvein Solidbone
    • 3 Serene Crystal
  • 3rd Slot Augment
    • 7 Tempered Azure Mane
    • 3 Tempered Hide
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 1 Guiding Wasteland Crystal
  • 4th Slot Augment
    • 7 Tempered Gold Scale
    • 5 Metallic Scute
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 5 Melted Crystal

Health’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Health Augment
    • 7 Tempered Rendclaw
    • 5 Inkstained Oilshell+
    • 3 Spiritvein Slogbone
    • 5 Effluvial Frenzybone
  • 2nd Health Augment
    • 7 Tempered Tailblade
    • 5 Strongman’s Jaw
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 3 Afflicted Frenzybone
  • 3rd Health Augment
    • 7 Tempered Twilight Fang
    • 3 Tempered Talon
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 1 Guiding Rotted Dragonbone
  • 4th Health Augment
    • 7 Tempered Silver Scale
    • 5 Crimson Blastscale
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 5 Volcanic Wildbone

Element/Status Effect Up’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 9 Dazzling Photophore+
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Pale Crystal
  • 2nd Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 9 Smooth Icehide
    • 5 Rubbery Shell
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Coral Crystal
  • 3rd Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 9 Enchanting Finehide
    • 5 Honed Tailblade
    • 3 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Deepsea Crystal
  • 4th Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 7 Tempered Azure Horn
    • 3 Tempered Pink Scale
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 1 Guiding Coral Crystal

Custom Upgrade Limits

Custom Upgrade now can be done 6 times compared to 5 before the Rajang Update.

Level 1

  • Kulu-Ya-Ku Mod (Affinity)
    • 5 Colorful Plume
    • 6 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Cracked Crystal
  • Jyuratodus Mod (Element & Abnormal Status Effect)
    • 2 Jyuratodaus Hardfang
    • 9 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Weathered Cragbone
  • Tzitzi-ya-Ku Mod (Attack)
    • 5 Dazzling Photophore+
    • 6 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Vivid Crimsonbone

Level 2

  • Banbaro Mod (Attack)
    • 5 Ancient Great Horn
    • 6 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 7 Wasteland Crystal
  • Tobi-Kadachi Mod (Element & Abnormal Status Effect)
    • 5 Blinding Cathode
    • 6 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 7 Woodland Greatbone
  • Hornetaur Mod (Affinity)
    • 6 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 7 Effuvial Crystal
    • 7 Effuvial Frenzybone

Level 3

  • Anjanath Mod (Attack)
    • 5 Flickering Flamepelt
    • 6 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 10 Forest Crystal
  • Viper Tobi-Kadachi Mod (Affinity)
    • 2 Viper Tobi-Kadachi Thorn
    • 9 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 10 Coral Crystal
  • Legiana Mod (Element & Abnormal Status Effect)
    • 5 Smooth Icehide
    • 6 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 10 Coral Crimsonbone

Level 4

  • Glavenus Mod (Element & Abnormal Status Effect)
    • 5 Smoldering Tailedge
    • 6 Dragonvein Solidbone
    • 7 Tempered Cragbone
  • Fulgur Anjanath Mod (Affinity)
    • 5 Crackling Thunderpelt
    • 6 Dragonvein Solidbone
    • 7 Deepsea Crystal
  • Acidic Glavenus Mod (Attack)
    • 5 Honed Tailblade
    • 6 Dragonvein Solidbone
    • 7 Afflicted Frenzybone

Level 5

  • Zorah Magdaros Mod (Element & Abnormal Status Effect)
    • 6 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Guiding Wasteland Dragonbone
    • 3 Guiding Wasteland Crystal
    • 1 Spiritvein Gem Shard
  • Vaal Hazak Mod (Affinity)
    • 5 Twilight Fang
    • 6 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Guiding Rotted Dragonbone
    • 1 Spiritvein Gem Shard
  • Nergiganted Mod (Attack)
    • 5 Extinction Greathorn
    • 6 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Guiding Forest Dragonbone
    • 1 Spiritvein Gem Shard

Level 6

  • Brachydios Mod (Attack)
    • 5 Tempered Ebonshell
    • 6 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Guiding Volcanic Dragonbone
    • 1 Spiritvein Gem
  • Uragaan Mod (Element & Abnormal Status Effect)
    • 5 Tempered Scute
    • 6 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Guiding Magma Crystal
    • 1 Spiritvein Gem
  • Vaal Hazak Mod+ (Affinity)
    • 5 Tempered Twilight Fang
    • 6 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Guiding Magma Crystal
    • 1 Spiritvein Gem

Rarity 11 Augments Costs in Iceborne

Sockets’ Limits & Costs

Starts at 4 sockets can be augmented to 5

  • 1 Spiritvein Gem
  • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
  • 3 Tempered Crownhorn

Previous limit of 5 sockets can now be augmented to 6

  • 1 Great Spiritvein Gem
  • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
  • 4 Tempered Glimmerpelt

Attack’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Attack Augment
    • 9 Fatal Rendclaw
    • 5 Ancient Great Horn
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Vibrant Crimsonbone
  • 2nd Attack Augment
    • 9 Scorching Scale
    • 5 Solemn Azure Horn
    • 3 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 1 Guiding Coral Dragonbone

Affinity’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Affinity Augment
    • 9 Sinister Silverpelt
    • 5 Crackling Thunderpelt
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Prosperous Crystal
  • 2nd Affinity Augment
    • 7 Tempered Azure Scale
    • 3 Tempered Thunderpelt
    • 3 Spiritvein Slogbone
    • 1 Guiding Forest Crystal
  • 3rd Affinity Augment
    • 7 Tempered Blastscale
    • 3 Tempered Magmanfin
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 3 Hellfire Crystal

Defense’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Defense Augment
    • 9 Muddy Crown
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Cracked Crystal
    • 3 Weathered Cragbone
  • 2nd Defense Augment
    • 9 Queen’s Scale
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Wasteland Crystal
  • 3rd Defense Augment
    • 9 Twisted Bravehorn
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Serene Crystal
  • 4th Defense Augment
    • 7 Tempered Crown
    • 3 Spiritvein Slogbone
    • 1 Guiding Wasteland Crystal

(Decoration) Slot’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Slot Augment
    • 9 Hellfire Mane
    • 3 Tempered Flamepelt
    • 3 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Tempered Cragbone
  • 2nd Slot Augment
    • 7 Tempered Ebonshell
    • 3 Tempered Scute
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 5 Volcanic Wildbone

Health’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Health Augment
    • 7 Tempered Silverpelt
    • 3 Tempered Poison Sac
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 3 Slumbering Greatbone
  • 2nd Health Augment
    • 7 Splattered Hide
    • 3 Tempered Green Scale
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 1 Guiding Forest Dragonbone

Element/Status Effect Up’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 9 Night Hood
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Distorted Crystal
    • 3 Malformed Frenzybone
  • 2nd Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 9 Strongman’s Jaw
    • 5 Inkstained Oilshell+
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Effluvial Crystal
  • 3rd Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 9 Twilight Fang
    • 5 Soulrender Talon
    • 3 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Twilight Crystal

Rarity 12 Augments Costs in Iceborne

Sockets’ Limits & Costs

Starts at 3 sockets can be augmented to 4

  • 1 Great Spiritvein Gem
  • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
  • 5 Extinction Greathorn

Previous limit of 4 sockets can now be augmented to 5

  • 1 Great Spiritvein Gem
  • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
  • 5 Tempered Glimmerpelt

Attack’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Attack Augment
    • 7 Tempered Steelwing
    • 5 Bloodstained Ebonhide
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 5 Slumbering Greatbone
  • 2nd Attack Augment
    • 7 Tempered Silver Scale
    • 5 Bloodthirsty Glimmerpelt
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 3 Dragonscorched Wildbone

Affinity’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Affinity Augment
    • 9 Smoldering Tailedge
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Serene Crystal
  • 2nd Affinity Augment
    • 7 Tempered Crimson Mane
    • 5 Azure Mane
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 1 Guilding Wasteland Crystal

Defense’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Defense Augment
    • 9 Rubbery Shell
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Vivid Crimsonbone
  • 2nd Defense Augment
    • 9 Hydrated Sac
    • 3 Fierce Dragonvein Bone
    • 5 Coral Crimsonbone
  • 3rd Defense Augment
    • 7 Tempered Icehide
    • 3 Heavy Dragonvein Bone
    • 3 Vivid Crimsonbone
  • 4th Defense Augment
    • 7 Tempered Ebonshell
    • 5 Heavy Jaw
    • 3 Dragonscorched Wildbone

(Decoration) Slot’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Slot Augment
    • 7 Blackcurl Temperhorn
    • 5 Aurora Crownhorn
    • 3 Dragonvein Solidbone
    • 1 Guiding Wasteland Dragonbone

Health’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Health Augment
    • 7 Tempered Trancehide
    • 5 Charged Deathly Shocker
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 1 Guiding Coral Dragonbone
  • 2nd Health Augment
    • 7 Tempered Silver Scale
    • 3 Tempered Blastscale
    • 3 Elder Spiritvein Bone
    • 1 Guiding Volcanic Dragonbone

Element/Status Effect Up’s Limits & Costs

  • 1st Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 7 Tempered Oilshell+
    • 5 Fatal Rendclaw
    • 3 Spiritvein Slogbone
    • 3 Twilight Crystal
  • 2nd Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 9 Shuddering Darkjaw
    • 5 Twilight Fang
    • 3 Elder Dragonvein Bone
    • 1 Guiding Effluvial Crystal
  • 3rd Element/Status Effect Up Augment
    • 7 Tempered Gold Scale
    • 5 Glossy Ebonshell
    • 3 Spiritvein Solidbone
    • 1 Guiding Magma Crystal

If you enjoyed this MHW guide be sure to check out more in Monster Hunter World Iceborne All Layered Armor Guide and Monster Hunter World Iceborne Mantles & Boosters Upgrade Guide. You can also track all the Iceborne Pendants in our Monster Hunter World Iceborne All Pendants Guide.

Wondering how weapon augments work in Master Rank for Monster Hunter World Iceborne?

Here’s a quick guide to teach you the basics of how to upgrade your favorite tools of monster destruction.

Augmenting your Master Rank weapons starts in earnest once you finish the game’s main campaign. That’s because augmenting requires gathered items and monster drops from the Guiding Lands, which isn’t unlocked until you beat Iceborne’s last boss.

Mhw© Capcom The special Guardian Armor in Monster Hunter World Iceborne for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Before we go to the basics to augmenting Master Rank weapons in Monster Hunter World Iceborne, however, let’s address one of the common concerns raised by players.

What’s going to happen to my High Rank augments?

Upgrading High Rank weapons still works the same way that it used to. That means using specific Streamstones that are tailored to each weapon.

Once you upgrade a weapon to its Master Rank counterpart, however, all those augments get wiped out. The good news is that you get back all the mats that you used to augment that particular weapon. Note that Master Rank augmenting uses a different method as well as different mats so you can’t use those same exact materials anymore.

MORE MONSTER HUNTER WORLD ICEBORNE GUIDES

The changes in augmenting Master Rank weapons in Iceborne end up being a net positive, however, because you no longer have to play the grindy World slot machine for weapon-based Streamstones (though getting them from the Elder Melder is an option, too).

You will still need to grind for different materials, however, which can end up taking a lot of time. In fact, the reason this is a Weapon Augmenting 101 guide and not an advanced augmenting guide is because I don’t nearly have enough materials to upgrade weapons for multiple cycles, and that’s after playing Guiding Lands a lot. Materials also can be acquired from the material but it requires bartering other Guiding Lands materials so you'll need to go to the new island regardless.

To summarize, here are the key points for weapon upgrading:

  • Rarity 10 or higher weapons that have been upgraded to the maximum level on the weapon tree or Rarity 8 or lower weapons that have been previously augmented can be powered up through customized augmentation.
  • Iceborne adds a new augment category for increasing elemental and status damage.
  • The number of augment slots changes depending on weapon rarity. You can also upgrade a weapon to increase its number of augment slots.

Now let’s take a look at the two methods for upgrading Master Rank weapons:

Slot-based augment

This is the normal augmenting method for Iceborne and requires you to use a weapon’s built-in slots in order to perform upgrades. Instead of using Streamstones, you now use materials that you acquire from monsters and gathering spots, typically from the Guiding Lands.

This method lets you do seven types of augments, with six of those requiring a certain number of slots to activate:

Extra Slots: This augment allows you to increase the number of slots in a weapon. The first upgrade adds two augment slots.

Attack Increase: This initially requires 3 weapon slots and boosts a weapon’s raw damage. The first upgrade adds 16 points of base raw to the weapon. Using the Anjanath Lohenspire Insect Glaive as an example, the weapon’s attack was boosted from 837 to 853 after the first upgrade, an increase of about 2%. A Kadachi Vipertail II, meanwhile was boosted from 775 to 791.

Affinity Increase: This initially requires 2 weapon slots and raises the chances of inflicting a critical strike. The first upgrade increases a weapon’s affinity by 10%.

Defense Increase: This augment initially requires 1 weapon slot and grants +15 defense after the first upgrade.

Slot Upgrade: This initially requires 3 weapons slots. It adds an additional slot to your weapon for inserting jewels or decorations. The first upgrade adds a Level 1 slot.

Health Regen: This augment initially requires 3 weapon slots. It allows a hunter to recover a portion of his or her health when damaging an enemy.

Element/Status Effect Up: This initially requires 1 weapon slot and can increase either elemental or status damage depending on the weapon. The first upgrade provides a boost to your base elemental or status value of 30 points. The Lohenspire glaive, for example, saw its fire element go up from 450 to 480. The Kadachi Vipertail II also saw a 30-point increase to its Paralysis value from 240 to 270.

You can also evolve upgrade categories by continuing to upgrade a weapon. Augmenting the Kadachi Vipertail II’s status values a second time, for example, adds an additional 30-point increase in paralysis attack on top of the initial 30 points from the first upgrade.

Do note that additional upgrades require more slots. Using a Chrome Drill III, for example, the first elemental/status upgrade required 1 augment slot while the second required an additional 2 augments slots for a grand total of 3 augment slots.

Just like the previous augment system, you will also have to decide if it’s better to focus on one type of augment such as multiple levels of Health Regen, for example, or combine multiple augments such as affinity plus attack. On the plus side, you can also roll back or remove upgrades in case you’ve made a mistake or simply change your mind.

Custom Upgrades augment

This second type of upgrade ignores the slot requirement, allowing you to add any type of boost for your weapon. The catch is that it only adds incremental boosts so you will need to do it multiple times to make a noticeable difference. It also requires a lot of mats, which means you will need to do a lot of farming for monsters and materials in the Guiding Lands. Custom upgrades start with a few choices and more are unlocked as you upgrade a weapon. Here’s an example using the Chrome Drill III:

Kulu Ya Ku Mod: Slightly increases affinity. Using a Chrome Drill III, upgrading the weapon once raised its affinity from 0% to 1%.

Pukei-Pukei Mod: Slightly increases element or abnormal status damage. Using the same drill, upgrading the weapon once raised status damage by 10 points from 420 to 430.

Barroth Mod: Slightly increases attack. Using the Chrome Drill III once again, base raw attack was raised by 2 points from 598 to 600.

After using the Pukei-Pukei Mod on the weapon, the following options were unlocked.

Dodogama Mod: Works just like the Barroth Mod. Adds 2 points of base raw attack to the weapon.

Nightshade Paolumu Mod: Works just like the Kulu Ya Ku Mod. Adds 1% affinity to the weapon.

Coral Pukei-Pukei Mod: Works just like the Pukei-Pukei Mod. Adds 10 points of elemental or status damage to a weapon.

Hornetaur Mod: Adds +10 Defense to your weapon.

As with slot-based augmenting, you also have the ability to remove a custom upgrade that you’ve done if you change your mind and have your materials returned. Also note that not all weapons support custom upgrades.

© Capcom Aloy faces off against Stygian Zinogre in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.

Weapon Augmenting 201: Rarity & materials

Now we go past the basics a bit by tackling some of the more advanced concepts regarding augments.

First off is weapon rarity level. Master Rank weapons in Iceborne range from Rarity 10 to rarity 12. Although lower-rarity weapons are typically weaker than higher-rarity weapons, they actually get more augment slots. This can make them just as viable or even more viable than alternatives with higher rarity.

The base Rarity 10 Crimson Kadachi Lion II, for example, pales in comparison to the Rarity 11 Nargacuga Baleful Night as a pierce heavy bowgun despite its jewel slot due to extra affinity and access to Non-elemental Boost. Thanks to its additional augment slots, however, the Crimson Kadachi is considered by many as arguably the better option once upgraded.

Here are the number of available augment slots for weapons based on rarity:

  • Rarity 10: 5 augment sockets, can be increased to 9
  • Rarity 11: 4 augment sockets, can be increased to 6
  • Rarity 12: 3 augment sockets, can be increased to 5

Depending on the augment you do, you will need a certain number of slots to upgrade your weapon. Here is a rundown of the slot requirements for each augment type.

AFFINITY

  • Affinity Augment 1: 2 slots
  • Affinity Augment 2: 2 slots (4 total)
  • Affinity Augment 3: 2 slots (6 total)
  • Affinity Augment 4: 2 slots (8 total)

More Augment Slots Mhw Quest

ATTACK

  • Attack Augment 1: 3 slots
  • Attack Augment 2: 2 slots (5 total)
  • Attack Augment 3: 2 slots (7 total)
  • Attack Augment 4: 2 slots (9 total)

DEFENSE

  • Defense Augment 1: 1 slot
  • Defense Augment 2: 1 slot (2 total)
  • Defense Augment 3: 1 slot (3 total)
  • Defense Augment 4: 2 slots (5 total)

HEALTH RECOVERY

  • Health Augment 1: 3 slots
  • Health Augment 2: 2 slots (5 total)
  • Health Augment 3: 2 slots (7 total)
  • Health Augment 4: 2 slots (9 total)

ELEMENT

  • Defense Augment 1: 1 slot
  • Defense Augment 2: 2 slots (3 total)
  • Defense Augment 3: 2 slots (5 total)
  • Defense Augment 4: 2 slots (7 total)

SLOTS

  • Slot Augment 1: 3 slots, adds a Level 1 deco slot
  • Slot Augment 2: 3 slots (6 total), turns additional Level 1 slot to Level 2
  • Slot Augment 3: 1 slot (7 total), turns additional Level 2 slot to Level 3
  • Slot Augment 4: 1 slot (8 total), turns additional Level 3 slot to Level 4
© Capcom The Well-done hammer from the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Grand Appreciation Fest.

List of augment materials and how to get them

How To Get More Augment Slots Mhw

So now you’re wondering, where do I get the materials I need for augments? All I can say is, get ready to familiarize yourself with the Guiding Lands. That’s because you will need special materials for augments, including drops that only come from monsters in the special endgame island. In addition to monster drops, you will also need ores and bones that only appear in the Guiding Lands’ various regions as well. Note that some of these materials require you to level up gathering spots by constantly harvesting them.

On that note, here’s a list of the various materials that can be used for augments and which monster or gathering spot drops them. There’s more than 120 of them, which I am verifying one by one via the wiki and online searches so here’s an alphabetical list that will be updated as I check the info. Also, here's a quick note about monster threat levels.

Threat Level 1: These are your less powerful monsters such as Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, Pukei-Pukei, Barroth and Banbaro.

Threat Level 2: These are more powerful, middle-tier monsters like Zinogre, Brachydios, Diablos, Glavenus, Nargacuga, Azure Rathalos and Brute Tigrex.

Threat Level 3: The pinnacle of monster-dom. These include Rajang, Savage Deviljho, Seething Bazelgeuse, Stygian Zinogre, Silver Rathalos, Gold Rathian and Elder Dragons.

Now onward to the materials...

  • Aurora Crownhorn: Velkhana
  • Azure Mane: Lunastra
  • Blackcurl Tyranthorn: Black Diablos
  • Bloodstained Ebonhide: Savage Deviljho
  • Bloodthirsty Glimmerpelt: Rajang
  • Charged Deathly Shocker: Zinogre
  • Colorful Plume: Kulu-Ya-Ku
  • Coral Crimsonbone: Coral Region bonepiles
  • Cracked Crystal: Wildspire Region mining
  • Crackling Thunderpelt: Fulgur Anjanath
  • Crimson Blastscale: Seething Bazelgeuse
  • Dazzling Photospore+: Tzitzi-Ya-Ku
  • Decayed Crystal: Forest Region mining
  • Deepsea Crystal: Coral Region mining
  • Distorted Crystal: Rotten Region mining
  • Dragonscorched Wildbone: Volcanic Region bonepiles
  • Dragonvein Solidbone: Non-tempered large monsters
  • Effluvial Crystal: Rotten Region mining
  • Effluvial Frenzybone: Rotten Region bonepiles
  • Elder Dragonvein Bone: Elder Dragons
  • Elder Spiritvein Bone: Tempered Elder Dragons
  • Enchanting Finehide: Namielle
  • Extinction Greathorn: Ruiner Nergigante
  • Fatal Rendclaw: Odogaron
  • Fierce Dragonvein Bone: Non-tempered lower threat monster (e.g. Great Jagras, Pukei-Pukei, Anjanath, Rathian)
  • Flickering Flamepelt: Anjanath
  • Forest Crystal: Forest Region mining
  • Fragrant Poison Sac: Pukei-Pukei
  • Glossy Ebonshell: Brachydios
  • Great Spiritvein Gem: Tempered Elder Dragons
  • Guiding Coral Dragonbone: Coral Region bonepiles
  • Guiding Efflivial Crystal: Rotten Region mining
  • Guiding Forest Crystal: Forest Region mining
  • Guiding Forest Dragonbone: Forest Region bonepiles
  • Guiding Magma Crystal: Volcanic Region mining
  • Guiding Rotted Dragonbone: Rotten Region bonepiles
  • Guiding Volcanic Dragonbone: Volcanic Region bonepiles
  • Guiding Wasteland Crystal: Wildspire Region mining
  • Guiding Wasteland Dragonbone: Wildspire Region bonepiles
  • Heavy Dragonvein Bone: Non-tempered medium threat monster (e.g. Rathalos, Tigrex, Nargacuga, Glavenus, Diablos, etc.)
  • Heavy Jaw: Dodogama
  • Hellfire Crystal : Volcanic Region mining
  • Hellfire Mane: Teostra
  • Honed Tailblade: Acidic Glavenus
  • Hydrated Sac: Coral Pukei-Pukei
  • Incandescent Magmafin: Lavasioth
© Capcom The variant (or is it subspecies?) giant Snowman from the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Grand Appreciation Fest.
  • Inkstained Oilshell+: Radobaan
  • King's Scale: Rathalos
  • Magma Crystal: Volcanic Region mining
  • Malformed Frenzybone: Rotten Region bonepiles
  • Melted Crystal : Volcanic Region mining
  • Metallic Scute: Uragaan
  • Moonlight Scale: Gold Rathian
  • Mossy Greatbone: Forest Region bonepiles
  • Muddy Crown: Barroth
  • Night Hood: Great Girros
  • Obsidian Fur: Nightshade Paolumu
  • Pale Crystal: Coral Region mining
  • Prosperous Crystal: Forest Region mining
  • Queen's Scale: Rathian
  • Rubbery Shell: Paolumu
  • Rugged Mane: Great Jagras
  • Scorching Scale: Silver Rathalos
  • Serene Crystal: Wildspire Region mining
  • Shuddering Darkjaw: Brute Tigrex
  • Simmering Wildbone: Volcanic Region bonepiles
  • Sinister Silverpelt: Yian Garuga
  • Slumbering Greatbone: Forest Region bonepiles
  • Smoldering Tailedge: Glavenus
  • Smooth Icehide: Legiana
  • Solemn Azure Horn: Kirin
© Jason Hidalgo Hunting Uragaan with a Sticky 3 LBG mixed set in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.
  • Soulrender Talon: Ebony Odogaron
  • Spiritvein Gem: Threat LV2 Tempered Monster
  • Spiritvein Slogbone: Threat LV1 Tempered Monster
  • Spiritvein Solidbone: Threat LV2 Tempered Monster
  • Splattered Hide: Tempered Savage Deviljho
  • Stormcall Steelwing: Kushala Daora
  • Strongman's Jaw: Tigrex
  • Tempered Azure Horn : Tempered Kirin
  • Tempered Azure Mane: Tempered Lunastra
  • Tempered Azure Scale: Tempered Azure Rathalos
  • Tempered Blastscale: Tempered Seething Bazelgeuse
  • Tempered Cathode: Tobi-Kadachi
  • Tempered Cragbone: Volcanic Region bonepiles
  • Tempered Crimson Mane: Tempered Teostra
  • Tempered Crown: Tempered Barroth
  • Tempered Crownhorn: Tempered Velkhana
  • Tempered Cutwing: Tempered Nargacuga
  • Tempered Flamepelt: Tempered Anjanath
  • Tempered Glimmerpelt: Tempered Rajang
  • Tempered Gold Scale: Tempered Gold Rathian
  • Tempered Great Horn : Tempered Banbaro
  • Tempered Green Scale: Tempered Rathian
  • Tempered Hide: Tempered Nightshade Paolumu
  • Tempered Icehide: Tempered Legiana
  • Tempered Jaw: Tempered Tigrex

More Augment Slots Mhw No Deposit

© MHW Yian Garuga is perched at the Guiding Lands in Monster Hunter World Iceborne.

More Augment Slots Mhw Wyvern

  • Tempered Magmafin: Tempered Lavasioth
  • Tempered Oilshell+: Tempered Radobaan
  • Tempered Pink Scale: Tempered Pink Rathian
  • Tempered Poison Sac: Tempered Pukei-Pukei
  • Tempered Red Scale: Tempered Rathalos
  • Tempered Rendclaw: Tempered Odogaron
  • Tempered Silver Scale: Tempered Silver Rathalos
  • Tempered Silverpelt: Tempered Scarred Yian Garuga
  • Tempered Steelwing: Tempered Kushala Daora
  • Tempered Tailblade: Tempered Acidic Glavenus
  • Tempered Talon: Tempered Ebony Odogaron
  • Tempered Thunderpelt: Tempered Fulgu Anjanath
  • Tempered Trancehide: Tempered Namielle
  • Tempered Twilight Fang: Tempered Blackveil Vaal Hazak
  • Twilight Crystal: Rotten Region mining
  • Twilight Fang: Blackveil Vaal Hazak
  • Twisted Bravehorn: Diablos
  • Twisted Temperhorn: Tempered Diablos
  • Vibrant Crimsonbone: Coral Region bonepiles
  • Vivid Crimsonbone: Vivid Crimsonbone
  • Volcanic Wildbone: Volcanic Region bonepiles
  • Wasteland Cragbone: Wildspire Region bonepiles
  • Wasteland Crystal: Wildspire Region mining
  • Weathered Cragbone: Wildspire Region bonepiles
  • Woodland Greatbone; Forest Region bonepiles

And there you go, the basics for augmenting Master Rank weapons in Monster Hunter World. Make sure to check our other guides and articles for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne to get your icy adventure started on the right track.

Jason Hidalgo covers business and technology for the Reno Gazette Journal, and also reviews video games as part of his Technobubble features. Follow him on Twitter @jasonhidalgo. Like this content? Support local journalism with an RGJ digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette-Journal: How to augment and upgrade weapons in Monster Hunter World Iceborne Technobubble