How do weapons gain levels?

They absorb Soul Shards. Boss rewards and extracting unwanted weapons provide shards; reaching the next requirement levels the weapon and opens an upgrade reward room.

What is the base weapon level cap?

The base cap is level 8. The unmodified requirements from level 1 to level 8 total 1,430 Soul Shards.

Should I extract every weapon I find?

Compare the spare with your current weapon first. Extract it when you have decided you do not need its attacks or effects, and check whether your Relic changes the extraction result.

Why did extraction stop giving Soul Shards?

Check Philosopher’s Stone. Its effect replaces weapon extraction shards with a random Artifact and causes damage.

Does a higher weapon level always mean a fixed damage increase?

No. Read the weapon’s affixes and upgrade choices. A per-level affix scales with level, while a resource affix depends on the relevant resource you carry.

Can I reduce the shard requirement?

Player Zero Ready reduces the number of Soul Shards required for upgrades by 20%. Read your active modifiers before using the base requirements as a target.

Neon Abyss 2 Weapon Upgrades: Soul Shards, Affixes, and Extraction

How do you upgrade a weapon with Soul Shards?

Collect Soul Shards until your equipped weapon reaches its next level requirement, then compare the offered upgrade rewards. Bosses and extracting unwanted weapons provide shards. Before spending a spare, decide whether its range or effect would solve a problem your current weapon has; extraction removes that option from the room.

The unmodified progression uses these requirements:

Current level	Shards needed for the next level	Shards from extracting a weapon at this level
1	60	20
2	100	35
3	150	54
4	200	70
5	250	100
6	320	110
7	350	130
8	Base cap reached	150

These base weapon values total 1,430 shards to move from level 1 to level 8. Extra experience carries over rather than disappearing at each level boundary. Active modifiers can change how quickly you reach a requirement.

Start with the beginner guide if you are still learning the difference between replacing a weapon and extracting it.

Where should you look for upgrade experience?

Prioritise boss rewards and spare weapons rather than expecting ordinary enemy kills to provide weapon experience. Keep track of weapons left on the current floor, then revisit the ones you can safely extract. Your next upgrade may be close enough that one spare matters, but a useful replacement deserves comparison before you dismantle it.

Source	Base Soul Shards	Decision during exploration
Floor 1 boss	42	Check whether a spare can finish the first upgrade
Floor 2 boss	50	Compare the reward with your current experience bar
Floor 3 boss	60	Plan the next requirement rather than assuming another level is automatic
Floor 4 boss	69	Revisit unwanted weapons before moving on
Ordinary enemy kills	No direct shard reward	Clear threats for progress and safety

For example, a base floor 1 boss reward and one extracted level 1 weapon give 42 + 20 = 62 shards. That covers the first 60-shard requirement with 2 left over. This example assumes unmodified solo rewards; item effects and multiplayer distribution can change your income.

What should you choose in an upgrade reward room?

Choose the offered improvement that fixes your current limitation: reliable damage, a useful item interaction, or an affix better matched to your resources. Read the actual options instead of treating every reward room as identical. A weapon you can aim comfortably benefits more from a supported effect than from an impressive bonus you cannot maintain.

The Weapon Reforge update introduced flexible upgrade and tempering choices. At an upgrade, compare:

Option you are considering	Question to ask
Offered item	Does this support an effect already working in the run?
Weapon-specific improvement	Will it improve the attack you actually use?
Forge or affix change	What benefit would disappear with the old affix?
Extraction option shown in the reward room	Is the displayed result more useful than keeping that reward?

When is a simple improvement the better choice?

If your current attacks miss while you dodge, first consider reach, attack behaviour, or an upgrade that makes those attacks easier to use. A conditional damage bonus is less helpful when you cannot keep the condition active.

With a companion weapon, inspect what the offered effect counts. Eggs, Hatchmon, and Super Hatchmon are different labels; match the affix to the resource named on it.

How do you judge a resource-based affix?

Read which resource the affix counts, its rarity, and any cap before changing your inventory around it. A bonus based on held keys or companions depends on your present setup, not simply on having collected that resource earlier. Check the effect again after a purchase, fusion, or equipment change that alters the relevant condition.

Affix type	What you should inspect	Example of a useful check
Per level	Weapon level and the listed rate	Does the weapon currently have that scaling affix?
Flat bonus	Attribute improved and stated amount	Does it solve a damage, range, or handling problem?
Per resource	Resource name, held amount, rarity, cap	Would spending the resource reduce this contribution?
On hit	Trigger and cooldown	Does your attack pattern activate it consistently?

The Key version of Iron Glaive, for example, has a Normal key affix giving 1% weapon damage per held key, capped at 30%. Twenty held keys contribute 20% through that affix. This describes one affix contribution, not the weapon’s final damage formula.

The Noxmare build guide works through the same decision with a Hatchmon-based weapon.

Why can a Relic change the extraction result?

Check your Relic whenever extracting a spare gives an unexpected result. Philosopher’s Stone changes the action from obtaining Soul Shards to taking damage and receiving a random Artifact. Decide which result you need before using it, particularly when your weapon is near an upgrade or your remaining health is already low.

Relic	Effect relevant to upgrades	What to consider
Philosopher’s Stone	Weapon extraction gives an Artifact instead of shards and causes damage	Whether the random item is worth the health and lost experience
Player Zero Ready	Reduces upgrade shard requirements by 20%	Your actual target can be lower than the base table

Player Zero Ready: upgrade shard requirement reduction 20% less required per upgrade

How should your Agent affect upgrade decisions?

Account for your Agent’s equipment rules before spending a weapon you might still use. James can carry two weapons and gains additional extraction shards, while Saya’s katana follows her primary weapon’s level. Other Agents may instead encourage companion support or resource management, so choose upgrades around the kit you are taking into the next fight.

Use the Agent comparison to check those rules. If Soul Shards are central to your run, the Artisanism section of the Faith guide explains the matching Faith direction.

Before entering the boss room, settle the replacement decision, read the new affix, and make sure your attacks still work while moving. An upgrade is useful when you can apply it during the fight.