Upgrading your rare and unique items in Diablo 2: Resurrected is critical to surviving the more dangerous levels as you make your way through the game. To do this, you’ll need to use the Horadric Cube, but it requires certain recipes for you to complete to make this happen. Unfortunately, most of the items for these recipes don’t drop on the lower levels.
It’s possible for them to drop randomly from Act I on Nightmare onwards, which is where you have the best chance to find the most crucial ingredient: a Perfect variety of Gem. You probably won’t get your first random Perfect gem until you’re quite some way into the game on Nightmare difficulty. Here’s what you need to know about how to upgrade rare and unique items while playing Diablo 2: Resurrected.
Where to Upgrade Rare & Unique Items in Diablo 2: Resurrected
Upgrading a rare or unique item leaves its modifiers untouched, but improves the base weapon from Normal to Exceptional or from Exceptional to Elite. So, its basic stats, such as damage and defense, will improve. If those basic stats are subject to percentage-based modifiers, then the upgrade can make a huge difference.
Related: Where to find Skin of the Vipermagi in Diablo 2: Resurrected
The recipes for upgrading rare and unique items are as follows:
Upgrading Rare Items (Yellow) in Diablo 2: Resurrected – All recipes
Normal rare armor to Exceptional
- Normal rare armor
- Thul rune
- Ral rune
- Perfect Amethyst
Normal rare weapon to Exceptional
- Normal rare weapon
- Amn rune
- Ort rune
- Perfect Sapphire
Exceptional rare armor to Elite
- Exceptional rare armor
- Pul rune
- Ko rune
- Perfect Amethyst
Exceptional rare weapon to Elite
- Exceptional rare weapon
- Um rune
- Fal rune
- Perfect Sapphire
Upgrading Unique Items (gold, which looks more like pale brown) in Diablo 2: Resurrected – All Recipes
Normal unique armor to Exceptional
- Normal unique armor
- Shael rune
- Tal rune
- Perfect Diamond
Normal unique weapon to Exceptional
- Normal unique weapon
- Sol rune
- Ral rune
- Perfect Emerald
Exceptional unique armor to Elite
- Exceptional unique armor
- Lem rune
- Ko rune
- Perfect Diamond
Exceptional unique weapon to Elite
- Exceptional unique weapon
- Lum rune
- Pul rune
- Perfect Emerald
