Someone should probably take a look at the babbling lunacy I posted below. It's missing some data and cobbled together from what I've manage to find in the forums.

-Orision, the man who the login system does not like...

I’ve found myself calculating this stuff often, and hunting through the forum for information, and cursing the fact that you can’t actually run a search on the forum, as well as cursing that I can’t seem to log in to the account I just created }8^ [ So, I figured if I really wanted to see a fully expanded section on upgrading, so would many other people and I should probably put something hopefully useful in this here wiki, and I also figured the parts I don’t know and haven’t yet gleaned are probably known by others, and so can be filled in by them. Since I love the site I’ll reference it: TVTropes refers to this effect as “Wiki Magic”. Some people will refer to this effect as “lazy” and this here paragraph as “inappropriate for a wiki” and “unprofessional”… well that’s okay, those same complainy-pants will then polish it to THEIR standards, which are likely beyond mine in the first place.

Effects of Upgrading Various Game Items (maybe make this its own page called “Upgrade Effects”? I know I shouldn’t post notes like this in the main article, but I’m tired, don’t want figure that out, am not a huge fan of letting rules get in the way inappropriately, and this wiki is, while awesome and immensely helpful, still a work in progress, and there are sections which really need someone who knows better than I to check it, and in some cases, to write anything useful other than speculation at all):

Weapons

For all melee weapons, for every level of upgrade, strength requirement decreases by 1 strength, increases base weapon damage by (1+tier)/2, and improves the enchantment on enchanted weapons. By decreasing the strength requirement of the weapon by 1, you increase the average strength bonus by 0.5 (strength bonus is a random (random, not normally-distributed, right?) number between 0 and the difference between the hero’s strength and the weapon's current strength requirement, so the average bonus will be the half of the maximum bonus). Neither speed nor accuracy improve with weapon level.

Upgrading enchanted weapons beyond level 2 carries substantial risk ( ( current level – 1 ) / current level ) of breaking that enchantment. An upgraded shortsword can be reforged to upgrade an enchanted weapon beyond level 2, as can a scroll of weapon upgrade (can be obtained by throwing a scroll of upgrade into a well of transmutation). Only one level will be transferred to the other weapon when reforging the short sword; if more than one scroll of upgrade has been used on the shortsword, the effects of all but one will be permanently lost. The formulae which calculate damage take level of weapon into account as follows, and the effects of level are shown in the attached table jpg.

Also NOTE that the battle axe, and maybe the War Hammer, may be subject to a “rounding bug” of some sort.  It may be that the damage stated when examining the item, is not always correct.

Minimum Weapon Damage = tier + level Maximum Weapon Damage = ( tier² - tier + 10 ) × delay / accuracy + tier × level Average Weapon Damage = (Min + Max) / 2 = Min + (Max - Min) / 2

¹ The strength requirement of the boomerang does not decrease with each level, but Huntresses will obtain a strength bonus, as well as a further +1 bonus.

Enchantments

For every level of an enchanted weapon, the enchantment will become more effective as follows (the damage done by the weapon will also increase in the same manner as a non-enchanted weapon):

• Blazing: Increases probability of enchantment activating upon successful hit.

Chance of Activation: (level+1)/(level+3)

Chance of Enflaming: Every successful trigger has a 50% chance to light the enemy on fire

• Venomous: Increases probability of enchantment activating upon successful hit and duration of poisoning.

Chance of Activation: (level+1)/(level+3)

Duration of Poisoning: Unknown function of level, possibly level + 1 moves.

• Grim: Increases probability of enchantment activating upon successful hit.

Chance of Activation: Exact effect of leveling grim weapons is currently unknown.

• Stunning: Increases probability of enchantment activating upon successful hit and duration of paralysis.

Chance of Activation: (level+1)/(level+8)

• Vampiric: Increases how much of the damage dealt to the enemy heals the hero.

Chance of Activation: Unknown

• Chilling: Increases probability of enchantment activating upon successful hit and duration of enemy slowing.

Chance of Activation: (level+1)/(level+4)

• Wild: Increases probability of enchantment activating upon successful hit.

Chance of Activation: (level+1)/(level+4)

• Piercing: Increases probability of enchantment activating upon successful hit.

Chance of Activation: (level+1)/(level+4)

• Unstable: For the random enchantment applied, see that random enchantment. No data on whether or not increasing the level increases the probability of applying a random enchantment.

• Eldritch: Increases probability of enchantment activating upon successful hit.

Chance of Activation: (level+1)/(level+5)

Armor

The maximum damage armor will absorb, increases with the level of the armor.  The rogue's bonus to dodge is the difference between the hero/ine's current strength, and the current strength requirement of the armor; so, upgrading armor will increase a rogue's dodge by 1.

Armor Base Base Max Increase

       Strength Absorption per Level

Wands

Every upgrade of a wand increases the number of charges by 1.  Data tables for wands wielded as melee exist, but the precise formulae are not known, and analysis of existing data tables, while successful, yields convoluted algorithms. Wands do not receive the strength bonus on their melee damage.

Wand of Avalanche:  Upgrading this wand increases the number of charges and it is unknown if it increases the damage or the range of the avalanche.

Wand of Disintegration:  Upgrading this wand increases the number of charges and the damage done per charge.

This is the second-most powerful wand in the game, and the most powerful wand that can harm fire elementals. The exact effects of hitting multiple enemies and the interaction of that effect with wand level are unknown.

Damage: Between level and level² / 3 + 8

Wand of Firebolt:  Upgrading this wand increases the number of charges and the damage done per charge.

This quickly becomes the most powerful wand in the game.

Damage:  Between 1 and 7 + level²

Wand of Lightning: Upgrading this wand increases the number of charges and the damage done per charge.

Regular Damage:  Between 2 and 9 + level

Damage when Striking Monster that is on Water:  Between 3 and (9 + level)×1.5

Wand of Magic Missile:  Upgrading this wand increases the number of charges; and it is unknown if it increases the damage. An upgraded Wand of Magic Missile can be disenchanted to upgrade another wand, but only 1 level of upgrade will be transferred when doing so, meaning that the use of more than one scroll of upgrade will result in the excess upgrades being permanently lost.

Wand of Poison:  Upgrading increases the number of charges and the duration of poisoning.

Damage per turn is 2 for most enemies, 1 for bosses, animated statues, and giant piranhas.

Duration of Poisoning = 1 + 2 × 1.5 ^ level, rounded down

Wand of Amok:  Upgrading only increases the number of charges.

Wand of Blink:  Upgrading increases the number of charges and may increase maximum distance of teleport.

Wand of Flock:  Upgrading increases the number of charges and may increase the number of sheep generated.

Wand of Reach: Upgrading increases its range(?)

Wand of Regrowth:  Upgrading increases the number of charges, and may increase the amount of grass generated (verify).

Wand of Slowness:  Upgrading increases the number of charges and the duration of the effect.

The duration is assumed to progress in the same manner as with the Wand of Poison.

Duration of Slowing = 1 + 2 × (3 / 2) ^ level, rounded down

Wand of Teleportation:  Upgrading increases the number of charges.

REMOVED - Wand of Telekinesis: Upgrading increases the number of charges and the damage done when enemies are pushed into walls.

Damage: 4 + level – distance of monster from wand

Rings

Note that for the purposes of this section, total ring level is considered; that is, 1 ring of level 6 is equivalent to 2 rings of level 3.

If one is having trouble understanding the effects of leveled rings using the formulae, they might want to consider:

•  What is the game like without the ring?

•  What does the stat you don’t understand normally have, and what is its value with the ring on?

For example, a dodge of 10 (level 6 hero) won’t likely mean too much to many people, but a ring of evasion level 1 (if this formula is right) will multiply that by 1.4 times: 10 × 1.4 = 14, so you’ll dodge 40% better than a regular level 6.

Level 15 hero without ring:  Dodge = 19

Level 15 hero with a ring of evasion level 5:  Dodge = 19 × 1.4 ^ 5 = 18 × 5.4 = 102

Compare what your experience tells you a level 15 hero is like in regards to dodging, then think about how much larger 102 is than 19.  Then check out the (currently non-existent) page on dodging, and realize that hero dodge = hero level + 4, and realize that a level 15 hero with a +5 ring of evasion will dodge like a level 98!

Also note that unless the great Ethaniel has posted otherwise and I’ve encountered that post, the most logical interpretation of the ring’s article has been used and a note made about the assumption.

Ring of Accuracy:  Hero’s Accuracy is multiplied by 1.4^(level)

Ring of Detection:  Expands the range of the heroes detection by 1 per level (eg: from 1 ring around the hero to 2 would make the detection range go from 3×3 to 5×5, and a +4 ring of detection would expand the range from 3×3 to 9×9). This is the range in which a hero can detect traps and secret door when running around or when searching. The visual effect displayed when searching also increases to match the new detection range. The hero is much more likely to detect a trap before reaching it because, while moving towards the trap, instead of the trap being inside the detection range for only 1 turn before getting triggered if not detected, the trap will be inside the range for 1 + level turns (usually; the trap might be near a ladder, though); the trap is in the field of detection for more turns, thus there are more “rolls” (chances to detect) the trap before being upon it.

Ring of Elements | [Replaced Cleansing & Resistance]

Ring of Cleansing:  Suspected to reduce the number of turns for which one is ‘unclean’ by the level of the ring. If anyone knows better, please fix this entry.

Ring of Resistance:  Each level of this ring adds a new type of protection:

Level 1: Burning

Level 2: Level 1 and Toxic Gas

Level 3: Level 2 and Poisoned

Level 4: Level 3 and Lightning Trap

Level 5: Dwarf Warlock, Evil Eye, and Burning First.

If you upgrade the ring above level 5, the level 5 resistances disappear, making a +6 ring equivalent to a +4 ring.

Ring of Evasion:  Each level of this ring increases your chance to dodge an attack (physical or magical) by 140%. A high-level Ring of Evasion is a game-winner, very arguably the best item in the game, and its rarity reflects this. Combined with a lightly-upgraded plate armour to absorb the few hits that make it through, a high-level ring will make the wearer wonder why watabou released something so pathetically easy.

hero’s base dodge stat = hero’s level + 4 + rogue’s bonus (if a rogue) where rogue’s bonus = hero’s strength – armour’s current strength requirement When encumbered (wearing armour that is too heavy), dodge will be decreased as follows: hero’s dodge stat = hero’s base dodge stat / 1.5 ^ encumbrance Suspected but not confirmed: hero’s dodge stat = hero base × 1.4 ^ evasion level

Ring of Haste:  Each level of this ring makes the hero move faster. This includes walking, attacking, using items, etc. hero’s speed = hero’s base speed × 1.1 ^ haste level Freerunners will move at 1.6 × regular walking speed when unencumbered, so for freerunners running around with a ring of haste: unencumbered freerunner’s walking speed = regular walking speed × 1.6 × 1.1 ^ haste level

A +10 ring of haste will allow a regular hero to outrun sewer crabs and vampire bats. A +12 ring will allow a regular hero to attack 3 times for every normal monster’s one attack.

Ring of Herbalism  [NEW]

Ring of Mending:  Each level of this ring increases the rate at which the hero regenerates health (when not starving). Heroes regenerate health at a rate of 1 HP every (10 × 1.4 ^ mending level) turns. It is unknown if the hero will regain more than 1 HP per turn once the number of turns falls below 1 (+7 Ring of Mending).

Ring of Power | Ring of Energy:  Each level of this ring increases the recharge rate of all wands.  [REPLACED]

Ring of Satiety:  Each level of this ring increases the amount of time for which the hero may go without food. A +10 Ring of Satiety makes heroes immune to hunger, and levels above 10 are useless.

Hunger works as a counter. Every certain number of turns the counter is increased by (10 – satiety level). When this counter reaches 300, you being to starve, and the counter stops increasing (220 points is when you start being hungry). For reference, a soul nourishes a warlock by 10 points, mystery meat, chargrilled meat, and overprice food rations from that jerk shopkeeper by 80 points, ration of food by 220, and Pasty’s and Wells of Health by 300 points (you cannot have negative points).

The number of turns between counter iterations is: For most heroes: 10 For Rogues: 12 Shadowmelded: hero number of turns × 1.5

The number of turns to go from full to starving is: 300 × hero / (10 - satiety)

Ring of Shadows:  Each level of this ring reduces the change that an enemy will notice you. No clue how this actually works.

Ring of Haggler:  Upgrading this ring has no effect; regardless of this rings level, you will only ever get a 50% discount from shopkeepers.

Ring of Thorns:  Upgrading this ring has no effect; when the hero is hit for damage, this ring will inflict between 0% and 100% of that damage upon the monster that that dealt it, regardless of level of the ring. The monster can never dodge or reduce this damage.

No data found for recharge rate of wands. Wands might recharge at a number of turns per charge, or maybe a number of turns to recharge the whole wand, which would mean higher level wands will generate a new charge in fewer turns than lower level wands; given that Pixel Dungeon is based on Brogue and Brogue recharges a wand completely in a set number of turns, regardless of how many shots are in that wand, this is more likely how Pixel Dungeon works, and perhaps the Ring of Energy reduces the number of turns required to charge the wand completely by level turns.

Perhaps a section detailing the normal recharge rate, mage recharge rate, and effect of ring of energy power could be added to the wands article?

If anyone knows, please replace this description with something more useful than a request for more information.

A summary of upgrading rings:

¹ Very much a guess

² There are two separate, useful metrics for this ring, and both are shown.

³ Healing rates greater than 1 per turn are unconfirmed.

[ End of New Update ... needs work ... it's 10:30 am... time for sleep... and feedback and such

- Orision, a.k.a. "He Who Shall Not Pass (into the logged-in state)" ]