In Divinity: Original Sin II, managing your party’s equipment is crucial for maintaining combat effectiveness as you progress through the game. Both equipping and upgrading weapons and armor involve strategic choices related to character attributes, the availability of materials, and the locations of key NPCs known as the Merchant Sisters.

How to Equip Weapons and Armor

1. Accessing Inventory: Open your character’s inventory screen to view all available gear.
2. Equipping Gear: Drag and drop the desired weapon or armor piece into the corresponding equipment slot of the character you wish to equip it to.
3. Meeting Requirements: Ensure the character meets any level or attribute prerequisites to use the gear. Higher-level items often come with restrictions that require certain stats or levels to be met.

How to Upgrade Weapons and Armor

Upgrading your equipment is essential for keeping it relevant as you face more formidable foes. This process is primarily facilitated through interactions with the Merchant Sisters, who are located throughout Rivellon.

Required Upgrade Materials:
– Azure Flint: Used for upgrading weapons.
– Diamond Dust: Needed for upgrading armor, shields, and belts.
– Quicksilver: Utilized for upgrading jewels.

Merchant Sisters Locations:
– Deirdre: Initially found in Fort Joy at coordinates X: 453, Y: 28, and later at X: 576, Y: 244 after a specific story event.
– Demira: Located on Reaper Coast at X: 373, Y: 110.
– Dagmar: On the Lady Revenge during the Nameless Isle quest at X: 3, Y: 62.
– WOMEN: Found in the Arx Pilgrim Camp at X: 366, Y: 57.

The Upgrade Process:
1. Initiate Upgrade: Visit one of the Merchant Sisters.
2. Provide Materials and Payment: Hand over the necessary materials (Azure Flint, Diamond Dust, Quicksilver) and pay a requisite amount of gold.
3. Material Quantity: The number of materials required will depend on the rarity and level of the item you wish to upgrade.

Additional Tips for Upgrading:

– Prioritize Weapon Upgrades: It’s advisable to upgrade your weapons more frequently than other types of gear to ensure optimal combat performance.
– Retention of Gear: Upgrading allows you to keep your favored gear longer, minimizing the need to replace it as levels increase. This prevents discarding potentially valuable items too soon.
– Mod Support: Some game mods allow players to upgrade all types of equipment, including unique items, enhancing the gameplay experience without the necessity to abandon older gear as you advance.

Conclusion

In summary, effectively managing your gear entails equipping it through your inventory and upgrading it at the Merchant Sisters using specific materials and gold. This system applies equally to all party members, ensuring that you can maintain a competitive edge throughout your journey in Divinity: Original Sin II. By staying proactive about your equipment and utilizing the available resources wisely, you can enhance your party’s capabilities and tackle the challenges that lie ahead.