How to upgrade weapons in Atomfall

Upgrading weapons in Atomfall isn’t something you can do right away. It takes some time, a few items, and unlocking a specific skill.

Most of the guns you’ll find at the start will be tagged as “Rusty,” and those don’t perform all that well. They’ll get the job done, but they’re not the most reliable in tougher fights.

If you want better weapons—like “Stock” or even “Pristine” versions—you’ll need to unlock the ability to upgrade them yourself. Here’s how the whole system works and what you’ll need to do.

How to upgrade weapons in Atomfall

Step 1: Unlock the Gunsmith skill

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To start upgrading weapons, you’ll first need the Gunsmith skill. It’s part of the Survival skill tree, right at the top of the middle column. If that column looks greyed out, it means you haven’t unlocked the right manual yet.

You’ll need the Master Crafting Manual to unlock that part of the skill tree. Once you have it, you’ll need to spend 7 Training Stimulants to unlock the actual Gunsmith skill. It’s a bit of a cost, but it’s worth it if you want to make your guns better.

Also Read: Atomfall- All Endings And How To Get Them

Where to find the Master Crafting Manual in Atomfall

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You’ve got two main options here:

1. Murder in the Church quest

• Head to Wyndham Village in the north part of Slatten Dale.
• During the quest, if you accept a bribe from Morris Wick and don’t side with the Vicar or Protocol, he’ll give you the manual.

2. Interchange – Data Store D

• Go to the Interchange via the Wyndham Village substation, near St. Katherine’s Church.
• Inside, insert an Atomic Battery into the machine on the second floor.
• Jump across some server racks, use your Signal Redirector to shut off electricity, and open a door on the flooded floor.
• Inside that room, you’ll find the manual on a table.

Once you have the manual, open your Skills menu and unlock Gunsmith.

Step 2: Gather materials and duplicate weapons

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To upgrade a weapon, you’ll need:

• Two copies of the same weapon at the same tier
• Gun Oil
• Scrap

You can’t mix tiers, so no combining a Rusty with a Stock version. It has to be two Rusty guns to make a Stock version or two Stock guns to make a Pristine version.

Step 3: Upgrade the weapon

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When you have what you need:

1. Open the Crafting menu
2. Find the weapon you want to upgrade
3. Hold the craft button (depends on your platform)
4. Your upgraded weapon will replace the two older ones

Upgraded weapons will have better damage, improved accuracy, faster reloads, and more reliable handling.

Tips for upgrading weapons in Atomfall

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• Keep at least one small and one large inventory slot open so you can hold duplicates of weapons you want to upgrade.
• Weapons must be in your backpack to upgrade—they can’t be lying on the ground.
• Pick up Gun Oil and Scrap whenever you see them—they’re needed for most upgrades.
• Once you unlock Gunsmith, weapon upgrade recipes unlock automatically for every gun you collect.

Also Read: Atomfall: Barter system, explained

FAQ

Q: Can I upgrade a Rusty weapon using a Stock one?

• No. You need two weapons of the same quality level. Rusty + Rusty = Stock. Stock + Stock = Pristine.

Q: Where do I find Gun Oil and Scrap?

• These are scattered all over the world. Check toolboxes, loot containers, and trade with NPCs when you can.

Q: Can I upgrade a weapon that’s on the ground?

• No. Both weapons need to be in your inventory to craft an upgrade.

Q: Do I lose both guns when I upgrade?

• Yes. The two lower-tier weapons are combined into one upgraded version.

Q: What’s the difference between Rusty, Stock, and Pristine?

• Each upgrade improves stats like damage, accuracy, recoil control, and reload speed. Rusty is basic, Stock is better, and Pristine is the best.

Q: Do I have to find a recipe for each weapon?

• Nope. Once you unlock the Gunsmith skill, the upgrade option shows up automatically for every weapon you pick up.