When people are talking about enchacing, I feel like they are leaving some steps out of the process which people are just "supposed to know. Then, the articles are all of a sudden "Advanced articles" for those who already know what they are doing.
Yes, this is a thread that started with a question about more advanced crafting.
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However, you appear new to crafting and looking for 100% Elemental Damage weapons, so here is a basic walkthrough:
1. Creation:
Make a weapon from iron ingots using a Smith's hammer. Keep making the weapon until you get an exceptional version. The character will need the Blacksmithing skill. Notice the damage type is 100% Physical.
2. Runic Reforge:
Now use a Runic hammer on that exceptional weapon while standing beside a Soulforge. The character will need the Imbuing skill. You can only Reforge a weapon once. It will most likely take many exceptional weapons (10's) and many charges of Runic hammers (100's) to obtain the properties you are looking for.
2a. If you use a Shadow Runic hammer at this point and select the options from earlier in this thread, you will have a chance to Reforge your exceptional weapon to have one of the other damage types at 100% (100% Fire or 100% Poison instead of 100% Physical). If successful, this is now a 100% Elemental weapon (Fire, Cold, Poison, Energy, or Chaos). You can only Reforge each exceptional weapon once, so it will probably take many exceptional weapons and many charges from the Shadow Runic hammer to obtain a weapon with a damage type at 100%. Using a Shadow Runic hammer is the easiest method to convert your original 100% Physical Damage exceptional weapon into a 100% Elemental Damage (Fire, Cold, Poison, Energy, or Chaos) exceptional weapon.
2b. You may use a Dull Copper Runic hammer at this point, instead of a Shadow Runic hammer. Select the options discussed earlier in this thread and you will have a chance to Reforge your 100% Physical Damage exceptional weapon to have multiple damage types: i.e. 60% Fire, 40% Physical. If you are looking for a 100% Fire Damage weapon, keep this 60% Fire 40% Physical exceptional weapon. You will Enhance this exceptional weapon at a later point in the crafting process to have 100% Fire Damage. Again, it may take many exceptional weapons and many charges from the Dull Copper Runic hammer to obtain an acceptable weapon.
To determine what %'s of Elemental Damage types are acceptable to keep for later Enhancing, see my notes from earlier in this thread, or the page:
Runic Reforging for Specific Properties – Ultima Online (uo.com)3. Powder of Fortification:
Once you have completed Runic Reforging (you have the % Damage type you want) and prior to Imbuing, use Powder of Fortification on the weapon if you would like. You must use Powder of Fortification at this step, prior to Imbuing, as once your Runic Reforged exceptional weapon is Imbued it cannot have Powder of Fortification applied. Conversely, if you use Powder of Fortification prior to Runic Reforging, the Durability bonus from using the Powder will be lost when the Reforging takes place, wasting the Powder of Fortification. Powder of Fortification will increase the weapons durability by 10 for each Powder of Fortification used. You may use Powder of Fortification on the weapon until it reaches 255/255 Durability.
4. Imbue:
Stand beside a Soulforge and Imbue your Powdered - Runic Reforged - Exceptionally Crafted weapon with whatever properties you want. The character must have Imbuing skill.
5. Enhance:
The character will require a plain smith's hammer and the Blacksmithing skill. The more powerful your weapon, the more likely it will be destroyed in the Enhancing attempt. Using a +60 Ancient Smithing Hammer will increase your chances of successfully Enhancing, but you will still have a chance to fail, destroying the now expensive and time consuming weapon you just made.
Therefore, many crafters purchase a Forged Metal of Artifacts from the UO store. Using the Forged Metal of Artifacts to Enhance your weapon will be 100% successful. Your weapon will not be destroyed.
You can use Enhancing to add properties to your weapon beyond the Imbuing limitations. The full properties list can be found here:
Material Bonuses – Ultima Online (uo.com)This is the step where you will select your colored material.
If you used a Dull Copper Runic hammer during the Runic Reforing step, and Reforged to an exceptional weapon with 60% Fire 40% Physical damage types, you would now double click the tool (smith's hammer or Forged Metal of Artifacts), select Bronze Ingots, and Enhance. If successful (Forged Metal of Artifacts will always be successful), the weapon would be Enhanced with Bronze ingots, transferring the 40% Physical Damage to 40% Fire Damage and resulting in a 100% Fire Damage weapon (Or 100% Elemental Fire weapon, however you want to say it.)
Again, to see what materials you need to Enhance with to obtain different % Elemental Damage results, see my notes earlier in this thread or the page:
Runic Reforging for Specific Properties – Ultima Online (uo.com)6. Insure:
Remember to Insure your Exceptionally Crafted, Runic Reforged, Powdered, Imbued, Enhanced Weapon.
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Good luck!