History of Masterwork

Masterwork is the upgrade system that improves gear over time in exchange for higher stats. Fully upgraded items are Masterworked and get a golden border. Only Legendary weapons qualify, along with Armor of Rare or better and Ghost Shells.

Effects

• Weapons: each of 10 tiers adds +1 to a specified stat. Masterworked Adept weapons also gain +3 to all other stats, generate Orbs of Power on multikills, and at tier 6 receive a tracker perk.
• Armor: each tier adds a segment to the mod energy bar. Masterworked armor gains +2 to all stats, for a total of +12.
• Ghost Shells: Masterworked Ghost Shells unlock the Activity Mod socket.
• Exotic weapons: gain a bonus tied to their Catalyst.

Cost

Upgrades cost Glimmer plus Legendary Shards, Enhancement Cores, Enhancement Prisms and Ascendant Shards depending on tier. Enhancement Cores drop from vendors, activities and dismantling items with a Masterwork level of 7 or higher. Enhancement Prisms drop from harder content such as Nightfalls and Trials of Osiris, and Ascendant Shards from the hardest content. Spider sells Enhancement Cores and Prisms, and Banshee-44 exchanges materials between tiers.