If you’ve ever struggled to take down a high-level Void Intercept Boss or got stuck on a wave defense mission in The First Descendant, the fix is rarely just swapping your weapon or descendant. Most players overlook how small tweaks to their module loadouts make a massive difference, and knowing how to upgrade modules in The First Descendant is one of the fastest ways to push your power level up without grinding for new gear for hours. I’ve wasted dozens of rare module enhancers on low-priority upgrades early on, so I’ve put together this guide to help you avoid the same mistakes and get the most out of every resource you earn. You don’t need to pull a full set of legendary modules to dominate content, just smart investment of the resources you already have.
How to Upgrade Modules in The First Descendant: Core Pre-Upgrade Prep
Before you start clicking upgrade on every module in your inventory, you need to get a few basics out of the way first. First, you’ll unlock the Module Workshop in Albion after completing the first three main story missions, so you don’t have to grind for hours to access the upgrade system. You can also access the quick upgrade menu from your loadout screen any time you’re not in an active mission, which is perfect for making quick tweaks before joining a multiplayer squad.
You’ll need three key resources to upgrade any module: Module Enhancers matching the module’s rarity, Credits, and optional duplicate modules of the same type and rarity to speed up the process. Always sort your modules by rarity and effect before you start upgrading, because it’s easy to accidentally use a rare S-tier module as upgrade fodder if you don’t organize your inventory first. You can tag favorite modules to lock them from being used as fusion material, which is a small setting that saves you from costly mistakes.
You’ll also want to make sure you’ve completed the weekly Module Supply mission every week, as it gives you 50+ rare enhancers for just 10 minutes of playtime, which is far more efficient than farming them from regular story missions. If you’re playing multiplayer, you can earn bonus enhancers by helping lower-level players clear their missions, so it’s worth joining random public squads a few times a week to stock up. Never upgrade common or uncommon modules past level 3, they become obsolete as soon as you earn rare variants, and the resources you waste on them could go to a permanent S-tier module you’ll use for months.
Step-by-Step Module Upgrade Process
The upgrade process itself is pretty straightforward, but there are a few hidden features most new players miss that save you a lot of resources. First, navigate to either the Module Workshop or your loadout’s upgrade menu, then select the module you want to upgrade from your unlocked inventory. Double check that it’s not a niche or low-rarity module before you proceed, because even with the reset feature you’ll lose 30% of your invested resources.
Next, look at the resource cost listed on the right side of the screen. Higher rarity and higher level modules cost more enhancers and credits to upgrade, so costs will jump significantly once you hit level 7 on epic and legendary modules. If you have enough resources, you can either click “upgrade” to raise the module’s level by 1, or add duplicate modules to the fusion slot to skip multiple levels at once. Each time you upgrade a module, its stat boost increases by 10-15% of its base value, so a level 10 legendary module will give you roughly 2.5x the effect of a level 1 version of the same module.
Fusing duplicates doesn’t just speed up upgrades, it also cuts the total enhancer cost by 20% compared to upgrading level by level, which adds up to hundreds of saved enhancers for max level legendary modules. Fusing duplicate legendary modules gives you a 30% chance to unlock a hidden secondary effect on the base module, which can include things like extra cooldown reduction or bonus damage against boss enemies. If you’re upgrading a legendary module, you’ll see a progress bar for the hidden secondary effect under the upgrade cost. Every time you use a legendary duplicate as fodder, that bar fills by 33%, so three duplicates guarantee you unlock the bonus effect, instead of relying on the 30% random chance.
Prioritization Rules for Module Upgrades
It’s tempting to upgrade every cool module you find as soon as you have the resources, but that’s a surefire way to run out of enhancers before you get your hands on endgame-worthy modules. I used to waste half my rare enhancers on elemental resistance modules that I only needed for one specific boss fight, and I regretted it when I pulled a legendary critical damage module a week later and had no resources left to upgrade it. Follow these prioritization rules to get the most value out of every upgrade:
- First upgrade core stat modules that apply to all your builds, like max health increase, skill cooldown reduction, and base damage boosts. These work for every descendant, so you’ll never waste resources on them even if you switch main characters later.
- Second, upgrade build-specific modules for your main descendant, like fire damage boosts for Viessa or critical hit chance for Glen. You can swap these between loadouts for the same character later, so they’re still a flexible investment.
- Skip upgrading situational modules (like defense boosts against specific enemy types) until all your core and main build modules are maxed out. These only have niche use cases and don’t move the needle for 90% of the game’s content.
You can make exceptions to these rules if you’re prepping for a specific high-difficulty raid that requires a niche resistance or damage boost, but always go back to your core upgrades first once that mission is done. It’s also worth holding off on upgrading epic modules if you know you’re close to unlocking a legendary variant of the same effect, as the legendary version will have a higher base stat cap and access to the hidden secondary effect.
Common Module Upgrade Mistakes to Avoid
Even if you follow the upgrade steps and prioritization rules, it’s easy to fall into common traps that waste your hard-earned resources. First, don’t upgrade low-rarity modules unless you’re still in the first 10 hours of gameplay. Once you hit level 30, all common and uncommon modules are completely outclassed by rare and epic variants, so any resources spent on them are effectively lost. A lot of new players do this because they want to feel stronger early on, but it slows down your endgame power progression significantly.
Another mistake is upgrading multiple copies of the same module for different builds unless you’re 100% sure you need them. You can unequip modules from one loadout and add them to another for free, so there’s no reason to have two maxed-out copies of the same cooldown reduction module unless you’re running two completely separate teams for coordinated multiplayer raids. I used to have three copies of the same health boost module for different loadouts before I realized I could just swap them around whenever I switched builds, and I wasted hundreds of enhancers in the process.
You can reset a module’s upgrades and get 70% of your resources back if you make a mistake, but that 30% loss adds up fast if you’re resetting modules every week. A lot of new players don’t know about the reset feature, so they just sell unwanted upgraded modules for pennies on the dollar, which is an even bigger waste. If you accidentally upgraded a module you don’t need, always reset it first to get most of your resources back before selling or fusing it to another module.
You don’t need to grind for dozens of legendary modules to clear even the hardest endgame content in The First Descendant, as long as you’re smart about how you invest your resources. Taking the time to learn how to upgrade modules in The First Descendant properly will let you push your power level far higher than players who just randomly upgrade whatever looks cool, and you’ll have more resources left over to experiment with fun off-meta builds once your core loadout is maxed. Don’t rush the process, take a minute to sort your inventory before you hit the upgrade button, and you’ll be taking down endgame bosses in half the time before you know it.