In *Atomfall*, upgrading your weapons does more than just boost their stats—it gives them a fresh, upgraded appearance and even unlocks the “Make do and mend” trophy. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to upgrade weapons in *Atomfall* and make the most of your arsenal.
How to Unlock the Gunsmithing Skill in Atomfall
To begin crafting upgraded weapons in *Atomfall*, you must first unlock the Gunsmithing skill—a survival-based skill that requires reading the Crafting Manual. While some books in the game can be hard to track down, this one has a fairly straightforward acquisition path.
Morris Wick, located at the Village Shop in Wyndham, owns a copy of the Crafting Manual. However, obtaining it isn’t as simple as trading or bartering. You’ll need to leverage some investigative skills and apply a bit of pressure.
When you arrive at St. Katherine’s Church, dialogue will reveal the recent murder of Maisie—and the Vicar is eager to sweep it under the rug. But with a little digging, you can uncover evidence pointing directly to Morris. Presenting him with this proof forces him into a tense negotiation where he may hand over the Crafting Manual… for a price.
The incriminating note—titled “Kill the One They Call Maisie”—can be found in the Brewery Cellar, located at coordinates 30.5 E, 80.5 N in western Wyndham Village. Look for a cellar door near the ruined building to access the area. Once inside, search around until you find and read the note.
Return to Morris’ shop at 33.3 E, 79.9 N and speak with him. Choose dialogue options carefully to push him without scaring him off. Eventually, you’ll get the “Bargaining” option, which results in Morris handing over the Crafting Manual in exchange for your silence.
Alternatively, you can find the Crafting Manual in D Section of The Interchange, but that route is far more difficult and time-consuming than the Morris method described above.
Once you have the Crafting Manual, read it and then invest 7 Training Stimulants to unlock the Gunsmith skill. This grants access to weapon upgrade recipes. It's a significant investment, so be sure to explore B.A.R.D. structures like Bunkers and The Interchange to gather enough stimulants before proceeding.
How to Craft Weapon Upgrades in Atomfall
After unlocking the Gunsmithing skill and acquiring the Crafting Manual, you’ll gain access to weapon upgrade recipes. Each time you obtain a new weapon, you automatically unlock the recipe to craft its next tier version—ranging from Rusty, to Stock, and finally Pristine.
To upgrade a weapon, you'll typically need two copies of the same weapon in the previous tier, along with a specific amount of Gun Oil and Scrap. These amounts vary depending on the weapon type.
For example, upgrading the Falkirk Battle Rifle to Pristine requires 2 Falkirk Battle Rifles (Stock), 3 Gun Oil, and 6 Scrap. These materials are commonly found at military installations such as Protocol Camps. If you plan on upgrading weapons frequently, consider investing in the Deep Pockets survival skill to increase your carrying capacity for essential crafting supplies.
Once you complete your first Pristine-level weapon upgrade, you’ll earn the “Make do and mend” achievement or trophy—an excellent milestone for completionists and crafters alike.
Atomfall is now available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass.
