You can craft and upgrade weapons in Julie's Gearworks in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Yakuza 8). Learn how to craft weapons, upgrade weapons, when should you upgrade weapons, the materials for crafting, and more!

Should You Craft or Upgrade?

Craft Weapons All The Time

Always prioritize crafting weapons to improve both attack power and the weapon itself. Crafting weapons usually gives additional attributes to your weapon like elements and other effects, so always do this! Crafting makes sure that your weapons are in top shape when taking on higher level enemies!

4★ Weapons And Above Are Expensive

Do note though that upgrading weapons past the 4★ rarity will be expensive so spend money wisely and choose the weapon wisely.

Best Weapons and Armor For Each Chapter

Upgrade to +10 If You Keep on Losing

When you're having trouble with battles and you're losing way too much, think about upgrading your weapon to +10. Reaching a +10 upgrade for your weapon unlocks a brand slot which can be slotted with a brand that imbues your weapon with improvements to elemental attributes or critical rates.

Don't Upgrade Past +10

After +10, the upgrade cost becomes significantly higher so keep your upgrades to +10 if you're short on money. The next brand slot will unlock at upgrade +30 which is ways down the road.

For example, it is more efficient and economical to have your entire party run a +10 weapon that have access to brands than to have only Kasuga use a +30 bat.

How to Level Up Fast

Best Jobs for Characters

How to Craft Weapons

Craft New Weapons Using Materials

You can craft weapons using base weapons that are purchasable from stores all over the map. When crafting the next weapon, it would usually be imbued with additional effects like elemental attributes or increased critical rate.

If you have a base weapon in your inventory already, consider crafting the next weapon in the tree!

Increasing the Facility Rank Unlocks New Weapons

Increasing the Facility Rank of Julie's Gearworks will unlock additional weapons that will be crafted. Facility rank increases by crafting weapons and investing using real money!

Weapon Materials Are Obtained From Dungeons

To craft weapons, weapon materials are needed. These weapon materials are efficiently farmed from Dungeons either from enemy drops or exchanged from the store via Robo Disks. Consider farming here if you're thinking of crafting new weapons!

Materials by Rarity Needed for Crafting

Rarity	Estimated Materials
1★ ~ 3★	・Fragment materials
4★ ~ 5★	・Geode Materials
6★	・Crystal Materials
7★	・Crystal Materials ・Shark Fin

Base weapons are also required in addition to the materials above.

How to Upgrade Weapons

Use Upgrade Materials to Upgrade Weapons

Weapons can be upgraded to +50 by spending Iron-type materials. The additional effects of the weapon would not change while upgrading - only the attack and magic values will change.

Upgrades Uses a Point System

The upgrade system works like a point system. Certain materials give a specific number of points and you should use them to fulfill the points requirement needed to go to the next upgrade level.

Higher Rarity = More Materials

As the rarity of your weapon increases, so do the material points needed to upgrade that weapon. Keep that in mind when investing in a weapon.

Upgrade Levels Are Carried Over When Crafting the Next Weapon

If you have upgraded a weapon to a certain level (eg. +20), this upgraded level will carry over to the next crafted weapon in the tree. Do note that required materials will increase as you go up the rarity, so it is suggested to upgrade first before crafting.

Upgrading Allows You to Brand Weapons

At certain upgrade levels, your weapon will unlock brand slots. These slots can be equipped with a brand that adds effect to your weapon like elemental damage increase or critical hit buffs.

As you invest in the facility, more brands will unlock!

Exchange Duplicate Weapons for Upgrade Materials

If you're having trouble with upgrade materials, it is suggested to exchange duplicate base weapons for upgrade materials. Note that this is non-refundable and the weapon is gone for good when exchanged for materials.

Julie's Gearworks Investment Guide

Two Ways to Invest

Invest thru Crafting

Invest thru Donation

To increase the facility rank, players need to invest in Julie's Gearworks. Investments are made through:

1. Crafting / upgrading weapons and spending money
2. Donating money directly without anything in return

Always try to invest in Julie's Gearworks when you have the money as the returns are always great for your progression.

Required Investment Per Rank

Rank	Amount of Investment
2	$2,000
3	$20,000
4	$200,000
Total Amount	$222,000

Investment Allows You to Craft More Weapons

The biggest reward for investing in Julie's Gearworks is the new weapons that you can craft. Some weapons will not unlock if you don't have the proper Facility Rank even though you have the complete materials to craft it.

List of Weapons

More Branding Options Are Unlocked

More branding options will also unlock as you increase your Facility Level. Though they will be more expensive, consider this option!

List of Craftable Weapons

We have listed down a list of all craftable weapons in the game. To see the full list, check out the link below:

List of Craftable Weapons

Where to Craft and Upgrade Weapons

Julie's Gearworks Locations in Hawaii

Julie's Gearworks (Anaconda Branch) B1F Anaconda Shopping Center

Julie's Gearworks (Main Shop) Hula Ave., East Waikiki

Julie's Workshop has two branches in Hawaii where you can craft and upgrade weapons. Use the branch nearest you if needed.

Cannot Craft Using the Smartphone App

Though there is a Weapon Crafting app on your Smartphone, you cannot craft weapons from there. The most you can do is check if you have enough materials for a certain action so you won't need to waste time going back and forth to Julie's Gearworks to check.

How to Unlock Weapon Crafting and Upgrading

Unlocked During Chapter 4: In the Ghetto

Julie's Gearworks will unlock via Substory 20 as you go through Chapter 4: In the Ghetto. You don't have to go out of your way to find the location - unlocking this facility is part of the quest.

Chapter 4: In the Ghetto Story Walkthrough and Guide

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Yakuza 8) Related Guides

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Wiki TOP

Story Walkthrough	Substories
Characters	Food & Meal Combo
Jobs	Skills
Weapons	Gear
Accessories	Items
Mini Games	Sujimon
Dondoko Island	-

Collectible & List Guides

Honolulu Photo Rally Locations	Yokohama Photo Rally Locations
All Vocational Exam Answers	All Taxi Stand Locations
Keepers of the City: Crown Enemy Locations	Container Locations and How to Unlock
All Pawn Shop Locations: Where to Sell Items	Aloha Links Friend Locations

Strategy Guide Articles

Best Jobs For Each Character	Best Equipment for All Chapters
Best Weapon for Each Job	Best Armor and Accessories
Best Early Game Items	How to Level Up Fast
How to Get Money Fast	How to Change Jobs
How to Feed Animals	Aloha Links Guide
How to Change the Difficulty Settings	Fortune Exchange Shop Rewards List
Miss Match Guide	How to Date Each Person in Miss Match
Missable Features	Post-Game Guide
Hawaiian Haunt Guide	Drink Links: All Choices and How to Unlock
6 Beginner Tips and Tricks in the Early Game	-

Game Mechanics & Combat Guides

Perfect Guard Guide: How to Guard	Back Attack: Effects and Multiplier
Battle System Guide: How to Win Battles	How to Use the ATM (Automated Teller Machine)
Combo Attacks Guide: How to Do Follow-up Attacks	Should You Turn Off Action Prompts?
Bond Levels: How to Increase and Effects	How to Increase Personality and What to Level First
Smackdown: Level Gap Requirement and Conditions	Personality Level: Details and Level Effects
Honk-Honk Locations	Poundmates Guide: Should You Use Poundmates?
How to Get Safe Keys and Where to Use Them	How to Escape Battles
How to Beat Metalworm in Dungeons	How to Recover Your Health
Weapon Crafting & Upgrade	-

News & Game Info

Available Consoles: Is Infinite Wealth on Switch?	Pre-Order Bonus Guide: Editions and Bonuses
System Requirements	Is Infinite Wealth Coming to Game Pass?
How to Play the Demo	DLC Guide: List of DLC and Recommendations
Trophies & Achievements Guide	PS4 or PS5: Which Version Should You Choose?
Voice Actors List	Game Edition Differences and Which to Buy
Infinite Wealth New Game Plus	-

FAQs

Should You Play Past Yakuza Games?	Death Penalty: What Happens When You Die?
Kiryu Kazuma Bucket List: Does Kiryu Have Cancer?	How Many Chapters are in Yakuza 8?