How to Upgrade Units in Monster Train 2

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In Monster Train 2, you constantly have to engage in battles with enemies to progress further. However, you need to approach this correctly, as fighting opponents will become more challenging in the later stages of the game. Not only ability and attribute cards can help you, but also unit upgrades to make them stronger. In this guide, we will cover all the questions in this Monster Train 2 upgrade guide.

How the Upgrade System Works in Monster Train 2

Initially, units in Monster Train 2 have basic attack and health stats, along with some unique properties depending on the faction. Over time, they need to be upgraded to keep up with increasingly stronger enemies. Artifacts and support units can provide temporary or conditional buffs, but they can't match the reliability of permanent upgrades.

That's why you should look for the Merchant of Steel. This merchant appears in certain rooms along the route and offers a limited set of upgrades for your units. After the first battle, the Merchant of Steel is guaranteed to be in the next room. Later, his location becomes random, but you can encounter him approximately 4-5 times in one run.

In each Merchant of Steel shop, you will be offered four random upgrades. They are selected from a common pool and have different costs (ranging from cheap to expensive), expressed in gold. If the options don't suit you, you can reroll them once.

After purchasing an upgrade, you will be prompted to choose a unit from your deck to apply it to. Typically, each unit can have two upgrades. Once you apply an upgrade, it becomes permanent for the character and cannot be changed or undone. Therefore, it's important to choose upgrades wisely. Upgrading a weak or secondary unit may later prove to be a mistake.

To see which upgrades a unit already has, simply hover over its icon. Small symbols representing active upgrades will be shown under the card's cost.

How to Upgrade Units in Monster Train 2

The most reliable way to upgrade your units is to visit Merchant of Steel nodes during your run. These merchants are located along the train route and appear as upgrade shops between battles. The first such shop is guaranteed to appear right after the first battle, allowing you to safely and early enhance your roster.

All subsequent Monster Train 2 Merchant of Steel nodes appear randomly. On average, you will encounter about four to five such nodes in one attempt. To see which branches offer these opportunities, open the map in the upper right corner of the screen during your run.

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All Monster Train 2 Unit Upgrade List

Monster Train 2 offers a wide range of upgrades that enhance attributes or add new abilities. Some upgrades only increase basic parameters, while others unlock deeper mechanics. Here are the main upgrades offered.

Upgrade	Description
Strengthstone	Increases a unit's attack by 14, providing a simple damage boost.
Heartstone	Adds 20 health, enhancing frontline survivability.
Frenzystone	Grants Multistrike 1, allowing multiple attacks per turn—ideal for powerful attacker units.
Speedstone	Provides Quick and adds 10 to attack, ensuring the unit attacks first.
Largestone	Increases placement cost but gives +50 health and +15 attack—a good option to make a unit resemble a champion.
Smidgestone	Reduces placement cost to 1, offering flexibility in field placement.
Dualstone	Grants the ability Dualism, doubling all buffs and debuffs the unit applies.
Titanstone	Adds Titanite, reducing incoming damage.
Immortalstone	Grants Endless—the unit returns to your hand after death. This is especially effective for fragile but valuable cards.
Greedstone	Adds Avarice 3, which works well in conjunction with gold generation or special artifacts.
Bravestone	Grants Valor 8, increasing power according to your Valor synergy.
Frankenstone	A rare upgrade that provides Reanimate 1, allowing units to resurrect once.
Mossystone	Regen 10—the unit regenerates health at the end of each turn, particularly useful in prolonged battles.

How to Get the Third Upgrade Slot

Typically, each unit can have only two upgrades. However, an artifact called Pyrestone Housing changes this rule. If you find it during your run, it will unlock a third slot for each unit in your deck. This significantly expands the possibilities for creating powerful combinations.

This is especially useful for units with Multistrike or Endless, allowing you to combine endurance, utility, and damage in one set.

Other Ways to Upgrade Units in Monster Train 2

Though the Merchant of Steel is the primary, it is not the only way to enhance units. The game features rare event rooms called Celestial Alcoves, which sometimes offer upgrades. They may differ slightly from those sold in shops and are often situational, but when circumstances align, they can provide a significant advantage.

Additionally, some events and relics can enhance your entire deck or affect individual units under certain conditions. These are not classic upgrades in the strict sense of this mechanic, but they can blend well with existing skills.

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Monster Train 2 Unit Upgrade Tips and Strategies

Since upgrades are permanent and limited per unit, you need to think about the strategy of their application. Before purchasing anything, consider the long-term perspective of the game and your deck. Are you building your gameplay around one strong tank? Do you need cheap units for mass attacks? Or are you playing through death effects and constantly reshuffling your hand? Aligning upgrades with the overall plan is more important than just choosing the most expensive.

If you're unsure whether to spend gold on an upgrade or save it for a reroll, remember that gold doesn't carry over between runs. Don't be afraid to experiment. The game rewards your creativity.