Upgrade Material Locations Guide for Destiny on Playstation 4 (PS4)

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To upgrade your equipment, you'll need spinmetal, helium filaments, spirit bloom, relic iron, ascendant energy, ascendant motes, and ascendant shards, depending on the type of equipment and upgrades in question.

Type - Spinmetal

Appearance - Silver-green plant on a reddish base

Location - Earth

To find spinmetal, you should go to Old Russia's Cosmodrone. There, head right until you reach all of the old, rusted machinery. Spinmetal spawns in this area. Chests in the area's caves will also contain spinmetal.

Type - Helium Filaments

Appearance - Cylindrical canisters with a yellow glow

Location - Moon

To find helium filaments, you should go to Archer's Line. They spawn in a few different locations. First, check the ledge to the right of where you spawn. Then, continue upward along the path, and check the room at the end. Next, go left and search the area on the other side of the barrier. Check the particle accelerator and the areas on top of it. The area's caves may also have chests containing helium filaments.

Type - Spirit Bloom

Appearance - Substance with a blue-green glow

Location - Venus

To find spirit bloom, go to the Ishtar Sinks and start at the Headlands. Check that area, and everything between it and the Shattered Coast. Look around the Shattered Coast as well, and then the Ishtar Commons. It is a common spawn in these areas. Chests on nearby ledges may also contain spirit bloom.

Type - Relic Iron

Appearance - Red-brown mineral or rock

Location - Mars

To find relic iron you can either search all throughout the Barrens or go to the Buried City. If you choose the Buried City, begin from the Scablands. Relic iron spawns in three main locations there. Enter the Buried City and head left to the next room. Search it, and then leave the building. Enter the area on the left side of the sand dune, and search it. Search the area to the left of that building, as well.

Type - Ascendant Energy

Effect - Increase weapon power

Ascendant Energy is a reward for performing Raids, daily missions with a difficulty higher than level 20, and public events. You may also receive it when you dismantle high-level weapons.

Type - Ascendant Motes

Effect - Upgrade Legendary/Exotic gear

Ascendant Motes are rewards for performing Raids, daily missions with a difficulty higher than level 20, and public events. They are also rare enemy drops.

Type - Ascendant Shards

Effect - Increase armor defense

Ascendant Shards are rewards for performing Raids, daily missions with a difficulty higher than level 20, and public events. You may also receive them when you dismantle high-level weapons.