How to Salvage Gear in Diablo 4

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Salvaging gear in Diablo 4 is how you break down unwanted weapons and armor into raw materials, which you then use to upgrade your best items at the blacksmith and jeweler. This guide walks you through the salvage process, what materials you get, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

What You’ll Need

A character in Diablo 4 (any class, any level).
Unwanted gear in your inventory (weapons, armor, or jewelry).
Access to a blacksmith or a workbench in any major town (e.g., Kyovashad, Cerrigar).
Gold is not required for salvaging.

Step-by-Step

Open your inventory (default key: I on PC, or the corresponding button on console). Review the gear you’ve picked up. Items that are worse than what you’re wearing are prime salvage candidates.
Travel to a town with a blacksmith. You can use the waypoint to fast-travel. The blacksmith icon looks like an anvil on the minimap.
Interact with the blacksmith (or the workbench, which is the same thing). The salvage menu opens.
Choose the “Salvage” tab if it’s not already selected. You’ll see two options: “Salvage All” and “Salvage Items.”
For individual items: Click on the “Salvage Items” button, then click each item you want to break down. The item will be destroyed immediately, and you’ll see the materials pop up in the chat log.
For bulk salvage: Use the “Salvage All” button to break down every item in your inventory that is marked as “Junk.” To mark items as junk, right-click them in your inventory (or press the corresponding button on console) before talking to the blacksmith. This is the fastest way to clear out a full bag.
Collect your materials. Salvaging yields one or more of the following, depending on the item’s rarity and type: Iron Chunk (from weapons and armor), Silver Ore (from jewelry), Rawhide (from leather armor), Parts (from magical items), Veiled Crystal (from rare items), Forgotten Soul (from legendary items), and Coiling Ward (from sacred/ancestral items). These materials are automatically added to your Materials tab (accessed from the inventory screen).
Use the materials. Go back to the blacksmith and select “Upgrade” to improve your equipped gear. The jeweler uses materials for socketing and upgrading gems.

Common Mistakes

Salvaging gear you still need. Double-check that you’re not breaking down an item with a good aspect or a high item power that you might want for another build. If unsure, stash it instead of salvaging.
Not marking items as junk. Using “Salvage All” without marking junk can destroy items you wanted to keep. Always mark junk first.
Salvaging instead of selling. Early in the game, you may need gold more than materials. If you’re short on gold, sell some items instead of salvaging everything.
Ignoring the blacksmith’s “Salvage All” prompt. It will salvage all junk items, but it will also salvage any item you’ve accidentally marked. Be careful.

Tips

Salvage everything you don’t need. Materials are essential for upgrading your gear, and you’ll need a steady supply. Make a habit of salvaging after each dungeon run.
Use the “Junk” system. Mark items as junk as you pick them up (right-click on PC, or the corresponding button on console). Then, at the blacksmith, one click on “Salvage All” clears your entire bag.
Prioritize upgrading your weapon. Weapon upgrades give the biggest damage boost, so spend your materials there first.
Salvage legendary items you don’t need. You get a Forgotten Soul, which is needed for upgrading legendary gear. If you don’t need the aspect, salvage it.
Check the materials tab. You can see exactly how many of each material you have by opening your inventory and going to the Materials tab. This helps you decide what to salvage.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the salvage option. Make sure you’re at a blacksmith, not a merchant. The blacksmith has an anvil icon; the merchant has a coin icon.
I accidentally salvaged a good item. Unfortunately, there is no undo. However, you can sometimes get the aspect back by visiting the Occultist and extracting it from a different item. You cannot recover the item itself.
I don’t have enough materials to upgrade. Farm more gear by completing dungeons, world events, and defeating elites. Salvage everything you don’t need.
“Salvage All” didn’t work. It only salvages items marked as junk. If you didn’t mark anything, nothing happens. Mark items manually or use “Salvage Items” to select them individually.
I’m out of inventory space and can’t salvage. You can salvage items directly from your inventory by right-clicking and selecting “Salvage” if you’re near a blacksmith. If you’re not near one, you can teleport to town.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I salvage items from my stash? Yes, you can. Open your stash, move items to your inventory, and then salvage them at the blacksmith.
What’s the difference between salvaging and selling? Salvaging gives you crafting materials, while selling gives you gold. Both are useful, but materials are harder to come by in bulk.
Do I lose anything by salvaging? You lose the item itself, but you get materials that are used for upgrades. You also lose the ability to sell it for gold.
Can I salvage gems? No, gems cannot be salvaged. You can sell them or use them at the jeweler.
What is the best way to get Forgotten Souls? Salvaging legendary items is the most reliable way. You can also get them from Helltide events and certain endgame activities.
Is there a limit to how much I can salvage? No, you can salvage as many items as you want, as long as you have them in your inventory.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.