Weapon upgrade

Definition
Weapon upgrades (also sometimes referred to as mods) are magically enhanced weapon parts that improve the characteristics of the weapon they are applied to. A weapon can contain a maximum of 2 upgrades: one "prefix" and one "suffix." Weapon upgrades can be salvaged from a weapon and applied to another weapon, as opposed to weapon modifiers, which cannot be salvaged.

Note: Weapons that do not have any upgrades on them are often called "clean", while those with the maximum value for their upgrades are called "perfect". Also, keep in mind that Gold/Purple/Blue (NOT Green) items can be upgraded, but will lose their current values, in place of the new upgrade.

A weapon has an upgrade on it if it has a prefix or suffix added to the weapon's name. For instance, if a Fiery Sword Hilt were applied to a Long Sword, it would be called a Fiery Long Sword. If a Sword Pommel of Defense were then applied, it would be called a Fiery Long Sword of Defense.

Only the following weapons can be upgraded:

Acquisition
Weapon upgrades can be salvaged from weapons that contain them by using an Expert Salvage Kit or Superior Salvage Kit. Salvaging does not always return upgrades; sometimes you will receive only crafting materials. If a weapon has two upgrades (a prefix and a suffix) you can chose which one you want to try and salvage. Doing this has chance of destroying the weapon. Salvaging a weapon for crafting materials will always destroy it.

Upgraded weapons obtained from quests, collectors, promotions, or the PvP Character Creation process cannot be salvaged to get their upgrades. However, you can add new upgrades to those weapons. If you add an upgrade to a collector weapon, you can now attempt to salvage that upgrade from it, under the restrictions described above.

Fiery Dragon Swords and Icy Dragon Swords can't have their sword hilts changed. However, it is possible to salvage the Fiery and Icy sword hilts from them.

Vampiric and Zealous upgrades occur only on rare weapons.

Usage
Simply double-click the upgrade, and then click on a compatible weapon to equip it. Applying a weapon upgrade to the wrong type of weapon or an un-upgradable weapon will result in an error message. Applying a prefix upgrade to a weapon that already has a prefix upgrade will replace the old upgrade; likewise, applying a suffix upgrade to a weapon that already has a suffix upgrade will replace the old upgrade. You will receive a warning before the old upgrade is replaced.

Combat Weapons
1You can know when an unidentified weapon has one of the four elemental prefix upgrades by checking the weapon's Damage type. If the word "Dmg" appears with no other word before it, then the item has an elemental prefix. 2This will also lengthen the duration of Poisoning on yourself if you use Chilblains. 3Vampiric upgrades with "Life stealing: 1" are currently only available as unlocks from a Priest of Balthazar. Previously, vampiric upgrades were available on items of any rarity, allowing for nonperfect vampiric upgrades.

Martial weapons and staves
1While these armor bonuses refer to attacks, they actually protect against any damage of that type. 2Aside from staves, weapons have +1  modifiers only for their required attribute, i.e. an axe will only have a +1 Axe Mastery upgrade. Staves can have +1  for any caster attribute. Currently the following upgrades are confirmed to exist:

3 slaying modifiers: 4Staff +1  upgrades and species-slaying upgrades cannot be unlocked for PvP characters.
 * Monk - Divine Favor, Healing Prayers, Protection Prayers, Smiting Prayers
 * Necromancer - Blood Magic, Curses, Death Magic, Soul Reaping
 * Mesmer - Domination Magic, Illusion Magic, Inspiration Magic
 * Elementalist - Air Magic, Earth Magic, Fire Magic, Water Magic
 * Ritualist - Channeling Magic, Communing, Restoration Magic

Inscriptions
Inscriptions are color-coded

Trivia

 * "Don't Fear the Reaper" is a likely reference to the Blue Oyster Cult song of the same name.