In Phantom Brigade, the workshop is essential for crafting weapons, shields, and armor with the prefixes you want. However, understanding how to efficiently upgrade the workshop level can be confusing, especially with misleading in-game explanations. This guide breaks down the actual mechanics behind workshop level upgrades and how to optimize them effectively.

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How Workshop Leveling Really Works

The game states that the workshop level increases based on the number of liberated provinces. However, this is incorrect. The actual formula is:

Workshop Level = Average Level of Your Top 4 Mechs + 1

This formula does not take into account lower-level mechs, making it crucial to focus on upgrading a core team of four mechs to raise your workshop level efficiently.

Key Takeaways:

• Only the top 4 mechs are considered, regardless of how many you have.
• Lower-level mechs do not impact the workshop level.
• The average level is rounded up, making it easier to reach higher workshop levels.

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Optimizing Mech Levels to Boost Workshop Level

1. Equip High-Level Weapons and Gear: Even if you dislike certain high-level weapons due to their prefixes, equipping them temporarily boosts mech levels, directly influencing your workshop level.

2. Drop Low-Level Gear Strategically:

• If a mech has a low-level secondary item (like a shield), temporarily unequip it.
• This does not count as a level zero but raises the mech’s average level.

Example: If one of your top 4 mechs has a level 21 shield while the rest of its gear is level 24 or above, dropping the shield can immediately boost that mech’s level by focusing on higher-level gear.

3. Focus on Your Core Mechs: Prioritize leveling up your top 4 mechs by:

• Equipping the highest-level gear available.
• Ensuring balanced upgrades across all slots.

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Permanent Workshop Level Gains

The good news is that workshop level increases are permanent:

• Cannot De-Level: Once you upgrade your workshop to a higher level, it remains there permanently, even if you later swap back to lower-level gear.
• Retroactive Project Upgrades: Any projects in progress when you upgrade your workshop will automatically be boosted to the new level upon completion.

Tip: Craft high-value projects right before a level upgrade to get the most out of your materials.

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Dispelling the Province Liberation Myth

While liberating provinces allows access to more resources and crafting materials, it does not directly impact workshop levels:

• Resources vs. Levels: More provinces mean more materials, which help with crafting but do not raise the workshop level by themselves.
• Efficient Path: Focus on equipping your core mechs with high-level gear to speed up workshop level upgrades instead of spreading resources thin across multiple provinces.

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Conclusion

Upgrading your workshop level in Phantom Brigade is about optimizing your top 4 mechs and leveraging high-level gear strategically. By understanding the real mechanics behind workshop leveling, you can craft better gear faster and progress more efficiently. Use this guide to maximize your workshop’s potential and dominate the battlefield!