Transmog

Transmog (short for transmogrification, sometimes called visual customisation), is a video game feature which allows a player to change the appearance of their equipped armour or weapons to match another item, while keeping the original item's stats.[1][2]

When applied to weapons, Transmogrification is typically limited to weapons within the same class. A sword, for example, may take on the appearance of any other sword, but not the appearance of a bow.[3][4]


Transmogrification Systems

The specific implementation of Transmogrification in a video game varies greatly with developer intent; ranging from Free, to Limited, to Monetised Transmogrification. It also varies in how it applies to the character or item mechanically:[5]

  • Slot-based: Transmogrification which applies to an overall slot on the character, such as their helmet slot. With this system, equipping a different helmet for its stats will not impact the appearance of the character.
  • Loadout-based: Transmogrification which applies to an overall slot for one specific gear loadout. Similar to slot-based Transmogrification, this will allow the player to equip different items for their stats without impacting their character's appearance; it will also allow them to save these appearances separately across different loadouts which can be customised independently.
  • Item-based: Transmogrification which applies to a specific item, such as one helmet. With this system, equipping a different helmet for its stats will require the player to apply their Transmogrification again to the new helmet. If a new appearance is used, then swapping back to the original helmet would revert to its original Transmogrified appearance, requiring the player to Transmogrify it again to keep their latest chosen appearance.[6]

Free Transmogrification

Games such as Assassin's Creed: Odyssey and Hogwarts Legacy feature free and limitless Transmogrification, wherein an item's appearance is instantly added to a collection or compendium upon looting said item. The player may then enter their inventory and apply this appearance to their character at any time, at no cost.[3][6]

Limited Transmogrification

Certain games, whilst not monetising their Transmogrification system, will introduce in-game limitations to prevent the player from accessing Transmogrification as freely as they otherwise would. One such example is Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, which differs from its predecessor Odyssey in two key ways:

  • Transmogrification can no longer be performed from the Inventory, and the player must travel back to their home town of Ravensthorpe each time they wish to equip a different appearance.
  • Transmogrification is no longer free, and costs an arbitrary sum of 50 Silver, Valhalla's in-game currency, each time the player wishes to equip a different appearance.[7]

As an example of a different limitation, Avowed allows the player to Transmogrify their outfit, but only if the item used for its appearance is actively held in the inventory - impacting the player's inventory weight. Transmogrification in Avowed may also only be used to customise armour, not weapons.[8]

Monetised Transmogrification

Some games, such as Destiny 2, monetise Transmogrification by limiting the player's ability to equip appearances onto their character behind either a significant grind, a limited quantity within a particular time frame, or both; whilst offering players the option to forego these limitations at the cost of microtransactions.[9]

Other games, such as Soulframe, offer Transmogrification solely as a premium feature which must be purchased via microtransaction.[10]

List of Video Games Featuring Transmogrification

Where Transmogrification was introduced as post-launch content, this list shall feature the name and release year of the relevant update or expansion where applicable.

Year Title Transmog System Transmog Added Limitations
2008 Lord of the Rings: Online - Book 12: The Ashen Wastes Free Post-Launch
2009 Earth Eternal Free At Launch
2011 World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Limited Post-Launch In order to 'soulbind' an item, making it available for Transmogrification, the player must visit one of a number of specific NPCs, and pay a quantity of Gold, one of World of Warcraft's in-game currencies.[11]
2014 Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Limited Post-Launch Transmogrification costs Gold, the in-game currency of Diablo III.[12]
2019 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey v1.0.7 Free Post-Launch
2020 Tom Clancy's The Division 2: Title Update 11 Limited Post-Launch Whilst Transmog may be freely applied, 'Exotic' clothing is not included in The Division 2's Appearance Mods system. This means for all Exotic outfit pieces, players may neither change their appearance, nor change other gear to appear like them.[13]
2021 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla v1.2.0 Limited Post-Launch Transmogrification cannot be performed from the Inventory, and the player must travel back to their home town each time they wish to equip a different appearance. Transmogrification is not free, and costs an arbitrary sum of 50 Silver, Valhalla's in-game currency, each time the player wishes to equip a different appearance.[7]
2021 Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer Monetised Post-Launch Transmogrification is limited behind a grind and seasonal limit, and is monetised in order to forego these limitations.[9]
2021 Monster Hunter Rise Free At Launch Whilst Monster Hunter Rise released with an initial 'Layered Armor' system, not all sets were available for Transmog at launch, and it was only with the release of Sunbreak Title Update 2 in September 2022 that Rise's Transmog system extended to its weapons.[14]
2021 Outriders Free Post-Launch
2022 Cyberpunk 2077 v1.6 Free Post-Launch
2022 God of War Ragnarök Free At Launch Previously, players had to upgrade items to Power Level 9 in order to apply Transmog. With Patch 6.002, this was adjusted to allow Transmog to be performed at any time.[4]
2023 Diablo IV Free At Launch Transmogrification is free to unlock and apply. Additional wardrobe slots may be purchased using Gold, the in-game currency of Diablo IV.[15]
2025 Assassin's Creed Shadows Free At Launch
2025 Avowed Limited At Launch The player may Transmogrify their outfit, but only if the item used for its appearance is actively held in the inventory - impacting the player's inventory weight. Transmogrification may also only be used to customise armour, not weapons.[8]
TBD Soulframe Monetised At Launch Transmog uses a resource called Moonsteel Thread, purchased via microtransaction using the game's premium currency, Arcs. Transmog is not yet available for weapons, though has been confirmed as upcoming content.[10]

References

  1. ^ Brown, F. (November 27, 2025). "Poll: Should RPGs always provide a transmog system, or should we be forced to live with our fashion crimes?". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  2. ^ Blaker, M. (February 28, 2017). "Video Game Tuesday: Transmog Systems". Game Industry News. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey: Introducing the Visual Customization System". Ubisoft. November 14, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  4. ^ a b Harvey, A.; Graeber, B. (Jan 31, 2025). "How to use Transmogrification". IGN. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  5. ^ Wood, R. (June 2, 2023). "Diablo 4 transmog is something Final Fantasy 14 should learn from". TechRadar. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  6. ^ a b Lacayo, D. (Feb 21, 2023). "How to Change Your Gear Appearance (Transmog)". IGN. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  7. ^ a b Ramée, J. (March 16, 2021). "Assassin's Creed Valhalla Finally Gets A Transmog Feature But It's Worse Than Odyssey's". Gamespot. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  8. ^ a b Blum, J. (February 13, 2025). "Avowed: How to transmogrify and hide gear". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  9. ^ a b Savage, Phil (May 18, 2021). "Destiny 2's transmog grind is a symptom of a larger problem with its real-money store". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Preludes 11 Arrives!". Soulframe. Digital Extremes. October 9, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  11. ^ Randall, H. (January 24, 2026). "WoW's rough 2.0 transmog overhaul is mostly fixed, and I'm left wondering why Blizzard didn't just take the easy win". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  12. ^ Bedford, J. (November 27, 2020). "Diablo 3 Mystic tips - how to perform enchanting and Transmogrify items". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  13. ^ "Title Update 11: Summarized". Ubisoft. September 17, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  14. ^ Wood, A. (September 15, 2022). "Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak Title Update 2 adds 3 monsters and weapon transmog this month". GamesRadar. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  15. ^ McKenna, J. (April 12, 2024). "How to unlock, use and save Transmog looks in Diablo 4". Eurogamer. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
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