Amulet of Spell Cunning / Spell Mastery

[Cold Napalm]

Are these items considered incremental items of each other or if I get spell cunning via bonded item (as these only work as bonded items) do I have to scrap it and pay for bonding with a new item if I want the spell mastery at a later time?

[Tony Lindman]

Only items that give numerical bonuses as part of their names, and which have a clear "this is the next one", are upgradable. You can upgrade a +1 weapon to +2, or a +2 Belt of Giant Strength to +4, but you can't upgrade one named item into a different one, even if it seems clear that one is just a better version of the other.

[Dragnmoon]

Tony not fully accurate.... That is more of a description for Wondourus Item upgrades, and then not fully correct

There is a very limted amount of items that are not weapons/shields/armor that can be upgraded, though they all do have a numerical value with them.

You can upgrade a +1 Weapon to a +1 Keen weapon, which is not a numerical value.

WHat can be upgraded and how is one of the most confusing rules in PFS, and most of us that fully understand it due to being around for awhile and having the rule made clearer by Paizo Staff on the boards and FAQ. It could use some work in clarity in the Guide. I will look into that and see if I can give advice on how to clear the rule up a bit.

[CRobledo]

Armor and Weapons
+1 weapons/armor can have additional properties added to it, as well as additional pluses.
Weapon/armor properties may not be upgraded (no Shocking --> Shocking burst)
+X weapon/armor can be upgraded to unique named items, but only if their base enchantments and materials exactly match the unique item.

Wondrous Items
Wondrous items with +X in their name may be upgraded to the next +X by paying the difference. (e.g. ring of protection +1 --> ring of protection +2)
Even "clear" upgrades are not allowed if the name changes (no lesser metamagic rod of extend --> metamagic rod of extend)
The only exception to these rules are vanilla stat belts and headbands. A belt of giant's strength +2 can be upgraded to a belt of +2 STR/CON. That can even be upgraded to a belt of physical perfection +2 afterwards. All belts and headbands must be a legal item after the upgrade (no belt of +2 CON/+4 STR, as this is not an item in the books)

[Majuba]

I do not believe the original ruling on this (in the PFS FAQ) was intended to be so restrictive, instead intended primarily for specific weapons and armor. That restrictive ruling has been affirmed in a casual manner, and should probably be re-evaluated. FAQ'ing the original question (which is definitely a corner-case).

[Dragnmoon]

CRobledo wrote:

Armor and Weapons

+1 weapons/armor can have additional properties added to it, as well as additional pluses.
Weapon/armor properties may not be upgraded (no Shocking --> Shocking burst)
+X weapon/armor can be upgraded to unique named items, but only if their base enchantments and materials exactly match the unique item.

Wondrous Items
Wondrous items with +X in their name may be upgraded to the next +X by paying the difference. (e.g. ring of protection +1 --> ring of protection +2)
Even "clear" upgrades are not allowed if the name changes (no lesser metamagic rod of extend --> metamagic rod of extend)
The only exception to these rules are vanilla stat belts and headbands. A belt of giant's strength +2 can be upgraded to a belt of +2 STR/CON. That can even be upgraded to a belt of physical perfection +2 afterwards. All belts and headbands must be a legal item after the upgrade (no belt of +2 CON/+4 STR, as this is not an item in the books)

Thanks CRobledo, this is a very good explanation of rules for upgrading.