diff --git a/common/src/comp/inventory/item/mod.rs b/common/src/comp/inventory/item/mod.rs
index a3e912af18..fd92e7840a 100644
--- a/common/src/comp/inventory/item/mod.rs
+++ b/common/src/comp/inventory/item/mod.rs
@@ -119,13 +119,17 @@ pub struct Item {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ItemDef {
-    #[serde(skip)]
+    #[serde(default)]
     item_definition_id: String,
     pub name: String,
     pub description: String,
     pub kind: ItemKind,
 }
 
+impl PartialEq for ItemDef {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool { self.item_definition_id == other.item_definition_id }
+}
+
 impl ItemDef {
     pub fn is_stackable(&self) -> bool {
         matches!(self.kind, ItemKind::Consumable { .. }
@@ -264,6 +268,10 @@ impl Item {
 
     pub fn item_definition_id(&self) -> &str { &self.item_def.item_definition_id }
 
+    pub fn is_same_item_def(&self, item_def: &ItemDef) -> bool {
+        self.item_def.item_definition_id == item_def.item_definition_id
+    }
+
     pub fn is_stackable(&self) -> bool { self.item_def.is_stackable() }
 
     pub fn name(&self) -> &str { &self.item_def.name }
@@ -314,24 +322,30 @@ impl Item {
             _ => return None,
         }))
     }
+}
 
-    /// Determines whether two items are superficially equivalent to one another
-    /// (i.e: one may be substituted for the other in crafting recipes or
-    /// item possession checks).
-    pub fn superficially_eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
-        match (&self.kind(), &other.kind()) {
-            (ItemKind::Tool(a), ItemKind::Tool(b)) => a.superficially_eq(b),
-            // TODO: Differentiate between lantern colors?
-            (ItemKind::Lantern(_), ItemKind::Lantern(_)) => true,
-            (ItemKind::Glider(_), ItemKind::Glider(_)) => true,
-            (ItemKind::Armor(a), ItemKind::Armor(b)) => a.superficially_eq(b),
-            (ItemKind::Consumable { kind: a, .. }, ItemKind::Consumable { kind: b, .. }) => a == b,
-            (ItemKind::Throwable { kind: a, .. }, ItemKind::Throwable { kind: b, .. }) => a == b,
-            (ItemKind::Utility { kind: a, .. }, ItemKind::Utility { kind: b, .. }) => a == b,
-            (ItemKind::Ingredient { kind: a, .. }, ItemKind::Ingredient { kind: b, .. }) => a == b,
-            _ => false,
-        }
-    }
+/// Provides common methods providing details about an item definition
+/// for either an `Item` containing the definition, or the actual `ItemDef`
+pub trait ItemDesc {
+    fn description(&self) -> &str;
+    fn name(&self) -> &str;
+    fn kind(&self) -> &ItemKind;
+}
+
+impl ItemDesc for Item {
+    fn description(&self) -> &str { &self.item_def.description }
+
+    fn name(&self) -> &str { &self.item_def.name }
+
+    fn kind(&self) -> &ItemKind { &self.item_def.kind }
+}
+
+impl ItemDesc for ItemDef {
+    fn description(&self) -> &str { &self.description }
+
+    fn name(&self) -> &str { &self.name }
+
+    fn kind(&self) -> &ItemKind { &self.kind }
 }
 
 impl Component for Item {
diff --git a/common/src/comp/inventory/mod.rs b/common/src/comp/inventory/mod.rs
index 25a26a4aca..d57f268d4a 100644
--- a/common/src/comp/inventory/mod.rs
+++ b/common/src/comp/inventory/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 pub mod item;
 pub mod slot;
 
-use crate::recipe::Recipe;
+use crate::{comp::inventory::item::ItemDef, recipe::Recipe};
 use core::ops::Not;
 use item::Item;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -211,11 +211,11 @@ impl Inventory {
     }
 
     /// Determine how many of a particular item there is in the inventory.
-    pub fn item_count(&self, item: &Item) -> u64 {
+    pub fn item_count(&self, item_def: &ItemDef) -> u64 {
         self.slots()
             .iter()
             .flatten()
-            .filter(|it| it.superficially_eq(item))
+            .filter(|it| it.is_same_item_def(item_def))
             .map(|it| u64::from(it.amount()))
             .sum()
     }
@@ -228,15 +228,15 @@ impl Inventory {
     pub fn contains_ingredients<'a>(
         &self,
         recipe: &'a Recipe,
-    ) -> Result<Vec<u32>, Vec<(&'a Item, u32)>> {
+    ) -> Result<Vec<u32>, Vec<(&'a ItemDef, u32)>> {
         let mut slot_claims = vec![0; self.slots.len()];
-        let mut missing = Vec::new();
+        let mut missing = Vec::<(&ItemDef, u32)>::new();
 
         for (input, mut needed) in recipe.inputs() {
             let mut contains_any = false;
 
             for (i, slot) in self.slots().iter().enumerate() {
-                if let Some(item) = slot.as_ref().filter(|item| item.superficially_eq(input)) {
+                if let Some(item) = slot.as_ref().filter(|item| item.is_same_item_def(&*input)) {
                     let can_claim = (item.amount() - slot_claims[i]).min(needed);
                     slot_claims[i] += can_claim;
                     needed -= can_claim;
diff --git a/common/src/recipe.rs b/common/src/recipe.rs
index 76663022ca..e6aa0936e0 100644
--- a/common/src/recipe.rs
+++ b/common/src/recipe.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
     assets::{self, Asset},
-    comp::{Inventory, Item},
+    comp::{item::ItemDef, Inventory, Item},
 };
 use hashbrown::HashMap;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -8,14 +8,17 @@ use std::{fs::File, io::BufReader, sync::Arc};
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Recipe {
-    pub output: (Item, u32),
-    pub inputs: Vec<(Item, u32)>,
+    pub output: (Arc<ItemDef>, u32),
+    pub inputs: Vec<(Arc<ItemDef>, u32)>,
 }
 
 #[allow(clippy::type_complexity)]
 impl Recipe {
     /// Perform a recipe, returning a list of missing items on failure
-    pub fn perform(&self, inv: &mut Inventory) -> Result<Option<(Item, u32)>, Vec<(&Item, u32)>> {
+    pub fn perform(
+        &self,
+        inv: &mut Inventory,
+    ) -> Result<Option<(Item, u32)>, Vec<(&ItemDef, u32)>> {
         // Get ingredient cells from inventory,
         inv.contains_ingredients(self)?
             .into_iter()
@@ -27,7 +30,8 @@ impl Recipe {
             });
 
         for i in 0..self.output.1 {
-            if let Some(item) = inv.push(self.output.0.duplicate()) {
+            let crafted_item = Item::new(Arc::clone(&self.output.0));
+            if let Some(item) = inv.push(crafted_item) {
                 return Ok(Some((item, self.output.1 - i)));
             }
         }
@@ -35,8 +39,10 @@ impl Recipe {
         Ok(None)
     }
 
-    pub fn inputs(&self) -> impl ExactSizeIterator<Item = (&Item, u32)> {
-        self.inputs.iter().map(|(item, amount)| (item, *amount))
+    pub fn inputs(&self) -> impl ExactSizeIterator<Item = (&Arc<ItemDef>, u32)> {
+        self.inputs
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(item_def, amount)| (item_def, *amount))
     }
 }
 
@@ -75,11 +81,11 @@ impl Asset for RecipeBook {
                     .map::<Result<(String, Recipe), assets::Error>, _>(
                         |(name, ((output, amount), inputs))| {
                             Ok((name, Recipe {
-                                output: (Item::new_from_asset(&output)?, amount),
+                                output: (ItemDef::load(&output)?, amount),
                                 inputs: inputs
                                     .into_iter()
-                                    .map::<Result<(Item, u32), assets::Error>, _>(
-                                        |(name, amount)| Ok((Item::new_from_asset(&name)?, amount)),
+                                    .map::<Result<(Arc<ItemDef>, u32), assets::Error>, _>(
+                                        |(name, amount)| Ok((ItemDef::load(&name)?, amount)),
                                     )
                                     .collect::<Result<_, _>>()?,
                             }))
diff --git a/voxygen/src/hud/crafting.rs b/voxygen/src/hud/crafting.rs
index 6535bc6deb..23077964d6 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/hud/crafting.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/hud/crafting.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
     ui::{fonts::ConrodVoxygenFonts, ImageFrame, Tooltip, TooltipManager, Tooltipable},
 };
 use client::{self, Client};
-use common::comp::Inventory;
+use common::comp::{item::ItemDesc, Inventory};
 use conrod_core::{
     color,
     widget::{self, Button, Image, Rectangle, Scrollbar, Text},
@@ -247,10 +247,10 @@ impl<'a> Widget for Crafting<'a> {
                 {
                     let output_text = format!("x{}", &recipe.output.1.to_string());
                     // Output Image
-                    let (title, desc) = super::util::item_text(&recipe.output.0);
+                    let (title, desc) = super::util::item_text(&*recipe.output.0);
                     Button::image(
                         self.item_imgs
-                            .img_id_or_not_found_img((&recipe.output.0).into()),
+                            .img_id_or_not_found_img((&*recipe.output.0.kind()).into()),
                     )
                     .w_h(55.0, 55.0)
                     .middle_of(state.ids.output_img_frame)
@@ -362,9 +362,9 @@ impl<'a> Widget for Crafting<'a> {
                 });
             };
             // Widget generation for every ingredient
-            for (i, (item, amount)) in recipe.inputs.iter().enumerate() {
+            for (i, (item_def, amount)) in recipe.inputs.iter().enumerate() {
                 // Grey color for images and text if their amount is too low to craft the item
-                let item_count_in_inventory = self.inventory.item_count(item);
+                let item_count_in_inventory = self.inventory.item_count(item_def);
                 let col = if item_count_in_inventory >= u64::from(*amount) {
                     TEXT_COLOR
                 } else {
@@ -393,8 +393,8 @@ impl<'a> Widget for Crafting<'a> {
                 };
                 frame.set(state.ids.ingredient_frame[i], ui);
                 //Item Image
-                let (title, desc) = super::util::item_text(&item);
-                Button::image(self.item_imgs.img_id_or_not_found_img(item.into()))
+                let (title, desc) = super::util::item_text(&**item_def);
+                Button::image(self.item_imgs.img_id_or_not_found_img((&*item_def.kind()).into()))
                     .w_h(22.0, 22.0)
                     .middle_of(state.ids.ingredient_frame[i])
                     //.image_color(col)
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ impl<'a> Widget for Crafting<'a> {
                         .font_size(self.fonts.cyri.scale(14))
                         .color(col)
                         .set(state.ids.req_text[i], ui);
-                    Text::new(&item.name())
+                    Text::new(&item_def.name())
                         .right_from(state.ids.ingredient_frame[i], 10.0)
                         .font_id(self.fonts.cyri.conrod_id)
                         .font_size(self.fonts.cyri.scale(14))
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ impl<'a> Widget for Crafting<'a> {
                     let input = format!(
                         "{}x {} ({})",
                         amount,
-                        &item.name(),
+                        &item_def.name(),
                         if item_count_in_inventory > 99 {
                             over9k
                         } else {
diff --git a/voxygen/src/hud/item_imgs.rs b/voxygen/src/hud/item_imgs.rs
index 1d15a24e5d..12de1f50cf 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/hud/item_imgs.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/hud/item_imgs.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use common::{
     comp::item::{
         armor::{Armor, ArmorKind},
         tool::{Tool, ToolKind},
-        Glider, Item, ItemKind, Lantern, Throwable, Utility,
+        Glider, ItemKind, Lantern, Throwable, Utility,
     },
     figure::Segment,
 };
@@ -29,9 +29,10 @@ pub enum ItemKey {
     Ingredient(String),
     Empty,
 }
-impl From<&Item> for ItemKey {
-    fn from(item: &Item) -> Self {
-        match &item.kind() {
+
+impl From<&ItemKind> for ItemKey {
+    fn from(item_kind: &ItemKind) -> Self {
+        match item_kind {
             ItemKind::Tool(Tool { kind, .. }) => ItemKey::Tool(kind.clone()),
             ItemKind::Lantern(Lantern { kind, .. }) => ItemKey::Lantern(kind.clone()),
             ItemKind::Glider(Glider { kind, .. }) => ItemKey::Glider(kind.clone()),
diff --git a/voxygen/src/hud/slots.rs b/voxygen/src/hud/slots.rs
index 33b6c6efc4..f365cf8087 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/hud/slots.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/hud/slots.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl SlotKey<Inventory, ItemImgs> for InventorySlot {
     type ImageKey = ItemKey;
 
     fn image_key(&self, source: &Inventory) -> Option<(Self::ImageKey, Option<Color>)> {
-        source.get(self.0).map(|i| (i.into(), None))
+        source.get(self.0).map(|i| (i.kind().into(), None))
     }
 
     fn amount(&self, source: &Inventory) -> Option<u32> {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ impl SlotKey<Loadout, ItemImgs> for EquipSlot {
             EquipSlot::Glider => source.glider.as_ref(),
         };
 
-        item.map(|i| (i.into(), None))
+        item.map(|i| (i.kind().into(), None))
     }
 
     fn amount(&self, _: &Loadout) -> Option<u32> { None }
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ impl<'a> SlotKey<HotbarSource<'a>, HotbarImageSource<'a>> for HotbarSlot {
         hotbar.get(*self).and_then(|contents| match contents {
             hotbar::SlotContents::Inventory(idx) => inventory
                 .get(idx)
-                .map(|item| HotbarImage::Item(item.into()))
+                .map(|item| HotbarImage::Item(item.kind().into()))
                 .map(|i| (i, None)),
             hotbar::SlotContents::Ability3 => loadout
                 .active_item
diff --git a/voxygen/src/hud/util.rs b/voxygen/src/hud/util.rs
index 8b23ca3d6c..612d42a888 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/hud/util.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/hud/util.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 use common::comp::item::{
     armor::{Armor, ArmorKind, Protection},
     tool::{Tool, ToolKind},
-    Item, ItemKind,
+    ItemDesc, ItemKind,
 };
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 
 pub fn loadout_slot_text<'a>(
-    item: Option<&'a Item>,
+    item: Option<&'a impl ItemDesc>,
     mut empty: impl FnMut() -> (&'a str, &'a str),
 ) -> (&'a str, Cow<'a, str>) {
     item.map_or_else(
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub fn loadout_slot_text<'a>(
     )
 }
 
-pub fn item_text<'a>(item: &'a Item) -> (&'_ str, Cow<'a, str>) {
+pub fn item_text<'a>(item: &'a impl ItemDesc) -> (&'_ str, Cow<'a, str>) {
     let desc: Cow<str> = match item.kind() {
         ItemKind::Armor(armor) => Cow::Owned(armor_desc(&armor, item.description())),
         ItemKind::Tool(tool) => Cow::Owned(tool_desc(&tool, item.description())),
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ pub fn item_text<'a>(item: &'a Item) -> (&'_ str, Cow<'a, str>) {
 
     (item.name(), desc)
 }
+
 // Armor Description
 fn armor_desc(armor: &Armor, desc: &str) -> String {
     // TODO: localization