Decay

From Puzzle Pirates

  Certain items decay, going from new to good and then from good to old in a process often called 'dusting'. These items then dust when they become a certain age, dissapearing from the game completely. Each item decays at a different rate, and more expensive items last longer than cheaper ones. Special items from the box edition of the game never decay or dust.

The items that decay are swords (except the backsword), clothing (except the savvy hat), paint brushes, charts, and badges (on doubloon oceans). A sword that has dusted will be replaced with a stick if the sword was the only one in your inventory when it dusted. Likewise, clothing that goes on your pirate's torso or legs will be replaced with rags if you have no like clothing items in your inventory.