diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 326172c1..c235be0e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -660,7 +660,8 @@ Some commands only work for clients not in proxy sessions. The chat commands are
         * `$item ES APHEX ZALURE TWIN +200` (ES weapon must be prefixed with "ES"; name comes before special)
         * `$item DF FIELD +10DEF +20EVP +4` (armor with DFP bonus, EVP bonus, and slot count)
         * `$item RED MERGE +10DFP +20EVP` (shield; same as armor except without slot count)
-        * `$item Knight/Power++` (unit)
+        * `$item Knight/Power +9` (unit with specific modifier)
+        * `$item Knight/Power++` (unit with normal modifier; ++/-- are +4/-4 and +/- are +2/-2)
         * `$item LIMITER K:1000` (sealed unit with kill count)
         * `$item Tapas PB:F,G,M&Y 120% 200IQ 5/195/0/0 green` (mag with PBs, synchro, IO, stats, and color)
         * `$item Trimate x10` (tool with stack size)
diff --git a/src/ItemNameIndex.cc b/src/ItemNameIndex.cc
index 85de65a4..43205bcd 100644
--- a/src/ItemNameIndex.cc
+++ b/src/ItemNameIndex.cc
@@ -674,16 +674,26 @@ ItemData ItemNameIndex::parse_item_description_phase(const std::string& descript
           {"+", 0x0002},
           {"++", 0x0004},
       });
-      ret.data1w[3] = modifiers.at(desc);
-
       bool kill_count_set = false;
-      for (auto& token : phosg::split(desc, ' ')) {
-        if (token.starts_with("k:")) {
+      for (const auto& token : phosg::split(desc, ' ')) {
+        if (token == "--") {
+          ret.data1w[3] = 0xFFFC;
+        } else if (token == "-") {
+          ret.data1w[3] = 0xFFFE;
+        } else if (token == "+") {
+          ret.data1w[3] = 0x0002;
+        } else if (token == "++") {
+          ret.data1w[3] = 0x0004;
+        } else if (token.starts_with('+')) {
+          ret.data1w[3] = stoul(token.substr(1), nullptr, 0);
+        } else if (token.starts_with('-')) {
+          ret.data1w[3] = static_cast<uint16_t>(stol(token, nullptr, 0));
+        } else if (token.starts_with("k:")) {
           ret.set_kill_count(stoul(token.substr(2), nullptr, 0));
           kill_count_set = true;
-          break;
         }
       }
+
       if (this->item_parameter_table->is_unsealable_item(ret) && !kill_count_set) {
         ret.set_kill_count(0);
       }