Relic weapons will always get upgrades. The newest bestest primal/coil/whatever thing will not, you will simply have to get the newest bestest new thing.

Sidenote: Grinding Atma is not a bad thing. Stuff should take time. Or do what I do. Don't grind. Do whatever, if you run into a FATE, do one here and there. 1/12 now, haven't spent a moment farming. I'll get there.