NOT a math guide disguised as an Advanced Research guide. Breaking down the mechanics behind advanced research
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Advanced Research was introduced with the release of Tier 14 in 2024 and there have been countless questions regarding advanced research!
Disclaimer: There will be example calculations shown along with its workings but you’re free to skip those entirely if you do not like math. It will be under the “Example Calculation” sections, and each major section has their own dedicated math section.
Basics of Advanced Research
Advanced research only applies to the specific line you have it unlocked except for the XP node (More details below). So, if you only unlocked advanced research for daggers, it would only apply to daggers and nothing else.
You can unlock advanced research once the corresponding worker gets level 36 and you unlock the T14, T15, and/or T16 blueprint for that line. Advanced research ONLY applies to T14, T15, and/or T16 blueprints (for now). Anything T13 and below will not gain benefits from advanced research.
There are currently 42 lines in the game. 38 of those are unlockable up to Tier 16 while 4 of those are only unlockable up to Tier 14. The ones unlockable to T14 only are Runestones, Moonstones, Elements, Spirits.
Edit: This section was last edited with the release of Ripley which added scythes and masks
Example:
Wallace has six main lines which are Swords, Daggers, Heavy Armor, Gauntlets, Boots, Helmet.
You can only unlock advanced research for dagger when Wallace is at least level 36 and you’ve unlocked at least one T14/T15 dagger.
Note: If you only have a T14 dagger, then you will not be able to unlock the special node which applies the bonuses to T15 daggers until you have a T15 dagger unlocked.
Currently there are three nodes of advanced research as well as a special node. You need to unlock the 1st node before you can unlock the 2nd. Then unlock the 2nd node before you can unlock the 3rd node.
1st node: 50% Craft Time Reduction
2nd node: -10% Energy Cost to Surcharge
3rd node: +10% merchant XP for ALL T14 items
Special node: Apply to T15
Note: Unlockable once you have a T15 blueprint unlocked for that line and when you have at least one node unlocked for that line
For the special node, you can unlock it as your 2nd/3rd/4th node for that line but never the first.
The following are the possible orders to unlock advanced research:
– 1st > 2nd > 3rd > Special
– 1st > 2nd > Special > 3rd
– 1st > Special> 2nd > 3rd
How does the Craft Time Reduction Node work?
This node will reduce the current time it takes you to craft something by half.
Example:
Before Craft Time Reduction:
1 hour 9 minutes which is 69 minutes to craft the dagger
After Craft Time Reduction:
69 – 50% = 69/2 = 34.5 minutes to craft the dagger
Craft Time Calculations
Formula:
– Base Craft Time * (1 – Crafting milestone) * (1 – Guild Boost) * (1 – Worker A Bonuses) * (1 – Worker A T15 Bonuses) * (1 – Worker B Bonuses) * (1 – Worker B T15 Bonuses) * (1 – Worker C Bonuses) * (1 – Worker C T15 Bonuses) * (1 – Advanced Research)
Disclaimer: The formula is commutative which means that you can calculate them in any order you want and still get the same results. But I will be referencing this order of operations to keep it consistent. It is also multiplicative.
The formula looks long and complex, but it’s actually very simple! The last six variables in the formula are just repeating because higher tier crafts involve more than one worker. Workers also have a special bonus specifically for T15 crafts but is calculated separately.
For a list of base craft times, you can refer to this link.
Worker Bonus: 70%
T15 Bonus: 15%
Both are calculated separately
Example Calculation:
Craft Time: 116 hours 50 minutes
Crafting milestone: 25%
Guild Boost: 25%
Worker A: Wallace
Worker B: Katarina
Worker C: Theodore
Advanced Research: 50%
Worker A Bonuses: 70%
Worker A T15 Bonuses: 15%
Worker B Bonuses: 70%
Worker B T15 Bonuses: 10%
Worker C Bonuses: 70%
Worker C T15 Bonuses: 10%
Original Formula
Base Craft Time * (1 – Crafting milestone) * (1 – Guild Boost) * (1 – Worker A Bonuses) * (1 – Worker A T15 Bonuses) * (1 – Worker B Bonuses) * (1 – Worker B T15 Bonuses) * (1 – Worker C Bonuses) * (1 – Worker C T15 Bonuses) * (1 – Advanced Research)
Substitute everything into the formula
116 hours 50 minutes * (1 – 0.25) * (1 – 0.25) * (1 – 0.7) * (1 – 0.15) * (1 – 0.7) * (1 – 0.1) * (1 – 0.7) * (1 – 0.15) * (1 – 0.5)
Convert 116 hours to minutes: 116 * 60 = 6960 minutes
Add 50 minutes to 116 hours: 6960 + 50 = 7010 minutes
7010 * 0.75 * 0.75 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.3 * 0.9 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.5
= 5257.5 * 0.75 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.3 * 0.9 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.5
= 3943.1 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.3 * 0.9 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.5
= 1182.9 * 0.85 * 0.3 * 0.9 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.5
= 1005.4 * 0.3 * 0.9 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.5
= 301.6 * 0.9 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.5
= 271.4 * 0.3 * 0.85 * 0.5
= 81.4 * 0.85 * 0.5
= 69.2 * 0.5 (69.2 minutes without AR)
= 34.6 minutes with AR
Convert 34.6 minutes into minutes & seconds
0.6 minutes * 60 = 36 seconds
Convert 69.2 minutes into minutes & seconds
0.2 minutes * 60 = 12 seconds
Craft Times:
– Without Advanced Research: 1 hour 9 minutes 12 seconds
– With Advanced Research: 34 minutes 36 seconds
In-Game Proof
Without Advanced Research: 1 hour 9 minutes
With Advanced Research: 34 minutes 36 seconds
How does the Surcharge Reduction Node work?
When you unlock this node, all surcharge energy reduction will be reduced. This is also a multiplicative modifier.
Example
Before 10% Surcharge Reduction
Ascension: 15 stars (-10%)
Current event: Haggle (-25%)
Energy Cost: 5,052
After 10% Surcharge Reduction
Ascension: 15 stars (-10%)
Current event: Haggle (-25%)
Advanced Research: (-10%)
Energy Cost: 4,546
Surcharge Calculations
Formula:
Base Surcharge Energy * (1 – Ascension) * (1 – Ascension) * (1 – Event) * (1 – Advanced Research)
Disclaimer: The formula is commutative which means that you can calculate them in any order you want and still get the same results. But I will be referencing this order of operations to keep it consistent. It is also multiplicative.
This is one of the simpler formulas, for a list of item’s base energy to surcharge you can refer to this link.
Example Calculation
Base Surcharge Cost: 7,485
Ascension: 10%
Event: 25%
Advanced Research: 10%
Original Formula:
Base Surcharge Energy * (1 – Ascension) * (1 – Ascension) * (1 – Event) * (1 – Advanced Research)
Substitute into Formula
7,485 * (1 – 0.1) * (1 – 0) * (1 – 0.25) * (1 – 0.1)
= 7,485 * 0.9 * 1 * 0.75 * 0.9
= 6,736.5 * 1 * 0.75 * 0.9
= 6,736.5 * 0.75 * 0.9
= 5,052.3 * 0.9 (Before Advanced Research)
= 4,547.1
Surcharge Cost:
– Without Advanced Research: 5,052
– With Advanced Research: 4,547
In-Game Proof
Without Advanced Research: 5,052 Energy
With Advanced Research: 4,546 Energy
How does the XP Node work?
When you unlock this node, ALL T14 items sold will have its XP value increased by 10%. This is a multiplicative modifier. Example calculations down below.
The 10% you get for all T14/T15 may seem insignificant, but it definitely adds up.
For this part, I will be giving out numbers based on calculations that I’ve done. I will not show the calculations here but in the “XP Calculations” section for those that are interested to see the workings.
Going from no XP nodes for AR to half AR is a 180% increase in XP gained but going from half AR to full AR is only a 64% increase relative to the halfway point. This means that going from no AR to 50% AR is more impactful than going from 50% AR to 100% AR.
Example from level 92 to 100
The numbers that I will be showing are my actual numbers that I’m getting every hour. The way I got my hourly XP rate was to check how much XP I get every day and divide that by 24.
These are the results that I got based on my own hourly XP gains. These calculations assume that I start on the 9th of November 2025. (Workings will be in the XP Calculations below)
Example of XP gained from a T15 Dagger and T15 Aurasong
Ghost Reaver (T15 Dagger)
Without Advanced Research: 398,437.5 XP
With Half Advanced Research: 1,115,625 XP
With Full Advanced Research: 1,832,812.5 XP
Aura of Transmutation (T15 Aurasong)
Without Advanced Research: 1,031,250 XP
With Half Advanced Research: 2,887,500 XP
With Full Advanced Research: 4,743,750 XP
XP Calculations
Formula:
Base XP * (1 + Evelyn) * (1 + Guild Boost) * (1 + Advanced Research) * Rarity Multiplier * King Multiplier
Disclaimer: The formula is commutative which means that you can calculate them in any order you want and still get the same results. But I will be referencing this order of operations to keep it consistent. It is also multiplicative.
Based on the many tests that I’ve conducted, XP for this game seems to be calculated multiplicatively. With the calculations that I’ve done, the above formula got me the closest to the actual amount I got in game and is within 0.002% margin of error.
Now, the tricky part! (Credits to Ilod for these questions and answers). Does it increase the XP of enchants too? Yes, it absolutely does! But is it based on the tier of the enchant or the item itself? It is based on the item itself rather than the tier of the enchant!
What this means is that enchanting a T13 item with a T14 element/spirit does not actually increase the XP gain from it at all. But using a low tier element/spirit on a T14/T15 item will result in increased XP from advanced research.
Example Calculation
Merchant XP: 255,000
Evelyn: 25%
Guild Boost: 25%
Half Advanced Research: 180%
Full Advanced Research: 360%
Rarity: Normal, 1x multiplier
Sold to King: No, 1x multiplier
Formula
Base XP * (1 + Evelyn) * (1 + Guild Boost) * (1 + Advanced Research) * Rarity Multiplier * King Multiplier
Substitute into Formula with Half AR
255,000 * (1 + 0.25) * (1 + 0.25) * (1 + 1.8) * 1 * 1
= 255,000 * 1.25 * 1.25 * 2.8 * 1 * 1
= 318,750 * 1.25 * 2.8 * 1 * 1
= 398,437.5 * 2.8 * 1 * 1
= 1,115,625 * 1 * 1
= 1,115,625 * 1
= 1,115,625 XP (Yuki note: These steps are extra but I think it looks better haha)
Substitute into Formula with Full AR
255,000 * (1 + 0.25) * (1 + 0.25) * (1 + 3.6) * 1 * 1
= 255,000 * 1.25 * 1.25 * 4.6 * 1 * 1
= 318,750 * 1.25 * 4.6 * 1 * 1
= 398,437.5 * 4.6 * 1 * 1
= 1,832,812.5 * 1 * 1
= 1,832,812.5 * 1
= 1,832,812.5 XP (Yuki note: These steps are extra but I think it looks better haha)
XP Amounts for the dagger
Without Advanced Research: 398,437.5 XP
With Half Advanced Research: 1,115,625 XP
With Full Advanced Research: 1,832,812.5 XP
Going from 0 AR to Half AR
– 398,437 + 180% = 1,115,625 XP
Going from Half AR to Full AR
– 1,115,625 + 64% = 1,829,625 XP which is only 3,187 XP less than full AR
XP Amounts for a T15 Aurasong (No steps shown, you can DIY if you’d like: Base XP is 660,000 XP for Aura of Transmutation)
Without Advanced Research: 1,031,250 XP
With Half Advanced Research: 2,887,500 XP
With Full Advanced Research: 4,743,750 XP
Going from 0 AR to Half AR
– 1,031,250 + 180% = 2,887,500 XP
Going from Half AR to Full AR
– 2,887,500 + 64% = 4,735,500 XP which is only 8,250 XP less than full AR
Personal XP Calculations
In the following calculations, I used the spreadsheet hosted by Kabam Richard. I used a =SUM() formula to sum the XP I need to hit level 100 then deducted it with my current XP to get the remaining XP I need.
I saw that I was getting around 4,000,000,000 XP per day and I have 18 lines of AR which is about 166m XP per hour including downtime.
Since we know that going from 0 to 18 lines is a 180% increase and going from 18 lines to 36 lines is another 64% increase. I can calculate my hourly rates for those two situations to see how many hours I need to get to level 100.
60m + 180% is about 168m XP which isn’t quite there but this number helps the no AR situation. Then 166,666,666 + 64% is about 273,333,332.
After knowing how many days I need to hit level 100, I can just use =TODAY() + Days needed to figure out when I will get there
How does the Apply to T15 and T16 Nodes work?
It just applies whatever advanced research you have unlocked to T14 onto T15. There is also a node for T16 but that’s unlocked separately from the T15 node.
Example: Swords have four nodes unlocked. This means that it will apply a 50% craft time reduction to T14/T15 swords, a 10% energy reduction to surcharge T14/T15 swords, and 10% more merchant XP for ALL T14/T15 items.
Since this part was done before the release of T16, this doesn’t apply to T16 swords or T16 items.
Which nodes are worth gemming?
There are two answers to this question which depends on if you’re going to consider a gold to gem conversion or not.
Consider Gold to Gem Conversion @ 20m per Gem
1. Apply to T15 (2 gems per research scroll)
2. Apply to T16 (2.67 gems per research scroll)
3. 10% Surcharge Cost (3 gems per research scroll)
4. 10% Merchant XP (3.5 gems per research scroll)
5. 50% Craft Speed (5.5 gems per research scroll)
Do not consider gold to gem conversion
1. 10% Surcharge Cost (3.33 gems per research scroll)
2. 10% Merchant XP (4 gems per research scroll)
3. Craft Speed + Apply to T15 + Apply to T16 (6 gems per research scroll)
Calculations
With gold to gem conversion
Craft Speed
500m gold @ 20m per gem = 25 gems
300 – 25 Gems = 50 Scroll
275 Gems = 50 Scroll
5.5 Gems = 1 Scroll
Surcharge
1G gold @ 20m per gem = 50 gems
500 – 50 Gems = 150 Scroll
450 Gems = 150 Scroll
3 Gems = 1 Scroll
XP
2.5G gold @ 20m per gem = 125 gems
1000 – 125 Gems = 250 Scroll
875 Gems = 250 Scroll
3.5 Gems = 1 Scroll
Apply T15
4G gold @ 20m per gem = 200 gems
300 – 200 Gems = 50 Scroll
100 Gems = 50 Scroll
2 Gems = 1 Scroll
Apply T16
5G gold @ 20m per gem = 250 gems
450 – 250 gems = 75 scrolls
200 gems = 75 scrolls
2.67 gems = 1 Scroll
No gold to gem conversion
Craft Speed
300 Gems = 50 Scrolls
6 Gems = 1 Scroll
Surcharge
500 Gems = 150 Scrolls
3.33 Gems = 1 Scroll
XP
1000 Gems = 250 Scrolls
4 Gems = 1 Scroll
Apply T15
300 Gems = 50 Scrolls
6 Gems = 1 Scroll
Apply T16
450 Gems = 75 Scrolls
6 Gems = 1 Scroll
FAQ
Disclaimer: These questions have been answered in the article to greater detail but I understand that some people don’t have time to read the whole article, so I added some frequently asked questions and their brief answers here. If you want a more detailed answer, refer to their sections!
Question: Does AR also apply to T13 items and below?
Answer: No, it doesn’t. AR only applies to T14 and/or T15 (If you bought the T15 node)
Question: Does the 10% merchant XP from [Insert line name] only apply to [Insert line name]?
Answer: No, it applies to ALL Tier 14 and/or Tier 15 items
Question: Research Scrolls are a major bottleneck for me and I want to gem some of the advanced research nodes, which ones are the most valuable to gem?
Answer:
With gold to gem conversion @ 20m per gem
– T15 > Surcharge > XP > Craft
Without gold to gem conversion
– Surcharge > XP > Craft/T15
Question: How is the -50% craft time bonus applied?
Answer: It is applied at the very end after worker bonuses have been applied. If a craft takes 2 hours before you unlock the craft time reduction, it will be reduced down to only 1 hour after the craft time reduction. If your worker levels are lower and it takes 5 hours to craft, it will go down to 2 hours 30 minutes after the bonus.
Question: How do elements/spirits apply to the XP node?
Answer: It is based on the tier of the item being enchanted. Enchanting T14 element/spirits on anything below T14 does not affect the XP gain from Advanced Research but enchanting T4 elements/spirits on a T14/T15 item does affect the XP gain from Advanced Research.
2 replies on “Advancements in Research”
Great article Yuki! I appreciate you showing your work. For those afraid of the equations, if you have half of the XP nodes with Evelyn and guild boost up, it’s roughly 4.375 x base merchant XP. At Full lines, boosted XP is roughly 7.2 x base XP.
All t14 enchants (including ancestor and platinum) give 200k base XP. You can get the full XP value from them, without it capping, by applying them to any enchantable T13 or above item (except T13 daggers). A majority of Items below t13 will cap the XP of t14 enchants. Also, affinity matching has no effect on XP, just gold/stats.
Finally, if you are buying items from the market (like enchants) to sell in shop for XP, the XP/gold value can be pretty unattractive without advanced research, but much easier to stomach with it.
Cheers
Thanks for the feedback Dratini!
I do want to emphasize that although using T14 enchants on T13 items does result in you getting the full uncapped XP values, it doesn’t get boosted by advanced research because those only apply to T14/T15 items!