Why enchants, spirits, and item choices matter more than rarity.
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Did one of the ST Central team members send you this link because your hero looks something like this?
Or maybe something like this?
Or this?
Or you just found this link from the dropdown bar, announcements page, or somewhere else!
Either way, my name is Yuki and here are the reasons why you should NOT build your heroes like this or use the optimize button!
Disclaimer: This article will only cover the importance of double enchanting your equipment and using pack items rather than baseline crafted items. This article will NOT cover what items to pick, what to enchant, hero skills, or how to build heroes. If you need help with items, enchants, hero skills, refer to the recommended resources at the end of this article.
What’s the problem with these heroes?
All three of these heroes have the same problems. You may think that it’s the tier of the equipment but that’s not the main concern for the most part.
The major problems can be broken down into two parts:
- No element/spirit on most pieces
- Mostly baseline crafted items which only has one stat
For point 1, this basically means that you did not add any elements or spirits on the equipment. Each equipment piece has one element and one spirit slot. You should make use of both of these. Enchanting with both the element and spirit is called double enchanting and it’s very important that you do so.
Double enchanting adds a lot of stats for three huge reasons. The first is that your skills need a certain amount of element to level up – this is how your heroes’ skills get better and is arguably the biggest reason to properly double enchant your gear. The second is that Elements and Spirits apply a stat bonus to the item they are enchanted onto. Third is the additional effect granted by whatever Spirit you’re using.
To show an actual example of how big of a difference it is between a set with and without elements/spirits. I put the following heroes into the quest simulator and tested them against Sunken Temple on Easy.
Afterwards, I tested the exact same heroes but with three different situations!
- Enchant with elements only
- Enchant with spirits only
- Properly double enchanting everything
Note: Ignore the fact that this Ninja has Sword Master but is using a bow. This was how the person built their hero so I’m just copying it. I’ll address this issue later!
These were the results:
| Original | Spirits only | Elements only | Double enchanted | |
| Success rate | 0.28% | 4.17% | 53.91% | 98.05% |
I may have left out a key detail on purpose. The success rates you see for spirits only, elements only, and double enchanted were obtained after I downgraded ALL the equipment down to use ONLY normal rarity equipment without making any equipment swaps.
The original setup continued running with a mixture of superior, flawless, and even epic equipment!
I added tier 9 elements only for the elements only test, tier 9 spirits only for the spirits only test. Then combined both the elements and spirits from the earlier tests for the double enchanted test.
Workings for the people that are interested
Hero Sim Before
Sim String Before
No|Red Type|Dark Knight|Axe|Heavy Armor|Gauntlets|Heavy Footwear|Spell|Cape|Raider Axe (ATK) – T8|Samurai Do (DEF) – T7|Lost Warrior’s Gauntlets (DEF/HP) – T9|Knight Sollerets (DEF) – T5|Spells Vol III (ATK/DEF) – T6|Elven Cloak (DEF) – T7|Superior|Epic|Flawless|Superior|Superior|Superior|15 / Tier 9|||5 / Tier 4|5 / Tier 4|5 / Tier 4||Armadillo Spirit(+15% Chance to Survive Fatal Blow)|||||Maintenance (+30% bonus stats from EQ & -40% Break Chance)|Thick Skin (+120% DEF & +30% HP)|Acrobatics (+25% EVA)||28|39|40|35|Dark|||Dark|Dark|Dark|
No|Green Type|Ninja|Bow|Light Armor|Rogue Hat|Gloves|Light Footwear|Quiver|Yumi (ATK) – T8|Mundra’s Tabard (ATK/DEF) – T5|Lovely Hat (DEF/HP) – T6|Sakura Cuffs (DEF/HP) – T8|Windrunner Boots (DEF) – T8|Arrows of Ruin (ATK/DEF) – T8|Superior|Normal|Normal|Superior|Normal|Superior|10 / Tier 7|||||||Mundra’s Spirit (+20%ATK +20%DEF against Bosses)|Ox Spirit (+3% Health)||||Whirlwind Attack (+140% ATK & +12% Crit Chance)|Sword Master (+200% Attack with Sword)|Fast Healer (+40% HP & -30% Resting Time)||24|14|0|0|Air||||||
No|Blue Type|Sorcerer|Dagger|Clothes|Gloves|Light Footwear|Spell|Spell|Nightwing Bolt (ATK/DEF) – T11|Scholar’s Tunic (DEF) – T5|Thief’s Gloves (DEF) – T3|Savage Stride (DEF) – T6|Luxurious Tablet (ATK) – T9|Spells Vol III (ATK/DEF) – T6|Normal|Superior|Superior|Flawless|Normal|Superior||||5 / Tier 4||||||Owl Spirit (+5% XP)|||Dagger Master (+200% Attack with Dagger)|Arcane Blast (+130% ATK)|Impervious (+80% HP & +150 HP)||29|0|0|7||||Dark|||
Hero Sim After
Sim String After
No|Red Type|Dark Knight|Axe|Heavy Armor|Gauntlets|Heavy Footwear|Spell|Cape|Raider Axe (ATK) – T8|Samurai Do (DEF) – T7|Lost Warrior’s Gauntlets (DEF/HP) – T9|Knight Sollerets (DEF) – T5|Spells Vol III (ATK/DEF) – T6|Elven Cloak (DEF) – T7|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Maintenance (+30% bonus stats from EQ & -40% Break Chance)|Thick Skin (+120% DEF & +30% HP)|Acrobatics (+25% EVA)||28|39|40|35|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
No|Green Type|Ninja|Bow|Light Armor|Rogue Hat|Gloves|Light Footwear|Quiver|Yumi (ATK) – T8|Mundra’s Tabard (ATK/DEF) – T5|Lovely Hat (DEF/HP) – T6|Sakura Cuffs (DEF/HP) – T8|Windrunner Boots (DEF) – T8|Arrows of Ruin (ATK/DEF) – T8|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Mundra’s Spirit (+20%ATK +20%DEF against Bosses)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Whirlwind Attack (+140% ATK & +12% Crit Chance)|Sword Master (+200% Attack with Sword)|Fast Healer (+40% HP & -30% Resting Time)||24|14|0|0|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
No|Blue Type|Sorcerer|Dagger|Clothes|Gloves|Light Footwear|Spell|Spell|Nightwing Bolt (ATK/DEF) – T11|Scholar’s Tunic (DEF) – T5|Thief’s Gloves (DEF) – T3|Savage Stride (DEF) – T6|Luxurious Tablet (ATK) – T9|Spells Vol III (ATK/DEF) – T6|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Dagger Master (+200% Attack with Dagger)|Arcane Blast (+130% ATK)|Impervious (+80% HP & +150 HP)||29|0|0|7|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
Champion Used
Champion Sim String:
Argon|4|28|Tyrant (DEF/HP) – T9|Normal|15 / Tier 9|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|0|0|0|Light|No|Aura of Sparks (DEF) – T9|Normal|15 / Tier 9|Light|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|
Test Results
Original Setup
Spirits Only
Elements Only
Double Enchanted
Let us address the 2nd problem now which is “Mostly baseline crafted items which only has one stat” but what does this actually mean?
To put it simply, items that you unlock using Research Scrolls are baseline crafted items. You craft them in a line to unlock the next one. Any item that was released in a biweekly seasonal pack, a Content Pass, or other promotion is not baseline crafted.
Here is a comparison of baseline items VS pack items of the same tier across various tiers.
Baseline Crafted T5 Clothes
T5 Clothes from a Pack
Baseline crafted T8 Axe
T8 Axe from a Pack
Baseline crafted T15 Spell
T15 Spell from a Pack
Time to start yet another round of tests! I will still test these setups in Sunken Temple, but this time it will be on hard difficulty. I will use the double enchanted normal rarity gear from earlier but update everything to Tier 9 equipment for this example!
One setup will have the heroes use only baseline T9 items while another setup will have the same heroes but use exclusively T9 pack items. These are the heroes we will work with!
Heroes in Baseline Equipment
Heroes in Pack Equipment
Results
| Baseline | Pack | |
| Success Rates | 14.33 | 72.30 |
Workings for the people that are interested
Hero Sim Before
Sim String Before
No|Red Type|Dark Knight|Axe|Heavy Armor|Helmet|Heavy Footwear|Idol|Cape|Executioner (ATK) – T9|Berserker Armor (DEF) – T9|Berserker Helmet (DEF) – T9|Berserker Stompers (DEF) – T9|Ghostly Mockery (DEF/HP) – T9|Dragonlord Crest (DEF) – T9|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Maintenance (+30% bonus stats from EQ & -40% Break Chance)|Thick Skin (+120% DEF & +30% HP)|Acrobatics (+25% EVA)||28|39|40|35|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
No|Green Type|Ninja|Sword|Light Armor|Rogue Hat|Gloves|Light Footwear|Ring|Mythril Edge (ATK) – T9|Drakeskin Armor (DEF) – T9|Drakeskin Mask (DEF) – T9|Drakeskin Gloves (DEF) – T9|Drakeskin Boots (DEF) – T9|Fairfolk Band (ATK) – T9|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Whirlwind Attack (+140% ATK & +12% Crit Chance)|Sword Master (+200% Attack with Sword)|Fast Healer (+40% HP & -30% Resting Time)||24|14|0|0|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
No|Blue Type|Sorcerer|Dagger|Clothes|Gloves|Light Footwear|Spell|Spell|Misericordia (ATK) – T9|Astravestimenta (DEF) – T9|Drakeskin Gloves (DEF) – T9|Drakeskin Boots (DEF) – T9|Grimoire Aeternum (ATK) – T9|Grimoire Aeternum (ATK) – T9|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Dagger Master (+200% Attack with Dagger)|Arcane Blast (+130% ATK)|Impervious (+80% HP & +150 HP)||29|0|0|7|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
Hero Sim After
Sim String After
No|Red Type|Dark Knight|Axe|Heavy Armor|Helmet|Heavy Footwear|Idol|Cape|Copper Bite (ATK/HP) – T9|Star-Spangled Plate (DEF/HP) – T9|Fimbulwinter Dome (DEF/HP) – T9|Vanguard Greaves (DEF/HP) – T9|Ghostly Mockery (DEF/HP) – T9|Tyrant Cloak (DEF/EVA) – T9|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Mammoth Spirit (+10%DEF +10 Threat)|Maintenance (+30% bonus stats from EQ & -40% Break Chance)|Thick Skin (+120% DEF & +30% HP)|Acrobatics (+25% EVA)||28|39|40|35|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
No|Green Type|Ninja|Sword|Light Armor|Rogue Hat|Gloves|Light Footwear|Ring|Seafarer Blade (ATK/HP) – T9|Royal Attire (DEF/EVA) – T9|Lone Wolf Cowl (DEF/HP) – T9|Mountain Man Mitts (DEF/EVA) – T9|Shoes of Style (ATK/DEF) – T9|Dawnflower Ring (ATK/HP) – T9|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Lion Spirit (+5%ATK +1%EVA)|Whirlwind Attack (+140% ATK & +12% Crit Chance)|Sword Master (+200% Attack with Sword)|Fast Healer (+40% HP & -30% Resting Time)||24|14|0|0|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
No|Blue Type|Sorcerer|Dagger|Clothes|Gloves|Light Footwear|Spell|Spell|Sultan Dagger (ATK/CRIT) – T9|Desert Threads (DEF/HP) – T9|Boatswain’s Glove (DEF/HP) – T9|Shoes of Style (ATK/DEF) – T9|Imperial Decree (ATK/DEF) – T9|Imperial Decree (ATK/DEF) – T9|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|Normal|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|15 / Tier 9|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|Dagger Master (+200% Attack with Dagger)|Arcane Blast (+130% ATK)|Impervious (+80% HP & +150 HP)||29|0|0|7|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|Dark|
Champion Used
Champion Sim String:
Argon|4|28|Tyrant (DEF/HP) – T9|Normal|15 / Tier 9|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|0|0|0|Light|No|Aura of Sparks (DEF) – T9|Normal|15 / Tier 9|Light|Bear Spirit (+5%ATK +15HP)|
Test Results
Baseline Equipment Only
Pack Equipment Only
We started off with a dark knight, ninja, sorcerer that can’t even handle Sunken Temple on Easy to a setup that can somewhat clear Sunken Temple on Hard just by giving proper equipment and double enchanting them! No superior/flawless/epic/legendary equipment or skill changes either!
FAQ
Question: How often should I upgrade my equipment?
Answer: If you’re properly double enchanting your equipment like I showed, you can get away with upgrading every 2 – 4 tiers!
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