Many players unlock the Arsenal and immediately face the same questions: Which stats actually matter? Does tuning transfer stat rolls? Should old BiS items be slotted or kept? What does the mastery meter do? This uncertainty leads to wasted tuning resources, accidental recycling of valuable gear, and suboptimal passive bonuses.
The following guide explains how the Arsenal works, what transfers, and exactly which gear to use so inventory decisions are efficient and optimal.
Clear answer
Arsenal converts placed gear into an aggregated Mastery score that grants path-based passive bonuses — the specific stat rolls on items do not transfer.
Prioritize higher-tier, higher-rarity items (or items whose tuning raises Mastery enough) when filling Arsenal slots; leave active BiS and antiques out.
What Arsenal is and why it exists (what)
- Arsenal function: a second, persistent gear sink that turns obsolete or extra equipment into Arsenal Mastery.
- Purpose: provide ongoing passive benefits via the Arsenal Path System (DPS / Defense / Ranged-Support / General) without duplicating active gear stats.
- Why it matters: correct Arsenal management increases character power passively and preserves valuable active gear for play and crafting.
Read more: How to Earn Guild Funds in Where Winds Meet
How Arsenal Mastery is calculated (how — mechanics)
- Primary contributors to Mastery:
- Gear tier / level (largest effect)
- Gear rarity / quality
- Tuning level (minor effect; raises an item’s Mastery value)
- What does NOT transfer: individual stat lines (ATK, Crit, Penetration, elemental rolls, and other tuned values) do not copy onto the character.
- Mastery meter / cap: each Arsenal tier shows a mastery target (cap). Hitting the cap yields the intended passive bonuses; excess Mastery gives reduced, diminishing returns.
Arsenal Path System (what to choose)
- DPS Path: increases damage scaling and offensive stats.
- Defense Path: increases HP, defenses, and sustain.
- Ranged/Support Path: improves ranged damage/healing/utility.
- General Path: provides mixed or utility-focused bonuses.
Choose the path that matches the character’s primary role — path choice determines the type of passive bonuses granted by total Mastery.
Practical rules and quick heuristics (tips — actionable)
- Prioritize tier over perfect rolls. For Arsenal, tier > stat rolls.
- Keep BiS for active use. Do not slot gear intended to be equipped.
- Tune only for Mastery gains. Tune if the resource cost is justified by a meaningful Mastery increase.
- Fill the mastery cap first. Reaching the visible cap yields the main benefits; extra Mastery has diminishing returns.
- Avoid recycling antiques / traceable items. Preserve items with alternate uses.
- Use duplicates and retired sets. Slot duplicate, retired, or meta-irrelevant pieces from the right tier.
- Check item tooltips for Mastery change. When available, compare pre- and post-tune Mastery values before spending resources.
Comparison table — slotting decision (high-tier vs tuned BiS)
| Decision goal | Item A — Higher-tier, random rolls | Item B — Lower-tier, fully tuned/BIS | Best for Arsenal? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximize Arsenal Mastery | High (tier drives Mastery) | Lower (tier limits Mastery) | Item A |
| Use in active build later | Low (retired) | High (BiS active) | Item B (keep) |
| Worth tuning before slotting | Only if tuning raises Mastery significantly | Usually not (already equipped) | Tune Item A only if cost-effective |
| Helps reach mastery cap faster | Yes | Usually no | Item A |
Step-by-step Arsenal setup workflow (how-to)
- Decide path: pick DPS/Defense/Ranged/General to match the build.
- Gather candidates: list retired high-tier and high-rarity pieces of the matching Arsenal tier.
- Check Mastery values: compare the Mastery contribution of candidates; prefer items with higher Mastery.
- Tune selectively: only tune pieces that gain meaningful Mastery for a reasonable cost.
- Slot to reach cap: fill Arsenal slots until the mastery meter reaches the displayed cap for the tier.
- Evaluate overflow: consider extra tuning only if small gains are worth the resource expenditure.
- Keep active BiS separate: maintain at least one equip-ready BiS set outside Arsenal.
Common mistakes to avoid (why things go wrong)
- Slotted BiS active gear and lost flexibility.
- Tuned low-tier items expecting stat transfers — Arsenal ignores stat lines.
- Over-investing resources to push far beyond the mastery cap for marginal gains.
- Recycling antiques or items used for future builds.
Concise conclusion
Arsenal delivers passive bonuses by converting gear into Mastery — manage Arsenal by prioritizing higher-tier/high-rarity retired gear, tuning only for meaningful Mastery increases, and choosing the correct Arsenal path to match the build.
Arsenal System — Detailed FAQ Section
FAQ 1: Do individual gear stats (ATK, Crit, Pen, elemental bonuses) transfer to the Arsenal?
No. Individual stat lines displayed on a weapon or armor piece do not transfer into the Arsenal’s passive bonuses.
Arsenal only converts each item into a Mastery Value, which is determined by the item’s tier, rarity, and tuning level. The specific rolled stats—such as critical rate, damage bonus, or penetration—are not used by the Arsenal system and do not affect your character’s passive Arsenal bonuses.
This design ensures that Arsenal progression focuses on long-term gear turnover rather than stat-perfect item rolls.
FAQ 2: Is a higher-tier item always better for Arsenal than a perfectly tuned lower-tier BIS item?
For Arsenal progression, yes.
Higher-tier gear provides significantly more Mastery Value, which directly increases the Arsenal meter and improves path-based passive bonuses.
Even if a lower-tier item has perfect stat rolls and is fully tuned, its Mastery potential is limited by its tier ceiling. Since Arsenal does not transfer stat lines, a Tier 46 random-roll item will outperform a Tier 44 perfectly tuned BIS item for Arsenal purposes.
Lower-tier BIS pieces should typically be kept for active builds, not Arsenal slotting.
FAQ 3: What exactly does the Mastery Cap mean, and should I push beyond it?
Each Arsenal tier displays a Mastery Cap—a target threshold that determines the full set of passive bonuses intended for that tier.
Once the cap is reached, your character gains the complete passive benefit for that level of Arsenal progression.
Going beyond the Mastery Cap is technically possible, but it provides diminishing returns. The extra bonuses gained past the cap are noticeably smaller and less resource-efficient compared to reaching the cap itself.
Players should focus on reaching the cap efficiently, then only consider pushing past it if resources are abundant or specific optimization goals require it.
FAQ 4: Should gear be tuned before placing it in the Arsenal?
Tuning a gear piece adds a small amount of Mastery, which can help fill the Arsenal meter more effectively.
However, tuning only benefits Arsenal if the increase in Mastery is large enough to justify the cost. Many items gain only minor Mastery from tuning, making it inefficient compared to tuning items used for actual combat builds.
In general:
- Tune if: the piece is high-tier, retired, and tuning grants a meaningful Mastery boost.
- Do not tune if: the resource cost is high or the item is part of your active equipment set.
The goal is to increase Mastery with the least resource expenditure.
FAQ 5: Which Arsenal Path should be selected for maximum benefit?
The best Arsenal Path depends entirely on your build role:
- Battle Path (DPS): ideal for melee damage dealers; increases offensive stats and raw damage output.
- Defense Path (Tank): suitable for high-survivability characters; improves HP, mitigation, and sustain.
- Silk Binding / Ranged Path: optimized for ranged attackers and support builds; enhances ranged scaling and utility stats.
- General Path: provides balanced bonuses for hybrid builds or players who switch roles frequently.
Selecting the correct path ensures the Mastery you accumulate translates into meaningful power gains aligned with your playstyle.
