Endgame Progression Guide
Welcome, aspiring martial artists! Reaching max level in Blade & Soul is just the beginning of your true journey. The endgame is a rich tapestry of challenging content, powerful gear upgrades, and endless opportunities to refine your skills. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to maximize your character's potential and conquer the most formidable foes Earthen Realm has to offer.
I. Initial Gear Acquisition: The Foundation
Your first priority at max level is to secure a solid baseline of gear. This will enable you to tackle more demanding content and begin your true progression.
- Storyline Rewards: Ensure you've completed the entire main story questline. The final chapters often reward decent starting accessories and a weapon that will serve as a stepping stone.
- Daily Challenges & Dungeons:
- Heaven's Mandate: This 6-man dungeon is an excellent source of early Soul Shields and accessories. Focus on obtaining the Heaven's Mandate Soul Shield Set for its valuable set bonuses.
- Ebony Mines: Another crucial 6-man dungeon for early gear. Aim for the Ebony Mines Soul Shield Set and any accessory drops that are an upgrade.
- Daily Challenge Box: Always complete your Daily Challenges. The rewards often include materials vital for upgrading and sometimes even direct gear pieces or chests.
- Faction Merchant: Visit your faction's merchant in Zaiwei or your faction's base. You can often purchase basic Soul Shields or accessories with Faction Insignias earned from PvP activities or faction quests.
II. Weapon Progression: The Heart of Your Power
Your weapon is arguably the most impactful piece of gear. Upgrading it is a continuous process that will consume significant resources.
A. Awakened Oathbreaker / Awakened Scourge Path (Early Game)
This is your initial weapon path, typically obtained from story quests or early dungeons.
- Source: Often drops from dungeons like Ebony Mines or is a reward from the main story.
- Upgrade Materials: You'll need a combination of various materials, including:
- Soulstone Crystals: Farmed from daily quests, faction dailies, and PvP.
- Moonstone Crystals: Obtained from daily challenges, higher-tier dungeons, and events.
- Silverfrost Transformation Stones: Crafted via Transmutation or purchased from the marketplace.
- Weapon Offerings: Specific weapons dropped from dungeons that are consumed for experience.
- Strategy: Focus on reaching at least Stage 6-10 of this path before moving to the next tier.
B. Raven / Riftwalk / Dawnforged Weapon (Mid-Game)
This is where your weapon truly starts to shine. The choice between Raven, Riftwalk, and Dawnforged depends on your class and build.
- Source: These weapons are crafted from your Awakened Oathbreaker/Scourge weapon and require specific raid materials.
- Raven Weapon: Requires materials from the Skybreak Spire 12-man raid.
- Riftwalk Weapon: Requires materials from the Temple of Eluvium 12-man raid.
- Dawnforged Weapon: Requires materials from the Temple of Eluvium 12-man raid.
- Upgrade Materials: In addition to the previous materials, you'll need:
- Raven Feathers / Rift Fragments / Dawnforged Fragments: Obtained from their respective raids.
- Sacred Orb / Elysian Orb: Dropped from various endgame dungeons and raids.
- Petals / Scales: Specific raid drops.
- Strategy: Join a reliable raid group or clan to consistently clear Skybreak Spire and Temple of Eluvium. Prioritize getting your weapon to at least Stage 3-6.
III. Accessory Progression: Boosting Your Stats
Accessories provide crucial stat boosts and powerful set effects. There are several tiers to work through.
A. Awakened Oathbreaker / Awakened Scourge Accessories (Early Game)
- Source: Drops from 6-man dungeons like Heaven's Mandate, Ebony Mines, and Shattered Masts.
- Upgrade Materials: Similar to early weapon upgrades, using Soulstone Crystals, Moonstone Crystals, and specific accessory offerings.
- Key Pieces: Focus on obtaining the Oathbreaker Ring, Necklace, and Earring.
B. Legendary Accessories (Mid-Game)
These accessories offer significant power spikes and are often tied to specific endgame content.
- Divine Dragon / Tiger Accessories:
- Source: Crafted from your Awakened Oathbreaker/Scourge accessories using materials from Skybreak Spire and other high-tier dungeons.
- Strategy: Choose between Divine Dragon (defensive/sustain) or Tiger (offensive) based on your class and playstyle.
- Hellion / Draken Accessories:
- Source: Obtained from the Temple of Eluvium and Scarlet Conservatory raids.
- Strategy: These are generally superior to Divine Dragon/Tiger and should be your next target. Focus on acquiring the full set.
IV. Soul Shield Progression: Defensive & Offensive Bonuses
Soul Shields provide a mix of defensive stats, critical chance, and powerful set bonuses.
- Heaven's Mandate / Ebony Mines Soul Shields: Your starting point. Collect the full 8-piece set from these dungeons.
- Legendary Soul Shields:
- Skybreak Spire Soul Shields (Raven): Obtained from the Skybreak Spire raid. This 8-piece set offers substantial offensive bonuses. Prioritize getting the full set.
- Temple of Eluvium Soul Shields (Riftwalk/Dawnforged): Obtained from the Temple of Eluvium raid. These are generally an upgrade to Raven Soul Shields for most classes.
- Thornwind / Grand Celestial Soul Shields: Acquired from newer, more challenging raids like Thornwind Cavern and Grand Celestial Palace. These are your ultimate endgame Soul Shields.
- Fusing Soul Shields: Use Soul Shield Prisms and other materials to fuse additional stats onto your Soul Shields. Always aim for Critical Hit or Pierce on your main pieces.
V. Soul & Heart Progression: Core Power-Ups
Souls and Hearts are powerful items that provide significant stat boosts and unique effects.
- Soul:
- Ascending Soul: Your initial Soul, obtained from story quests.
- True Hongmoon Soul / True Cosmic Soul: These are your mid-game goals. They require extensive upgrading with materials from daily challenges, dungeons, and events.
- True Ascendant Soul / True Exalted Soul: The highest tier Souls, requiring materials from the most challenging raids and events.
- Heart:
- Hongmoon Heart: Your starting Heart.
- True Hongmoon Heart / True Cosmic Heart: Similar to Souls, these require significant investment in materials.
- True Ascendant Heart / True Exalted Heart: The ultimate Hearts, providing immense power.
- Strategy: Focus on upgrading your Soul and Heart in tandem with your weapon. These are long-term investments that yield massive power increases.
VI. Other Essential Upgrades
- Pet Aura: Your companion's aura provides valuable stats. Upgrade your Loyal Pet Aura through various stages using Pet Pods and other materials.
- Mystic Badge & Soul Badge: These items provide powerful skill modifications and stat bonuses.
- Source: Obtained from specific endgame dungeons (e.g., Naryu Foundry, Irontech Forge) and faction merchants.
- Strategy: Research the best Mystic and Soul Badges for your class and build, as they significantly alter your combat rotation and damage output.
- Gems: Socketing powerful gems into your weapon provides additional stats and effects. Prioritize Critical Damage, Attack Power, and Pierce gems.
- Elixirs & Potions: Always carry a supply of powerful attack and defensive elixirs for challenging content.
VII. Endgame Activities & Farming Routes
To acquire the necessary materials and gear, you'll be engaging in several activities:
- Daily Challenges: Non-negotiable. Complete them every day for essential upgrade materials and gold.
- Weekly Challenges: Offer even greater rewards, including rare materials and chests.
- 6-Man Dungeons (Hard Mode):
- Dredge Anomaly, Catacombs, Den of the Ancients: These are your primary sources for gold, legendary accessory materials, and Soul Shield Prisms.
- Strategy: Learn the mechanics thoroughly and aim for fast, efficient clears.
- 12-Man Raids:
- Skybreak Spire, Temple of Eluvium, Scarlet Conservatory, Thornwind Cavern, Grand Celestial Palace: These are the pinnacle of PvE content, offering the best weapons, accessories, and Soul Shields.
- Strategy: Join a dedicated raid static or a strong clan. Communication and coordination are key.
- Tower of Infinity / Mushin's Tower: Solo challenges that reward powerful items, including Soul Badges and materials.
- PvP (Battlegrounds & Arena): Earn Faction Insignias and Zen Beans to purchase PvP-specific gear or upgrade materials.
- Events: Always participate in ongoing in-game events. They often provide accelerated paths to obtaining rare materials or unique cosmetics.
Endgame progression in Blade & Soul is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency, research, and a good community will be your greatest assets. Good luck, and may your blades be ever sharp!