Hey guys! Let's dive into the world of Lost Ark and talk about something super important for gearing up: advanced honing. If you've been grinding away, trying to push your gear to the next level, you've probably run into the honing system. And if you've been browsing the Lost Ark Reddit, you've likely seen countless threads discussing advanced honing techniques, strategies, and tips. So, let’s break down what advanced honing is, how it works, and how you can make the most of it, drawing insights from the collective wisdom of the Reddit community.

What is Advanced Honing in Lost Ark?

Advanced honing in Lost Ark is essentially the process of upgrading your gear beyond a certain point, typically after you've hit item level 1370. At this stage, the honing rates drop significantly, making it much harder to succeed with each attempt. This is where advanced honing comes into play, involving various materials and strategies to increase your chances of success and reduce the cost of failure. Think of it as the real endgame grind where every upgrade counts, and efficiency is key.

Why Advanced Honing Matters

Okay, so why should you even care about advanced honing? Well, pushing your item level higher is crucial for accessing higher-tier content, such as challenging dungeons, raids, and abyss dungeons. These activities offer better rewards, which in turn help you progress further. Plus, having higher item level gear means you can deal more damage and take more hits, making you a more valuable asset in group content. Essentially, advanced honing is the gateway to experiencing the full breadth of what Lost Ark has to offer.

Honing Materials Overview

To get started with advanced honing, you'll need a variety of materials. Here's a quick rundown:

• Honing Shards: These are the basic materials required for every honing attempt. You'll get them from Chaos Dungeons, Guardian Raids, and other daily activities.
• Guardian and Destruction Stones: These are specific to weapon and armor honing, respectively. They also come from Chaos Dungeons and Guardian Raids.
• Leapstones: These are essential for increasing your honing success rate. There are different tiers of Leapstones depending on your item level, such as Great Honor Leapstones for higher-level gear.
• Crystals: These include Harmony Shards, Life Shards, and Honor Shards, which are used in conjunction with other materials to enhance your gear.
• Silver and Gold: You'll need a hefty amount of both currencies to pay for honing attempts and purchase materials from the Market.

Advanced Honing Techniques and Strategies

Alright, let's get to the juicy part: how to actually improve your honing success rate. The Lost Ark Reddit is full of strategies, but here are some of the most popular and effective ones.

Utilizing Honing Buffs

Honing buffs are your best friends when it comes to advanced honing. These buffs increase your success rate, making it more likely that your honing attempt will succeed. Here are some of the most common honing buffs:

• Solar Grace, Solar Blessing, and Solar Protection: These items can be purchased from the Market or obtained through events. They significantly boost your honing success rate and are generally worth using, especially when your rates are low.
• Honing Books: These books can be acquired from various sources, such as events, Chaos Dungeons, and the Market. They provide a smaller but still valuable increase to your honing success rate.
• Stronghold Honing Research: Your Stronghold offers research options that can permanently increase your honing success rate for specific item level ranges. Make sure to prioritize these researches as they can save you a ton of materials in the long run.

When to Use Honing Buffs

Knowing when to use honing buffs is just as important as knowing which ones to use. The general consensus on Reddit is to save your buffs for when your honing success rate is at its lowest. For example, if you're trying to hone a piece of gear from +14 to +15 and the base success rate is only 5%, that's the perfect time to pop some Solar buffs and a honing book. Using them on attempts with higher success rates (like 20-30%) is generally considered a waste.

Minimizing Honing Costs

Honing can be incredibly expensive, so it's important to minimize your costs wherever possible. Here are a few tips to help you save silver, gold, and materials:

• Use Alts: One of the best ways to generate more honing materials is to use alternate characters (alts). Run Chaos Dungeons, Guardian Raids, and other daily activities on your alts to gather extra materials that you can funnel to your main character.
• Plan Your Honing Path: Before you start honing, plan out which pieces of gear you want to upgrade first. Some pieces provide more significant stat boosts than others, so it's often better to focus on those first. The Lost Ark Reddit has tons of guides and discussions on optimal honing paths.
• Buy Materials Wisely: Keep an eye on the Market prices for honing materials. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy materials directly from the Market than it is to farm them yourself. However, be sure to factor in the time and effort required to farm the materials when making your decision.
• Participate in Events: Lost Ark frequently has events that offer honing materials as rewards. Make sure to participate in these events to take advantage of the freebies.

Learning from the Reddit Community

The Lost Ark Reddit is an invaluable resource for learning about advanced honing. Here are some ways you can leverage the community to improve your honing efficiency:

• Read Guides and Discussions: There are countless guides and discussions on Reddit about advanced honing techniques, material farming, and cost optimization. Take the time to read through these resources to learn from the experiences of other players.
• Ask Questions: If you're unsure about something, don't hesitate to ask questions on Reddit. The community is generally very helpful and willing to share their knowledge.
• Share Your Experiences: Share your own honing experiences on Reddit. Your insights could help other players who are struggling with the same challenges.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even with the best strategies, honing can still be frustrating. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

• Chasing Honing Levels: Don't get too fixated on reaching a specific item level. It's easy to get caught up in the grind and spend all your resources trying to reach the next milestone. Remember to enjoy the game and focus on other aspects as well.
• Ignoring Honing Buffs: As mentioned earlier, honing buffs are essential for increasing your success rate. Don't be afraid to use them, especially when your rates are low.
• Not Using Alts: Alts are a great way to generate extra honing materials. If you're not using them, you're missing out on a significant source of resources.
• Rushing Honing: Honing is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't try to rush through it by spending all your gold and silver on materials. Take your time and focus on farming efficiently.

Staying Informed with Updates

Lost Ark is constantly evolving, with new content and updates being released regularly. These updates can impact the honing system, so it's important to stay informed about the latest changes. Keep an eye on the official Lost Ark website, the Lost Ark Reddit, and other community resources to stay up-to-date.

Conclusion: Mastering Advanced Honing in Lost Ark

Advanced honing in Lost Ark can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By understanding the basics of the system, utilizing honing buffs effectively, minimizing your costs, learning from the Reddit community, and avoiding common pitfalls, you can greatly improve your honing efficiency and progress further in the game. So, gear up, gather your materials, and get ready to hone your way to victory! And remember, the Lost Ark Reddit is always there to help you along the way. Good luck, and happy honing!