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To do the latest raids (newer raids = more $$$) you'll need to build up your Counterforce stat. After the latest update they added two new main story lines "Looming Conflict" and "Unified Front". Completing these two stories (in tandem with the Agares Coupon Event) will allow you to easily get free gear "Primed Accessory Package" The items inside this package will increase your Counterforce stats.
Where do I start with enhancement? How can I afford this?
Save up those Warm Welcome Boxes to have enough Kitty Potions for the later raids
Complete the story "Traveler's Astera Raid Support" to get the free gear. You now have 100 Counterforce (130 Counterforce with kitty potion).
Enhancing the 4 free accessories from +15 > +18 does not fail. You now have 124 Counterforce (154 Counterforce with kitty potion).
Don't bother enhancing the free accessories beyond +18. Rather, put that money into the replacements. Always replace one of the lowest level accessories you have (e.g. the lv85 belt or earring).
Enhancing an accessory from +0 can be just as (if not more) expensive than the accessory itself. Choose the highest level accessory you can afford to avoid having to regularly enhance accessories.
Look for events with a "Max +20 Accessory Enhancement Swap Coupon Box". This grants a trade ticket to upgrade one accessory to +12 or higher. Ideal for saving accessory enhancement costs on high level accessories.
Don't feel compelled to enhance accessories to +20 as most Counterforce requirements can be met with lower enhancements. For level 100+ accessories somewhere between +12 > +15 should be sufficient. Attempting higher accessory enhancement levels has lower success rates and higher fail stacks (the number of times you can fail before automatically going to the next level).
Consider buying others premade enchanted +20 accessories (especially after new accessories are released) for a good value.
Accessory Enhancement Basics
Prior to enhancing accessories make sure your guild has the guild skill: Enhancement Discount 10%!
Higher level accessories grant more Counterforce (+20 Lv 85 = 30 \ Lv90 = 40 \ Lv 100+ = 50).
Up to +10 -- Lv85 items have half the Counterforce of equivalent Lv90/100+ items.
Up to +10 -- Lv90 and Lv100+ items have the same Counterforce.
The cost of enhancing gets exponentially more expensive. Enhancing costs from +1 > +8 is about the same as +9 > +13. Enhancing from +13 > +20 costs twice as much as enhancing from +1 > +13.
Items bind beginning at +9 enhancement (Bind Level 5) up to +20 enhancement (Bind Level 10).
Counterforce is a new stat introduced in Season 3 Chapter 3 Episode 2 (Astera - lv100 - Claire). Your Counterforce stat (in conjunction with a boss's "Counterforce Resistance" stat) has a direct impact on your damage output. The mechanic applies to current raids (starting at), Special Dungeons, and future raids.
Is having Counterforce essential?
Yes -- if you intend to play the new content. First if you participate using Quick Battle (QB) you will not be able to join if you do not meet the minimum Counterforce stat requirements. Even if you join a boat from the board without meeting minimum Counterforce requirements you will do far less damage regardless of your gear/stats. The newly introduced solo mode still has the same Counterforce requirements.
Where can I see the Counterforce details of a boss?
How does my Counterforce stat affect my damage output in these raids?
If you entered a raid with 0 Counterforce (for example created/joined a boat at the board) you would deal 30% of your normal damage output.
From that point it scales upwards -- If your Counterforce value is 100 higher than the boss's Counterforce Resistance you will deal 100% of the damage. Use the "Counterforce Cap" column in the chart below to understand how much Counterforce you need to do 100% of your normal damage. A Counterforce higher than the bosses Counterforce cap does not matter.
What are the Counterforce requirements?
How do I increase my Counterforce stat?
* Complete the story "Traveler's Astera Raid Support" to obtain free Counterforce gear (+15 Lv85 Earring, +15 Lv85 Belt, +15 Lv90 Ring Set) given in the "Counter Accessory Support Package (Earring and Belt)" and "Counter Accessory Support Package (Frozen Ring Set)". "Traveler's Astera Raid Support" story is available after obtaining "The Enlightened" title - Complete Season 3; Chapter 2, Episode 4: Dogma. Defeat AES Sidhe.
* Enhancing the following accessories: belts, earrings, and rings. They must be level 85 or higher to be eligible for enhancement. From your inventory click on the enhancement button. Then switch to the "Acc Ench." tab to get started.
* Using a Kitty Potion from the Warm Welcome Box grants +30 Counterforce for 1 run.
* Events may provide temporary scrolls that buff Counterforce.
Help! Where do I start with enhancement? How can I afford this?
Read on in the next post where I discuss tips for Counterforce enhancement and gearing suggestions.
