TL;DR
- Moonwater Plains weapon paths retired, all weapons now progress through Silverfrost Mountains
- Nebula Weapon Upgrade Stones reduce evolution costs by 10-40%
- Gem sockets no longer reset when transitioning between weapon paths
- Optimized gem hammer requirements for different weapon stages
- Strategic planning essential for maximizing resource efficiency
Following extensive player feedback regarding weapon progression complexity and associated costs, NCsoft conducted thorough data analysis and announced significant modifications to weapon evolution paths and gem hammer mechanics. These upcoming adjustments aim to streamline the enhancement process while substantially improving the overall gaming experience for dedicated blade & soul enthusiasts. As a trusted provider of gaming services, we’re excited to share these impactful changes that will reshape how players approach character progression.
The current weapon enhancement framework presents considerable complexity, particularly regarding the multiple transition points available for moving to Silverfrost weapon progression. This intricacy extends to gem socket mechanics, where hammer requirements fluctuate based on multiple variables including socket quantity, weapon advancement stage, and specific weapon classification.
1. Previously, players could select between two distinct progression routes when enhancing their equipment – Silverfrost Mountains and Moonwater Plains. However, beginning June 1st, the ultimate advancement stages within Moonwater Plains – specifically the Pirate and Siren weapon lineages – will be permanently discontinued. Any equipment currently following these deprecated paths will automatically redirect to the Silverfrost Mountains progression route during subsequent evolution phases.
Following this consolidation, True Profane weapons will exclusively advance toward Oathbreaker, while True Siren equipment will progress only to True Oathbreaker. The progression route originating from True Pirate remains unaffected and continues to evolve solely into True Breeze. The revised progression hierarchy is clearly illustrated below.
True Profane > Oathbreaker
True Siren > True Oathbreaker
True Pirate > True Breeze
2. NCsoft clarified that these modifications primarily aim to reduce player expenditure associated with character advancement. The introduction of Nebula Weapon Upgrade Stone provides an alternative to traditional evolution weapons, potentially decreasing resource consumption of bns gold and enhancement materials by significant margins ranging from 10% to 40%.
Gem Hammers and Gem Sockets
Effective May 11th, any gem socket previously unlocked using Gem Hammers will maintain its activated status when transitioning between Moonwater Plains and Silverfrost Mountains weapon progression routes. Players will continue receiving additional socket slots beyond those already unlocked. This quality-of-life enhancement has been implemented across all regional blade and soul server instances.
Additionally, NCsoft has implemented favorable adjustments concerning Gem Hammer quantity requirements and associated blade & soul gold expenditures during socket activation processes.
Below are the revised Gem Hammer specifications required for each progression route and socket configuration:
For optimal resource management, consider these professional strategies: Plan your weapon transitions around the Nebula Stone availability windows, as these items provide the most substantial cost reductions. Many players mistakenly upgrade weapons immediately before major system changes, resulting in wasted resources – always monitor developer announcements before committing to significant enhancements.
Advanced players should prioritize socket unlocks on weapons they intend to keep through multiple evolution stages, as the new retention mechanic makes early investments more valuable. When working through our Weapons Unlock strategies, similar planning principles apply for maximizing efficiency.
The consolidation of progression paths simplifies long-term planning, similar to how understanding Class Guide mechanics helps optimize battlefield performance. Expect to spend approximately 2-3 hours planning your progression route to avoid costly mistakes that could set back your advancement by days or weeks.
Action Checklist
- Audit current weapon path and identify transition points to Silverfrost Mountains route
- Acquire Nebula Weapon Upgrade Stones before major evolution steps
- Plan gem socket unlocks around long-term weapon usage
- Consult comprehensive Complete Guide for additional progression insights
No reproduction without permission：OnLineGames Guides » BNS Weapon Path and Gem Hammer Changes Are Coming Complete guide to Blade & Soul weapon progression changes and gem socket optimization strategies