[KookminTree] The latest update for Arthdal Chronicles has given a significant buff to top-tier Hero grade equipment, namely the Slaughterer and Karakuda sets. While these items now boast stats that leave the Abyss gear in the dust, the eye-watering price tags make completing a full set a daunting task for the average player. So, where should you prioritise your hard-earned resources? KookminTree has done the legwork to find out.

Stick to Slaughterer and Attribute weapons

Despite the massive buffs to Gerard weapons, we still recommend sticking to the Slaughterer set for PvP and swapping between attribute-specific weapons for hunting and boss encounters. The primary reason is the prohibitive cost of Gerard gear, and let’s be fair, fully buffed attribute weapons hold their own quite well in PvE. Even in PvP, the Slaughterer weapons remain a solid choice due to the 14.4% multiplicative PvP damage bonus. If you have already been working toward these, switching to Gerard offers little marginal benefit.

Of course, if you find the constant inventory swapping to be a chore, you could commit to a full Gerard weapon set with Karakuda and Radakun armour and accessories. However, that requires an astronomical amount of gems, which is hardly feasible for most. For the aforementioned reasons, aiming for a dual-weapon setup—Slaughterer and attribute weapons—remains the sensible path.

If you are indeed managing a two-weapon swap, it only follows that you should adjust your armour and accessories accordingly. While the meta has long been Slaughterer for PvP and Abyss for PvE, the recent buffs to Karakuda and Radakun gear make them essential additions to your rotation.

So, which Karakuda pieces should you grab first? We strongly recommend the helmet and leggings. The Karakuda helmet grants +8 to all critical damage, while the leggings provide an accuracy bonus. Given that boosting critical damage is the quickest way to see those damage numbers climb, the helmet should be your absolute first port of call.

We suggest steering clear of Karakuda shoulders and chest pieces. Since you are likely running attribute weapons for PvE anyway, there is no pressing need to swap out your Abyss gear for the defensive buffs provided by Karakuda shoulders or chest pieces. The same applies to Karakuda gloves and boots—they lack critical damage bonuses, making Abyss gear a much better investment.

Furthermore, regardless of whether you are rocking Abyss or Karakuda gear, you must aim for attribute amplification rerolls. Attribute weapons see a massive performance spike with these stats, so aim for at least two lines—or one, if luck is not on your side. Similarly, for your hook, choose Blue Earth over Silver Dawn, and reserve the Blood-stained Hook for your PvP loadout.

Moving on to accessories, you absolutely must equip attribute-based belts and earrings (Ciar, Ivna, or Duaka). As mentioned, attribute amplification is the single most important stat for users wielding attribute weapons. If you lack the Hero grade versions, do not be ashamed to wear Rare grade ones; they will perform better than Hero grade Storm or Glory gear.

For bracelets, necklaces, and rings, Radakun is the top pick since there are no attribute amplification versions, but the steep cost is a major hurdle. Instead, consider the Bracelet of Oblivion or +5 (or higher) Eternity necklaces and rings. Many players overlook the Eternity pieces, but increasing their reinforcement level grants significant boosts to attack, critical rate, and critical damage. For PvE damage, a +5 reinforced Eternity set is far more cost-effective and efficient than a +3 Storm set. Here is our final recommendation.

[PvE Hunting & Boss Setup]

= Attribute Weapon (We suggest Cold for easier collection completion)

= Karakuda Helmet, Leggings

= Abyss Chest, Shoulders, Gloves, Boots

(Ensure your gear is rerolled with at least 2 lines of attribute amplification)

= Attribute Belt, Earrings

= Radakun Bracelet, Necklace, Ring

(Since Radakun accessories are extremely expensive, feel free to use the Bracelet of Oblivion or Eternity Necklace/Ring with +5 or higher reinforcement as substitutes.)

= Knot of Glory (+4 or higher)

[PvP Setup]

= Slaughterer Weapon

= Slaughterer priority: Chest > Boots > Shoulders > Gloves > Helmet > Leggings

= Slaughterer priority: Belt > Earrings > Knot > Bracelet, Necklace, Ring