1. Importance of Initial Setup and Fundamentals After Item Burning Ends
After the item burning event ends, you can achieve similar performance by properly equipping only the Arcane weapon and the rest with 12-star gear.
You'll become much stronger than during Challenger's World if you take good care of your fundamentals like Union, Artifact, Link Skills, and Insight.
2. Weapon Item Setup Core
Unless you're aiming for the very top, the 3-line options for weapons don't matter much whether it's Boss Damage/Boss Damage/Attack or Boss Damage/Attack/Attack.
It's efficient to get a decent option on your emblem with cubes from the event shop and then purchase 'Mitra's Wrath'.
It's better for your mental health and stat gains than investing mesos in a regular emblem.
3. Weapon Price Information (Early May Standard)
Mitra Emblem (Top Potential Legendary Boss Damage/Attack/Attack, No Bottom Potential): Early to mid 10 billion mesos
Mitra Emblem (Double Legendary Boss Damage/Attack/Attack or Attack/Attack): Mid 30 billion mesos
Mitra Emblem (Attack/Attack/Attack or Attack/Attack): Near 80 billion mesos
It's expensive for newbies, but it's hard to roll yourself, so it's recommended to start with a regular emblem and upgrade later.
4. Secondary Weapon Item Setup Guide
Prices vary greatly by class, so categorized by tier.
Newbie's first goal: Top Potential Legendary 3 lines/Bottom Potential Epic 1 line
Next goal: Top Potential Legendary 3 lines/Bottom Potential Unique 2 lines
Final goal: Double Legendary
Weapon/Secondary Weapon: Boss Damage, Attack/Magic Power %, Emblem: Ignore Enemy Defense, Attack/Magic Power %
(Hardcore players secure Ignore Enemy Defense through fundamentals and only focus on Boss Damage and Attack/Magic Power %)
5. Weapon Item Setup Guide
Arcane weapons are recommended until Liberation (good value).
17-star Arcane with Legendary Unique potential is sufficient until Liberation.
You can solo Black Mage if you have a double legendary or cheap 22-star item.
After Liberation, roll cubes on your weapon and then set up your secondary weapon and emblem.
6. Armor Item Setup: Skip Absolab
Assuming 17-star Arcane weapon + CRA/Arcane armor setup after the item burning event ends.
Skip Absolab.
7. Armor Item Setup Order and Prices
Upgrade armor and accessories in steps.
12-star dirt Arcane -> 17/18 stars -> 18-star accessories -> 22 stars (depending on availability)
18-star CRA: 1 billion mesos range, 18-star Arcane: 3~4 billion mesos range
Clean Eternal: Early 2 billion mesos, 18-star Eternal: 10 billion mesos range, 22-star CRA: 10 billion mesos range
Consider equipping Drop Rate/Meso Obtain Rate gear when hunting, set up armor after weapons.
CRA vs Eternal: Choose based on availability (17-star Eternal = 22-star CRA)
18-star everything -> 18-star accessories -> Aim for 22 stars.
8. Accessory Item Setup Guide
Rings: Seed Ring, Meister Ring, Guardian Angel Ring, Event Ring (replace with Superior Gollux Ring later)
Remaining slots: 4 Dawn Boss + Boss Accessories
18-star Dawn Boss: 1 billion mesos range
Daybreak Pendant: Buy a 20-star transfer item and then transfer to 19 stars or buy a cheap 21-star and upgrade to 22 stars.
Eye Accessory: Black Bean Mark/Papulatus Mark, Belt: Gollux Belt/Fragment Belt (Tyrant Belt is not recommended)
Pendant: Dominator Pendant
Mostly 18-star setup, utilize cheap 20-star items.
You can achieve 40k stat with sufficient fundamentals based on Liberation.
9. Stat Upgrade Cost and Future Direction
Stat upgrade cost per armor/accessory slot: Several billion mesos range (cheap ones are 1 billion, expensive ones are 4 billion)
Future stat upgrades: Starts from a minimum of 10 billion mesos
Direction: 18-star AbsoLab or 22-star accessories.
10. 18-star AbsoLab vs 22-star Accessories
18-star AbsoLab: Top Potential Legendary 3 lines, Bottom Potential Epic 2 lines or more (Early 10 billion mesos)
22-star Dawn Boss item: Similar price range
Change the order depending on whether you have Mitra or not.
If you have Mitra, prioritize 18-star AbsoLab, if you have a regular emblem, prioritize 22-star accessories first.
Personally, I think they are in a similar price range.
11. Final Stat Upgrades and Rich Setup
You can achieve 60k~70k stat.
Future stat upgrades: Minimum of 20 billion mesos or more (22-star Arcane)
You can enjoy most bosses except for the highest-level content.
Rich setup: 22-star AbsoLab items, 22-star Eternal items.
12. Summary and Closing
Item setup order: Weapons -> Armor -> Accessories
Stat upgrade stages: 18-star everything -> 18-star AbsoLab & 22-star accessories -> 22 Arcane
Progress in a step-by-step price range
For individual questions, please inquire in the comments.