Augmenting & Life Stones

Master Lineage II's Augmenting and Life Stones. Learn to imbue weapons and armor with powerful stats and skills to boost your character's combat effectiveness.

Augmenting is a powerful system in Lineage II that allows you to imbue weapons and armor with additional stats and even active or passive skills. This process uses special items called Life Stones, which are obtained through various in-game activities. Understanding how to effectively augment your gear can significantly boost your character's power and versatility.

The Augmentation Process

To augment an item, you'll need three key components:

1. The Item to Augment: This can be a weapon or a piece of armor. Note that not all items are augmentable; typically, higher-grade equipment is eligible.
2. A Life Stone: These stones come in different grades (e.g., Low-Grade, Mid-Grade, High-Grade, Top-Grade) and levels (e.g., Level 76, Level 80). The grade and level of the Life Stone determine the potential quality and power of the augmentation.
3. Gemstones: These act as a catalyst for the augmentation process. The type and quantity of Gemstones required depend on the item's grade and the Life Stone's grade. For example, augmenting a C-Grade item might require Gemstone C, while an A-Grade item would need Gemstone A.

Step-by-Step Augmentation:

1. Locate an Augmenter NPC: These NPCs are typically found in major towns. Look for NPCs with titles like "Blacksmith" or "Augmenter." A common location is the Blacksmith in Aden Castle Town or Goddard Castle Town.
2. Initiate Augmentation: Speak to the Augmenter NPC and select the "Augment Item" option.
3. Place Items: Drag and drop your desired weapon/armor, the Life Stone, and the required Gemstones into the designated slots in the augmentation window.
4. Confirm Augmentation: Review the cost (usually Adena) and click "Augment."
5. Receive Augmentation: The system will then attempt to apply an augmentation. This process is random, and you may receive several stats or skills.

Important Note: Augmentation is a gamble. You might get a highly desirable stat, a mediocre one, or even one that isn't ideal for your build. There is no guarantee of a specific outcome. However, you can re-augment an item as many times as you like, overwriting previous augmentations.

Life Stones: Where to Find Them

Life Stones are crucial for augmentation and can be acquired through several methods:

• Hunting Monsters: Many high-level monsters in various hunting zones have a chance to drop Life Stones. The grade and level of the Life Stone often correspond to the difficulty and level of the monsters. For instance, hunting monsters in the Imperial Tomb might yield Level 76+ Life Stones.
• Raid Bosses: Defeating Raid Bosses is an excellent way to obtain higher-grade and higher-level Life Stones, including Top-Grade Life Stones, which offer the best augmentation potential.
• Event Rewards: Keep an eye out for in-game events, as they frequently offer Life Stones as rewards.
• Dimensional Rift: Participating in the Dimensional Rift instance can also reward players with Life Stones.
• Trade: Life Stones are tradable items, so you can purchase them from other players through the private store system or the Grand Exchange.

Augmentation Strategies

Maximizing your augmentation success involves a few key strategies:

• Targeted Augmentation: Consider what stats or skills would best benefit your character and class. For example, a damage dealer might prioritize augmentations that boost P. Atk. or M. Atk., while a tank might seek P. Def. or HP bonuses.
• Life Stone Grade Matters: Always use the highest grade and level of Life Stone you can reasonably obtain for your target item. A Top-Grade Life Stone (e.g., Top-Grade Life Stone - Level 84) has a much higher chance of yielding powerful augmentations compared to a Low-Grade one.
• Patience and Persistence: Getting the "perfect" augmentation can take many attempts. Don't be discouraged if you don't get what you want on the first try. Stock up on Life Stones and Gemstones before you begin a serious augmentation session.
• Understanding Augmentation Types: Augmentations can provide:
  • Stat Bonuses: Increases to P. Atk., M. Atk., P. Def., M. Def., HP, MP, CP, Speed, Accuracy, Evasion, Critical Rate, etc.
  • Active Skills: Skills that can be used manually, often with a cooldown. These can range from healing spells to offensive buffs.
  • Passive Skills: Skills that provide a constant bonus without needing to be activated, such as increased resistance to certain debuffs or a permanent stat boost.
• Weapon vs. Armor Augmentation: While both can be augmented, weapon augmentations often provide more impactful offensive or utility skills, while armor augmentations tend to focus on defensive stats or resistances.

By understanding the mechanics of augmentation and strategically acquiring Life Stones, you can significantly enhance your gear and gain a crucial edge in the world of Lineage II.