Vambraces Honing Guide: Upgrade Milestones, Limit Breaks, and Materials

Korean upgrade estimates with Western system names · About these guides

Korea added Belgardin, Arbiter of Death and Vambraces on August 5, 2026. The Western release followed on October 21; the original article’s preview is now a progression reference.

Vambraces increase offensive and defensive stats without adding item level or Ark Passive points. Honing and Limit Breaks eventually take them to Ancient grade at +25.

Use the milestones below to plan your spending. The damage estimates come from the Korean source’s calculations, rather than a guaranteed increase for every build.

How Vambraces Progression Works

Vambraces combine offensive and defensive equipment stats in one slot.

Your first Belgardin Gate 2 clear awards Epic Vambraces on any difficulty. Hone them and perform Limit Breaks to unlock the next grade, up to Ancient +25.

Each grade has a honing ceiling.

Honing uses both Destiny Crystallized Destruction Stones and Destiny Crystallized Guardian Stones. Budget for both while keeping your weapon and armor plans in view.

Estimated Damage Gains

The Korean source treats +10 as a useful early checkpoint for a substantial initial upgrade.

The source estimates roughly 6.21% at +10 and 19.05% at +25, measured cumulatively from the starting point. These figures suggest early levels deserve a cost comparison with expensive endgame upgrades.

These are training-dummy estimates from the original analysis, without a fully reproducible build setup here. Main-stat and weapon-power contributions can have a different relative value with a support’s party buffs.

Treat the percentages as planning estimates, not a promise of identical raid damage or a verified calculation for your character.

Start by Pricing a +10 Goal

Once you obtain Vambraces, +10 is a sensible first milestone to price out.

Compare the source’s estimated early gain with your next weapon hone, skill gem, or Relic engraving upgrade. Vambraces may offer better value, depending on current prices and your existing build.

You also need +10 before the first Limit Break. Reaching it advances progression, but it still makes sense to set a spending limit.

The +15 Checkpoint

After the first Limit Break, consider whether you can comfortably fund +15.

For a character already at Normal’s 1750 entry requirement, this may compare favorably with additional item-level honing. Check your own upgrade costs before deciding.

A straightforward sequence is:

1. Hone Vambraces to +10.
2. Limit Break to Legendary.
3. Hone to +15.
4. Save the materials for the Relic Limit Break.

Vambraces do not raise item level. If you are below a raid’s entry requirement, you still need conventional equipment honing.

When +20 Makes Sense

The original analysis also considers +20 competitive with costly endgame upgrades.

If your next Advanced Honing, skill gem, or Relic engraving purchase is expensive, compare that purchase with the cost of reaching +20.

Use these checkpoints to structure the comparison:

1. Vambraces +10
2. Vambraces +15
3. Vambraces +20
4. Recheck weapon, gem, and engraving costs.
5. Vambraces +21 to +25

After +15, save toward +20 if the next milestone fits your budget. There is no need to force it immediately because you already invested in earlier levels.

Compare Weapon +23 Before Pushing Past +20

Vambraces compete with weapon honing for destruction stones, while also consuming guardian stones.

If you hold a large supply of bound destruction stones, the source suggests comparing this example route:

1. Reach Vambraces +20.
2. Consider weapon +23.
3. Return to Vambraces +21 to +25.

The source favors comparing weapon +19 through +23 with breath materials available. Weapon +23 is an example target, rather than an entry requirement or a universal best purchase; use your actual honing costs.

If your weapon materials are scarce and your Vambraces budget is stronger, the opposite order can make sense. Let usable bound materials and the next upgrade’s value guide you.

Treat +25 as a Longer-Term Goal

The source’s cumulative +25 estimate is approximately 19.05%. The final gain comes with substantially more demanding late-stage honing.

The Korean launch table lists a 1.5% base success rate for +21 through +25. Check the live honing interface for your stage, bonuses, and required gold, stones, leapstones, fusion materials, and shards.

A +25 push is easier to justify when you:

• Have already completed most other high-value upgrades.
• Have substantial usable bound honing materials.
• Are preparing for Belgardin Nightmare with an appropriately equipped group.
• Find that the next Vambraces upgrade beats your available gem or engraving purchases on cost.
• Have chosen to concentrate resources on this character.

For a gradual approach, pause at +20, collect materials, and revisit the final five levels when you can afford them.

Choosing a Belgardin Difficulty

Belgardin has Normal, Hard, and Nightmare difficulties.

Meeting the entry requirement does not mean you must start on the highest available difficulty. Learning the fight and upgrading your first Vambraces can make later progression more manageable.

The source proposes this example schedule, subject to entry eligibility, materials, and your group’s progress:

• Week 1: Obtain Vambraces on Normal or another suitable difficulty.
• After acquisition: Work toward +10 within your budget.
• Week 2: Consider Hard once your group is ready.
• Week 3 onward: Reassess Nightmare after further upgrades, including approximately +15 Vambraces.

These are planning checkpoints, not guaranteed weekly gains or evidence that +15 alone makes a group ready for Nightmare.

The original six-week Conquest schedule referred to Korea’s August event, whose participation period ended September 16. Starting in week 3 left four possible weekly clears only if the group qualified and cleared each week. The Western Conquest event instead runs October 21–December 2; check its own missions and reward deadlines.

Vambraces Limit Break Materials

At each grade ceiling, use materials earned from Belgardin to perform a Limit Break.

Normal awards Spectral Shade. Hard and Nightmare award Deathly Hand.

The first two requirements are equivalent totals: Deathly Hand substitutes at a two-to-one rate for Spectral Shade, with combinations supported by the system. The +20 Limit Break specifically requires Deathly Hand.

Normal materials can take Relic Vambraces to +20. Breaking the +20 limit and progressing beyond it requires Deathly Hand from Hard or Nightmare.

Materials to Budget

Check your inventory and the current honing interface for:

• Destiny Shards
• Destiny Crystallized Destruction Stones
• Destiny Crystallized Guardian Stones
• Great Destiny Leapstones
• Superior Abidos Fusion Materials
• Lava’s Breath
• Glacier’s Breath
• Transference Leapstones for Special Honing
• Gold and Silver

Budget for both destruction and guardian stones. A stockpile of one cannot replace the other. Weapon honing competes for destruction stones; Metallurgy and Tailoring books cannot be used on Vambraces.

Your character’s shard balance is bound. Daily and Paradise content can help replenish it, while shard pouches have their own trade and binding rules; do not confuse the balance with every item that grants shards.

Should You Stockpile Breath Materials?

Vambraces support Lava’s Breath and Glacier’s Breath.

New honing demand can move prices, but the original preview’s price speculation is not a reason to buy a large speculative stockpile now.

Before purchasing, consider:

• How many breath materials your next stage accepts.
• The value of Lava’s Breath versus Glacier’s Breath at current prices.
• Available shop packages and their actual value.
• Event rewards you can claim.
• Current market supply.
• The marginal benefit at the specific stage you plan to hone.

Buy only what your plan needs, and compare the added success chance with the gold cost. Splitting a purchase reduces exposure to one price, but does not guarantee savings.

A Practical Upgrade Plan

Early Vambraces milestones can be attractive, while later stages require a larger material and gold commitment.

Use this checklist when setting your next goal:

• Price +10 as the first milestone.
• Collect Limit Break materials while working toward +15.
• Compare +20 with your next expensive build upgrade.
• If bound destruction stones are plentiful, compare weapon +23 after Vambraces +20.
• Save toward +25 gradually rather than forcing it.
• Buy breath materials for planned honing, rather than relying on price speculation.
• Move up a raid difficulty when both your character and group are ready.

Vambraces cannot satisfy item-level entry requirements. Continue ordinary equipment honing if your target raid remains locked.

Once you meet your target item level, compare the +10, +15, and +20 checkpoints against your other upgrades. Use current prices and usable bound materials to choose the next step instead of treating +25 as an immediate obligation.

Sources

• Original Korean article
• Smilegate Korea: August 5 Belgardin, Vambraces, and Guardian update (Korean)
• Amazon Games: Arbiter of Death, Western release and Vambraces rules