How does armor damage reduction work?
Think of it as a set bonus. Nothing kicks in until you wear 3 pieces from the same set, and after that the armor's reverse (REB) level decides how much each piece is worth.
| Condition | Reduction per piece |
|---|---|
| Reverse +3 (REB 3) | 2% |
| Reverse +4 (REB 4) | 3% |
| Reverse +5 (REB 5) | 4% |
| Linen (HP) or Fabric (STR) at +9 | 4% straight away |
In game you'll find it on the item tooltip as the Minerva Option line. It reads "Damage received from enemy" followed by how much the set shaves off.
Key class armors cut incoming damage once you wear at least 3 pieces of the set: 2% per piece at reverse +3 (REB 3), 3% at +4 and 4% at +5. Linen and Fabric give the full 4% at +9. Tooltips show -10% on Chitin Shell (+3) Reverse and -20% on +9 Linen/Fabric.
Tooltip examples from the site
| Item | Set | Grade | Damage reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chitin Shell Pauldron (+3) | Warrior Chitin Shell | Reverse | -10% |
| Rogue Chitin Shell Pauldron (+3) | Rogue Chitin Shell | Reverse | -10% |
| Priest Chitin Shell Pauldron (+3) | Priest Chitin Shell | Reverse | -10% |
| Mage Linen Robe (+9) | Mage Linen | Middle Class | -20% |
| Fabric Coat (+9) | Priest Fabric | Middle Class | -20% |
Source / rights
The tooltip numbers line up with the table. The Linen and Fabric sets list five pieces, and 4% each adds up to -20%. The Chitin Shell (+3) Reverse set also has five pieces, and 2% each at REB +3 gives the -10% you see.
Source / rights
Why push Linen and Fabric to +9?
Linen is the HP armor and Fabric is the STR one. Both are Middle Class, and at +9 they give 4% per piece without any reverse upgrades, so you get the reverse +5 rate through normal upgrades instead. Middle Class gear on this server can go to +9, including Chitin, MD, Fabric and Linen.
The catch is the price. On the Middle Class table +8 to +9 is active, but the rate is 3% (6% with Trina) and every attempt costs 1,000,000 coins. The full table is in the accessory and reverse upgrade guide.
Is Chitin Shell the best armor?
In the first-stage item system the max armor is Chitin Shell Armor. The highest Shell set is craftable from the start, and the Titan spot on the Eslant teleporter is labelled Shell Farm.
Chitin Shell also has a unique bonus: a 5% buff once it reaches reverse +3 (REB). Lv.3 Parchments can drop +6 Warrior and Rogue Shell pieces, and Lv.1 Parchments give basic mats like Chitin.
How do you get armor to reverse +5?
The top per-piece rate needs reverse +5. Reverse armor is upgraded with Reverse Item Strengthen Scroll, and adding Tears of Karivdis doubles the odds. Right now +1 through +5 is live; +5→6 and beyond are inactive.
| Upgrade | Base | With Karivdis | Coins | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +1 → +2 | 50% | 100% | 250,000 | Active |
| +2 → +3 | 25% | 50% | 500,000 | Active |
| +3 → +4 | 25% | 50% | 500,000 | Active |
| +4 → +5 | 25% | 50% | 500,000 | Active |
| +5 → +6 and up | - | - | - | Inactive |
Hitting +3 on Chitin Shell unlocks both the 2% per piece and the 5% unique buff. Even with Karivdis, +3→4 and +4→5 are coin flips at 50%, so save your Karivdis for those two steps.
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