Since Full Release has been out for a while, I’ve decided to continue the series of discussing the viability of the modifiers in the game. As said before, these are looked at from a general standpoint - not PvP or PvE directed - and rate them by the stats they provide alone. These are my personal opinions, so if you readers have anything to add to this, that would be greatly appreciated.
To begin:
Modifiers
Atlantean - Currently the best modifier in the game. Now that the Sentinel talent exists and provides a single point of Warding, it’s a lot easier to use. Pair that with its ability to go on any equipment from Tower drops (yes, they are in fact compatible) and you have yourself an amazingly good contender. Jewel Fusion has also improved it significantly, allowing literally any gear piece to benefit from this modifier immensely. Absolutely amazing - the only problem is obtainability, since it’s super rare and is currently going for ~600k in the auction. If only Darkness-Purging made Atlantean Essence more common…
Blasted - Very good for not having a downside, and not being dynamic. It’s prior issue of obtainability has since become null and void, due to the Blasted Chest rewards from Daily Quests and the presence of Mythical charts causing items with this modifier to become significantly more common. Still, it shines in providing power for modifiable items, without wasting modifier slots on Atlantean essence that might make the game harder to bear.
Frozen - Similar to Blasted, although this modifier is much more common. It’s also very slightly worse than blasted, simply because the Omen Armor has added another way to get a large amount of defense in one item. Overall, still solid, if you are trying to do a budget defense build or simply need a slight bit more defense.
Gilded - One of the two new modifiers added. This one is actually the second rarest of the two new modifiers added, and yet, is actually quite common. Since it is obtained from chest loot from the final spot of Mythical Charts, it’s extremely easy to get large amounts of gear of this modifier - even if it’s quite bad or not very common. One Luck 5 pot can give you around 50 gilded items from the last spot, since there are around 23 total chests and sealed chests in the last spot. As it adds an extra jewel slot to the build it’s on, it’s best to use with very efficient jewels like 2x fused Lapis or Painite. It is also quite useful for max builds, like max knockback builds and whatnot, for extra defense or power with max jewel slots. Overall, it’s pretty good, and is most efficient with Gilded Lost gear, but that gear is so rare that I guarantee it is rarer than Sunkens.
Imbued - This is the rarer of the two new modifiers, and this is due to the fact that it’s only available in the Nimbus Sea, particularly at Nimbus Lands chart spots. This one is spectacular - It splits all of the stats it grants between each stat on the item, increasing the amount per number of stats, meaning gear that gives more stats gives even more with this modifier. This is the second-most efficient modifier as far as I’m aware, second to Atlantean, simply due to this ability to improve ALL of the stats of any gear it may be on.
Drowned - This modifier is quite decent. Obtained only from underwater chests or Forest of Cerunno Chart locations, this is a pretty rare modifier to get. It gives Defense and Size, and is very good for people who need both at the same time and want it for cheap. It’s quite decent, but not amazing.
Archaic - This modifier is good, and actually, is a lot better than its counterpart, Crystalline. Due to providing Attack Size, this modifier is quite solid, and stands the test of time against more powerful modifiers as one that remains good. It’s very beneficial to all builds that use size.
Crystalline - This modifier is not very good anymore. Due to the Attack Speed split turned the stat this modifier provides into Dexterity, this modifier is only good for decreasing end-lag and startup on skills, which isn’t very hard for most of them. It’s only beneficial for very, VERY slow or fast builds, rather than ones in-between. Definitely not as amazing as it used to be.
Abyssal - This one is alright. It provides defense and resistance, and is ONLY obtainable from abyssal dive spots in the Nimbus Sea. This one is particularly good for slower, more defensive players, rather than offensive ones. Again, not great.
Superheated - This one is horrid. Haste is probably the worst stat right now, since it still barely decreases skill cooldowns at high investments, and it gives half as much power and haste as either Blasted or Sandy. If you’re thinking on using this modifier, use Blasted or Sandy instead. They’re just more efficient than this piece of garbage.
Sandy - I don’t see why anyone would use this. Haste is the worst of all stats, including Resistance, and barely does anything, so getting 24 extra haste on a level 170 item is kind of a nothingburger. Its only use-case is with Lost Knowledges, but even then, it still does so little that it doesn’t matter.
Tower Items
Jaw Pirate - Better Frozen, because of it having Atlantean compatibility. Very good overall.
Bearpaw Bandit - Similar to Sandy. Slightly better, due to Atlantean compatibility.
Veridian Hunters - Very good, and very easy to get because this tower type is in the Bronze Sea. Grants Attack Size like Archaic, but is compatible with Atlantean.
Goldsail Pirates - The only modifier that grants Armor Pierce. This one is very good for getting more Pierce on items, and is compatible with Atlantean, so you can get even more stats per item.
Swiftstriders - Like Veridian Hunter modifier, except more along the lines of Crystalline. Quite helpful for getting just a tad bit more Dexterity.
Shadow Ravens - The pure Resistance modifier. Similar to Goldsail Pirates equipment, but gives resistance, a much worse stat overall. Not recommended, especially when Abyssal is not only more readily available, but also gives more. Consider only using this with Atlantean.
Again, please give feedback on your opinions of these modifiers! Input would be awesome!