Understand Iron Sting
Useful when…
- Gaining Elemental Mastery from the weapon’s secondary stat.
- Building up its damage bonus by dealing Elemental DMG.
How does the passive build?
Dealing Elemental DMG increases all DMG by 6% for 6 seconds at refinement 1, up to two stacks; it can occur once every second. At refinement 5, each stack gives 12%. The weapon’s secondary stat is Elemental Mastery. The stated trigger is dealing Elemental DMG, so the bonus is not described as requiring a Skill or a reaction.
When should you consider it?
It fits a sword wielder who deals Elemental DMG and can use Elemental Mastery. Repeated Elemental DMG can build the two stacks subject to the once-per-second trigger, while the 6-second duration means the bonus needs continued triggering to remain refreshed. The passive increases all DMG, as stated, rather than a listed attack mode alone.
Refinement investment
Refinement raises each stack from 6% to 12% all DMG across ranks 1–5. Ascension raises the weapon through six stages, and refinement consumes a duplicate copy. Consider refining when the wielder consistently deals Elemental DMG and the added stack value matters to the build.
Other sword effects
Absolution offers CRIT DMG and a damage effect when the wielder’s Bond of Life value increases. Amenoma Kageuchi offers Energy after using a Burst when Skill seeds were accumulated. Aquila Favonia offers ATK and a damage-taking trigger. Their conditions differ from Iron Sting’s Elemental DMG trigger and Elemental Mastery secondary stat.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- The all-DMG bonus requires dealing Elemental DMG and is limited to two stacks.
- Each stack lasts 6 seconds, and the trigger can occur only once per second.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Expecting the all-DMG stacks to build from attacks that do not deal Elemental DMG.
- Assuming the once-per-second trigger can add multiple stacks in the same second.
- Treating Elemental Mastery as the passive trigger instead of Elemental DMG.