Memory of Dust

How the passive builds

The weapon increases Shield Strength by 20% at refinement 1. Hits on opponents grant 4% ATK for eight seconds, stacking up to five times and occurring at most once every 0.3 seconds. While protected by a shield, this ATK increase effect is increased by 100%. At refinement 5, Shield Strength is 40% and each stack grants 8% ATK. The shield condition doubles the ATK increase; the text does not say that the weapon itself creates a shield.

Practical use and comparison

Repeated hits build the passive, and a shield improves its ATK effect, so it fits best when both conditions align with the character's time on field. A Thousand Floating Dreams provides Elemental Mastery and party buffs based on elemental-type composition. Angelos' Heptades grants ATK and, after the wielder creates a shield, offers party damage and Energy effects; its shield creation trigger differs from Memory of Dust's requirement to be protected by a shield. Compare these distinct functions rather than assuming the weapons are interchangeable.

Improvement priorities

Ascension has six stages with selected costs shown for example transitions. Refinement consumes another copy and Mora, increasing Shield Strength and the ATK gained per stack. Because the five-stack cap and hit interval remain fixed, refinement strengthens each stack but does not change the need to hit opponents or have a shield for the doubled effect.

Common mistakes

Do not confuse bonus Shield Strength with receiving a shield: the passive's doubled ATK effect applies while protected, and the weapon's own description does not grant a shield. Also, hits build stacks only up to five and the effect lasts eight seconds; it is not an unconditional maximum ATK bonus.

Limitations and tradeoffs

• The stronger ATK effect depends on shield protection.
• The hit-based ATK stacks take time to build and expire after eight seconds.