Understand The Unforged
Useful when…
- A claymore attacker who lands repeated hits and remains protected by a shield.
- A build that values both the weapon's Shield Strength increase and its shield-conditioned ATK stacks.
How do the ATK stacks build?
Scoring hits increases ATK by 4% per stack at R1, lasting 8 seconds with up to five stacks; R5 raises each stack to 8%. Stacks can be added no more than once every 0.3 seconds. While protected by a shield, the ATK increase effect is increased by 100%, doubling the stack benefit. The passive does not say that the weapon itself creates a shield.
What does Shield Strength add?
The weapon raises Shield Strength by 20% at R1, rising to 40% at R5. This improves the stated shield-strength statistic, while protection by a shield is also the condition for doubling the ATK stack effect. That condition makes shield uptime relevant to the weapon's full value; the ATK stacks can still build without the shield, but do not receive the doubled increase.
Who should consider it?
A claymore wielder who repeatedly hits opponents can build stacks, and a shield-protected attacker can obtain their doubled effect. If the character cannot remain shielded, compare whether the undoubled stacks and Shield Strength are still useful. The secondary stat is ATK, aligning with the passive's ATK stacking, but the weapon supplies no Energy Recharge or CRIT stat.
How should it be improved?
Ascension uses the listed Mora and weapon materials. Refinement raises Shield Strength from 20% to 40% and per-stack ATK from 4% to 8%; it does not change the five-stack limit, 8-second duration, or 0.3-second stack interval. Each refinement consumes another copy, so weigh the stronger shield-conditioned effect against retaining another claymore.
What do claymore alternatives emphasize?
The Ultimate Overlord's Mega Magic Sword grants Energy Recharge and ATK, with additional ATK based on help given to Merusea Village Melusines. A Teaspoon of Transcendence gives ATK and boosts two named reaction types after Charged Attack hits. A Thousand Blazing Suns grants timed ATK and CRIT DMG increases after Skill or Burst use, with additional effects under Nightsoul's Blessing. These conditions differ from The Unforged's hit stacks and shield requirement.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Its strongest ATK effect requires shield protection.
- Stacking requires scoring hits, and stacks last only 8 seconds.
- Refinement consumes duplicate copies.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming The Unforged creates a shield; the listed effect increases Shield Strength but does not create one.
- Forgetting the ATK stack effect is doubled only while protected by a shield.