The Master Artisan's Guide: Mastering Crafting Quality in Ashes of Creation

In the world of Verra, a sword isn't just a sword. Depending on the skill of the smith and the purity of the ore, the same blueprint can produce a rusted blade or a legendary relic. This is the core of the Ashes of Creation crafting system, where "quality" isn't a static number—it’s a dynamic "waterfall" of player stats, environmental buffs, and material science.

The Anatomy of Quality Rating (CQR)

Your Crafting Quality Rating (CQR) is the most critical stat for any aspiring artisan. It serves as a multiplier that bridges the gap between raw materials and the final product. A high CQR provides two distinct advantages:

1. Stat Ceiling Elevation: It ensures that the item’s base attributes (like damage or defense) roll near their maximum potential. Even if the rarity color doesn't change, the numbers will be higher.
2. Rarity Procs: It provides a "critical success" chance, jumping the item to a higher rarity tier (e.g., turning Uncommon materials into a Rare item).

Stacking the Deck: Every Source of Quality

To reach the pinnacle of crafting, professionals stack every available bonus. These sources are divided into Flat Additives and Percentage Multipliers.

Flat Value Sources (Direct Numbers)

• Artisan Gear: Specialized equipment like the Artisan’s Toolbelt or profession-specific tunics provide the base of your CQR.
• Masterwork Food: Specialized meals provide a massive flat boost (e.g., +300 to +600 CQR).
• Alchemical Elixirs: Short-term potions that provide a focused burst of quality for expensive recipes.

Percentage (%) Multipliers (Total Multipliers)

• Scientific/Academic Nodes: Crafting in a developed Academic node grants the Boon of Crafting Quality, multiplying your total CQR by up to 30%.
• Guild Tech Trees: Dedicated crafting guilds can unlock passives that provide permanent percentage boosts to all members.
• Node Buildings: Advanced stations (like the Academy) provide a multiplier to all crafts performed within that node.

The "White Item" Paradox

A common misunderstanding is that high-quality materials are "wasted" on low-tier recipes. In Verra, if you use "Green" (Uncommon) materials on a "White" (Common) recipe, the item often remains White but its characteristics (stats) are significantly boosted. This allows a player to wield a "Common" weapon that actually performs like a "Rare" one, bypassing level or rarity restrictions while maintaining peak power.

Prediction and Strategy

Because the math behind "Grade Procs" and "Stat Ceilings" is complex, the community relies on simulators to predict outcomes. Master crafters often use these tools to figure out the exact amount of high-tier materials needed to "force" a rarity jump without wasting expensive resources.

For those looking to calculate their exact quality breakpoints and see how different materials impact their final gear, you can use the community-developed tool:

• Ashes of Creation Quality Calculator

The "Pro" Meta

The current consensus among top-tier players is that CQR is more valuable than the materials themselves. By pushing your quality rating high enough through elite gear and node buffs, you can use mid-tier materials to reliably "proc" high-tier gear. This efficiency is what allows a Master Artisan to dominate the server's economy.