Item Breakdown
Armors
To ease the understanding of what makes an item strong, let's take a look at a maxed armor piece. This is a Shooter's MC4.
/shooter mc4 pic
Disclaimer: If the stats of an item is customizable, hold shift while hovering your mouse over the item to see the Min-Max values. Note that not all of these stats are available to all types armors.
The Old stuff:
Additional Options - these are options fixed to the item. This is not customizable.
Reinforcement Options - these stats increase with the "+" of the item. Different parts have different stats - similar mechanic as before.
Socket Options - these are the gems of the item.
The New stuff:
Set Effect - as per the name suggests, wearing 2, 3, or 5 of a kind will result into the items giving extra stats.
Rank Options - these are highly customizable stats of the item. The values of the Rank Option stats are completely random. By the instance that the item is created, the "Rank Options" are randomized. For example, you get an armor drop, that armor will have specific Rank Option stats. If you get another armor drop, they will have the same stats: Defense, Defense, All Res, and Block. However, the values will be completely random. This also happens with crafting. If you craft an MC3, it will always have: Max HP, Max HP, Defense, and PK Shield Recovery. Crafting another will result with the same stats, but with different values. Note that not all items and versions of items have Rank Option stats. Currently, rerolling stats are available via farming more armor/weapon pieces etc. or crafting them again and again.
Branding Options - these are the next highly customizable stats of the item. Branding an item with stats requires 1x Soul Stone and its success rate is dependent on the variant of Soul Stone used. Currently 100% Soul Stones exist in game.
The Relevance of the Item rank:
Note that Item Rank is different from the Rank Options. Items in the game have different colors. This dictates the type of material that will be used for Item-Making. For example, there will be white, green, and purple gears:
Normal Gears (White) - the mechanics for item-making on this rank is the same as before - Copper/Silver/Gold Argates are used for +, and Optioning is done the old-fashioned way via Carmen (Bitch Alchemist).
Legend Gears (Green) - the Argates that must be used are the same as before - Copper/Silver/Gold Argates. But the optioning is only Branding. They do not have a Rank Option.
Note that not all Legend gears can be reinforced (+).
Epic Gears (Purple) - the Argates that must be used for the + are Condensed Argates. These are crafted via the Crafting System (Ctrl + R). Optioning will be the rerolling of Rank Option, and the Branding.
There is a special type of Epic Gear called Red Monkey Earrings. This uses Water Argates from +1 to +10 and can break from all stages from +0 to +10.
Weapons
For the weapons, here is an example of a maxed Helion's Pierce.
/pierce pic
Currently, the mechanics are the same. Except that some types of weapons do not have the "Additional Options" stats. Note that these brand options are terrible and only serves as an example.
Belts and Bracelets
There are two types of Belts and Bracelets: Legend and Epic. Epic belts and bracelets are Helpyron, Zuto, and Awakened Zuto. These follow similar mechanics with regular Epic armors. Legend belts and bracelets are God of War / Champion bracelets and the Strengthened Darkness Belt. The Legend bracelets cannot be reinforced, but the Darkness belt can be upgraded until +10. All of these bracelets / belts can be socketed, and branded.
/ Strengthened Darkness Belt pic
/ Awakened Zuto pic
/ Regular Zuto pic
Accessories
Whether it be Earrings, Rings, or Necklaces - most if not all of the customization and upgrades will be done via Aria. See the Crafting System for more information. Note that the Accessories have certain RESTRICTIONS. Some cannot be worn with others, some you can only wear one piece of, etc. Take note of this when making your build. There are also accessories that are deemed to be "offensive" or "defensive" while some are too strong and should be used on both styles.
/Sample of set of accessories
Rings / Necklaces: Infinite STR/DEX/SPR Dragonic Perpetuus + Great Devil's Horn + Captain's Ring + Ring / Necklace of your choice. Note: Restrictions.
Talisman: Generally, the level 230 achievement Talisman is the strongest. Other Talisman give Damage stats: Physical / Magic / Fire / Ice / Lightning / Poison / Curse / Dark. All are 5%.
Wings
/sample wings
The only thing you need to know about wings are that you can socket them, put gems and upgrade them to YS rank. There are offensive/defensive wings, along with offensive/defensive gems. See the Wing Upgrade System for the full details.
Pets
/sample pets
The strongest tier of Pets are unique. There is a Pet Management System for rerolling rank options, and getting a higher Tier pet. Currently, the only way to get the strongest Pet gems are via D-shop / SOD exchange boxes. See the Pet Guide for full details.
Attack/Defense-Type Forces
/ sample forces
These are consumable items that give Offensive stats (the Red Energy) as you attack, like a very short buff and give Defensive stats (the Blue Energy) as you get attacked, similarly like a very short buff. The strongest are available for Z-coins in the Incarnation of Helion NPC in Ardeca.
Emblems / Mounts
/sample emblem / mount
Emblems work exactly like accessories which are upgradeable via NPC Aria. Mounts are currently in boxes that can be bought using Gemstones + Snowflakes or D-shop. There is a Mount upgrade system which will be enabled and fixed in the future.