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Ark Grid is a per-character endgame progression system: equip a Core, then connect processed Astrogems that can activate with the Core’s Willpower. Active gems grant combat effects and Order or Chaos Core Points; reaching point thresholds unlocks the Core’s effects. A Core alone does not activate its listed bonuses.
How Ark Grid activation works
Each equipped Core connects to four Astrogem slots. The Core supplies Willpower, which activates matching gems in a fixed sequence: nearest slot first, then farther slots along that line. Only an active Astrogem grants its effects or contributes Core Points.
If a connected slot is empty, or the gem in it does not receive enough Willpower, that slot and every slot farther along the same line stay inactive. Gems must match the Core family: Order gems go with Order Cores, and Chaos gems with Chaos Cores.
- Equip a Core in a Core slot.
- Put a processed, matching-type Astrogem in a connected slot.
- Check whether the Core’s Willpower activates that gem. If not, later gems in that line will not activate either.
- Use the points from active gems to reach the Core’s effect thresholds.
What Cores, Willpower and Core Points do
Order Cores are class-specific and provide class-related effects. Chaos Cores are universal. Both families have Sun, Moon and Star subtypes. Cores are character-bound and only apply their effects while equipped.
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The Core’s grade affects its Willpower and the number of point-based effects it can unlock. The official overview lists Epic, Legendary, Relic and Ancient grades. Core effect values generally do not scale with grade; the stated exception is that Ancient Cores have stronger effects at the 17-point threshold than Relic Cores.
Active Astrogems contribute points of their matching type. Core effects unlock cumulatively at these thresholds:
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| Core Points | What happens |
|---|---|
| 10 | The first threshold effect activates |
| 14 | The next threshold effect activates |
| 17 | The next threshold effect activates |
| 18 | The next threshold effect activates |
| 19 | The next threshold effect activates |
| 20 | The final listed threshold effect activates |
Threshold effects stack: reaching a higher threshold does not replace effects already unlocked at lower thresholds. Order Core effects have one extra requirement: the corresponding Enlightenment Ark Passive must be active.
How to unlock and configure Ark Grid
Ark Grid becomes available for a character after that character uses a first Core. This initially opens one Core slot; one additional slot opens at each weekly reset. Each Core slot comes with four connected Astrogem slots, which open along with it. Ark Grid is disabled in content or regions using special stat balancing.
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- Use a Core to register it to the grid.
- Open the grid and equip the Core through that slot’s Slot Info interface.
- Place processed Astrogems in the slots connected to the equipped Core. A gem can only be used in a slot connected to an equipped Core, and its Order or Chaos type must match.
Cores can be removed freely, but only one Core of each type can be equipped in the grid.
Why an Astrogem may not activate
- The gem is unprocessed: newly obtained Astrogems have no preset options and must be processed before equipping.
- The gem type does not match: an Order gem cannot go with a Chaos Core, or vice versa.
- The slot is not connected to an equipped Core: Astrogems can only occupy slots connected to a Core in the grid.
- The Core does not supply enough Willpower: a gem that cannot receive its required Willpower stays inactive, and blocks the slots farther along that same line.
- A nearer slot is empty or inactive: activation proceeds from nearest to farthest, so a gap or failed activation prevents later gems in that line from activating.
How Astrogem processing works
Astrogems are character-bound. Each has four Astrogem Points. At an Ark Grid Specialist, processing sets the gem’s options and point allocation: Willpower Efficiency and its matching Order or Chaos Core Point are fixed effects, while two combat effects are selected from the options for that gem subtype. Processing can change the non-fixed effects and how points are allocated; each option can be increased to five points and cannot fall below one.
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Processing includes attempts, grade-dependent refresh counts, a Complete Processing option and a Gold cost per attempt. The right refinement choice depends on the gem and the build it is intended to support; the official overview does not establish one universally optimal result.
Where to get Cores and Astrogems
The official overview lists these sources for the Western release:
| Item | Listed sources |
|---|---|
| Cores | Kazeros Raid Act 4 and Kazeros Raid Denouement |
| Astrogems | Kurzan Front Nefta Operations 1 and 2; Drextalas and Krathios Guardian Raids; auctions in Chaos Gates at item level 1700 or higher; and crafting through an NPC |
Later Western updates added more context. The June 2026 Twilight Isle update says Horizon Cathedral gate clears provide Ark Grid Cores and describes Deni, a crafting NPC in major cities, using Graced Shards to craft Relic or Ancient Core chests and Epic Astrogem chests. The September 2026 Dimensions Unbound update includes Ark Grid balance changes and Ark Grid support items in the Growth Boost shop. Rewards and shop availability can change, so check current in-game menus and regional patch notes.
How to choose a Core and gems for a build
There is no single best Core or Astrogem setup established for every character. Compare the class-specific Core effects (for Order Cores), the Core’s Willpower, the Willpower requirements and point yield of candidate gems, and which slots will activate in sequence. For Order effects, also confirm that the matching Enlightenment Ark Passive is active. The official Ark Grid overview documents the system mechanics; a best-in-slot recommendation depends on class and build.
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