Equipment Guide · Endgame

Shells & Gear Tuning

Shells control the quality of a tuning result. Use the right Shell for the result you want, then use re-tuning systems when you need to replace an existing stat line.

Jianghu Archive · Tuning Reference

Shells control the roll. They do not choose the stat for you.

The important distinction is simple: a Shell controls the quality of the tuning result, while the stat that appears is determined by the available stat pool and the tuning or re-tuning system you are using. Do not treat a Rainbow Shell as a free stat selector.

Purple ShellGuarantees a purple-quality tuning result.

Gold ShellGuarantees a gold-quality tuning result.

Rainbow ShellForces the maximum-quality value for the roll; the stat itself is not freely selected by the Shell.

Re-tuningReplaces an existing tuning line through the separate re-tuning system.

Shell Types

Shell	What it does	What it does not do
Purple Shell	Guarantees a purple-quality tuning result on the roll.	It does not let you pick the exact stat.
Gold Shell	Guarantees a gold-quality tuning result on the roll.	It does not let you choose the exact stat from the pool.
Rainbow Shell	Guarantees the maximum-quality value for the resulting roll.	It is not a universal stat selector. The stat still comes from the applicable tuning or re-tuning pool.

The part older guides get wrong: Rainbow does not mean “pick any stat you want.” Current tuning references describe it as the max-value/max-quality material, while separate re-tuning or attribute-selection systems handle control over the stat type.

How Tuning Actually Works

1 · Quality

The Shell controls quality

Using a Purple, Gold or Rainbow Shell changes the quality ceiling of the tuning result. That is why the expensive Shells are worth saving for gear you intend to keep.

2 · Stat pool

The game still rolls the stat

The Shell is not a stat selector. The resulting attribute comes from the tuning pool available to that gear and system. If you need a specific attribute, use the appropriate re-tuning or attribute-selection mechanic instead.

3 · Re-tuning

Replace a bad line later

Re-tuning is a separate system from normal tuning. Current high-tier gear has additional re-tuning controls, including result previews and, on applicable Tier 91 gear, a guarantee system for eventually selecting an attribute type.

4 · Newer gear

Do not apply old rules to every tier

Later gear systems add Relaying, Modulating and other inheritance/rework mechanics. A guide written only around the old Tier 71/81 process will miss those changes.

The Practical Tuning Order

Start with gear worth keepingDo not burn rare Shells on a temporary leveling piece. Check the tier, set, slot and base attributes first.

Use the appropriate Shell for the quality you needUse Purple for lower-cost purple-quality rolls, Gold when you need a guaranteed gold-quality roll, and Rainbow when the maximum-value result is worth the material.

Separate stat selection from qualityIf the problem is the stat itself, do not keep throwing Rainbow Shells at it. Use the game's re-tuning or attribute-selection system that applies to that gear tier.

Only finish the expensive lines on long-term gearOnce the piece is something you actually plan to keep, spend the high-value materials needed to push its final rolls.

Tuning vs. Re-tuning

Tuning

Tuning rolls the gear's tuning attributes using the available stat pool and tuning materials. Shells are used to control the quality of that result.

Re-tuning

Re-tuning is used to replace an existing tuning result. On current high-tier gear, the system can include preview tools, cooldowns and guaranteed attribute-selection mechanics depending on the tier.

Current High-Tier Changes

Tier 91 and newer systems are not the old Tier 71 guide.
The April 2026 gear overhaul added stronger tuning and re-tuning controls: Legendary Melodic Stones can be crafted, Energy challenges award additional random-quality Melodic Stones every 60 Energy consumed, Tier 91 gear received re-tuning correction with a 7-day cooldown, and the game added a re-tuning guarantee counter that can eventually provide a custom attribute choice. Relaying and Modulating also changed how inherited high-tier gear is developed.

What to Keep

Keep a promising piece if its set, slot and existing attributes are valuable.
Do not dismantle a piece just because one tuning line is bad; newer systems can give you ways to re-tune or inherit useful attributes.
Do not confuse a maximum-value roll with a chosen stat. Rainbow handles the former; the applicable re-tuning/attribute system handles the latter.
For Arsenal, remember that tuning quality and combat optimization are separate goals. A piece can be useful for Mastery even when you are not keeping its combat roll forever.

Quick Checklist

Before tuning

Correct tier · correct slot · correct set · worth keeping.

Need quality?

Purple = purple quality · Gold = gold quality · Rainbow = maximum-quality value.

Need a specific stat?

Do not assume the Shell chooses it. Use the applicable re-tuning or attribute-selection system.

Spending rare materials

Save Rainbow and other expensive materials for gear that is actually worth finishing.

Mechanics verified against the official April 30, 2026 gear-development update and current tuning references. Older guides that describe Rainbow Shell as a flex-slot selector or Premium/Supreme Shell as a required separate step should not be treated as the current rule set.