self>SabSparrow: /* Exclusively inherent modifiers */

2026-04-09T14:08:11Z

Exclusively inherent modifiers

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An [[inherent modifier]] is an [[Upgrade component|item upgrade]] that cannot be changed or [[salvage]]d; they are part of the [[weapon]] itself. The term is used strictly to indicate a built-in [[inscription]], but can also be used loosely to describe invariable modifiers (e.g. the [[:Category:Non-unique weapons with inherent prefixes|prefix]] on a [[Fiery Gladius]]) or universal bonuses (e.g. the +10 energy available to any [[staff]] with maximum stats).

Weapons in [[Nightfall]] and later have removable modifiers rather than inherent ones: [[inscription]]s, [[focus core]]s, [[shield handle]]s, and [[wand wrapping]]s. The following table illustrates the difference in how modifier slots are distributed in each campaign.

{| class="wikitable"
! Item source/type
! Inherent
! Inscription
! Suffix
|-
| [[Prophecies]] / [[Factions]] weapon<ref name="exception">Exceptions may exist in post-Nightfall update content. Such items would have the same properties as Nightfall/EotN items.</ref>
| 1
| 0
| 1
|-
| Prophecies / Factions [[off-hand]]<ref name="exception"/>
| 2
| 0
| 0
|-
| Nightfall / [[Eye of the North]] weapon
| 0
| 1
| 1
|-
| Nightfall / Eye of the North off-hand
| 0
| 1
| 1<ref>Salvaged off-hand components can only be re-applied to [[inscribable]] items and therefore cannot be used with Prophecies/Factions items (see note 1).</ref>
|}
<references/>

An important functional difference between inherent modifiers and inscriptions is that inscriptions providing armor are calculated as part of the core armor in the armor calculation, while inherent modifiers are calculated as part of the bonus armor, which is capped.
* For instance, ward against elements (+24 vs elemental damage) with an off-hand with the inscription "Leaf on the Wind" (+10 armor vs cold damage) will provide +34 vs cold damage, however the same ward with an off-hand providing armor +10 vs cold damage inherently will only offer +25 armor vs cold damage (since both the +24 and +10 are counted as bonus armor and bonus armor is capped at 25). See [[Armor calculation]] for details.

== Exclusively inherent modifiers ==
{{see|:Category:Unreplicable non-unique items|:Category:Unreplicable unique items}}

* A handful of inherent modifiers do not appear on [[drop]]s; they are found only on specific [[promotional weapon]]s, [[quest reward]]s, [[unique item]]s, or items from [[collector]]s.
* Other inherent mods from Prophecies and Factions do not have an equivalent removable mod (in Nightfall or Eye of the North):
** ''[[Armor rating|Armor]]'' +{{gr2|5|10}} vs. an [[affiliation]] or [[creature type]] (as with [[of slaying]] upgrades). These cover: [[Charr]], [[Demon]]s, [[Dragon]]s, [[Dwarf|Dwarves]], [[Giant]]s, [[Ogre]]s, [[Plant]]s, [[Tengu]], [[Troll]]s, [[Undead]], and [[Skeleton]]s.
*** In Nightfall, the [[Aegis of Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh]], [[Aegis of Terror]], [[Stygian Aegis]], and [[Stygian Defender]] shields have an inherent ''Armor +10 (vs. Demons)''.
*** In Eye of the North, [[Jonathan Blunt]] has a selection of shields and focus items with inherent ''Armor +10 (vs. Charr)''. They can be upgraded with a [[Shield Handle]] or [[Focus Core]].
** [[HCT|Halves casting time]] of an unlinked [[attribute]]'s [[spell]]s (Chance: {{gr2|10|20}}%)
*** "Aptitude not Attitude" exists for the item's linked attribute, for spellcasting weapons only.
** [[HSR|Halves skill recharge]] of an unlinked attribute's spells (Chance: {{gr2|10|20}}%)
*** "Forget Me Not" exists for the item's linked attribute, for focus items only.
** +1 to an unlinked attribute ({{gr2|10|20}}% chance while using skills)
*** "Master of My Domain" exists for the item's linked attribute, for offhand items only.
** Inherent staff inscriptions that reduce duration for a specific [[condition]] by 20% (Same as the offhand inscriptions available)
** [[Vampiric strength]] (also known as dual vamp)
** [[Zealous strength]] (also known as dual zealous)
* Most staves have an inherent HSR (Chance: {{gr2|10|20}}%).

== Notes ==
<div style="float:right;">
{{item info
| Item Color = Y
| Item Name = Wooden Buckler
| Text1 = Armor: 16
| AltText1 = Requires 13 Tactics
| CustomColor1 = W
| Text2 = Health +43
| AltText2 = while Enchanted
| CustomColor2 = Y
| Text3 = Illusion Magic +1
| AltText3 = 19% chance while using skills
| CustomColor3 = Y
| Text4 = Value: 224 gold
| CustomColor4 = N
}}
A [[shield]] with a chance to boost [[Illusion Magic]].
</div>

* Weapons using inherent modifiers are often referred to as ''old school''.
* Inherent modifiers with [[attribute]]-specific bonuses can be found in items with a non-matching attribute, e.g. [[shield]]s with a chance to boost rank in a [[spellcaster]] attribute.

{{anomaly|An extremely small number of weapons in circulation carry an inherent mod and an inscription slot. Currently, all known [[exploit]]s or game [[bug]]s that produced them have been resolved.}}

== See also ==

* [[List of weapon upgrades]]
* [[Weapon upgrade]]

{{Weapon nav}}

[[Category:Enhancements]]

Inherent modifier - Revision history

self>SabSparrow: /* Exclusively inherent modifiers */