Battle Stats

There are three battle stats that can affect a Dust Warrior's play: Attack, Defense, and Luck.

Kind Dust Warrior Muppetfreak has made and shared this spreadsheet (google sheets) that automatically calculates the effect of attack and defense.

## Attack

The attack stat affects how many words it takes to defeat a Monster. If a monster has a base word count of 100, and the Dust Warrior has an attack of 0, then it will take 100 words to defeat the monster. However, if the Dust Warrior has an attack of +15, then it will only take 87 words to defeat the same monster.

Attack is calculated with the following formula:

> [Word Count] ÷ 1.[Attack]
>
>

Where "Word Count" is the monster's listed word count. The result will be the number of words that actually need to be written.

On the site, monster's word counts will not visibly change to reflect increased attack. Instead, every word written will simply count more than one against it. An attack of +100 will make every word written count 2 for 1, meaning that a 100 word creature will only need 50 actual words to defeat.

Quests requiring a specific word count will require the full number of words, as attack does not apply there. (i.e. A quest requiring 4,000 words will always require 4,000 actual words, regardless of attack stat.) You must also write 444 actual words to achieve your streak for the day, as it is also unaffected by attack stat.

### Early Game (Forest/Desert Regions)

The highest possible attack combination, having only completed the forest region, is  +13. This is obtained with a Wood Spear, a Wooden Bow, and by unlocking Suwö as a Companion in Mama Tree.

The highest possible combination upon completing the main desert region is  +26. The build for this is:

**Companion:** Azadi, **Weapon 1:** Steel Sword, **Weapon 2:** Crossbow, **Accessory:** Sands Ring.

Unlocking the Dragon Lair expedition area, completing the 6 part Valkos quest chain (which only requires desert access), and equipping your Valkos with attack armor will boost your maximum attack to  +29.

### Mid Game (Water/Dust Regions)

Completing the main water region gives Dust Warriors the ability to complete the 6 part Kaiszar quest chain, and with attack armor it makes for the companion with the highest attack in the game:  +16. Combined with other water region items, Dust Warriors can achieve a maximum attack of  +43 from the main water areas and  +44 by unlocking the Dawn Area.

The dust region bumps the maximum attack to  +48. More importantly, access to this region allows Dust Warriors to complete the final season of the first year of the Hunt for the Ancients. Completing that unlocks the 2022 Hunt for the Ancients series of quest chains, which includes battle item rewards. By backtracking to the Elder Library and picking up the dust region legendary chains, it is possible to unlock Storied Horns, increasing the dust region's potential attack boost to  +62.

### Late Game (Light Region/Winter's Island)

Halfway through the City of Light, after completing main quest 11: You Want What?, the armory is fully unlocked, allowing Dust Warriors to craft a host of battle items. With the strongest of these combined, a maximum attack of  +112 is possible.

Completing the light region only gives access to one more attack-heavy battle item, boosting the maximum attack to  +115. For that full breakdown, see the *Attack Build* section below.

Completing the new Winter's Island area (and hoarding Ice Blocks) rewards Dust Warriors with another attack-boosting weapon, resulting in an awesome  +123 maximum attack.

## Defense

For regular battles, the defense stat increases the maximum time allocated for the battle. Each Defense point gives you 0.5% more time. Example: A creature which has a timer of 120 minutes, with a +8 Defense, will have an effective timer of 120 \* 1.04 ~= 125 minutes.

The defense stat also affects the health of Endurance Monsters. Endurance monsters have a base health number, and Dust Warriors must type at regular intervals to maintain their health. If the monster's health drops too low, the battle will be lost.

The Dust Warrior's defense stat adds one point of health for each point of defense. If an endurance monster has a base health of 30, and the Dust Warrior has a defense of 0, then they will have 30 health to battle with. However, if the Dust Warrior has a defense of 10, then they will have 40 health to battle with.

When battling an endurance monster, bonus multipliers will give more rewards if the Dust Warrior keeps their rate in the dark green zone. At a Vi's base health stat of 30, the green bonus zone ends at 23. With a defense stat of 10, Vi's health rises to 40, and the bonus zone ends at 30.

The redesign has eliminated the clear color division between bonus and risk zones, so it is more difficult to tell how a battle is going. Further, the site has had trouble properly applying defense consistently, so keep a careful eye on the slider!

## Luck

The luck stat affects the rates that monsters drop goods after a battle. Many monsters will drop a range of items, such as "2-4 Leaves", and more luck means more likelihood of receiving the higher end of the range.

Unfortunately, this stat's effect is much harder to quantify than attack's, as there is no clear 1:1 calculation. Dust Warriors have attempted to test how much luck is "enough" to raise drop rates, and a general consensus seems to be about 10-20. For a while, extremely high luck was bugged to have the opposite effect, lowering drops, so Dust Warriors have attempted to thread the needle to maximize drop ranges. It is unknown if this has been fixed with the late 2022 site update.

Data was collected after the update by opening different chests with varying amounts of luck, and it can be found here. The general consensus was that high luck no longer appears to be bugged, but different chests opened in different locations have different "sweet spots" of how much luck results in the best drops. Though the highest amount of luck is not the worst, is not always the best.

Monster pages on the wiki that show a range of drops are generally accomplished by crowdsourcing: Dust Warriors fighting the monster repeatedly and then comparing drops to discover the possible range. These are as accurate as possible, but not guaranteed. The new site update now shows single numbered drops for each monster on the description, but these appear to be either an average or a maximum, as those drops still fall in a range, despite the single number listed.

For example, on the wiki (1), drops for the monster Burhar show that Dust Warriors have found it drops 3-5 Rope and 2-4 Raw Fabric. On the site (2), Burhar shows that it drops 5 Rope and 3 Raw Fabric. The rope number appears to be a maximum, not an average. However, the Raw Fabric number is the average, if the wiki's numbers are correct.

A sample (3) of four Burhars battled, with a Luck of 9, shows Rope drops of 3, 4, 3, and 3, falling well within the range on the wiki. And Raw Fabric drops of 3, 1, 4, and 3. Clearly the wiki needs to be updated to show a minimum of 1 Raw Fabric, not 2, but the site's information of 3 drops must not be a maximum, because 4 is clearly possible. So if the site says the average, then that must mean that higher Rope drops are possible. It's also worth noting that a Luck of 9 (4) is considered on the low side, but both the minimum and maximum number of Raw Fabrics were dropped. Yet more evidence that Luck is a stat shrouded in mystery for Dust Warriors.

## Difficulty

Difficulty is a battle stat that is specific to the Co-Op battle mechanic. It is not affected by companions, and only affects Co-Op battles. For more details, see Co-Op Difficulty.

## Battle Items

Battle Items are items that can be equipped that will have an effect on a Dust Warrior's battle stats. Battle items are designed for one of six categories: Head, Chest, Feet, Weapon 1, Weapon 2, and Accessory. Dust Warriors can equip one item in each of the six slots, mixing and matching to boost the desired stat. Some players aim to maximize attack, defense, or luck, while some aim for a well-rounded mix with moderate numbers in two or three stats.

## Companions

Companions are NPCs/Monsters that the Dust Warrior meets along their journey. They can be 'equipped' into the companion slot just like a battle item, giving the Dust Warrior a boost to their stats.

### Original Companions

The original companions consisted of the NPCs Suwö, Azadi, and Lodo and the monster Noanza. After Dust Warriors met and befriended them through the main questline, they could eventually join them as a companion.

Their stats varied to fit their personalities.

**Suwö**
 +3 /  +7 /  +2**Azadi**
 +5 /  +0 /  +10**Lodo**
 +12 /  +2 /  +0**Noanza**
 +0 /  +14 /  +6
### Dragon Companions

During the NaNo Dragon Clan Event in November of 2022, a new flavor of companion was introduced. Dragons are monsters that the Dust Warrior battled through a series of quests, unlocking them as a companion after completing the final quest in the chain.

Four companion dragons were introduced during the initial event, one with a well-rounded +4 to each stat, and three with +12 to a single stat. At the end of January 2023 when the Hatcheries returned, a fifth dragon companion was introduced that was well rounded but more defensively suited.

**Kaiszar**
 +12 /  +0 /  +0**Loksi**
 +0 /  +12 /  +0**Thalamaris**
 +0 /  +0 /  +12**Valkos**
 +4 /  +4 /  +4**Eenris**
 +3 /  +6 /  +3
### Dragon Armor

Partway through the event, the Training Ground update introduced the armor upgrade. Dust Warriors could take a quest corresponding to each Dragon Companion they had unlocked. Completing the quest allowed them to upgrade a dragon with armor to give a +4 boost in either attack, defense, or luck.

By strategically combining specific dragons and upgrades, it is possible to create a +16 boost to a single stat, making these dragons the most powerful companions for their respective stat:

**Kaiszar Attack Upgrade**
Attack Upgrade + Kaiszar Companion
  +16 /  +0 /  +0**Loksi Defense Upgrade**
Defense Upgrade + Loksi Companion
  +0 /  +16 /  +0**Thalamaris Luck Upgrade**
Luck Upgrade + Thalamaris Companion
  +0 /  +0 /  +16
It is also possible to give the companions the upgrade in a different stat, which will then rename the companion (e.g. an attack armor will result in an "Attack Thalamaris" with +4 attack and +12 luck stats.)

When the Hatcheries returned, the process of boosting dragons' stats with armor returned as well, including armor for the newest dragon, Eenris.

### Familiar Companions

During the NaNo Aurilis Magic Academy Event in November of 2023, another new flavor of companion was introduced. Familiars are monsters that accompanied each of the professors and the Headmaster of Aurilis Magic Academy. Once the Dust Warrior obtained a Familiar Scroll, they could use it and 3 Exam Credits to purchase a Familiar from the market. Doing so unlocked the familiar as a battle-able creature and enabled the Dust Warrior to equip their chosen familiar to their companion slot.

Five familiars were introduced during the initial event, two with a well-rounded +4/+5 to each stat, and three with +12 to a single stat.

**Alderbam**
 +0 /  +0 /  +12**Chysis**
 +12 /  +0 /  +0**Lole**
 +5 /  +5 /  +5**Mund**
 +4 /  +4 /  +4**Whodini**
 +0 /  +12 /  +0
### New Moon Ceremony

During the New Moon Ceremony on November 10th, Dust Warriors will be able to upgrade them. Information coming soon.

## Tactics

### Attack Build

The highest possible combination of attack is 123, and requires unlocking and completing the World 2 Nivali Camp main quest line; completing the Dust region Legendary Quest Chain; and participating in the recent Dragon Clan event or unlocking the Dragon Lair. It is obtained with the following:

* Head: Storied Horns -  +16 /  +0 /  +0
* Chest: Fusion Cuirass -  +8 /  +20 /  +0
* Feet: Scaly Dragon's Talons -  +12 /  +4 /  +4 or Climbing Boots -  +12 /  +0 /  +0
* Weapon 1: King Mai's Sword -  +28 /  +5 /  +2
* Weapon 2: Nivali Bow -  +28 /  +0 /  +0
* Accessory: Hope's Light -  +15 /  +0 /  +0
* Companion: Kaiszar Attack Upgrade -  +16 /  +0 /  +0

This build results in an attack of  +123, defense of  +29 or +25, and luck of  +6 or +2

Many Dust Warriors prefer to substitute Aakulta Helmet -  +15 /  +0 /  +5 for Storied Horns, taking the 1 point ding to attack in exchange for the better luck boost, and not having to complete the Hunt quest chain.

### Defense Build

The highest possible combination of defense is 100, and requires unlocking and completing most of the Dusted Castle main quest line and participating in the recent Dragon Clan event or unlocking the Dragon Lair. It is obtained with the following:

* Head: Nivali Hat -  +7 /  +15 /  +7 or Nivali Mask -  +15 /  +15 /  +0
* Chest: King's Breastplate -  +5 /  +25 /  +0
* Feet: Ageless Boots -  +2 /  +14 /  +2
* Weapon 1: Mercurial Sword -  +11 /  +11 /  +4
* Weapon 2: Mountain Mace -  +2 /  +20 /  +2
* Accessory: Light's Bloom -  +0 /  +15 /  +0 or Nivali Shield -  +2 /  +15 /  +2
* Companion: Loksi Defense Upgrade -  +0 /  +16 /  +0

This build results in an attack between  +27 and +37, defense of  +100, and luck of  +8 or +10

### Luck Build

The highest possible combination of luck is 80, and requires unlocking and completing the of the Nivali Camp main quest line, Forest Expedition areas, Raina Expedition areas, and Sky expedition areas; completing the Forest region Legendary Quest Chain, and participating in the recent Dragon Clan event or unlocking the Dragon Lair. It is obtained with the following:

* Head: Horns of Wisdom -  +2 /  +0 /  +14
* Chest: Nivali Breastplate -  +0 /  +22 /  +8
* Feet: Leather Turnshoe -  +0 /  +10 /  +5 or Dark Forest Boots -  +0 /  +8 /  +5
* Weapon 1: Flower Slingshot -  +17 /  +0 /  +8 or Raina Sword -  +11 /  +0 /  +8
* Weapon 2: Tempest Yo-Yo -  +4 /  +0 /  +14
* Accessory: Raina Bracelet -  +0 /  +0 /  +15
* Companion: Thalamaris Luck Upgrade -  +0 /  +0 /  +16

This build results in an attack of  +17 or +23, defense of  +30 or +32, and luck of  +80

Unfortunately for fans of a high luck stat, the largest single luck bonus in the valley comes from the Thalamaris Luck Upgrade. There are currently no armor pieces with 20-25 luck, as there are for attack and defense, making its maximum considerably lower than the other two.