Mastery System Guide: How to Unlock 20% Weapon Buff

The Mastery System is one of Solo Hunters’ most important progression mechanics. This guide explains how to unlock the coveted 20% weapon damage buff.

What is Mastery?

Mastery is a weapon-specific progression system that permanently increases your damage with that weapon type.

Why Mastery Matters

• 20% free damage - Significant DPS boost
• Permanent - Never loses progress
• Weapon-specific - Each weapon type tracked
• No cost - Just play the game

How Mastery Works

Tracking Kills

Every enemy killed with a weapon contributes to that weapon type’s mastery:

Mastery is Per Type

• Kill with any sword → Sword mastery increases
• Kill with Thunder Ax → Axe mastery increases
• All weapons of that type benefit

How to Check Mastery

In-Game Steps

1. Open Character menu
2. Go to Stats tab
3. Select Mastery section
4. View progress per weapon type

Reading the Progress Bar

• Shows current percentage
• Displays kills needed
• Shows current damage bonus

Fastest Way to Max Mastery

Optimal Strategy

1. Pick ONE weapon type early
2. Stick with it until 100%
3. Farm efficiently
4. Track your kills

Best Farming Zones by Level

XP vs Mastery Farming

Sometimes you want mastery over XP:

• Low-level zones = faster kills = faster mastery
• May sacrifice some XP efficiency
• Worth it for the 20% buff

Mastery Milestones

25% Mastery (100 kills)

• Takes ~30 minutes of focused play
• +5% damage unlocked
• Keep going!

50% Mastery (500 kills)

• Takes ~2-3 hours
• +10% damage unlocked
• Noticeable improvement

75% Mastery (2,000 kills)

• Takes ~8-10 hours of play
• +15% damage unlocked
• Significant power spike

100% Mastery (5,000 kills)

• Takes ~20-30 hours
• +20% damage unlocked
• Maximum power achieved!

Best Weapons to Master First

S-Tier Priority

1. Thunder Ax - Best all-around weapon
2. Phantom Blade - Top DPS option
3. Great Shield - Tank main weapon

Class-Specific Recommendations

Mastery Stacking

What Stacks

• Mastery bonus
• Weapon base damage
• Stat scaling
• Buff effects

Calculation Example

Base Damage: 100
Mastery 20%: +20 → 120
Strength Scaling: +50 → 170
Buff 30%: +51 → 221

Total with Mastery: 221
Without Mastery: 184
Difference: 37 damage (20%)

Mastery affects your final damage output significantly.

Common Mastery Questions

Q: Does switching weapons reset mastery?

A: No! Mastery is permanent per weapon type.

Q: Can I have multiple masteries?

A: Yes, but focus on one first for efficiency.

Q: Do boss kills count more?

A: No, all kills count as 1.

Q: Is mastery account-wide?

A: Yes, it carries across all content.

Mastery Farming Tips

Maximize Kill Speed

1. Use AoE attacks
2. Pull multiple groups
3. Skip chests (kill first)
4. Avoid unnecessary movement

Optimal Room Approach

1. Enter room
2. Group enemies
3. AoE them down
4. Next room immediately

Tracking Your Progress

• Check mastery every session
• Set daily kill goals
• Track time to milestones

After Max Mastery

Start a Second Weapon

Once at 100%, consider:

• Backup weapon type
• Different playstyle
• Class reroll preparation

Maintain with Variety

Now you can use any weapon of that type:

• Try different variants
• Experiment with stats
• Find your favorite

Mastery vs Other Priorities

Early Game (Level 0-100)

Focus order:

1. Stats (build foundation)
2. Mastery (background gain)
3. Gear (comes naturally)

Mid Game (Level 100-300)

Focus order:

1. Mastery (big DPS boost)
2. Gear optimization
3. Stats refinement

End Game (Level 300+)

All matter equally:

• Mastery at 100%
• Perfect gear
• Optimized stats

Conclusion

The Mastery system provides a free 20% damage boost that every player should prioritize. It requires no special effort—just consistent play with your chosen weapon type.

Key Takeaways:

1. Pick one weapon type
2. Stick with it
3. 5,000 kills = 20% damage
4. Worth the grind

Time Investment: ~20-30 hours for max mastery

Looking for weapon recommendations? Check our Weapon Tier List!