How Expedition Progression Actually Works in Cursed Gear
Time, Gear XP, and Cursed Technique XP — three separate currencies that beginners often mix up. A clear breakdown of what to prioritize and when to extract.
The Three Currencies — And Why Players Confuse Them
Every expedition run generates three different types of progress, and new players often treat them as the same thing. They are not.
Time is your main stat XP — convert it at chairs to permanently increase your stats. Gear XP goes toward leveling up your skill abilities. Cursed Technique (CT) XP only starts counting once you have unlocked your first CT — until then, community advice is to convert those orbs to Time instead.
Understanding which currency to prioritize at each stage is described in community discussion as what separates slow learners from fast ones. This is based on the general progression patterns players report, not on verified internal game data.
When To Extract — Community Advice On Early Progression
A strategy commonly shared in community discussion for players under roughly level 30: get at least 100 Time per expedition and extract. The rationale behind this is that low-level characters are squishy, and staying in higher-level zones longer increases the risk of dying and losing your haul.
Community consensus shifts once you are stronger and can handle mobs without dying — then longer runs with higher Time payouts become more worthwhile. Until then, speed and consistency are what most players recommend over greed.
Note: the specific "100 Time" threshold appears across multiple community sources but has not been officially confirmed. Treat it as a community guideline, not a game rule.
Clans — Common Clans And Progression Speed
Some community references describe Common clans as providing an EXP-related bonus that helps with early progression. This is frequently cited in player discussions as a reason to stay on a Common clan while grinding early levels.
The commonly recommended approach in community discussion: stay on a Common clan while building your early stats and learning the game. Once you have a stable build and are comfortable with mechanics, start clan re-rolling for the bonus you want.
Note: clan bonus specifics vary based on rarity tier and are not fully verified across all clan types in public documentation. Verify in-game before making permanent progression decisions.
How To Actually Get Your Cursed Technique
Based on what players report, your Cursed Technique becomes available once you reach a certain grade — community discussion points to Grade 4 as the typical unlock point. The game notifies you automatically when you are close.
To make a CT crystal, community sources describe needing either three shards of the same type, or using a reroll dev product if you already have a CT. Consuming three shards at the shard exchange creates a crystal you can equip.
A commonly repeated tip: if you find a technique orb or shard before unlocking your CT, convert it to Time. Since CT XP does not accumulate before you have a Cursed Technique, those resources are wasted on a character that cannot use them yet.
Grade Exams — What The Community Reports
Grade exams are described in community discussion as one-v-one tournaments that run periodically during gameplay. Players report that entering requires being at a minimum grade — community sources suggest Grade 3 or 4, though this may vary.
Community consensus: making it to the finals earns a promotion, and winning the tournament earns a higher one. Grades matter because each promotion is described as providing a permanent stat boost.
The practical advice most frequently given: enter grade exams whenever they are available, especially if you are at or near the minimum required grade. The stat increase from a promotion is reported as substantial by players who have completed them.
Dreams — Community Reports On Free Stat Gains
Dreams are described in community discussion as special events that can spawn during expeditions. The reported reward is stat points without affecting your level — useful for pushing beyond what normal Time investment would allow.
In a Dream, players report needing to find and break purple orbs. Some Dreams also require surviving being hit by an NPC. The reward is described as a free stat increase in your chosen stat.
ASI points (Attribute Special Improvements), reportedly earned at regular level intervals, are also cited in community discussion as a way to allocate free stats without consuming levels. Together with Dreams, these are described as the most efficient supplemental ways to boost stats, though the exact mechanics of both are not fully verified in public documentation.