Updated October 7, 2026
If you're stuck around 1300 Item Level in AION 2, you usually don't need to wait for one perfect gear drop.
Instead, look for several smaller Item Level gains across your character.
A practical order is:
- Check your Daevanion progression.
- Check unfinished progression content and rewards.
- Enhance suitable gear that gives you a useful Item Level increase.
- Consider +5 blue gear if you only need a temporary boost.
- Fill useful empty Manastone slots.
- Check your Belt and Amulet for easy upgrades.
- Use Theostones and other item-specific upgrades carefully.
The important part is knowing which investments can be recovered and which stay tied to the item.
If you only need another 10 or 20 Item Levels, spending heavily on an entirely new gear set may be unnecessary.
Quick Answer: What to Upgrade at 1300
If you're stuck around 1300 Item Level in AION 2, you usually don't need to wait for one perfect gear drop.
Instead, look for several smaller Item Level gains across your character.
A practical order is:
- Check your Daevanion progression.
- Check unfinished progression content and rewards.
- Enhance suitable gear that gives you a useful Item Level increase.
- Consider +5 blue gear if you only need a temporary boost.
- Fill useful empty Manastone slots.
- Check your Belt and Amulet for easy upgrades.
- Use Theostones and other item-specific upgrades carefully.
The important part is knowing which investments can be recovered and which stay tied to the item.
If you only need another 10 or 20 Item Levels, spending heavily on an entirely new gear set may be unnecessary.
📋 Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: What to Upgrade at 1300
- Why You Get Stuck Around 1300
- First, Check Where Your Missing Item Level Can Come From
- 1. Enhance the Gear You Already Have
- 2. Is +5 Blue Gear Worth It?
- 3. Prioritize Your Weapon and Important Pieces
- 4. Fill Your Manastone Slots
- 5. Use Daevanion Progression to Fill the Gap
- 6. Upgrade Your Belt and Amulet
- 7. Be Careful With Permanent Gear Upgrades
- 8. What to Do at 1300, 1350 and 1390
- 1300 to 1400 Checklist
- What Changes at 1400 Item Level?
- Item Level vs Combat Power
- FAQ
- Final Takeaway
Why You Get Stuck Around 1300
Reaching level 45 does not automatically put every character at the same Item Level.
AION 2's progression can come from several different systems, including equipment, enhancement, Manastones and Daevanion progression.
That means two characters with similar-looking gear can still have different Item Levels.
It also means replacing one item isn't always the solution.
If you're sitting around 1300 and need another 100 points, check your entire character progression before spending everything on a single piece of gear.
You may already have several smaller upgrades available.
The mistake to avoid
The easy assumption is:
"I need better gear before I can reach 1400."
Sometimes you do.
But when you're already close to the threshold, several smaller upgrades can be enough to close the remaining gap.
The goal isn't to maximize every piece of equipment.
The goal is to reach 1400 Item Level without wasting resources on upgrades you don't need yet.
First, Check Where Your Missing Item Level Can Come From
Before spending a large amount of resources, check the following areas:
| Upgrade | Why check it? |
|---|---|
| Daevanion progression | Can provide additional Item Level |
| Enhancement | Raises the Item Level of suitable equipment |
| Manastones | Empty or underdeveloped slots may leave progression on the table |
| Belt | Easy-to-overlook equipment progression |
| Amulet | Another equipment slot worth checking |
| Theostone | Additional progression, but should be planned carefully |
| Sealed Dungeons | Gear and enhancement resources |
| Strongholds and quests | May provide missing progression or rewards |
You don't necessarily need to improve every category.
The goal is to find the cheapest useful combination that closes your current Item Level gap.
For example, if you're at 1382, farming an entirely new gear set may make little sense when a few smaller upgrades can provide the remaining points.
1. Enhance the Gear You Already Have
Enhancement is one of the simplest ways to increase Item Level using equipment you already own.
This is particularly useful when your current gear is good enough for the content you're running but isn't heavily enhanced yet.
You don't necessarily have to wait for a perfect replacement before using Enhancement Stones.
Why enhancement can be useful before 1400
If you're around 1250–1300, several sensible enhancement upgrades can add Item Level without requiring a complete gear overhaul.
There's also an important distinction between the enhancement investment and the Kina spent on it.
When enhanced gear is extracted, the Enhancement Stones associated with its enhancement can be recovered, while the Kina spent on enhancement isn't returned in the same way.
That makes reasonable early enhancement less risky than simply assuming every temporary upgrade is wasted.
Don't enhance everything blindly
Kina is still valuable.
If a piece is clearly about to be replaced, don't spend heavily on it simply because you have Enhancement Stones available.
Instead, look at how much Item Level you actually need.
Need 10 points?
A small upgrade may be enough.
Need 100 points?
Look at your broader progression instead of pushing one item into increasingly expensive enhancement levels.
2. Is +5 Blue Gear Worth It?
This is one of the most useful questions when you're stuck in the 1300s.
Yes, sometimes
A +5 blue item can be a sensible temporary Item Level bridge when you're close to 1400 and don't have a better low-cost upgrade available.
The reasoning is straightforward:
- Enhancement increases Item Level.
- Blue equipment can serve as temporary gear.
- Enhancement Stones can be recovered through extraction.
- You may only need a relatively small Item Level increase.
So the question isn't:
"Will I keep this blue item forever?"
Instead, ask:
"Is the Item Level I'm gaining worth the Kina I'm spending right now?"
If the answer is yes, a temporary +5 piece can make sense.
When you should avoid it
Don't automatically enhance every blue item to +5.
If you're about to replace the item anyway, or another inexpensive progression source will give you the Item Level you need, use the alternative first.
The goal is efficient progression, not having every slot at the same enhancement level.
3. Prioritize Your Weapon and Important Pieces
If you need a larger Item Level increase, look at your most important equipment first.
Your weapon is an obvious candidate because improving it can raise Item Level while also improving your actual combat performance.
Bracelets and other important offensive pieces can also be worth prioritizing depending on your class and current equipment.
Don't treat +10 as a mandatory rule
You may see progression routes recommending +10 weapons or specific enhancement levels.
Treat those as practical targets rather than universal requirements.
Your character may already have enough Item Level from other sources.
If you're at 1370, for example, you shouldn't automatically spend everything pushing one item higher just because another progression route used that approach.
Check the size of your actual gap first.
4. Fill Your Manastone Slots
If you have empty Manastone slots, check them before starting another long farming session.
Manastones can contribute to your Item Level, making unused slots an obvious place to look for additional progression.
This is particularly useful when you're only a few points away from your next target.
Be careful with valuable Manastones
Manastones deserve more caution than Enhancement because they don't simply behave like recovered Enhancement Stones when you replace equipment.
If you're using temporary gear specifically to cross 1400, don't automatically put your best long-term Manastones into every temporary piece.
The aim is to improve your Item Level without creating another expensive replacement problem.
If you're unsure which Manastones are worth keeping, see our AION 2 Mana Stones: Which Ones to Save and Which to Use.
5. Use Daevanion Progression to Fill the Gap
Daevanion progression is another important source to check when you're trying to increase Item Level.
If you have resources available for Daevanion progression, see what additional Item Level you can gain before committing heavily to equipment upgrades.
This can be particularly useful when you're stuck somewhere around 1250–1350 and still have progression available.
Don't spend everything just for Item Level
There's an important difference between:
"This gives me Item Level."
and
"This is the best use of my resources."
Some resources can contribute to broader character progression and Combat Power as well.
If reaching 1400 is your immediate objective, Daevanion progression can help close the Item Level gap.
But don't automatically spend every available resource without considering what else you could use it for.
6. Upgrade Your Belt and Amulet
Your Belt and Amulet are easy to overlook when you're focused on weapons, armor and accessories.
Before spending large amounts of resources chasing another gear drop, check whether these slots still have inexpensive progression available.
This can be particularly useful once you've completed much of the obvious level-45 progression.
Think of these slots as part of your 1400 checklist, rather than systems that only matter later.
7. Be Careful With Permanent Gear Upgrades
This is where you can avoid a lot of unnecessary resource loss.
Not every progression system behaves like Enhancement when you replace an item.
Enhancement
Enhancement is relatively safe to use on suitable temporary equipment because the Enhancement Stones can be recovered through extraction.
Manastones
Be more careful with valuable Manastones because they don't simply behave like recovered Enhancement Stones when you replace the equipment.
Theostones
Treat Theostone investment as something you should plan rather than automatically applying to gear you're about to replace.
Potential and other item-specific progression
The same principle applies to other item-specific systems.
Before spending valuable resources on temporary equipment, ask:
Will this progression move with the item, or will I have to build it again on the replacement?
That question is especially useful when you're trying to reach a progression threshold rather than finalize your long-term build.
If you accidentally sell or extract an important item, check our AION 2 Recover Item guide before assuming the gear is gone permanently.
8. What to Do at 1300, 1350 and 1390
Your approach should change depending on how far you are from 1400.
Around 1300–1325
Don't immediately chase expensive gear.
First check:
- Main and regional quest rewards
- Strongholds
- Sealed Dungeons
- Daevanion progression
- Belt and Amulet
- Empty Manastone slots
- Reasonable enhancement opportunities
You're far enough from 1400 that several smaller upgrades can add up quickly.
Around 1325–1375
Now look more closely at your equipment.
Consider:
- +5 temporary blue pieces
- Weapon enhancement
- Bracelet enhancement
- Manastones
- Remaining Daevanion progression
- Theostone progression where appropriate
At this point, calculate your actual Item Level gap rather than upgrading randomly.
Around 1375–1390
Small upgrades become much more valuable.
If you're only 10–25 points away, don't rebuild your character.
Look for:
- One or two useful enhancement levels
- An empty Manastone slot
- A Belt or Amulet upgrade
- Remaining Daevanion progression
- A temporary +5 piece
The closer you get to 1400, the more important it becomes to use small, targeted upgrades.
Around 1390–1399
This is where players can waste the most resources because they're almost at the threshold.
Check every low-cost source first.
If you need only a few Item Level points, you probably don't need an entirely new equipment set.
1300 to 1400 Checklist
Use this checklist before spending a large amount of resources:
- Check your current Item Level gap
- Complete available main and regional progression
- Check Strongholds
- Complete available Sealed Dungeons
- Check unused Daevanion progression
- Upgrade your Belt if it is behind
- Upgrade your Amulet if it is behind
- Check every empty Manastone slot
- Check weapon enhancement
- Check bracelet enhancement
- Consider +5 temporary blue gear
- Avoid expensive upgrades on gear you will immediately replace
- Check whether a resource transfers or is lost
- Recalculate your Item Level after each major upgrade
Don't spend resources simply because you have them. Spend them because they solve your current Item Level gap.
What Changes at 1400 Item Level?
Reaching 1400 Item Level is an important early progression milestone because it moves you into the next stage of AION 2's progression.
The purpose of the 1300 → 1400 push therefore isn't simply making the number on your character sheet larger.
You're trying to reach the next progression tier while preserving as many useful resources as possible.
Once you reach 1400, your priorities can shift toward improving the quality of your gear and building Combat Power rather than using every available temporary upgrade simply to cross the threshold.
If you're managing Odyle Energy while making this push, our AION 2 Odyle Energy guide covers when to spend it and how to avoid using it inefficiently.
Item Level vs Combat Power
One important distinction can save you a lot of confusion:
Item Level and Combat Power are not the same thing.
Item Level is particularly important for progression and content requirements.
Combat Power is a broader measure of your character's combat strength.
That means reaching 1400 Item Level doesn't automatically mean your character will meet every party's Combat Power expectation.
If your immediate goal is unlocking content, focus on the Item Level requirement.
Once you're through that gate, you can put more emphasis on improving the actual strength of your build.
You can use AION 2's Combat Analysis guide to check your actual damage and skill performance instead of relying only on the Combat Power number.
FAQ
Why am I stuck at 1300 Item Level in AION 2?
You may be missing several smaller Item Level sources rather than one major gear upgrade. Check enhancement, Daevanion progression, Manastones, Belt, Amulet and unfinished progression content.
Should I enhance blue gear before reaching 1400?
If you're close to 1400, +5 blue gear can be a reasonable temporary bridge when you don't have a better low-cost Item Level source. Don't enhance every blue item automatically.
Is +5 blue gear a waste in AION 2?
Not necessarily. Enhancement Stones can be recovered through extraction, although the Kina spent on enhancement is not simply refunded. The decision comes down to whether the Item Level gain is worth the Kina cost.
Do Enhancement Stones come back when I replace gear?
Enhanced equipment can be extracted so that the Enhancement Stones associated with its enhancement can be recovered. The Kina spent on enhancement is not recovered in the same way.
Should I save all my Enhancement Stones for better gear?
Not necessarily. If an early enhancement gives you useful Item Level and helps you reach an important progression threshold, using the stones can make sense. Avoid spending heavily when a cheaper upgrade will solve the same problem.
What should I upgrade first at 1300 Item Level?
Start by checking your unfinished progression, Daevanion progression, Belt, Amulet, Manastone slots and reasonable enhancement opportunities. Then decide whether temporary blue gear can efficiently close the remaining gap.
Should I spend Daevanion resources just to reach 1400?
Daevanion progression can provide useful Item Level, but don't automatically spend every available resource. Consider whether the same resource has another important use for your character.
What should I do when I'm only 10 Item Levels from 1400?
Look for small targeted gains first. A few enhancement levels, an available Manastone slot, a Belt or Amulet upgrade, or another inexpensive progression source may be enough.
Is 1400 Item Level the same as 1400 Combat Power?
No. Item Level and Combat Power measure different aspects of progression. Reaching an Item Level requirement does not guarantee that you will meet a party's separate Combat Power requirement.
Final Takeaway
If you're stuck around 1300 Item Level in AION 2, don't assume that you need an entirely new set of gear.
First find out where your missing Item Level can come from.
Check Daevanion progression, enhancement, Manastones, Belt, Amulet and unfinished content before committing to expensive upgrades.
Don't be afraid of reasonable temporary enhancement simply because you expect to replace the item later. Enhancement Stones can be recovered through extraction, making suitable early enhancement less wasteful than it may initially appear.
The important distinction is between upgrades you can recover and item-specific progression that may need to be rebuilt on replacement gear.
Once you start treating 1400 as a gap to close with targeted upgrades rather than a gear wall that requires one perfect drop, the final stretch becomes much easier to manage.
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