Etheria Restart Shell and Gear System Guide: Rarities, Sets, and Main Stats To Chase
Shells and gear are where most of your stats and unique effects come from in Etheria Restart. Focus on higher rarities, the right 12‑piece Matrix sets, and main stats that match each unit’s role instead of chasing “perfect” substats early.
Shell basics: what they are and rarities
Shells are separate from normal modules: each Shell has a powerful active/passive effect plus its own Matrix slots that count toward set bonuses.
- Shell rarities
- Wiki and guides describe Shells as coming in four main rarities (blue → purple → gold → red/Mythic), with Mythic/red having the highest base stats, strongest skills, and up to 9 Matrix slots.
- A Shell video notes that “mythic rare tier, red tier rarity” can roll nine Matrix effects (three per slot), which is the ideal endgame scenario but very rare.
- Why Mythic matters
- Both HellHades and gear‑guide videos stress that Mythic Shells are “endgame” because their extra Matrix symbols let you complete more 2/4/6/12‑piece set thresholds on a single unit.
- Prydwen’s early‑gearing guide advises skipping most Epic Shells and jumping from Unique to Mythic, then using character‑specific Shell recommendations as soon as you get your first Mythics.
Matrix sets and gear rarities
Your main armor pieces are Modules; their Matrix symbols (set pieces) combine with Shell Matrix symbols to activate set bonuses.
- Module rarities and symbols
- Gear rarities from lowest to highest are: Basic → Fine → Rare → Unique → Epic → Ultimate → Legendary.
- Higher rarity gives better base stats and more Matrix symbols, but HellHades warns that “not every legendary drop is better than a rare one” because some legendaries can roll only one Matrix symbol while a lower‑tier piece can roll two.
- Sets that matter
- For DPS, guides repeatedly highlight 12‑piece damage sets that increase damage up to 36% when the target has multiple debuffs, plus more universal SPD + ATK sets.
- For support/debuffers, sets that give SPD, Effect ACC, or cooldown/turn‑meter manipulation are preferred; Prydwen calls Unbridled Science a standout Unique Shell that pushes 40% TM after acting, effectively behaving like a SPD set for turn‑hungry units.
- Tank sets focus on DEF/HP and shields; Artisan (Shell) plus DEF‑heavy gear turns tanks like Rahu or Tsukiyo Mi into “defensive juggernauts.”
Early on, gear videos recommend prioritising set + main stat + rarity over perfect substats; substat min‑maxing comes once you have a solid base of correct sets.
Best Shells by role (what to chase)
HellHades’ Shell tier list and breakdown identify several top‑tier Shells you should build around if you obtain them.
- DPS Shells
- White Fang – “A DPS dream”: high‑damage double strike, stacking Crit DMG buff, offensive matrices; ideal for burst DPS.
- Golden Lion – Final damage and Effect ACC buffs that ramp with skill usage, excellent for fast‑rotating DPS or debuffers.
- Count – ATK boost plus Life Leech for 3 turns; recommended for sustain DPS builds and one‑shot comps.
- Revelation – Adds bonus true damage based on enemy Max HP per Crit; HellHades calls it “essential endgame shell for PvP nukers” to break tank metas.
- Healer/support Shells
- Supernova – Top‑tier healing Shell with around +35% heal boost and a HoT that triggers when allies fall below 75% HP; recommended for Lingluo and pure healers.
- Fortissimo – Stores excess healing and redistributes it later; strong for sustained PvE and PvP clutch survivability.
- Electro Squid (Unique) – “Better version of Reason” with stronger healing and good Matrix support (Immunity + SPD sets), great budget support Shell.
- Lighthouse – Heals and gives turn meter after taking a big hit; A‑tier but very good for early/mid‑game bruisers and tanks.
- Tank / survivability Shells
- Law of Silence – “Game‑changer” for supports and bruisers: grants Void (cannot be targeted), +60% Effect RES, ‑50% AoE damage taken, then an ATK buff; extremely strong for keeping key units alive through openers.
- Artisan – “Defensive juggernaut” Shell with shields scaling on DEF, insane on DEF‑scaling frontliners like Tsukiyo Mi and Rin.
- Diamond Heart – Provides DEF Up and a huge shield, also recommended for DEF‑scaling tanks like Rahu.
- Amber – Revives the unit in Ice State with high DEF and immunity to turn manipulation; strong on units like Tiamat in specific PvP setups.
- Tempo / utility Shells
- Gigabyte – Anti‑speed Shell: grants 35% turn meter per 3 enemy actions (once per turn), letting slower teams regain tempo against fast comps.
- Black Flag / Jackal Guard – Speed and Strike Prep plus follow‑up hit; Jackal Guard is described as a “clear upgrade over Black Flag” with better damage, longer SPD buffs, and more TM push.
- Unbridled Science – Unique Shell that provides a 40% TM push after action; Prydwen calls it a standout budget option for debuffers like Marvell that want extra turns early.
- Crossroads – Lifesteal + ATK buff; only Shell offering lifesteal in CBT‑4 testing, making it very valuable for sustain DPS builds.
If you pull any of these high‑tier Shells, most guides recommend building your unit and even comp around them because their impact can “swing an entire fight.”
Main stats to prioritise by role
Across Shells and Modules, the main‑stat priorities are consistent; substats become relevant later.
- DPS (Massiah, Liliam, Yeli, etc.)
- DEF‑scaling bruisers/tanks (Rahu, Holden, Tiamat)
- Healers/supports (Lingluo, Freya, Lily, Beyontin)
- Controllers/debuffers (Kraken, Obol, Kazuyo, Kloss, Nahor)
Early‑game gear guides explicitly recommend “focus on set + main stat + rarity first,” then re‑farm later for ideal substats once your account can farm higher‑difficulty dungeons consistently.
Practical farming and upgrade priorities
Putting it all together, gear and Shell guides converge on a simple approach.
- Early game
- Mid–late game
- Gradually replace Modules with Ultimate/Legendary pieces that have more Matrix symbols and better main stats.
- Prioritise upgrading mythic Shells that are top‑tier for your key DPS, tanks, and supports (White Fang, Supernova, Law of Silence, Artisan, Golden Lion, Gigabyte, Revelation).
- Use Shell Matrix slots to finish important 2/4/6/12‑piece Matrix sets when your Modules alone don’t give enough symbols.
Focusing on the right Shells, high‑rarity gear, and role‑correct main stats will give far bigger returns than chasing tiny substat upgrades, especially while your account is still climbing into late‑game dungeons and Inferno content.
