Lost Ark Hone Calculator

Honing Attempt Calculator (+N to +N+1)

This calculator helps estimate the costs and attempts for a single honing level upgrade (e.g., +6 to +7) in Lost Ark.

Attempt Breakdown

Attempt #	Success Rate (%)	Cumulative Prob. (%)	Total Cost (Gold)
Enter values to see breakdown.

What is a Lost Ark Hone Calculator?

A Lost Ark hone calculator is a tool used by players of the MMORPG Lost Ark to estimate the resources and costs associated with upgrading (honing) their gear. Honing in Lost Ark involves attempting to increase the level of weapons and armor, which is not always successful and consumes various materials and currency. This calculator helps predict the average number of attempts, the total cost in gold and materials, and the probability of success within a certain number of tries, including the “pity” threshold (Artisan’s Energy) where success becomes guaranteed.

Anyone playing Lost Ark who wants to manage their resources efficiently and understand the potential costs of gear progression should use a Lost Ark hone calculator. It’s particularly useful when planning for major gear upgrades, especially in Tiers 2 and 3, where costs escalate significantly. Common misconceptions are that the calculator gives exact numbers (it gives averages and probabilities) or that it can influence the game’s RNG (it cannot; it only models the probabilities).

Lost Ark Hone Calculator Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The Lost Ark hone calculator works by simulating the honing process based on the probabilities and costs involved for each attempt until success is achieved or pity (100% Artisan’s Energy) is reached.

For each attempt `k` (starting from k=0), the success rate `p_k` is calculated as:

p_k = min(Max Rate, Base Rate + Additional Rate + k * Increase Rate)

The Artisan’s Energy gained per fail `g` contributes to a pity system. The number of fails `N` required to reach 100% Artisan’s Energy from a starting point `A_0` is `ceil((100 – A_0) / g)`. The pity attempt is then `N+1`.

The calculator determines the probability of succeeding at each specific attempt `k+1` (after `k` fails), which is: `P(success at k+1) = (1-p_0) * (1-p_1) * … * (1-p_{k-1}) * p_k`.

The expected (average) number of attempts is the sum of `(k+1) * P(success at k+1)` over all possible attempts up to and including the pity attempt.

Variables Used:

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Base Rate	Initial success probability	%	1% – 100%
Increase Rate	Added success rate per fail	%	0.1% – 10%
Additional Rate	Rate from Solars, etc.	%	0% – 10%
Current Artisan	Starting Artisan’s Energy	%	0% – 99.99%
Artisan Gain	Energy per fail	%	~0.45% – ~50%
Cost per Tap	Gold & material value per try	Gold	1 – 10000+

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: T3 Gear from +14 to +15 (1370 Gear)

Let’s say you are honing a 1370 item from +14 to +15.

• Base Success Rate: 10%
• Rate Increase per Fail: 1%
• Additional Rate from Materials: 5% (using some solars)
• Current Artisan’s Energy: 20%
• Artisan Energy Gain per Fail: 4.65% (base/2) + solar bonus
• Cost per Attempt: 250 Gold (including materials)

Using the Lost Ark hone calculator with these values, you’d find an expected cost and number of attempts, plus the cost to pity if you’re unlucky.

Example 2: T3 Gear from +8 to +9 (1302 Gear)

• Base Success Rate: 30%
• Rate Increase per Fail: 3%
• Additional Rate from Materials: 0%
• Current Artisan’s Energy: 0%
• Artisan Energy Gain per Fail: 15% (base/2)
• Cost per Attempt: 50 Gold

The Lost Ark hone calculator would show a lower expected cost and fewer attempts compared to Example 1 due to the higher base success rate.

How to Use This Lost Ark Hone Calculator

1. Enter Base Success Rate (%): Input the starting success rate for the honing level you are attempting (e.g., 10 for 10%). You can find these rates in-game or on Lost Ark databases.
2. Enter Rate Increase per Fail (%): Input how much the success rate increases after each failure (e.g., 1 for 1%).
3. Enter Additional Rate from Materials (%): If using Solar Grace, Blessing, or Protection, enter the total percentage they add (0-10).
4. Enter Current Artisan’s Energy (%): Input your current Artisan’s Energy for that gear piece (0-100).
5. Enter Artisan Energy Gain per Fail (%): Input the percentage of Artisan’s Energy gained per fail, including bonuses from Solars. This is typically (Base Rate / 2) + Solar bonus.
6. Enter Cost per Attempt (Gold): Estimate the total cost of one honing attempt, converting materials like Shards, Leapstones, and Fusion Materials into their gold value, plus the raw gold cost.
7. Click Calculate: The calculator will show the expected attempts, expected cost, pity attempts, pity cost, and success probability within 5 attempts.
8. Review Results: The primary result is the expected average cost. Intermediate results give more detail, and the chart and table show the probability distribution.

Use the results from the Lost Ark hone calculator to decide if you have enough materials and gold to attempt the hone, or if you should save more to potentially reach pity.

Key Factors That Affect Lost Ark Hone Calculator Results

• Base Success Rate: The most significant factor. Higher base rates dramatically reduce average costs. This rate is fixed for each honing level and gear type.
• Rate Increase per Fail: A higher increase rate means you reach higher success chances faster after failures, reducing the average number of attempts before max rate is hit (if applicable before pity).
• Additional Materials (Solars): Using Solar Grace, Blessing, and Protection increases the success rate and artisan energy gain per fail, reducing expected attempts and cost, but these materials have their own cost. Our Lost Ark hone calculator uses the % bonus.
• Starting Artisan’s Energy: If you already have some Artisan’s Energy, you are closer to pity, reducing the maximum possible cost and attempts.
• Artisan Energy Gain per Fail: The faster you gain Artisan’s Energy, the sooner you reach pity, capping the maximum cost.
• Cost per Attempt: This directly scales the total expected gold cost. Fluctuations in material prices on the market will affect this.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is “pity” in Lost Ark honing?

Pity refers to the Artisan’s Energy system. Each fail builds up Artisan’s Energy, and when it reaches 100%, the next honing attempt is guaranteed to succeed. Our Lost Ark hone calculator shows pity attempts and cost.

Is the expected cost guaranteed?

No, the expected cost is an average calculated based on probabilities. You could succeed on the first try (much cheaper) or go all the way to pity (more expensive). The Lost Ark hone calculator provides the average outcome.

How do I find the Base Success Rate and other values?

The game shows you the base success rate, increase per fail, and artisan gain when you are at the honing NPC. You can also find tables on Lost Ark community sites like Maxroll or Inven.

Should I use additional materials like Solar Grace?

It depends on the cost of the materials versus the potential savings in attempts. If materials are cheap and the cost per tap is high, it’s often worth using them. The Lost Ark hone calculator can help model this if you adjust the ‘Additional Rate’ and ‘Artisan Gain’.

Does this calculator work for all gear tiers?

Yes, the mathematical principle is the same. You just need to input the correct base rates, increase rates, artisan gain, and costs for the specific gear tier and level you are honing.

What’s the maximum success rate I can reach before pity?

The success rate increases with each fail up to a cap, which is usually double the base rate (or base + 10 * increase, whichever is lower and doesn’t exceed 100 before pity). The calculator implicitly handles this by comparing against 100% at pity.

How does stronghold research affect honing?

Stronghold research can increase base success rates or reduce material/gold costs for certain gear tiers and honing levels. You would input the *new* base rate into the Lost Ark hone calculator if you have the research.

Can I calculate honing for multiple levels at once (+6 to +9)?

This calculator focuses on one level at a time (+N to +N+1). To estimate +6 to +9, you would use the calculator for +6 to +7, then +7 to +8, then +8 to +9, using the respective rates for each stage and summing the expected costs.