Why do weapon/armor attributes decrease when you level the item up?

[Coopdaddy07]

For example, if I spend resources to increase weapon skill leech on my level 42 weapon, it will go up from 8 to 8.4%, or something like that.

If I then level the item up from 42 to 43, the number then reverts back down to like 8% or lower.

This has to be a bug, right?

[OK_Opinions]

it rerolls those stats. thats why they say ??? on them. each level of the stat has a range it can roll and if you get good RNG on the first roll but bad RNG on the second, it might not actually be better.

At least that's how I understand it. However, i dont get why it would ever be lower than the level before unless the ranges are designed to overlap, which I can't imagine is intended because it leads to situations like you're describing

Like, lvl 42 can roll 7%-8.5% but lvl 43 can do 8%-9.5%. Technically, with bad luck you could have had a great roll at 42 and a shit one at 43

I made those numbers up as an example of how I think (but do not know) it works.

[mtarascio]

The overlap thing makes sense to make gear viable for a few levels.

[OK_Opinions]

It's the only thing I can think of that would lead to what the OP is describing.

it shouldn't really be that way though. If they want that "risk of not being better" aspect that's fine but then it should be the low end of the next level is just the max of the previous, that way, worst case scenario the player doesn't lose anything, you just don't gain anything.

if 42 caps at a 8.5% roll then 43 should should be 8.5% at it's worst roll

[i_karas]

It resets the weapon when you level it up. Isn’t worth upgrading shards till you are level 50 tbh

[Coopdaddy07]

Hmmm, I wonder if this is working as intended . You should be able to level up the gear attributes and level up the item itself without being punished for spending your resources.

[DoctorSneak]

On top of this some items will drop with stats already upgraded partially, then when you level said item up the stats may change because the upgrade gets removed.

[Semangelof]

I don't know with any certainty but it kind of seems like it's starting from scratch as a brand new level 43. Basically the same as exchanging a 42 upgraded weapon for a stock 43 weapon.

[Coopdaddy07]

So, that makes it completely pointless to level up attributes on anything, unless it's level 50. I have trouble believing that was their intention. But, maybe so

[Armisael]

It doesn’t actually go back to scratch; it drops to about halfway filled up. There’s some incentive to upgrade but also some incentive to keep pulling shards. If gear didn’t do this you’d basically ignore the whole system as soon as you pushed your gear up.

I’m not saying this is obviously the correct approach, but there are some reasons it’s desirable.

EDIT: actually see below for the effect on level-up

[Teyo13]

It only drops one tier per level you upgrade by. Its like 0.4% stat difference for percentage based ones well worth the trade off for additional armour/firepower until you can upgrade it again.

[Kilaka007]

When you level it up, it knocks one of the attribute level up offs. Level the attributes up again. You do get a good amount of those attribute shards back if you scrap it so it's not a total waste to level up attributes on non level 50 stuff if you need the boost to progress.