Why did my Rare armor become Common after Purification?
Purification unlocks the item itself at Common quality, not the rarity of the copy you found. A Rare pickup becoming a Common permanent unlock follows the developer's stated rule; that change alone is not evidence of lost progress.
Found copy versus permanent unlock
| What you are comparing | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A Rare item found during a hunt | The quality of that discovered copy |
| The same item after Purification | A permanent unlock starting at Common |
| Gajov's upgrade | A higher permanent minimum quality; see the Blacksmith guide |
Check the comparison before reporting a missing upgrade
- Write down the exact item name and whether you are looking at a found copy or the Collection entry.
- Record the found rarity and the permanent minimum separately.
- If the item itself is missing rather than merely Common, capture the Collection screen, platform and installed version for support. Do not assume an apparent rarity change proves a save failure.
These are editorial diagnostic checks, not guaranteed recovery steps. They do not establish that all save problems are fixed.
What this guide does not rank
No verified armor tier list, per-piece defense table or best set is claimed here. Use the displayed item effects for a specific build; use Boon guidance for temporary effects and the build overview for the wider system.
Official rule source: Team Metal, Helpful Resources: Runs, Loadouts & Gear, September 2. Source checked October 13, 2026; not an independent current-client test.
Quick answers
- Does Purification keep the rarity I found?
- No. The developer says Purification unlocks the item at Common quality. Gajov upgrades its permanent minimum quality separately.
Verification note
Official sources define intended behavior. Community timing and bug reports are labelled separately and can change after patches.