Lost Ark’s engraving system shapes how strong a character feels in endgame. I write from experience: farming engraving books while leveling gives you a real edge in raids and dungeons. You won’t regret collecting them early; you’ll thank yourself at level cap.
🎯 What Engravings Are (quick)
Engravings are permanent effects you unlock with engraving books. Once you craft an engraving it stays on the character and changes stats or grants special effects. In my experience the basic tiers are Uncommon (green), Rare (blue), Epic (purple) and Legendary (gold). Each crafted engraving requires 20 matching books, and higher tiers demand more effort but hit much harder.
| Tier | Books | Common Sources | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncommon (Green) | 20 | Quests, Normal Dungeons | Low–Medium |
| Rare (Blue) | 20 | Chaos Gates, Events | Medium–High |
| Epic (Purple) | 20 | Raids, Guardian Drops | High |
| Legendary (Gold) | 20 | Endgame/Top Raids | Very High |
đź“š Best Early Sources
Main story and side quests are a steady stream of engraving selection chests. Don’t skip blue-marked side quests—they often hand out books people miss. Island quests, especially Adventure Islands on rotation, are surprisingly generous (check the rotation when you log in).
Events matter. During special events the game hands out selection pouches and engraving tokens. Plan around them—prices on the auction house usually dip then. (I’ve noticed big supply spikes in April and December events historically.)
⚔️ Combat: Where You’ll Farm Most
Dungeons drop Uncommon and Rare books reliably. Chaos Gates are time-limited and often give multiple books if your group clears fast. Guardian Raids are tougher but worth the effort for Epic drops—start small and work up as your team improves.
Seriously: check your server’s Chaos Gate schedule and set reminders. Missed gates are lost opportunity.
Top combat picks
- Chaos Gates — best short-term gains
- Guardian Raids — high-quality drops if you can handle mechanics
- Abyssal Dungeons — weekly, guaranteed
- Normal Dungeons — endless runs for steady progress
🏆 Quests and Account Benefits
The main story hands out selection chests at major arc breaks. Some quests give roster-wide (account) engraving books — prioritize those on your main. Side quest chains that force dungeon clears tend to reward more than simple kill/fetch tasks.
| Quest | Reward | Repeat |
|---|---|---|
| Main Story | Selection Chests | Per character |
| Continent Side Chains | Good books | Per character |
| Roster Quests | Account-wide books | Once per account |
đź’Ž Auction House & Trading
Market prices swing with server population and events. I’ve bought rare class books cheaper during events; you should too. But beware: auction house flipping can feel like pay-to-win to some players — controversial, I know. Also, some sellers list books at absurd markups; don’t be naive.
Guild trading and pooled book systems save gold. Many guilds share duplicates. Join one that helps with engraving circulation.
🔄 Daily Habits That Actually Work
Start each session by checking timed activities. Then hit Una’s Tasks, dailies that reward tokens convertible into engraving pouches, and guild tasks. Consistency beats binging.
// Simple daily checklist (copyable)
- Check Chaos Gate times
- Do Una's Tasks
- Run best daily dungeon
- Finish guild dailies
- Check AH for bargains
To be fair, this routine doesn’t always work the same for everyone; depends on your niche and playtime. There are exceptions if you play during off-hours or solo a lot.
Practical Tips (short)
- Prioritize class-specific engravings first — they amplify your core playstyle.
- Buy only rare, hard-to-farm books; farm the commons yourself.
- Use guild shops and points when possible.
“Craft what matters to your build. Power is better focused than scattered.”
Watch this: if you hoard every book, you’ll run out of bag space and gold. Sell duplicates or trade them—don’t be sentimental.
One or Two Debates
Some players swear auction-house-only strategies crush the grind. Others say community sharing keeps the game fair. Which side is right? I’ll argue that balanced play—farm what you can, buy what’s rare—wins more often.
Why this approach works
Because crafting engravings early reduces the difficulty curve later. You hit key power thresholds sooner and spend less time stuck on content that’s tuned for higher power. Also, you gain flexibility: if you test a new build you’ll already have a few high-value engravings banked (useful if you reroll).
Extras — Dates & Facts
As of March 1, 2025 the engraving tiers and book-sourcing approach remain the same: selection chests from quests, drops from dungeons and gates, and vendor/trade options. Patch notes since 2024 adjusted drop rates slightly but didn’t change the core crafting requirement of 20 books per engraving.
Analogy time: think of engravings like spices in cooking — a little of the right one transforms the whole dish.
Surprising insight: sometimes a single Rare engraving gives more immediate benefit than chasing an Epic that you won’t use for weeks. Choose impact over rarity.
One last stumble—hey, I almost forgot: talk to your guild leader. They often know when events give the best supply boosts.
Good luck—message me if you want a short plan for your class (I’ll tailor it to what you play).
