The right milestones: how far to upgrade and when to stop

Maximum level is an outcome. It is not automatically your best next goal. The right milestone gives you a benefit worth the remaining cost.

You do not need a formula to find it. Just compare what the next upgrade actually changes.

Three changes to look for

A new benefit appears. Valora's hammer skill becomes available at Affinity 30: that is not merely a small percentage increase, but a new recurring reward.

A number rises. Pan gains an extra shop refresh at certain levels. Roman gains more discounted items. These levels change what you can do.

The same benefit costs more. One more Valora hammer is still one more hammer, but later upgrades require more Manuscripts. It may remain worthwhile; compare it with the alternatives.

A concrete example: two extra shop refreshes with Pan

Pan's skill 4 provides bonus badges and shop refreshes. At level 4, it gives 50 badges and 2 extra refreshes.

Reaching that level from level 1 costs 600 Manuscripts. You must also unlock the skill at Affinity 40 and complete the necessary learning.

This is an easy target to understand: you know what you want and its Manuscript cost. Once you reach level 4, compare your options before continuing. The next level adds badges, but not yet a third refresh.

That does not make the next level useless. It simply gives you a good point at which to reassess.

The surprising prerequisite: other skills

To upgrade that same Pan skill to level 5, the table requires 15 Skill Power.

You cannot buy your way past that threshold directly. It depends on levels reached across the same Master's four skills. Some upgrades to those other skills require higher Affinity in turn.

In practice: under the model supported by current tables, this upgrade becomes possible from Affinity 60, with enough investment in the other skills. Simply owning the Manuscripts listed for your target skill is not enough.

You do not need to calculate the whole path while playing. The cost reference sheet separates the displayed requirement from the indirect minimum Affinity when it is known.

The most useful milestones

Where Expertise is concerned, these milestones assume that the relationship advancement has been completed. Skills still require learning, Manuscripts and any other conditions.

How to compare two goals

Consider how far you have left to go. A great bonus in the distant future should not hide a good upgrade that is almost ready.

Consider how often you use it. A reward per hunt matters only for hunts you join. An extra mission must be completed. A shop discount has to apply to a useful purchase.

Consider the resource you commit. A Master specific Emblem is less flexible than a gift or a Manuscript. You are not always choosing between two uses for the same item.

Consider the next event. Waiting may make spending more valuable, but delaying a daily reward has a cost too.

What to do after each milestone

Return to the overview. Your goal has changed: you now have the bonus you wanted.

Compare the next level on the same Master with at least one other option. Starting a sequence of levels does not oblige you to finish it.

Next: Should you upgrade now or during an event?