Either you didn't read or you didn't understand. Doesn't matter as this point has been made a billion times: [quote]For those of you saying "It has always been like this", it hasn't. I've been here since week one (Sign of Founders on my Hunter) and I'll tell you why. Before you got shards and / or energies. You could use those to upgrade your initial gear and make it more powerful. You got something out of it if you remembered correctly. Now, since you don't need ascendant materials to upgrade anymore, the equivalent could be seen as weapons or gear. You use high light stuff and upgrade your initial gear and make it more powerful. [/quote]