Methodology

What The Rankings Represent

Apex-High Gear ranks artifacts and accessories based on how useful, effective, and important they are across Raid: Shadow Legends as a whole.

Some sets are excellent in specific areas of the game, while others are valuable because they work across many champions, builds, and account stages. When a set has a specific standout use, that is called out in its review. The overall score is based on total value across the game, not only the best-case scenario.

How Scores Are Calculated

Scores are based on practical gameplay value, flexibility, meta relevance, and comparison against similar options. A set that works across several champion roles, supports common stat priorities, appears in strong real builds, or meaningfully improves on a simpler alternative will usually score higher.

The most important factors are flexibility across builds, impact on common strategies, real in-game use, upgrade value compared with base or easier-to-obtain options, build synergy, and opportunity cost.

External rankings and creator commentary are considered as part of the review process, especially when there is broad agreement across the Raid community. These references help validate or challenge a score, but they do not determine the rating by themselves.

Rating System

This dashboard intentionally does not use a traditional S-D tier list. Those labels can be useful, but they are often too broad. Instead, each item receives a descriptive rating, a star value, and a numeric score.

What The Ratings Mean

Superior items are among the best options in the game. They are highly impactful, widely useful, or powerful enough in key areas that they define how certain builds or strategies are approached.

Exceptional items are very strong and worth paying attention to. They may not be universally dominant, but they provide clear value and often belong in serious builds.

Average items are useful, viable, or situationally strong. They may be worth keeping, especially with good stats, but they are usually not account-defining.

Moderate items have narrower use cases. They can be correct in specific content, specific builds, or earlier account stages, but they are easier to replace.

Basic items are generally low priority. They may still have occasional uses, but most players should be selective about keeping or investing in them.

Limitations

No ranking system can perfectly account for every account, champion roster, build requirement, or stage of progression.

A lower-rated item may still be the right choice for a specific champion, stat requirement, faction, dungeon, boss, or account stage. Likewise, a highly rated item may not be worth keeping if the individual piece has poor stats.

The rankings are meant to be a strong starting point, not a replacement for build judgment. Player goals, available champions, stat thresholds, blessings, awakenings, and current progression can all change the value of a specific item.

Some rankings may shift as new champions, balance changes, gear sets, blessings, or strategies enter the game.

Review Cadence

Rankings and scores are reviewed regularly and updated as the game changes.

Major updates may happen after new patches, balance changes, new gear releases, major meta shifts, or meaningful changes in how players are using certain sets. Scores may also be adjusted over time based on hands-on experience, continued testing, and stronger evidence from the community.

Each item includes a Last Updated date where available, so users can understand how recently that item was reviewed.