The quick answer
Check spare gear for an active build, set bonus, Arsenal slot or tuning use before recycling it. Recycle genuinely unwanted equipment from Bag → Gear → Recycling. Review the selection rather than assuming every item outside your equipped slots is disposable.
On this page
Give each retained item a specific job
| Keep it for | Question to answer |
|---|---|
| An active or saved build | Will I equip this for a different role or activity? |
| A set bonus | Does removing it break the set I actually use? |
| Arsenal | Does it improve an eligible slot in the relevant tier? |
| Tuning or another gear process | Does its icon or preview show a useful material contribution? |
| An unusual item | Does the description identify an antique or another special use? |
If none applies, the item is a recycling candidate. This is a decision check, not an instruction to keep every purple or gold drop forever. A low-value duplicate should not occupy space merely because its colour looks important.
Open the recycling screen and review the selection
Open Bag, switch to Gear and choose Recycling. Start with a small manual selection so you can compare the listed items and output. The basic recycling use is turning unwanted equipment into Coins; do not assume it restores every earlier investment or recreates the item later.
Before confirming a batch, read its slot, tier and quality filters. A rule aimed at one obsolete weapon type can unintentionally include armour if you use a broader selection. Where the interface offers item locking, lock anything you have deliberately reserved.
Saved builds need a separate check
The May update added a second confirmation when recycling equipment saved in a Development Plan. Treat that message as a reason to inspect the plan. It is easy to forget the healing or PvP setup you made several sessions ago.
Load or inspect the alternative plan, decide whether it still matters, then replace the item deliberately if necessary. “Not currently equipped” is weaker evidence than “no longer used by any setup I want to keep.” A confirmation is not a recommendation that the item is safe to destroy.
Compare Arsenal value before clearing a tier
Arsenal uses eligible equipment in tier-specific sheets to contribute passive development. Check its slots and contribution preview before emptying an old tier from your bag. Your best spare item for Arsenal may not be the piece you would wear in the open world.
Do not spend a large amount improving obsolete gear merely because it can add a small Arsenal contribution. Compare that cost with the next improvement to your active equipment. The practical order is to use useful spares first, then consider deliberate investment only when the benefit is clear.
Set conservative auto-recycle rules
Auto-Recycle Gear supports filters including Gear Slot, Tier, Rarity, Initial Attribute Type and Initial Attribute Quality. Narrow those rules to categories you have already reviewed. Test the result on a small amount of new loot before enabling a broad policy.
For example, a rule for low-rarity drops in an obsolete tier is easier to reason about than “everything below my current Mastery.” Mastery alone does not tell you whether an item completes a set or supplies a desired tuning attribute. Revisit the rules when a new gear tier opens.
What to read next
Common questions
Should I recycle every weaker item?
No. Check saved builds, set bonuses, Arsenal and material uses first. Recycle pieces that no longer have a defined purpose.
Will recycling an item undo slot enhancement?
Slot enhancement is a separate development layer from the individual item. Still inspect the recycling output; this is not a guarantee that item-specific spending is fully refunded.
Sources & verification
Source research is separate from in-game testing. Recommendations are identified as editorial advice.
- Official update: 527update
Auto-Recycle filters and saved Development Plan confirmation; no old missing-confirmation claim retained.