Precursor weapon
"Precursor" redirects here. For legendary armor precursors, see Precursor armor. Precursor weapons
- Type
- Crafted weapons
- Rarity
- Exotic
Ascended - Req. level
- 80
Precursor weapons are level 80 Exotic weapons or Ascended weapons used to craft Legendary weapons at the Mystic Forge. Exotic precursor weapons are not bound, and can be obtained by the same methods that any named equipment can be found, although at a much lower drop rate. They can also be crafted.
Acquisition[edit]
Acquisition methods vary depending on the precursor weapon's generation. Refer to the "Generation" column in the table below.
Generation 1[edit]
Drops[edit]
First generation precursor weapons can be obtained from almost any item source. This includes loot, chests, containers, reward chests, etc. that can be characterized by the possibility of receiving a weapon. The possibility of receiving a precursor weapon is not dependent on level or area, as players have reported receiving precursors on low-level characters in low-level areas as well as high-level characters in high-level areas. To note, only high level players (62 - 80) can receive unnamed exotic quality weapons and may be more likely to receive precursor weapons from loot as loot often scales with level.
A precursor can also drop from any chest or container that drops weapons. Chests include jumping puzzle chests, dungeon chests, boss chests, and so on. Bonus Chests from world boss events have a greater chance to drop exotic or precursor weapons than other sources, being introduced in the 26 February 2013 update.
Mystic Forge[edit]
The Mystic Forge is a primary source for first generation precursor weapons, due to the recipe that allows players to mix 4 pieces of same-rarity equipment for a chance at rarer and better equipment. Players have a chance to receive a precursor weapon when combining four rare or exotic weapons with an average level of 75 or higher. Using four weapons of the same weapon type guarantees receiving a weapon with that weapon type. For example, players can combine one level 60 rare weapon and three level 80 weapons. Player research into the chance of receiving a precursor when combining four exotic weapons of the same type estimates the probability at 0.79% with 2901 trials.[citation needed]
Crafting[edit]
First generation precursor weapons can also be crafted through collection-based precursor scavenger hunt. The crafting of each precursor requires completion of three separate collections, and crafting three tiers of weapons. The first tier of each precursor's collection can be found in the Legendary Weapons section of the Collections menu found in the Achievements tab of the Hero panel, though they need to first be unlocked by purchasing the corresponding collection unlock from Grandmaster Craftsman Hobbs. To do so players must have first achieved Revered Antiquarian, the first rank in the Legendary Crafting Mastery track.
The complete crafting process for first generation legendary precursors can be summarized as such:
- Obtain Revered Antiquarian, the first rank in the Legendary Crafting mastery track.
- Unlock the desired precursor collection by purchasing the unlock from Grandmaster Craftsman Hobbs.
- Complete the scavenger hunt collection.
- Craft the first tier item.
- Complete the scavenger hunt collection.
- Unlock the desired precursor collection by purchasing the unlock from Grandmaster Craftsman Hobbs.
- Obtain Magister of Legends, the second rank in the Legendary Crafting mastery track.
- Unlock the second tier collection by purchasing the unlock from Grandmaster Craftsman Hobbs.
- Complete the second tier scavenger hunt collection.
- Craft the second tier item.
- Complete the second tier scavenger hunt collection.
- Unlock the second tier collection by purchasing the unlock from Grandmaster Craftsman Hobbs.
- Obtain Historian of the Armaments, the third rank in the Legendary Crafting mastery track.
- Unlock the third tier collection by purchasing the unlock from Grandmaster Craftsman Hobbs.
- Complete the third tier scavenger hunt collection.
- Craft the finished precursor.
- Complete the third tier scavenger hunt collection.
- Unlock the third tier collection by purchasing the unlock from Grandmaster Craftsman Hobbs.
It is possible to craft each first generation precursor weapon this way only once per account.
Trading[edit]
First generation precursors weapons are non account-bound exotic items. As such, they can be sold and bought on the Trading post and with other players.
Generation 2[edit]
Crafting[edit]
Second generation legendary precursor weapons are account bound and thus cannot be traded. Precursor weapons for Hope, Astralaria, Nevermore and Chuka and Champawat are crafted in a similar fashion to first generation precursors, through the completion of three collections and three tiers of weapons. Note that a fourth collection is also required to obtain the gift used to craft the final legendary weapon. This final collection requires an additional fourth rank in the Legendary Crafting mastery track: Scholar of Secrets.
Due to the difficulty in creating scavenger hunts, all second generation precursors following Chuka and Champawat were thematically linked to Living World Season 3, Path of Fire or Living World Season 4 maps and crafted with map-related currencies instead. They do not require any collection nor mastery unlock either.
All second generation legendary precursors can be crafted more than once. Additional crafting components normally acquired through collections can subsequently be bought from Grandmaster Craftsman Hobbs.
Generation 3[edit]
Drops[edit]
Third generation precursor weapons can be obtained as a super rare drop from End of Dragons Strike Missions coffers.
Achievements[edit]
Reaching the second reward tier of the Seasons of the Dragons achievement awards a Fragment of Prismatic Light which unlocks a one-time purchase of a 
Prismatic Precursor Selection Box from Leivas.
Crafting[edit]
Third generation precursor weapons can be crafted directly after purchasing and unlocking the corresponding recipe from Leivas. No specific collection or mastery unlock is required.
All third generation legendary precursors can be crafted more than once.
Trading[edit]
Third generation precursors weapons are non account-bound exotic items. As such, they can be sold and bought on the Trading post and with other players.
List of precursor weapons[edit]
Weapons[edit]
Gallery[edit]
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Notes[edit]
- Devs added Holographic weapons versions of the first generation of precursor weapons with the June 25th, 2019 update.
- Unlocking a first-generation legendary precursor skin (by binding it, or using it to craft the legendary weapon) will also unlock the perfected and experimental skins from the respective collections.[1]
- Some precursor collections reward more than just precursor crafting materials:
- Chuka and Champawat IV: A Nontraditional Family — Unlocks access to the Tiger Den, allowing you to play with three tiger cubs and even carry them around on your back outside the instance.
- Kudzu III: Leaf of Kudzu — Adds harvestable nodes to the hidden garden.
- The Juggernaut III: The Colossus — Mystic Chromatic Ooze, a gizmo which provides The Juggernaut's shiny effect without having to equip the weapon.
- The Minstrel III: The Bard — Zephyrites Music Box, a gizmo which plays music.
- Collection-based precursor scavenger hunts for already existing first generation legendaries were added with the release of the Heart of Thorns expansion.
