The Grade system in Cursed Gear is the backbone of your entire character progression. From your first automatic promotion at Level 25 all the way to the elite The Strongest title, every rank you earn unlocks better stat scaling and more room for powerful cybernetic builds. Whether you're just hitting your first exam or grinding toward the top of the Heian Rating leaderboard, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.
What Are Grades in Cursed Gear?
Grades function as your combat ranking in Cursed Gear, reflecting both your level investment and your performance in competitive PvP. Each promotion delivers two direct benefits: an Attribute Bonus that scales your core stats, and an increase to your Cybernetic Load, which determines how many cybernetic upgrades your character can equip at once.
Higher Cybernetic Load means more advanced build options, so climbing grades isn't just a prestige thing. It directly expands what your character can do in a fight. Grades are also tied to the Heian Rating (HR) system, which acts as the game's PvP ranking ladder. You earn HR by defeating other players and lose HR when you're beaten, making consistent PvP performance essential for reaching the top tiers.
Cursed Gear grade rank overview
All Grade Ranks and Their Bonuses
Here's a full breakdown of every grade rank, the attribute bonus it provides, and the Cybernetic Load capacity it unlocks:
The jump from Grade 4 to The Strongest represents a 40-percentage-point increase in attribute scaling and 80 additional points of Cybernetic Load. That difference is enormous in practice, especially when you're trying to equip high-tier cybernetic modifications that require significant load capacity.
info
Focus on reaching Grade 2 as a priority milestone. The 20% attribute bonus and 140 Cybernetic Load at that stage open up noticeably stronger build combinations compared to the early grades.
How Do You Increase Your Grade in Cursed Gear?
Progression works in two distinct phases. During the first phase, you simply level up. Once you hit Level 25, the game automatically grants you Grade 4 without any additional requirements. That's your entry point into the grade system.
After Grade 4, the path forward runs through Grade Exams, which are competitive PvP events held every 30 minutes. Eight players are matched together and compete in a tournament-style bracket of one-on-one battles. Only the final two players standing in the bracket earn a promotion to the next grade. Everyone else goes home empty-handed.
Exams are sorted into level brackets that increase in intervals of 50 levels, so you'll always be competing against players in a similar level range. That said, preparation still matters a lot.
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Repeated exam failures can result in demotion from your current grade, not just a delay. Don't enter an exam underprepared, especially at higher ranks where competition is fiercer.
Cooldown timers also apply after each attempt. Winning an exam triggers a one-hour cooldown before your next attempt, while losing only applies a 15-minute cooldown. This means consistent players can attempt multiple exams per session even after losses.
All Grade Exam Requirements
Here's every promotion requirement laid out clearly, based on available information from the game's current release state:
Notice that Special Grade adds a new condition beyond just passing an exam. You need to be in the Top 10 of the Heian Rating leaderboard at the time of promotion. And The Strongest title is reserved exclusively for the Rank #1 player on the HR ladder. Only one player can hold that distinction at any given time, making it the most competitive achievement in the game.
danger
The Strongest isn't just a grade you earn once and keep permanently. Since it's tied to Rank #1 on the Heian Rating ladder, another player overtaking your position could affect your standing. Stay active in PvP to protect your rank.
What's the Best Strategy for Passing Grade Exams?
Since exams are tournament-style PvP brackets, raw combat skill is the deciding factor. A few things worth keeping in mind as you prepare:
- Match your cybernetics to your playstyle. Higher Cybernetic Load from previous grade promotions lets you run more specialized builds. Use that capacity before entering an exam.
- Enter exams at the upper end of your level bracket. Being closer to Level 100 when entering the Level 50-100 bracket gives you a meaningful stat edge over players who just hit the minimum.
- Track your Heian Rating actively. For Special Grade and above, HR isn't just a side stat. It's a hard requirement. Prioritize HR-positive matchups in regular PvP outside of exams.
- Use the 15-minute loss cooldown strategically. If you lose, take the short window to refine your build or practice specific matchups before the next attempt.
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