main story chapter done :-)

[sirDarts]

Hey, I am in a similar position as you OP. Currently just got my Zenith weapon, and tbh I am thinking about just ignoring the transition higher for now... :/ The Atma quests are incredibly RNG, I have been doing FATES for half a day yesterday, and not a single Atma dropped, I really don't like those odds.

So question to more skilled players: Do I lose a lot by just going for the normal weapons of the same iLvl compared to the Atma/Zodiac weapons?

[Woggers]

So question to more skilled players: Do I lose a lot by just going for the normal weapons of the same iLvl compared to the Atma/Zodiac weapons?

Right now if you can stand the grind, go ahead and work on your relic. If you meld your weapon with optimal stats it will be BiS once you get the Zeta(Zetas are even better than DW weapons if melded correctly!). If you don't have the time to complete it before expansion I would recommend just going for the tome weapons.

[AkashiXI]

Hey, I am in a similar position as you OP. Currently just got my Zenith weapon, and tbh I am thinking about just ignoring the transition higher for now... :/ The Atma quests are incredibly RNG, I have been doing FATES for half a day yesterday, and not a single Atma dropped, I really don't like those odds.

So question to more skilled players: Do I lose a lot by just going for the normal weapons of the same iLvl compared to the Atma/Zodiac weapons?

You do not. You can earn yourself 1,300 soldiery and run Syrcus Tower for both the tomestone (necessary) and a Sands of Time (not necessary, but it'll increase the weapon damage) to get yourself a ilv100~110 weapon. Alternatively you can also do the same with poetics and World of Darkness to get a ilv120~130 weapon. I personally would not upgrade your relic this late into the game, as catching up to 2.55 and finishing all current content will be more than enough to hold you over until 3.0, where we'll see a new relic quest line.