dequipping

Dequipping is the act of removing an item that is currently equipped by a character, unit, or avatar, reversing its active effects. It is common in role-playing games, action games, and strategy games that use inventory and equipment systems. Dequipping allows players to swap gear, free a slot, or adjust loadouts for different situations.

In most games this is done in the character or inventory screen: select the equipped item, choose unequip, drag it out of the slot, or press a hotkey. Some games auto-unequip when a new item is equipped; others require a separate confirmation or place the item back in the general inventory.

Effects and constraints: Unequipping removes the item’s bonuses, abilities, and any stat changes. Appearance may change, and set bonuses may be lost. Some items are bound to a character (soulbound) or cannot be removed during combat, movement, or in certain zones, restricting when dequipping is possible. If no replacement is available, the character may be left without a weapon or armor.

Variants and contexts: Dequipping is closely related to unequipping, detaching, and swapping gear. Players often manage loadouts to optimize role, class, or group balance. In online games, dequipping can affect stats or set bonuses and may incur cooldowns or penalties if done under certain conditions.

Design considerations: Interfaces should give clear feedback when dequipping, including tooltips and slot highlights, and may offer undo prompts to avoid accidental removal. Some games support bulk dequipping or automated gear management to simplify inventory handling.