itemlevel

Itemlevel, abbreviated ilvl, is a numeric indicator of the power of equipment in many video games, especially role-playing games and massively multiplayer online games. It is used to compare gear, determine eligibility for content, and influence scaling or matchmaking. The exact meaning and calculation vary by game, but ilvl is typically derived from the item’s stats and may be affected by upgrades, sockets, enchantments, or tier bonuses.

In most systems, higher ilvl means stronger overall stats, but the relationship is not always one-to-one. Some games compute ilvl as a fixed value tied to item tier, while others calculate it from primary and secondary stats, sometimes with weights. Item ilvl can refer to individual items or to a character’s equipped set; some games report both item ilvl and average or effective ilvl.

Usage: Content gating often requires a minimum ilvl; loot and reward scaling may reference ilvl to tune difficulty. Upgrading items or adding sockets typically increases ilvl, reinforcing progression.

Criticism and notes: ilvl can be a coarse proxy for gear quality and may not reflect stat distribution or situational usefulness. It can encourage players to chase higher ilvl through upgrades rather than optimizing for specific builds. Related concepts include gear score and power level, which serve similar functions in other games.

This is a concise overview of itemlevel as a general concept across games; specifics depend on the game’s design and balancing decisions.