They do get weaker? I upgraded to lv. 10 5 star. I never did test weapons, but if the community says so then yea...dam. bars are not really reliable?

I've been told to not get my 5* equips until i have enough radiants to get it to level 7. I've been told this or level 5, by multiple people. Because the 5* variants don't get stronger than the 4* lvl 10 weapons in terms of damage until lvl 5/7. i don't know the integrity of this data,as I've never tested it personally, but I've been told this by endgame players in my guild, and see it said here on the forums a few times.

This is why i have like 6-7 level 10 4* guns and a spike shower just sitting around, being 4* level 10.

And i don't want to use radiants because the gunner update is upon us and i only have enough rads to heat 1 5* weapon to about level 5.
So, yeah.

Because during the crafting process we screw something up and have to fix it with a sheer amount of incredibly expensive and luxurious fire crystals.

actually all armor and wep get more better when reach 5 star (not in damage way)

example : brandish 4star have small explosion hitbox on charge, but when upgrade it to 5star... now the charge have bigger hitbox 2 times than 4star + more higher chance to inflict status (except acheron), i prefer 5star brandish even have lower damage than 4star lvl10 heat.. because bigger explosion charge more better on wipe out or control enemy.

and it seem all weapon get more better in different ways~ some on charge, some on status inflict, some get more bigger hitbox and some have more bounce ball (alchemer 5 star). this same goes for armor but on more status resistance, new status resistance, passive bonus, and some get new defense or difference defense.

LV.10 4* items will out DPS a 5* item before they can heat it all the way.

nup, it depend on user who use it~
there still lot of thing to be considered such as weapon advantage, appearance, and party mate.
let start from... (make sure you prepare your food or drink before reading this post)

- Weapon advantage
not all 5star weapon is worthless till certain level.. even with damage more weaker than it current version (if not reach lvl 7 heat) most of 5star have advantage in different ways to out DPS lvl10 4star or make it worth to get, 1. brandish.. we all know what make brandish op in pve~ yes it is explosive charge! this charge not only have large area attack, it have well organized knocback effect unlike avenger line which sometime or lot of time not make enemy following charge wave~ this is what make this weapon a worthy upgrade for 5star upgrade (there still some but this is enough.. because im going to make long essay). 2. sealed sword, i dont really know about this weapon because i rarely use it since nerf in old day (when all people have DA as main weapon in firestorm citadel) but it charge attack is what make it more good (for those who like to use it charge) but some say 5star have more bigger hitbox? (i dont really know~ need someone to confirm this). 3. pulsar, no need to discuss this weapon~ we all know 5star version have more large area attack and more chance to inflict status (for polaris). big hitbox, big chance to hit enemy or trap enemy in corner or wall. 4. antigua, the charge for it 5star version not really make me impressive or not good enough to handle enemy and not easy to use.. but can be good for those who know how to manage it~ not only about charge here.. but it hitbox seem more bigger and more range (if you compare it with blackhawk) but the important is! from bonus low become bonus medium!! (lulz except obsidian) well~ this can help balance the damage or make you dont need higher level to beat lvl10 4star damage. 5. blaster, the first and forever gun i use as side weapon to break block or hit switch. the damage different is not really big with lvl10 4star, but have more larger bullet and knockback! make you more easy to hit enemy, block, or even hit switch. and most of all! make you can stand shot without getting attack! (not apply to all enemy, but you can shot like a boss!). 6. alchemer, this gun is luck based -,- because damage depend on how many bounce it can on enemy hitbox or enemy mate. what make 5star of this gunline can outdps or more op is it ball bug and status inflict~ sometime your bullet can bounce 2 or 3 times in enemy hitbox! (one enemy) alchemer charge are very powerfull and can instanly kill trojan if all bullet bounce in enemy hitbox. 7. autogun, not really much to tell~ usually just more hitbox and more chance for status inflict on pepperbox and plague needle, but for some unknown reason i feel shooter more faster with 5star version? dunno if speed table lie to me or i have bad connection. 8. mist bomb, this dont really need to compare with it lvl10 4star other than ctr med effect it have... this bomb have more wider area and more status inflict~ yea just that.. nothing more --a too short. 9. blast bomb, same like upper -_-' only more blast radius. 10. shard bomb, more area attack and status inflict. 11. dark retribution, no 4star version.. so this bomb get disqualified from this thread! begone!!! 12. actually there still more in sword line but im too tired to write this all ..,-]

- Weapon appearance
this seem to be not really important~ but.. there something which almost all people dont know or realize it, yesss 5star weapon appearance can make you have more ego, guts and more energic to walk in mission and still more (in party mate section). this weapon appearance have more important role than weapon advantage for some reason.. this same for accesory and costume too, can make someone become different person and can affect whole gameplay of it user.

- Party mate
5star weapon can fit you well in party with friend or other people for lot of reason...
1. can make your friend or someone trust you (people always thinking something about ????? eh you know what i mean)
2. can make someone like to party with you (some dont like under rated people and some prefer kick over see their gameplay)
3. can make someone jealous at you (if they dont have it)
4. and many more.. too much to tell >.<

let see... advantage + appearance effect + party help = combo! outdps lvl10 4star (not apply to all people but mostly like this)
maybe some word above are out of topic but those 3 aspect really can make or affect your gameplay.
and pardon me if something wrong~

it outclasses 4star with 3 aspect i post above... (depend on user)
if you try to do time calculation in battle, the difference is not really that big and some 5star can clear arena more faster than lvl10 4star (brandish 5star charge spammer clear enemy easily with it big explosive charge). but yes it have more lower dmg than lvl10 4star, but why do we call it outdamage if 5star version can clear arena more faster than 4star lvl10 with high damage?

and yea new heat system kinda suck.. but i disagree with what paintool say~
i do have 8 unheated weapon with better uv (stuck at lvl 5 - 7), but that my own fault to make it not OOO force me to kept searching or grinding~ and heating one weapon should not take over one day (except people are too lazy like me).
but see a good point from this heat system.. they actually make it work now (can make endgame more longer unlike old heat and old radiant rate) and it seem i never see any complainer about 5star damage more lower or not have ctr bonus till lvl10 in game.
and i realize complain not going to get me anywhere.. so i just kept grinding for this radiant now or never!

Level 1-2 != Level 9-10.

To my understanding, the increase in power is about the same as the increase in cost.