What are the Tide, Sand, and Solar Dream Instruments used for in Lost Ark?

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Not long into a playthrough of Lost Ark, players will gain class-dependent instruments, learn songs that harness magic powers, and eventually become traveling bards at the behest of the many rapport subjects throughout Arkesia.

With the music system and rapport system as closely related as they are, it is beneficial that players are soon offered one of three instrument skins that each benefit their rapport relationships.

At surface level, the greatest difference between Sand, Solar, and Tide instruments are the cosmetic appearances and colors they bear.

Upon equipping any of these skins, however, players will notice that they each apply passive buffs to one of three Virtues.

Related: Guide to Cards in Lost Ark – Card Books, Decks, Upgrading and more

Included under the “Skins and Virtues” tab of the player’s character profile window are four Virtue Statistics — Wisdom, Kindness, Charisma, and Courage.

In standard dungeon-crawling gameplay, these four virtues apply no changes to combat performance. For the purpose of progressing quests, Virtues do not change plot events or outcomes, though they can occasionally offer alternative dialogue options with NPCs.

Where Virtues do matter, however, is continuing rapport with a particular NPC. Many rapport partners will refuse to continue their specific rapport quests with the player until significant Virtue levels are met.

For example, Thirain’s rapport quest, The Bachelor, requires that the player have 140 in all four Virtues to start. However, he will allow the player to continue to