Solo Leveling Arise Traces of Shadows guide: How to get and use

Traces of Shadows are in-game items that are key to unlocking Army of Shadows in Solo Leveling Arise. Upon clearing Chapter 9 and unlocking Sung Jinwoo’s Job, The Monarch of Shadow, you will get access to the Army of Shadows feature. With the feature unlocked, you can get new Shadows and use them.

Unlocking shadows is essential for progressing in mid and end-game content. They provide buffs, increase your team’s Total Power, and help obliterate the strongest monsters in battles. Therefore, you must farm for traces and unlock all shadows as quickly as possible.

This article provides a complete guide to getting Traces of Shadows in Solo Leveling Arise.

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How to get Traces of Shadows in Solo Leveling Arise?

The best source for traces is Story Mode in Solo Leveling Arise. (Image via Netmarble)

To unlock any shadow in Solo Leveling Arise, you must meet two requirements: Clear a specific chapter, and collect 100 Traces of Shadows. There are four unlockable shadows currently available: Igirs, Blades, Tank, and Iron. They possess unique movesets and Shadow Authority that buffs all team members. Below are all the ways to get traces to unlock shadows.

Story mode

Story Mode is the best source to get traces in Solo Leveling Arise. (Image via Netmarble)

Story mode is the best source for getting Traces of Shadows in Solo Leveling Arise. Chapters 10 and onwards, in both Normal and Hard difficulties, start granting them as rewards. The latter chapters grant more traces in Normal mode, and the number goes up if you clear the stages in Hard mode.

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Gates

Play Gates game mode to farm traces in Solo Leveling Arise. (Image via Netmarble)

Gates game mode is another source for getting Traces of Shadows. To maximize your chances of obtaining traces as rewards, focus on clearing higher-ranked gates, like A and S, swiftly. Since gate rewards are RNG-based, traces are obtained rarely and in small quantities. Defeating monsters quickly in these higher-ranked gates can yield a higher number of traces.

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Battlefield of Time

Battlefield of Time grants the highest number of traces in Solo Leveling Arise. (Image via Netmarble)

Battlefield of Time is the best source for Traces of Shadows in Solo Leveling Arise. It is a seasonal game mode where you fight against bosses such as Igris, Giant Arachnid, and more. You will get traces by entering the Top 100% and placing yourself in the top 200 or higher in Group Rankings.

The higher you rank, the more traces you get, with the highest being 50 (at No. 1) and the lowest being 5 (for entering the Top 100%). The rank you obtain is based on the time taken to defeat a boss. Therefore, you must use your robust weapons and Hunters in Solo Leveling Arise to defeat the boss faster and increase your rank. Battlefield of Time unlocks after clearing Chapter 10, The Red Gate.

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Exchange Shop

You can trade Medal of Time for traces at the Exchange Shop. (Image via Netmarble)

Exchange Shop offers various resources in exchange for coins and other in-game items. Go to Shop> Exchange Shop > Battlefield of Time for Traces of Shadows. The Battlefield of Time section in the Shop unlocks after unlocking the game mode. You can trade 200 Medal of Time to get 10 traces. The purchase limit is 10 times per account before an ongoing season ends. You can accumulate up to 100 traces with this method.

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How to use Traces of Shadows in Solo Leveling Arise?

You can use traces to unlock new shadows and upgrade them. (Image via Netmarble)

As mentioned, you can use Traces of Shadows to summon shadows; unlocking one costs 100 traces. Additionally, you can use them to promote the obtained shadows. Promoting a shadow increases their rank, Max Army Level, number of Shades required to summon it on the battlefield, and their Shadow Authority effects. The obtained shadow starts at the Common rank and can be upgraded to Elite > Knight > Elite Knight.

Below are the details of the number of Traces of Shadows and Gold required to upgrade a shadow to each rank.

• Elite: 150 traces and 22,500 Gold
• Knight: 350 traces and 55,000 Gold (unlocks an additional skill for the shadow)
• Elite Knight: 600 traces and 95,000 Gold

Since traces are scarce, you must use them carefully and strategically invest in them. Summon the shadows in this order: Blades > Iron > Tank. You can unlock Igris instantly by unlocking the Army of Shadows and The Monarch of Shadows Job.