Gear explained

Every robe, hat, and glove has a level and a rarity. Level gates whether you can wear it; rarity decides how many trait slots it has. A higher-level green beats a lower-level purple in raw defense. Traits — the bonuses woven in at the loom — are where builds live: damage to cursed enemies, faster ancient-magic gain, cheaper spell costs.

Do not hoard. The game showers you with drops, and the inventory cap is the real boss. Keep the highest-level piece per slot, weave a trait that matches your play, and sell the rest. Change the appearance at any vendor so the best stats can look like anything. Gear is a ladder, not a collection.