After Arknights launched its new Relic system, the rare crafting material Self-Molding Dust quickly earned the nickname “mooncake” from the player community thanks to its round, cake-like shape. This high-tier resource is required for both standard relic synthesis and targeted relic synthesis, but it is incredibly hard to farm. Most players can only obtain it through limited-time events and the Abyssal Domain game mode, so very few people ever have a large surplus sitting around. That leaves many players stuck wondering: what is the most efficient way to use this precious material, and who (or what) should you prioritize? This guide breaks down the best use cases to make sure you never waste a single unit of this rare resource.
First: Understand The Two Core Uses For Self-Molding Dust
As a 5-star rarity material, Self-Molding Dust has two distinct use cases in the Relic system. The first is for standard relic synthesis: adding Self-Molding Dust to a standard synthesis roll increases your chance of receiving a high-star relic. The second is for targeted synthesis: if you want to craft a 5-star relic specifically for a certain operator class, Self-Molding Dust is a required, irreplaceable crafting material.
Because these two uses have such different requirements, the priority order for your dust is actually very straightforward once you learn the core rule.
Priority Analysis: Saving For Targeted Synthesis Gives Best Value
A lot of new players immediately dump any Self-Molding Dust they earn into standard relic synthesis, hoping to gamble for a high-star relic right away, but this is actually a massive waste of the material. The reason is simple: you can still get a 5-star relic from standard synthesis even without adding Self-Molding Dust, the drop rate is just lower. For targeted synthesis, however, you absolutely need Self-Molding Dust to craft a specific class 5-star relic, and no other material can stand in for it.
That makes the conclusion very clear: you should always prioritize saving all of your Self-Molding Dust for targeted synthesis first. Only use extra leftover dust for standard relic synthesis, and never put low-value uses ahead of critical, high-impact needs.
Targeted Synthesis Priority: Which Relic Should You Craft First?
S-Tier Priority: The Most Versatile Core Relics
No matter what operators you have in your roster, crafting these relics first will give you the biggest overall boost to your entire team:
The first is the Vanguard class relic “Vanguard Formation”. This relic drastically cuts the deployment cost for all your vanguard operators, letting you set up your team much faster in the early game. It works perfectly for every game mode, from Abyssal Domain to all types of roguelike content, so crafting this first is never a bad choice.
The second is the Medic class relic “Healing Field”. This relic boosts outgoing healing for your entire team by a huge margin, which drastically improves your team’s survivability during long, high-difficulty battles. It is especially effective when you are working through stages with multiple bosses.
The third S-tier priority depends on your main team’s core damage dealer. If your primary damage comes from snipers, craft the sniper relic “Precision Strike” first. If you main a heavy defender tank team, craft the heavy relic “Immovable Mountain” first. Just follow what fits the playstyle you use most, and you will get great results.
A-Tier Bonus Upgrades: Choose Based On Your Roster Needs
Once you have crafted all the core S-tier relics you need, you can move on to crafting additional relics that fit the playstyles you use most often. For example, if you main a guard core team, craft the guard relic first. If you run a caster main team, prioritize crafting the caster relic “Arcane Blast” first. You don’t have to follow a rigid fixed order that someone else created; building around the teams you actually use every day will give you the maximum possible value.
When Can You Use Self-Molding Dust For Standard Synthesis?
If you have already crafted all the targeted 5-star relics you need and you still have extra Self-Molding Dust left over, that is when you can safely add it to standard relic synthesis. It will boost your chance of getting extra high-star relics to further strengthen your team for future content.
Overall, the core rule for using Self-Molding Dust (the fan-favorite “mooncake”) is incredibly simple: save it first for targeted synthesis of your core relics, only use extra leftovers for standard synthesis, and allocate it based on your own team’s unique composition. This approach lets you get the maximum possible value out of this rare resource, so you never have to regret wasting it later.
