Absolute minimum level?

[HongKongKid]

What is absolute minimum level? Ive seen it, and my char is above the absolute minimum level of an item, so why cant he use the item? You have to be Tr or something?

[Barazon]

Absolute minimum level means not counting the enchantments on the item. This usually only comes into play if you strip the item down for crafting. For instance, a "Minimum Level: 24" item with an "Aboluste Minimum Level: 20" would retain the "Aboluste Minimum Level: 20" even if stripped down and having no enchantments on it. If you then add enchnantments that would make it, say, "Mininum Level: 15", you would still need to be level 20 to equip it. The "Aboluste Minimum Level" is used to reflect higher-quality base items (higher AC for armor, more damage for weapons).

On most randonly-generated items that I have paid attention to, the "Minimum Level" due to enchantments is higher than the "Absolute minimum Level".

[donfilibuster]

You need be of minimum level to use the item.
When crafting the minimum level never goes below the absolute.

All items with special quality has this absolute level, such as the armor tiers and the +W epic weapons.
For this reason it may show on items that you can't craft like named items.

[Cal_the_Outcast]

You need be of minimum level to use the item.
When crafting the minimum level never goes below the absolute.

All items with special quality has this absolute level, such as the armor tiers and the +W epic weapons.
For this reason it may show on items that you can't craft like named items.

So totally pointless Imagine my surprise

[GeoffWatson]

It also appears if an Augment has been added to an item (where the augment has a minimum level above 1).

[Sierim]

So totally pointless Imagine my surprise

It's mainly a notice for crafters before deconstructing, so that they don't strip items like Planeforged armor and expect to be able to use them at level 1.