MASTERY SYSTEM

First off the seven levels go from weakest to strongest in this order, with higher levels naturally showing more skill than weaker levels:

Beginner, Below Average, Average, Above Average, Advanced, Mastered and Specialised.

Depending on the mastery is in question, the skill of each level differs from mastery to mastery, and race to race. But across all races, there are universal rules for them all and how they relate to [Rank]:

Based on the levels on a given mastery, they basically define your skill level of that mastery. In addition however, they also define your physical attributes, as well as any present stat boosts.

This means the higher your Stepping Mastery, the higher your natural speed will be, and is also where x2 etc speed boosts are played off of.

The higher your Hand-to-Hand Mastery, the higher your natural attack potential will be, and is also where x2 etc attack boosts are played off of.

These are the only two stat boosts available, so you don't need to worry about other masteries having stat boost potential.

In order to get higher masteries, you'll need to be at a high enough rank first. A table of what you can get at what rank is shown below.

Exceptions:

• Racial Perk Masteries may only be Mastered at [HL-A] minimum.
• For Release Masteries only:

  You may only reach Above Average Mastery at
  [ML-A] minimum.
  
  You may only reach Advanced Mastery at [HL] minimum.
  
  You may only reach Mastered Mastery [HL-A] minimum
  
  

Altogether there are three general types of masteries which a mastery can be classified into: Release, Racial Perk, and Universal.

Releases - This is the main power of a race connected directly to their soul. Each race's release is unique, and by extension unique to each character. If this release only has one stage, you're automatically granted one advantage when activated, and two advantages when [Advanced]. For releases with two stages (e.g Zanpakutou Spirit with Shikai and Bankai), they get two advantages after a trial at Above Average Mastery.

Racial Perk - This is a mastery unique to each race like Releases, but carry the power of normal techniques. These are specific to the lore of their race, so just like Releases they cannot be learned by any other race.

Universal - With a couple of exceptions, these are masteries which any race can use. In a sense, these are your generic skills.

Notes:

• Soul Resilience, Hierro and Spiritual Potency are all different names for a race's inherent durability mastery. However, they each have different levels of effectiveness.
• Hollow Techniques and Soul Absorption are aesthetically considered branch masteries from Reiryoku Techniques. Thus both Hollow Techniques and Soul Absorption can do everything its parent Reiryoku Techniques can, but with additional perks.
• Reishi Techniques is only available to Bounts, Mod Souls and Quincy.

Amongst some masteries there are optional ones, ones that you're unable to start out with, but also are unneeded to reach maximum rank, and are thus optional.

Seiren
Soul Resonance
Healing
Item Creation
Custom masteries

For Squad Four Shinigami, the Healing Mastery is not optional.

For Squad Twelve Shinigami, The Item Creation Mastery is not optional.

These are masteries of your own design with their own unique workings, different from the ones we've provided. They are registered individually like other custom techniques, with their individual mastery level descriptions. They can be basically anything from baking cakes to operating an artificial eye, and can be mastered whenever you choose.

Custom Masteries that have no combative use can be started with in a profile, and can be whatever level you choose. Training is optional.

If they're of any combative use however, you cannot start with them in a profile, and you must train them normally from Beginner. They can be Mastered like any other Mastery at HL and above, but can't be Specialised or used in a Rank Improvement. Any techniques under the custom mastery will count to your technique limit, but will be unique to you and cannot be learned by others unless taught.

Specialised masteries are a level above Mastered and are attainable for any Mastery (exceptions listed below) at [HL-A]. You only get one of these masteries, and when you get it another mastery of your choice is capped to Advanced level. For info on how to obtain your specialized mastery, please read the Specialization Guide.