TL;DR: STR Dyes are tattoos applied by the Symbol Maker NPC that raise STR in exchange for lowering another stat. Melee damage dealers like Destroyers, Tyrants and Berserkers run +STR for maximum P.Atk. You get up to three tattoo slots, and Greater Dyes give the strongest +4 bonus.

Overview

Dyes are consumables used to apply tattoos through the Symbol Maker NPC. Each tattoo raises one base stat and lowers another, letting you tune your character toward a specific role. STR Dyes increase Strength, which scales your physical attack and skill power, at the cost of a defensive or secondary stat.

Variants

Dyes come in fixed +/- pairings. The most common STR options trade against CON or DEX. You have up to three tattoo slots, so you can stack the same dye for a larger bonus or mix dyes for a balanced build. Greater Dyes give the +4 tier, the strongest bonus available.

DyeEffectTrade-off
STR +1 / CON -1+Physical attackLower HP / survivability
STR +1 / DEX -1+Physical attackLower crit rate / Atk. Spd
Greater Dye STR +4 / CON -4Max P.Atk (3 slots)Noticeably lower HP

Class Recommendations

Pick your dyes around your class role. Melee DDs want STR, daggers and archers want DEX, and casters want WIT for casting speed.

Role / ClassRecommended DyeWhy
Melee DD (Destroyer, Tyrant, Berserker)STR +4 / CON -4Maximum P.Atk for PvE farming and burst.
Dagger (Treasure Hunter, Adventurer, Plains Walker)DEX +4 / STR -4Higher crit chance and attack speed.
ArcherDEX +4 / CON -4More critical damage and attack speed.
NukerWIT +4 / MEN -4Faster casting speed.
HealerWIT +4 / INT -4 or MEN +4 / INT -4Faster casts or a larger MP pool.
TankCON +4 / STR -4Maximum survivability.

Where to Buy

Basic dyes are sold by NPC Grocery Store merchants in every town, and can also be obtained through Spoil and crafting. Greater Dyes with the improved +4 bonus are pricier and usually come only from other players or crafting. On most high-rate servers, Greater Dye STR typically trades for roughly 500,000 to 2,000,000 Adena each, depending on supply and demand. Once you have your dyes, take them to the Symbol Maker to apply your tattoos.