>>370458795
>>370462581
>>370460916
>>370462742
Unless fighter works different than mage, I am 99% sure weapsons don't gain XP or Level up, gear definitly doesn't. not 100% sure what those upgrade machines do other than add +1 but gear (and skill stones) will drop different rarities (I've seen Green > Blue > Purple > Yellow for tiers) that come with modifiers on them.

The big thing you want to do is events, because those give currency that you need to create Green and Blue drops at the bench machines around various hubs.