To become the most powerful fixer in Archived, you first need to reach Grade 1. However, getting there can be pretty challenging, especially for new players. With that in mind, we prepared the following Archived fixer Grade exam guide to help you out.
Table of contents
Archived Fixer Grade System Explained
The Grade system in Archived is the main progression path of your fixer character. With higher Grades, you get access to more Light, better weapons, traits, and new combat mechanics such as the E.G.O. system. Every character starts as a Grade 9, and as you earn XP by completing contracts and dungeons, they can reach higher Grades, with Grade 1 being the highest one. Reaching Grade 1 as a fixer allows you to join the Hana Association.
Archived Fixer Grade-Up Exams
After you reach the Grade-up XP requirement in Archived (5,000xp/Grade-1=GradeUp Requirement), your screen will flash. When that happens, head to the Hana Association camp in the alley within The Backstreets and speak with the Hana Association Manager to be teleported to the Hana Association HQ. Take the elevator located behind the reception desk to access the Examination Room area. Here, you will have to complete a specific Grade-up exam to go up a Grade.
There are three types of exams in Archived: Trivia (Grade 9), Physical Competence (Grades 8-5), and Obstacle Course (Grades 4-2). You can see the XP requirement for each Grade-up exam in the table below:
| Grade Exam | XP Requirement |
|---|---|
| Grade 9 | 625 XP |
| Grade 8 | 715 XP |
| Grade 7 | 833 XP |
| Grade 6 | 1000 XP |
| Grade 5 | 1250 XP |
| Grade 4 | 1666 XP |
| Grade 3 | 2500 XP |
| Grade 2 | 5000 XP |
Trivia Exam Guide (Grade 9)
The Trivia Grade-up exam in Archived consists of several questions that you have to answer correctly within a limited time frame. The questions are pretty simple, and here are the answers to all of them:
| Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| How many fixer grades are there? | 6 |
| What is the most dangerous time in the city? | Every Moment |
| I have 500 Ahn. I gave half to my friend and half of that to my other friend. How much will I have left? | 125 |
| A bamboo-hatted master gets hit with a great split vertical that rolled 27; however, the mimicry user is below grade 1, so they deal 50% less damage. If the master has 310 hp, how much damage did the crit deal? | 13.5 |
| In the district, there is an area leading to the ocean. What building is next to it? | The Tower |
| What is the role of the Hana Association? | Oversees Fixers |
Physical Competence Exam Guide (Grade 8-5)
The Physical Competence Exam requires you to bring the enemy Hana Association Examiner down to a certain amount of XP. However, the exception is the Grade 5 exam, in which you have to survive for 45 seconds without being hit. The Hana Association Examiner uses a weapon similar to the Augury Spear, with several of its moves having Hyperarmor and Guar Break properties. Therefore, it is advisable to rely on parries when fighting them. During the Grade 5 exam, running around in circles and dashing is enough to keep them at a distance with ease. Here are the HP thresholds needed for completing the Physical Competence Grade-up exams in Archived:
| Grade | Completion Requirement |
|---|---|
| Grade 8 | Bring the Hana Association Examiner down to 70-60% HP. |
| Grade 7 | Bring the Hana Association Examiner down to 50-40% HP. |
| Grade 6 | Bring the Hana Association Examiner down to 40-30% HP. |
| Grade 5 | Survive for 45 seconds without being hit by the Hana Association Examiner. |
Obstacle Course Exam (Grade 4-2)
The Obstacle Course Exam in Archived requires you to complete a quite long obby challenge. With each Grade-up, the exam becomes increasingly difficult. This exam is all about precision, so it is best to use equipment that lowers your movement speed. Also, take your time with difficult jumps. Below are the additional challenges that each Obstacle Course Exam has:
| Grade | Challenge |
|---|---|
| Grade 4 | No additional challenges. |
| Grade 3 | A wall of fire moves slowly behind you, causing you to fail the exam if you touch it. |
| Grade 2 | A turret shoots at you every 15 seconds, and you have to parry its shots successfully, or you immediately fail the exam. |
How to Farm XP for a Grade Up in Archived
In Archived, everything you do in the game will grant you some amount of XP. For early Grades, grinding in the Library and completing Debt Collector Contracts is the best way to earn XP. Later on, you will want to switch to doing Night in the Backstreet Contracts and Cargo Extraction Missions once they become available at higher Grades.
That sums up everything you need to know about fixer Grade-up exams in Archived. Let us know in the comments below how long it took you to complete them and what made them easy or difficult for you. If you are looking for the right traits to pick when Grading Up, make sure to check out our Archived trait tier list.
Archived Fixer Grade Exam FAQs
There are nine fixer Grades in total. You begin as a Grade 9 fixer, and by completing Grade-up exams, you increase your Grade up to Grade 1.
Yes, you will lose the XP you have above the requirement for the Grade-up after completing the exam.
Yes, you can block turret attacks during the Grade 2 exam. However, you will get knocked back by them.
Before you can join the Hana Association, you will have to farm a large amount of XP after reaching Grade 1.
Published: Aug 18, 2025 08:51 am