* The compass gradually becomes unstable while moving and stabilizes again while standing still. While the compass is unstable the direction cannot be seen.
* The quality of the compass affects stability.
* A fully unstable compass will become readable in about 2 seconds at QL 70, 10 seconds at QL 30, and 20 seconds at QL 1. Starter compasses (QL 20) will are at 30 ql, so they take 14 10 secondsto become readable.
* Stopping just after the compass becomes unstable will allow it to recover quicker (the compass was not fully unstable).
* [[WoA]] affects the speed of recovery.