Definetly sucks, lol, but thems the breaks. Alchemy can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
mushrooms wrote:
On some occasions the assimilation thing may make another attribute rise. Sucks for you.

I had a 72 ring, clean. Used an INT stone, got INT 3. Used a 30% STR stone, got STR 5 and woot, assimilated the INT 3 --> INT 5
Just think, at least its only your 68 shield and not your 72.