Glass-based articles are manufactured by a unique ion exchange process that results in glass-based articles having improved stress profiles with higher stress values at moderate depths. A medium of the ion exchange process includes ions of two or more alkali metals of two or more alkali metal oxides in a base composition of a glass-based substrate in a ratio such that ions of each alkali metal are in chemical equilibrium with each of the respective alkali metals of the alkali metal oxides in the base glass composition.