AION 2 Beginner Guide

New to AION 2 on the global servers? Lock in the two choices you cannot undo, then work through a day-1 and week-1 checklist. Every point says where it came from.

You want

To spend your first days on things that still matter at level 45, and avoid choices you cannot take back.

This page gives you

Three decisions to make before you log in, a short checklist for day 1 and week 1, and a list of traps. Facts are tagged official or community with the date we checked them.

Checked against: Global patch Oct 7, 2026 · reviewed Oct 12, 2026.

Before you create a character

DecisionWhy it mattersSource
Faction (Elyos or Asmodian)The two factions are separate. Reported at launch: no faction change and no server transfer, so pick the same side as your friends.Community source
ServerSame reason. Agree on region and server with your group first.Community source
ClassGlobal has 8 classes. Start from which class suits you; the tier list explains how we rank them.Official source

Community source MeinMMO launch mistakes article (Sep 7, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026

Official source Steam store page (global release date) · observed October 12, 2026

Day 1 checklist

  1. Follow the main story quest. It is the main source of XP all the way to the level cap. Side quests and dungeons fill the gap when the story asks for a level you do not have yet. Community source
  2. Do not grind monsters for XP. Every launch guide we checked rates it far below quests. Community source
  3. Take side quests for gear. The story gives few gear upgrades; side quests hand out armor and accessories. Community source
  4. Expect a new skill almost every level. In the official armory data, active skills keep unlocking until level 16 and passives until level 25. The leveling guide lists each one by class. Official source
  5. Fill your skill specialty slots. Unlocking a slot is not enough; you must pick an effect for it in the skill window, or it does nothing. Community source
  6. Check auto-extraction filters before you dismantle. Extraction returns materials but not the Kinah you spent, and a loose filter can destroy gear you wanted. Community source

Community source MeinMMO leveling article (Sep 2, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026

Community source MeinMMO launch mistakes article (Sep 7, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026

Official source Official character armory (skill unlock levels, sampled) · observed October 12, 2026

Week 1 checklist

  1. Level 12: first Daevanion board. Boards open at about 12, 20, 30, 40 and 45 and are filled with points from levels, quests and content. Community source
  2. Level 22: stigmas. The first stigma slot opens at 22 after the third Ascension quest; more open at 27, 32 and 37. Community source
  3. Daily dungeons: start with enhancement stones. Three daily dungeons share limited weekly runs (enhancement stones, pet fragments, Kinah). Upgrades eat stones, so most guides put that one first. Community source
  4. Spread upgrades. One level on several items beats many levels on one item you will replace. Reported exception: the belt and the Revelation amulet, which cannot be exchanged once fully upgraded. Community source
  5. Mind the weekly Substance Morph cap. The Oct 6 patch limits Sealed Wings to Enhance Stones morphs to 20 per week per server. Official source
  6. Abyss points without PvP. Supply quests and Abyss monsters give Abyss points too, so you can skip PvP and still earn them. Community source
  7. Level 45: the solo Ascension Trial. Reported to open at level 45 with item level 1,000, with limited weekly tries; waiting for item level 1,500 unlocks a better difficulty. Community source

Community source GameWith Daevanion planner (global data, Oct 6, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026

Community source MetaBot stigma guide (global client 2.0.3.0, updated Oct 10, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026

Community source MeinMMO launch mistakes article (Sep 7, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026

Official source Official patch notes, Oct 6 (PDT) / Oct 7 (CEST) · observed October 12, 2026

Item level is not combat power

Item level counts only what you wear, with its upgrades and socketed stones. Combat power also adds Daevanion boards, skill levels, stigmas, Arcana cards, titles and wings. Groups usually ask for combat power, so a high item level with an empty Daevanion board still reads as weak. Community source

Traps to avoid

Global vs Korea: what changes for a new player

TopicGlobal (NA/EU)KoreaSource
Classes89 (adds a fist-fighter class)Official source
Summoner nameSpiritmaster정령성 (some guides say Elementalist)Official source
Stigma slots4 (community)5 since Mar 2026Official source
Arcana slots in the armory510Official source
Pendant, brooch and seal slotsNot shown at launchShownOfficial source

Korea launched months earlier and has more systems, so its guides often assume slots, gear and content that global players do not have yet. Use them for ideas, not as a checklist.

Official source Official character armory (skill unlock levels, sampled) · observed October 12, 2026

Official source NCSoft press release, Korean update: stigma slots raised to five (Mar 25, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026

Community source AllThingsHow stigma article (updated Oct 9, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026

Every sourced difference: Global vs Korea.

Where to go next