Races & Factions

Choose your path in Aion: races and factions. This guide details how each choice impacts your journey through Atreia, affecting quests and alliances.

In the world of Aion, your journey begins with a crucial decision: your chosen race and the faction it aligns with. This choice profoundly impacts your gameplay experience, dictating your starting zone, available quests, and the allies and enemies you'll encounter throughout Atreia. Understanding the nuances of each faction is key to a successful and enjoyable adventure.

The Fundamental Divide: Elyos vs. Asmodians

Aion's lore is built upon the catastrophic event known as the Cataclysm, which shattered the world of Atreia and created two distinct, warring factions. You must choose one of these at character creation:

• Elyos: Residing in the sun-drenched southern half of Atreia, the Elyos are blessed with radiant wings and a graceful appearance. They believe themselves to be the favored children of Aion, striving to restore the world to its former glory and reclaim the shattered lands.
• Asmodians: Inhabiting the dark, harsh northern regions, the Asmodians possess shadowy wings, sharp claws, and a more rugged, formidable appearance. They view the Elyos as arrogant and responsible for Atreia's downfall, seeking to reclaim what they believe is rightfully theirs and assert their dominance over the fractured world.

Once you select a faction, all characters created on that server will belong to the same faction. This prevents players from having characters on opposing sides within the same server, ensuring a dedicated factional experience. Please note: This faction lock applies to official Aion servers and the standard game experience. Some private servers or specific game versions may offer different rules regarding cross-faction character creation.

Choosing Your Path: Character Creation Walkthrough

The faction selection process is integrated into the initial character creation steps. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Launch Aion: Start the game client and log in to your account.
2. Server Selection: Choose your desired server from the list. Remember, your faction choice will apply to all characters on this server.
3. Create New Character: Click the "Create Character" button.
4. Faction Selection Screen: You will be presented with two distinct options: "Elyos" and "Asmodian."
   • Elyos Selection: Click on the Elyos banner. You'll see a brief cinematic showcasing their homeland, Poeta, and their characteristic bright wings.
   • Asmodian Selection: Click on the Asmodian banner. A cinematic will display their starting zone, Ishalgen, and their darker, clawed aesthetic.
5. Confirm Faction: After reviewing the visuals and lore snippets, confirm your choice. This decision is permanent for the character you are creating and impacts your server-wide faction alignment.
6. Race and Class Selection: Proceed to choose your specific race (which is tied to your faction) and then your desired class.
   • Elyos Starting Classes: Warrior, Scout, Mage, Priest.
   • Asmodian Starting Classes: Warrior, Scout, Mage, Priest.

   At level 9, each of these base classes will specialize into one of two advanced classes, offering diverse playstyles and roles.

7. Customization: Finalize your character's appearance and name.

Pro-Tip: If you are playing with friends, ensure you all select the same faction on the same server to be able to group and quest together. Communication is key!

Faction-Specific Content and Strategies

Your chosen faction dictates much of your early game experience and ongoing interactions:

Elyos Advantages & Strategies

• Starting Zone: Poeta. This lush, vibrant region offers a relatively gentle introduction to Atreia, with quests focused on defending against local threats and exploring ancient ruins. The environment is bright and verdant, reflecting the Elyos' connection to light and purity.
• Key NPCs: You'll primarily interact with Daevas and citizens of the Elyos capital, Sanctum. Early quest givers in Poeta include Pellius and Spatalos, who guide you through your initial training and introduce you to the Elyos' noble cause.
• PvP Focus: Elyos players often find themselves defending their territories in the Abyss and engaging in skirmishes to push back Asmodian incursions. Coordinated group play is essential for securing fortresses like the Sulfur Tree Fortress and maintaining control over vital Aetheric resources.
• Unique Quests: Many Elyos quests involve uncovering ancient Aetheric secrets and battling creatures corrupted by the Cataclysm, such as the Kukuru Beasts in Poeta or investigating the mysteries of the Verteron region. These quests often emphasize restoration and protection.
• Aesthetic & Lore: The Elyos architecture is grand and elegant, featuring white marble and intricate designs. Their lore emphasizes their role as guardians of Atreia, blessed by Aion, and their struggle to bring light back to the world.

Asmodian Advantages & Strategies

• Starting Zone: Ishalgen. This stark, frozen wasteland presents a more challenging initial environment, reflecting the Asmodian resilience and their adaptation to harsh conditions. The landscape is rugged, with jagged peaks and shadowed valleys.
• Key NPCs: You'll interact with the stoic and often harsh Daevas of the Asmodian capital, Pandaemonium. Early quest givers in Ishalgen, such as Kaisinel and Vidar, will task you with proving your strength and loyalty to the Asmodian cause.
• PvP Focus: Asmodians are often on the offensive in the Abyss, seeking to capture Elyos strongholds and disrupt their supply lines. Mastering ambush tactics and coordinated assaults on targets like the Asteria Fortress is crucial for asserting Asmodian dominance.
• Unique Quests: Asmodian quests frequently delve into the mysteries of their shadowed lands and involve confronting powerful, mutated beasts like the Mossy Klaw in Ishalgen or navigating the treacherous terrain of Altgard. Their quests often focus on survival, vengeance, and proving their might.
• Aesthetic & Lore: Asmodian architecture is imposing and functional, often built from dark stone and metal, reflecting their pragmatic and resilient nature. Their lore centers around their struggle for survival after the Cataclysm, their resentment towards the Elyos, and their belief in strength and self-reliance.

Regardless of your choice, both factions offer a rich and engaging narrative, distinct environments, and unique challenges. Your loyalty to your chosen faction will be tested in the ongoing struggle for control of Atreia, as you delve deeper into the Abyss and face off against the opposing faction in epic PvP battles.