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Races & Classes
Lineage II

Races & Classes

Choose your path carefully in Lineage II. This guide covers races and starting classes like warriors and mages, shaping your Elmoreden adventure.

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Races & Classes

Choose your path carefully in Lineage II. This guide covers races and starting classes like warriors and mages, shaping your Elmoreden adventure.

Welcome, aspiring heroes of Aden! Choosing your race and initial class in Lineage II is one of the most crucial decisions you'll make, shaping your entire journey through Elmoreden. This detailed guide will walk you through the nuances of each race and their starting class options, providing actionable steps to optimize your early game experience.

Understanding Racial Strengths & Weaknesses

Each race in Lineage II possesses unique inherent bonuses and penalties, influencing their combat style and preferred class paths. While any race can technically pursue most class trees, certain combinations are undeniably more efficient due to these racial traits.

  • Humans: The most balanced race, Humans excel in adaptability. They have no significant weaknesses and can become formidable warriors, mages, or rogues. Their balanced stats make them a popular choice for new players.
  • Elves: Known for their agility and high Dexterity (DEX) and Intelligence (INT), Elves are masters of ranged combat and magic. They possess fast casting speeds and movement, but suffer from lower Strength (STR) and Constitution (CON), making them less durable in melee.
  • Dark Elves: Powerful and aggressive, Dark Elves boast high STR and INT, making them potent damage dealers, both physically and magically. However, their low CON and Wisdom (WIT) mean they have less HP/CP and slower casting than their light-skinned counterparts.
  • Orcs: The strongest and most resilient race, Orcs have unparalleled STR and CON, making them exceptional tanks and melee damage dealers. Their low DEX and INT, however, make them slow and less effective with magic or ranged weapons.
  • Dwarves: Masters of craftsmanship and commerce, Dwarves have high CON and STR, making them sturdy fighters and excellent crafters. Their lower DEX and INT limit their combat versatility, but their ability to create and find rare items is invaluable.
  • Kamael: A unique race with a gender-locked class progression, Kamael are designed for combat. They possess high STR and DEX, making them formidable warriors and rogues. Their limited access to certain armor types and their soul-consuming abilities define their playstyle.

Initial Class Selection: Your First Steps

Upon character creation, you'll choose your race and a basic class. This initial choice determines your starting skills and the path your character will follow until your first class transfer at Level 20.

Human Class Paths

Humans have the most diverse starting options, allowing for various playstyles.

  • Human Fighter:
    • Path to Knight: Focus on Sword & Shield. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Tobias in the Town of Gludio. Complete the quest "Trial of the Knight" by collecting 10 Orc Amulets from Orc Grunts in the Ruins of Agony.
    • Path to Warrior: Focus on Two-Handed Swords or Polearms. At Level 6, speak to Master Auron in the Town of Gludio. Complete the quest "Trial of the Warrior" by defeating 10 Goblin Scouts in the Wastelands.
    • Path to Rogue: Focus on Daggers or Bows. At Level 6, speak to Master Terry in the Town of Gludio. Complete the quest "Trial of the Rogue" by collecting 10 Spider Silk from Giant Spiders in the Elven Forest (near Gludio).
  • Human Mystic:
    • Path to Human Wizard: Focus on Staffs. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Gallint in the Town of Gludio. Complete the quest "Trial of the Wizard" by collecting 10 Imp's Horns from Imps in the Ruins of Despair.
    • Path to Cleric: Focus on One-Handed Blunt Weapons & Shields. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Hannavalt in the Town of Gludio. Complete the quest "Trial of the Cleric" by healing 5 Injured Soldiers near the Gludin Village gates (they appear after accepting the quest).

Elven Class Paths

Elves are naturally inclined towards agility and magic.

  • Elven Fighter:
    • Path to Elven Knight: Focus on Sword & Shield. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Rains in the Elven Village. Complete "Trial of the Elven Knight" by collecting 10 Lizardman Teeth from Lizardman Warriors in the Neutral Zone.
    • Path to Elven Scout: Focus on Daggers or Bows. At Level 6, speak to Master Sorius in the Elven Village. Complete "Trial of the Elven Scout" by collecting 10 Forest Runner Claws from Forest Runners in the Elven Forest.
  • Elven Mystic:
    • Path to Elven Wizard: Focus on Staffs. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Asterios in the Elven Village. Complete "Trial of the Elven Wizard" by collecting 10 Dryad's Tears from Dryads in the Elven Forest.
    • Path to Elven Oracle: Focus on One-Handed Blunt Weapons & Shields. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Biotin in the Elven Village. Complete "Trial of the Elven Oracle" by using the Purification Scroll (provided) on 5 Corrupted Spirits in the Iris Lake area.

Dark Elven Class Paths

Dark Elves are known for their destructive power.

  • Dark Elven Fighter:
    • Path to Palus Knight: Focus on Sword & Shield. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Virgil in the Dark Elven Village. Complete "Trial of the Palus Knight" by collecting 10 Dark Spider Venom Sacs from Dark Spiders in the Swampland.
    • Path to Assassin: Focus on Daggers or Bows. At Level 6, speak to Master Tobias in the Dark Elven Village. Complete "Trial of the Assassin" by collecting 10 Poison Spider Silk from Poison Spiders in the Dark Forest.
  • Dark Elven Mystic:
    • Path to Dark Wizard: Focus on Staffs. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Alden in the Dark Elven Village. Complete "Trial of the Dark Wizard" by collecting 10 Skeleton Lord's Ribs from Skeleton Lords in the School of Dark Arts.
    • Path to Shaman: Focus on One-Handed Blunt Weapons & Shields. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Varkas in the Dark Elven Village. Complete "Trial of the Shaman" by using the Soulstone of Cleansing (provided) on 5 Cursed Spirits in the Altar of Rites.

Orc Class Paths

Orcs are the epitome of brute force and resilience.

  • Orc Fighter:
    • Path to Orc Raider: Focus on Two-Handed Swords or Polearms. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Drikus in the Orc Village. Complete "Trial of the Orc Raider" by collecting 10 Kasha Bear Claws from Kasha Bears in the Plains of the Lizardmen.
    • Path to Monk: Focus on Fists or One-Handed Blunt Weapons. At Level 6, speak to Master Perios in the Orc Village. Complete "Trial of the Monk" by defeating 10 Goblin Brigands in the Frozen Valley.
  • Orc Mystic:
    • Path to Orc Shaman: Focus on Staffs. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Havan in the Orc Village. Complete "Trial of the Orc Shaman" by collecting 10 Dire Wolf Fangs from Dire Wolves in the Immortal Plateau.

Dwarven Class Paths

Dwarves are known for their crafting and tanking abilities.

  • Dwarven Fighter:
    • Path to Scavenger: Focus on Daggers or One-Handed Blunt Weapons. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Tronix in the Dwarven Village. Complete "Trial of the Scavenger" by collecting 10 Kobold Teeth from Kobold Scouts in the Mithril Mines.
    • Path to Artisan: Focus on One-Handed Blunt Weapons or Two-Handed Blunt Weapons. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Lockirin in the Dwarven Village. Complete "Trial of the Artisan" by collecting 10 Iron Golem Shards from Iron Golems in the Western Mining Zone.

Kamael Class Paths

Kamael have distinct gender-based class progressions.

  • Male Kamael:
    • Path to Trooper: Focus on Swords or Rapiers. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Gauen in the Kamael Village. Complete "Trial of the Trooper" by collecting 10 Stakato Shells from Stakato Drones in the Swamp of Screams.
  • Female Kamael:
    • Path to Warder: Focus on Crossbows or Rapiers. At Level 6, speak to Grand Master Gauen in the Kamael Village. Complete "Trial of the Warder" by collecting 10 Harpy Feathers from Harpies in the Isle of Souls.

Optimizing Your Early Game

Regardless of your chosen race and initial class, here are some universal tips for a smooth start:

  • Complete Starter Quests: Always follow the initial quest lines in your starting village. These quests provide essential Novice Armor Sets, Novice Weapons, and valuable Soulshots/Spiritshots.
  • Utilize Novice Buffs: New characters receive powerful temporary buffs from the Newbie Guide NPC in every starting village. These buffs significantly boost your combat effectiveness. Refresh them often!
  • Gather Soulshots/Spiritshots: These consumables are crucial for maximizing your damage. Monsters drop them frequently, and they can also be purchased from Grocers or Weapon Shopkeepers.
  • Understand Your Skills: Read the descriptions of your starting skills. Knowing when to use your active abilities and how your passive skills benefit you is key.
  • Party Up: Lineage II is a social game. Don't be afraid to ask other players to form a party, especially for tougher monsters or quest objectives. Experience gain is shared, and you'll clear content faster.
  • Save Your Adena: While tempting to buy every shiny new item, prioritize saving your Adena for your first class transfer at Level 20, which often requires a small fee or specific quest items.

By carefully considering your race and class choice and following these early game strategies, you'll be well on your way to becoming a legendary hero in the world of Lineage II!

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