AION 2 Asmodian or Elyos? Everything That's Different Before Launch

Storyline (faction differences)

• You must choose between two factions: Asmodians vs. Elyos.
• The main story/lore is faction-specific:
  • Each faction has its own version of the main plot, cutscenes, and voice acting.
  • During leveling, you’ll primarily progress through your faction’s story.
  • You won’t naturally see the other faction’s storyline unless you make a character on the other side.
  • The story choice is framed as the most important decision if you care about lore.

Gameplay highlights & world progression

• World split into separate maps/zones by faction:
  • Elyos and Asmodians each have their own zones, including main cities and leveling paths.
  • While leveling, you won’t see the other faction’s zones.
• How you eventually reach enemy territory (cross-faction content):
  • Players use space-time rifts to enter enemy territory.
  • In enemy areas you can:
    • Clear sealed dungeons and fortresses
    • Hunt monsters for local pet collections (pets tied to those enemy-side regions)

Field bosses

• Faction-exclusive field bosses:
  • Each faction has its own set of field bosses that only spawn on their side.
  • Boss locations/names differ between factions.
  • Titles/achievements are tied to those bosses.
  • For field boss titles, you generally only need to kill your faction’s bosses.

Character appearance, classes, and power differences

• Appearance is no longer faction-locked:
  • In Aion 1, Asmodians/Elyos had distinct visual markers (e.g., darker look, claws).
  • In Aion 2, both factions share identical appearance settings:
    • Same bodies/faces/parameters
    • No restrictions preventing Asmodians from looking like Elyos (and vice versa)
• Classes are identical across factions:
  • Both factions have the same eight classes.
  • No racial stat bonuses and no unique faction-only skills.
  • Example: a gladiator is the same regardless of faction—no inherent strength difference from faction choice.

Wings and crafted equipment

• Starting wings differ by faction:
  • Elyos start with white wings.
  • Asmodians start with dark wings.
  • Each ascension continues this theme (white for Elyos / dark for Asmodians).
• Crafted equipment stats are the same; names change:
  • Equipment between factions is identical in:
    • recipe
    • materials
    • cost
    • specifications
  • Only item names/prefixes differ by faction.
  • Tip: if you use a crafting guide from the other faction, match the item level, not the name.

Server structure & PvP (Abyss)

• Major change from Aion 1: servers are faction-split:
  • Aion 1: both factions shared the same server; enemies were on the same server.
  • Aion 2: servers are split so that:
    • each server is either Elyos-only or Asmodian-only
    • then Elyos servers pair/merge with Asmodian servers for the Abyss
• Pairings can change over time (not permanent):
  • In Korea (as described), NC posts updated match lists every few weeks.
  • Your Abyss opponent server might change month to month.
• Possible same-faction matchups:
  • Depending on server population, you may sometimes face:
    • Elyos vs. Elyos
    • Asmodians vs. Asmodians
• PvE note:
  • For PvE content, faction generally doesn’t matter (beyond roleplay).
  • Players typically form groups across both factions for dungeons/raids.

Launch timing (as stated)

• Early access: September 30
• Global launch: October 5

Key advice/decision summary

• Choose based on story and the maps you want, not appearance or combat power.
• Use cross-faction mechanics (space-time rifts) when you want enemy-side rewards (fortresses, dungeons, pets).
• When following crafting guides, focus on level rather than faction-specific item names.

Gamers/sources featured

• Andrew (the channel creator/speaker in the video).