Aion 2 Chapter 1 Update Notes: Land of Sand and Frost Patch Details

Hello, Daevas. The biggest update yet has arrived with Aion 2 Chapter 1: Land of Sand and Frost. This expansion introduces two new homelands, the brand-new Fist Fighter class, an increased level cap of 50, and massive overhauls to core gameplay systems including Stigmas, dungeons, the Abyss, Inheritance, and class balance.

New Zones

Two major territories are opening up for players:

• Eltnen: The new Elyos homeland.
• Morheim: The new Asmodian homeland.
• Unlocking the teleport portal to these new zones requires completing the Verteron Traveler (Elyos) or [Altgard] Blue Wave Kelpina (Asmodian) Hero quests.
• Portals can be used once players meet the level, item level, and combat power requirements.
• Eltnen and Morheim are divided into Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, rolling out sequentially.

New Class: Fist Fighter

The Fist Fighter class has been introduced, bringing a dynamic close-combat playstyle. This class utilizes a dedicated new weapon category, Gauntlets.

Level Cap Expansion

The maximum level cap has been increased to 50. Starting from level 45, players will receive an Advanced Stigma Shard (Bound) as a reward for each level-up.

Stat Rebalance and New Stats

• Frontal Stats: New parameters including Frontal Damage Amplification, Frontal Damage Resistance, Frontal Attack, Frontal Defense, Frontal Critical, and Frontal Critical Resistance have been added. These stats apply via Soul Binding, Pet Affinity, and Manastones/Godstones.
• Cap Removals: Maximum caps on Stigma stats, the six base stats, stat increases (attack, defense, accuracy, evasion, crit, crit-resist, block), and all Damage Amplification and Resistance items have been removed.
• Damage Reduction Cap: With amplification and resistance caps gone, the maximum damage reduction from Damage Resistance is now capped at 80%.
• New Stat Caps: Movement Speed is capped at 150%, Cooldown reduction is capped at 60%, and Mana cost reduction is capped at 60%.
• The description for the Critical stat’s maximum proc chance has been corrected from 50% to 80%.

Stigma System Updates

• Skill Level Cap: The maximum Stigma skill level is expanded from 20 to 25. Reaching level 20 and beyond requires using Advanced Stigma Shards.
• Advanced Stigma Shards: Players receive 1 Advanced Stigma Shard per level-up from level 45, and 1 shard when a Stigma skill reaches level 20. Shards are reclaimed upon resetting the skill.
• Free Resets: The cost to reset Stigmas has been removed and is now completely free.

Party and Force Sizes

The maximum size for a Party has been adjusted to 5 players, and the maximum size for a Force is now set to 20 players.

Nightmare Dungeons

• Nightmare Layer IV is now open, featuring a new boss encounter.
• New boss accessories have been added to the exchange shop under the Statue tab.
• Nightmares with no unlock conditions can now be challenged directly up to stage 10. When unlocked by meeting requirements, players can also jump directly to stage 10. Clearing a higher stage automatically awards first-clear rewards for all stages below it.

Awakening Battle

A new Ruin difficulty level has been introduced to Awakening Battles. Additionally, two new battlegrounds are available: Bedchamber of the Dead and Forgotten Storehouse.

Expedition, Transcendence, and Sanctuary Overhauls

Dungeon systems have received comprehensive adjustments to better accommodate the new party size of 5 players for Expeditions and Transcendence, and 10 players for Sanctuaries. Key updates include:

• Count Consumption: Reward and final-boss kill limits are removed. Leaving a dungeon after clearing it without claiming the reward will now consume an entry count. Counts reset weekly and are shared across characters on the same server.
• Trash Mob Loot: Rewards from normal and elite monsters inside Expedition and Transcendence have been removed.
• Pass Removal: Existing Challenge Pass and Recharge Pass items for these dungeons have been removed from inventories and storage.
• Pet Riding: Mounts are now allowed inside dungeons, except during boss fights and specific play areas.
• Boss Rebalancing: Some boss mechanics have been adjusted for the new party sizes.
• Odyle Droprate: Expedition Conquest (Normal/Hard) boss drops have been rebalanced for 5 players, yielding a total of 15 Odyle.

Expedition: Castle of the Fallen Deva

Exploration and Conquest (Normal and Hard) modes for the Castle of the Fallen Deva are now accessible.

• Castle of the Fallen Deva Hard consumes 60 Odyle Energy, with boosted rewards and adjusted guaranteed-reward counts.
• Several dungeons now award Kina (Bound) instead of regular Kina, including Conquest Normal (Fire Temple, Ferocious Horn Den entirely; Dying Dramata’s Nest, Cradle of Nihility at 50%) and Conquest Hard (Krao Cave, Draupnir, Urugugu Canyon, Vakron Sky Island entirely; Fire Temple, Ferocious Horn Den at 50%).

Transcendence: Abyssal Horn Cavern

Abyssal Horn Cavern Stages 1 through 4 are now open.

• In the Sunken Temple of Life (가라앉은 생명의 신전), 50% of the obtainable Kina is now awarded as Kina (Bound).

Sanctuary Updates

• Challenge-attempt limits have been removed for the Abyssal Forge Reward Voucher (Bound): Rudra and the Corroded Decontamination Facility.
• The reward condition is now tied to the final-boss kill count, which has been reduced from 2 to 1, while doubling the rewards.
• The Odyle Energy cost for Sanctuary has increased from 40 to 80.
• Sanctuary time limits have been standardized to 2 hours.
• Mid-boss rewards have been removed. All loot now drops from the Odyle Energy that appears upon killing the final boss.
• A new conversion recipe allows players to craft a Depths of Refinement: Weapon Selection Box (Bound) using four Equipment Change Vouchers: Rudra (Bound) and 50,000,000 Kina.

Shugo Festa and Dimensional Invasion

• Field phase events now run in separate, dedicated maps while preserving existing rules. Entering no longer consumes a Return Scroll.
• The minimum contribution to earn rewards in Protect the Shugo Merchant is adjusted to 1,500 points.
• The number of Monster Cube opens by Shugo Festa rank has been increased across all tiers.
• New Shugo Festa: Shugo’s Dilemma: A new mini-game where players score points by gathering the exact number of players shown on random platforms. This event awards Shugo’s Dilemma (Trace: Masterpiece) (Bound).

Pendant Equipment Slot

A new Pendant equipment slot is now active. Rare and Heritage-grade Pendants and enhancement materials can be obtained from Eltnen and Morheim quests. Unique-grade and higher Pendants are enhanced using Kina, Breakthrough Stones, Dragon Essence, and Radiant Dragon Essence.

Draconic Materials Simplification

Horn, Hide, and Scale Draconic materials from Expeditions and Sanctuaries have been consolidated into Dragon Essence and Radiant Dragon Essence. Players can convert these essences into specific Draconic materials and vice-versa.

New Arcana Slots

• Four new Arcana slots (Key, Hourglass, Dice, Lantern) are added. This update introduces Key and Hourglass Arcana, while Dice and Lantern Arcana will arrive in a future update.
• These Arcana can be added to the Prelude of Punishment, Guarded Soul, and Indomitable Will sets. Players can lock in one option using 500,000 Kina and Pure Crystal (Bound).

Abyss System and Surface Layer

• Medal Boxes: Three tradable and brokerable Medal Boxes have been added to the Abyss, dropping from Chapter 1 Abyss boss Merit Boxes or the new Fierce Abyss Order: Mid Layer (Bound) quest.
• Fierce Abyss Order: This new objective is available in Chaotic Middle Reshanta Mid Layer, completed by defeating enemy-faction players to earn Bound medals and tradable Medal Boxes.
• Abyss Ereshulanta Surface Layer: A new layer restricted to characters at or below item level 4,300 or combat power 400K. Exceeding these conditions triggers forced exit and a penalty of 1 hour deducted from the Surface Layer’s daily time limit. This layer holds 300 players per faction and features no Artifacts.
• Per-Class Rankings: Abyss boss kills and Artifact occupation rewards now distribute rewards based on per-class rankings instead of overall contribution, allowing more players to earn medals.

Gear Inheritance System Updates

• 100% Success Rate: Inheritance limits are removed, and the process is now 100% guaranteed. Consumed materials from previous failures will be retroactively returned starting July 8.
• Cost Cap: The maximum inheritance cost is now fixed at 50,000,000 Kina.
• New Inheritance Crafts: Recipes to upgrade Unique-grade Draconic and Abyss gear to Heroic-grade gear have been introduced.

Arena and Battlefield

• Co-op Arena matches are now 5 vs 5.
• Battlefields are now 10 vs 10, featuring the new Sandstorm Temple (the Cradle of Odyle Shards has ended).
• Participants have equalized stats within the Battlefield, with Mastery skills set to Lv.20 and Stigma skills to Lv.25. Rewards have been significantly increased.

Monoliths and Field Bosses

• New Monoliths have been placed in Eltnen and Morheim. Leveling them up yields enhancement scrolls and materials.
• New Field Bosses in Eltnen and Morheim drop dedicated masterpieces and gear. All contributing players receive an extra reward box upon a field boss kill.

Hidden Cube Rework

Hidden Cube rewards have been updated to include new appearances, wings, mid/high Manastones and Godstones, gathering materials, and Kina boxes. Drop rates for scrolls, spirit stones, and life crystals have also been boosted.

Quairing Premium Membership Event Pass

A new Membership Event Pass has been added for active Quairing Premium Membership subscribers, offering rewards across server-bound progression goals.

Wardrobe and Pet Sharing

• Shared Appearances: Special-grade appearances and Special-race pets are now shared server-wide across all your characters. Duplicate items are converted into exchange tickets used in the Wardrobe and Event Shops.
• Customization Options: Shared custom Special appearances, new head accessories, and Gauntlet weapon appearances have been added to the customization menus.

Legion Hideout and Sprout Badge

• New Hideouts are available in Eltnen and Morheim, sharing rental and extension status with lower-level zones. Hideout-to-hideout portals require level 45, 3,300+ item level, and 270,000+ combat power.
• Sprout Badge: Granted to new or returning users, this badge activates a PvP buff when coupled with growth support and membership. Regular users receive Bound Small Odyle Energy by clearing Expeditions, Transcendence, and Sanctuaries with Sprout users.

Daevanion Boards

The Nezekan, Zikel, Vaizel, and Triniel boards have been expanded. A new Learn All Nodes convenience option automatically maps and learns paths across the boards using available points.

Class Balance Adjustments

Alongside the new Combat Power System, healing reduction in PvP zones (Arena, Battlefield, Abyss) has been changed from 40% to 30%. Below are the specific class changes implemented with this update:

Gladiator

Skill	Change
Experienced Counterstrike	Gains Frontal Damage Amplification as a base stat (+5%/10%/15% at Lv.10/20/30). PVE/PVP amp values and duration are retuned and become a party effect (does not stack with the Templar’s Exaltation). Duration 10s → 20s. PVE amp 20/35/50% ▶ 17/24/31%; PVP amp 10/17.5/25% ▶ 8.5/12/15.5%.
Rending Blow, Smashing Blow, Downward Smash, Upward Strike	PVE damage +5%.
Ruinous Blow	PVE damage +40%; no longer consumes 200 mana (now free).
Lifestealing Blade	Extra PVE/PVP damage during Exploit −40%; HP-leech from that extra damage 2% → 3%.
Keen Strike, Rupture Strike, Wrathful Strike, Reckless Strike	Spec 2 HP-leech 2% → 1%. (Charge Stance and Zikel’s Blessing icons are swapped.)

Templar

Skill	Change
Fury	Gains Frontal Damage Amplification as a base stat (+2%/4%/6% at Lv.10/20/30). PVE/PVP amp and duration retuned (does not stack with the Gladiator’s Seasoned Counter). Duration 10s → 20s. PVE amp 20/30/40% ▶ 23/36/49%; PVP amp 10/15/20% ▶ 11.5/18/24.5%.
Taunt	Shrink’s PVE damage-resistance reduction 20% → 25%; PVP 10% → 12.5%.
Poach	Spec 2: on-hit −200 accuracy (5s) → −20% status-ailment resistance (5s). Spec 5: fixes stun not applying 100% to NPCs.
Executing Blade	PVP damage +30%; base now applies −30% defense (5s) on hit and 20 groggy-gauge damage. Spec 2: +10% damage to shock targets → Weak Point (5s, −5,000 block/evade). Spec 4: shock-target damage +20% → +30%.
Doom Shield	Spec 3: ignore block/evade and multi-hit → cooldown resets on enemy kill. Spec 5: adds ignore block/evade.
Vicious Strike, Decisive Strike, Desperate Strike, Menacing Strike	Spec 2 HP-leech 2% → 1%.
Shield Rush	Spec 3: fixes being unable to move while charging after equipping.

Assassin

Skill	Change
Insignia Explosion	PVE damage +20%; fixes not firing on some dungeon objects.
Shadowstrike	PVE damage +20%.
Exploit Weakness (passive)	PVE damage +10%.
Determination (passive)	PVE damage +20%.
Quick Slice, Breaking Slice, Swift Slice	Spec 2 HP-leech 1.5% → 0.7%.
Savage Fang	No longer fires when there is no targeted enemy in range.
Triniel’s Dagger	Fixes not firing on some dungeon objects.

Ranger

Skill	Change
Gale Arrow	Gale effect gains PVE amp +7%, PVP amp +3.5%. Spec 2: 100% knockback → 50%. Spec 4: amp scales with fewer targets hit (up to PVE +8% / PVP +4%).
Rapid Fire	Spec 4: 10% knockback → 5% knockback on critical hit.
Marking Shot	Spec 2: 75% knockback → 30%.
Mother Nature’s Breath	Nature effect: −30% PC damage taken → PVE resist +20% / PVP resist +10%. Heal proc 30% → 25% of damage taken. Spec 4: +10% PC damage taken → PVE resist +20% / PVP resist +10%.
Snipe, Volley, Spiral Arrow, Gust Arrow	Spec 2 HP-leech 1.5% → 0.7%.

Chanter

Skill	Change
Fracturing Blow	PVP damage +30%; base now applies −30% defense (5s) on hit. Spec 2: +10% damage to shock targets → Weak Point (5s, −5,000 block/evade). Spec 4: shock-target damage +20% → +30%.
Spinning Strike	PVP damage +10%.
Incandescent Blow, Bursting Blow	PVP damage +15%.
Rushing Smash	PVP damage +15%.
Wave Blow	PVP damage +20%.
Impactful Crush, Shatter Strike	PVP damage +20%.
Power of the Storm	Cooldown reduction 20% → self 20% / party 10%; Spec 4 attack +20% → self 20% / party 10%. While active, you cannot receive the Cleric’s Earth’s Blessing.
Onslaught, Resonance Crush, Bolt Crush	Spec 2 HP-leech 1.5% → 0.7%.

Cleric

Skill	Change
Radiant Recovery	Charge is removed; the charge effect now applies as a base skill effect.
Condemnation	Now usable while moving. Spec 3: movement → 20% chance of 3s bind.
Earth Punishment	Now usable while moving. Spec 2: −7% smash resist → self/party Earth’s Blessing (+7% smash). Spec 3: −10% atk/def → Earth’s Blessing also +7% atk/def. Spec 4: +10s duration → also +10s on Earth’s Blessing. While the Chanter’s Power of the Gale is active, Earth’s Blessing cannot be received. Spec 5: adds extra damage while attacking during Earth’s Blessing.
Judgment Thunder, Divine Punishment	PVE damage +5%.
Noble Aura	PVE damage +5%.
Empyrean Lord’s Grace (passive)	PVE damage +10%.

Spiritmaster

Skill	Change
Spirit Strike	PVE amp 10/15/20% ▶ 15/25/35%; PVP amp 5/7.5/10% ▶ 7.5/12.5/17.5%.
Spirit Protection	Defense 10/20/30% ▶ 20/40/60%.
Elemental Fusion	PVE damage +10%.
Flame Blessing	PVE damage +50%.
Spirit’s Descent (passive), Corrode (passive), Consecutive Countercurrent (passive)	PVE damage +30%.
Cold Shock, Vacuum Explosion, Earth Tremor	Spec 2 HP-leech 1.5% → 1%.
Summon: Earth Spirit	Taunt chance 50% → 30%; the spirit no longer takes damage from any DoT; a keybind to unsummon all spirits is added.

Sorcerer

Skill	Change
Hellfire	PVP damage +15%; Spec 1: Fire Mark → +30% skill speed.
Firestorm	PVP damage +10%.
Bittercold Wind	PVP damage +10%.
Winter’s Shackles, Winter’s Illusion	PVP damage +15%.
Frost Burst	PVP damage +20%.
Flame Arrow, Burst, Pyroclasm	Spec 2 HP-leech 1.5% → 1%.

In-Game Events and Promotions

Several limited-time events and shop promotions are active following the maintenance:

Quairing Premium Membership Event Pass

Complete pass missions over a 28-day period to receive high-value cumulative rewards.

Specific rewards can be claimed for completing individual missions.

Start of a New Adventure: 14-Day Attendance

Run period: July 1 to July 22. Daily resets occur at midnight.

AION 2 Growth Support

Support period: July 1 to November 4. Players can activate various growth tracks using 0-Quna coins from the shop.

28-Day Attendance Event

Run period: July 1 to August 5. Rewards include Soul Scrolls (Bound), Resurrection Spirit Stones, and food buffs.

New Outfits and Store Additions

The shop has been updated with Angel and Devil themed outfit sets, unique head accessories, new pets (Fluffy Sheep and Blue Flame Gumiho), Sunshine Wings, and the Chapter 1 Starter Pack.

System Quality of Life Improvements and Bug Fixes

• HUD Editing: Resizing unselected elements no longer reverts their size when clicked.
• Combat Power Meter: A new auto-measure mode has been added, saving up to 100 combat records during boss encounters.
• Boss Direction Marker: Front and rear indicator display options have been added.
• Bug Fixes: Adjusted Decaying Durvati’s spell rotation in Dying Dramata’s Nest Hard, fixed terminator mechanics in the Corroded Decontamination Facility, and adjusted the drop rate of Seed of Insight from Shugo Festa to 70%.