AION 2 Elyos vs Asmodian: All Faction Differences Explained

AION 2 makes you choose between two factions at character creation: the Elyos of Elysea and the Asmodians of Asmodae. Veterans of the original AION will remember meaningful racial differences — in AION 2, the choice is far more about style than stats. Here is what actually differs, and what doesn't.

What Is NOT Different

This surprises most returning players:

• Classes and stats: both factions share all 8 classes with identical skills and no racial stat bonuses.
• Character customization: both factions use the exact same creator. The original AION gave Asmodians claws, manes and taloned feet — that is gone. Body types, faces and options are identical.
• Crafted gear: the same sets and recipes exist on both sides; only item names differ (for example, Elyos "True Dragon Lord" weapons vs the Asmodian "Star Dragon Lord" naming).

What IS Different

World and Starting Zones

• Elyos (Elysea): bright, sunlit regions — lush forests and polished cities. The journey starts in Poeta and continues through Verteron.
• Asmodians (Asmodae): a harsher, darker world of tundras and canyons, starting in Ishalgen and moving through Altgard.

Story Campaign

Each faction has its own fully voice-acted main story with unique cutscenes: themes of divine duty and preservation for the Elyos, survival and resilience for the Asmodians. Quest names and some item names differ, but rewards are equivalent.

Wings

Your wings are the most visible faction identity: bright, feathered wings for Elyos and dark, spiked wings for Asmodians. Purely cosmetic.

Servers and Playing With Friends

This is the difference that actually matters:

• Servers are faction-locked. A character belongs to one faction on one server.
• You cannot party, trade, or join a legion with the opposing faction. (Cross-faction dungeon matchmaking exists for instanced content.)
• The choice is permanent for the character — there is no faction swap at launch.

Field Content

Each continent has its own field bosses, Sealed Dungeons, Strongholds and achievements. You are not locked out forever, though: Spacetime Rifts periodically open and let you invade the opposing continent for a limited time to clear its exclusive content.

So Which Faction Should You Pick?

1. Where are your friends playing? That answer overrides everything else.
2. Which world do you want to look at for hundreds of hours? Bright Elysea or dark Asmodae.
3. Which wings do you prefer?

There is no "stronger" faction — pick on aesthetics and community.

Once you have decided, head to the classes overview or our beginner guide.