AION 2 Elyos vs Asmodian: Which Faction to Pick
Updated 2026-10-20 · Global release (Season 1) · launch-window meta, subject to patches
AION 2 Elyos vs Asmodian: Which Faction Should You Choose?
I watched three friends download AION 2, each pick a different-looking server because the name sounded cooler, and then realize they could never play together in the open world. Faction choice in AION 2 isn't cosmetic — it's the most permanent decision in the game, more important than your class. Here's exactly how it works, in plain language, as of the global release in October 2026.
The One Rule That Matters Most
Each server hosts only ONE faction. There are Elyos-only servers and Asmodian-only servers. You don't choose a faction inside a shared server — picking the server picks the faction for you.
The consequences:
- ❌ Pick the wrong server and you and your friends are enemies, not allies. You can't group in the open world, you fight on opposite sides in the Abyss, and you level in completely different zones.
- 🔒 There is currently no way to switch faction. Server transfers exist (free as of October 14, within the same region), but they're restricted to same-faction servers — transferring cannot turn an Elyos into an Asmodian.
- 🗺️ Each faction has its own starting experience, story zones, and capital city. You're not sharing leveling maps.
🚨 Before anyone clicks create: agree in a group chat — faction name AND exact server name — and have one person create first and send a screenshot. This is the #1 "we had to reroll" story at launch.
So Who Are the Elyos and Asmodians Actually?
Lore-wise, both are Daeva — winged beings living on the two halves of the shattered world Atreia. The Elyos dwell on the bright, lush lower half; the Asmodians on the dark, frozen upper half. Expect the classic visual split: Elyos characters trend bright and angelic, Asmodian characters darker and edgier. Your wings differ too. Pick the aesthetic you want to stare at for 100+ hours — that alone is a legitimate deciding factor.
What's Actually Different in Gameplay?
Here's the reassuring part: the differences are mostly about where and with whom, not what you can play.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do both factions have all 8 classes? | Yes. Templar, Gladiator, Assassin, Ranger, Sorcerer, Spiritmaster, Cleric, Chanter — all available on both sides. No faction-exclusive classes. |
| Do both get wings at the same level? | Nearly — Elyos ascend at level 5, Asmodians at level 6. Both fly freely across almost the whole world afterward. |
| Same dungeons and systems? | Yes — same classes, same dungeons (with cross-server matchmaking), same endgame gates, same Item Level gearing. |
| Different story and zones? | Yes — separate leveling campaigns, zones, and capitals until the shared endgame/PvP layer. |
| Can we still play PvE together cross-faction? | Dungeons use cross-server matchmaking; group creation options exist for same-faction teams, with cross-faction behavior still being tested by the community. Don't rely on cross-faction play as your way to game with friends — roll together to be safe. |
| Is one faction stronger? | Faction strength depends entirely on server population and organization; there's no inherent class or power advantage. |
How the Two Factions Meet: the Abyss
The faction war happens in the Abyss (Reshanta), the PvPvE zone unlocked at level 45 and Item Level 1000. Elyos, Asmodians, and NPC Balaur all fight over forts, artifacts, world bosses, and Abyss Points — which both sides earn the same way and spend in the same kinds of reward shops. There are also battlegrounds with standardized stats and periodic rifts that open into the enemy faction's maps. Translation: you're not choosing a "worse PvP side" — you're choosing which jersey you wear into the same war. Launch-week population balances shift server to server, so no side is permanently winning.
How to Actually Decide (3 Steps)
1. Ask your friends first — always
If you play with anyone, this decides everything:
- Pick the faction AND server together before launch night.
- Grouping, guilds (Legions unlock at level 16), open-world questing, and Abyss fights all assume same-faction.
- If you choose wrong, the only fix is rerolling from level 1 on the right server.
2. Check latency to the server
There are North American, South American, European, and Asian server regions. Ping shapes your daily comfort and matters enormously for timing-tight classes like Assassin (combos visibly drop around 100+ ms). Before committing:
- Have each friend check ping to the candidate region, ideally in-game during peak hours.
- A slightly less popular server in your region beats a "famous" server across an ocean.
- Faction popularity differs per server, but a stable low ping never changes.
3. Then choose look and vibe
Still equal on friends and ping? Go with aesthetics:
- ☀️ Elyos — bright zones, angelic look, the "classic radiant hero" fantasy.
- 🌑 Asmodian — dark frozen zones, sharper edgier look, the "gothic warrior" fantasy.
Some players also pick based on which side their preferred content creators or community guilds are rolling — both are valid tiebreakers.
Quick FAQ
Can I have Elyos and Asmodian characters on the same account?
Yes, but on different (faction-appropriate) servers — you get 4 character slots per server. They won't share a world or a guild.
Does my faction lock my class choice?
No. Every class exists on both sides, with the same skills.
Will NCSoft ever add faction changes?
Nothing has been announced. Treat the choice as permanent — that's how the game is designed at launch.
Which faction is more populated?
It varies by region and changes weekly; no global answer exists, and it doesn't affect your dungeon access thanks to cross-server matching.
I already picked wrong — what now?
Same-region free server transfers can move you to another server of your same faction. To reach the other faction, you reroll. Double-check with friends before you invest another hour.
Related: deciding what to play on that server? → AION 2 Class Tier List for New Players and Best Class for Every Playstyle. New to everything else? Start at the AION 2 Beginner Guide.
This guide is based on the global release as of October 2026. AION 2 is receiving frequent balance patches, so meta may change. Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with NCSoft.
This guide is based on the global release as of October 2026. AION 2 is receiving frequent balance patches, so meta may change. Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with NCSoft.