Aion 2 · Guides
Aion 2 leveling guide: the fastest route to level 45
NCSOFT / AION 2 official Steam screenshots
TL;DR
- Follow the yellow main story quests. Anders reached 45 in about 3 to 4 hours this way, and FRESHY calls 5 hours or less realistic for a normal player.
- Get to your first Expedition, Krao Cave, early. Creators say that is where Odyle Energy starts to recharge, around level 22.
- When the story stops for an Ascension quest, fill the gauge with sealed dungeons, strongholds and green side quests. Pick quests that reward accessories.
- Clear the story Expeditions but do not open their reward cubes. Save Odyle Energy for Conquest at level 45.
- Do not enhance gear while leveling. Spend skill points, Stigma and Daevanion points instead.
Do you need to rush to 45?
No. Anders and Madsin both say there is no prize for speed, and that the sealed dungeons, strongholds and green quests you skip now have to be done at 45 anyway.
Creator tip
Do you need to speedrun to 45? No, absolutely not. It is not necessary. If you do want to speedrun anything, I recommend at least getting to your first expedition.
The reason to reach that first Expedition quickly is Odyle Energy, the energy you spend to open the reward cube at the end of an Expedition. Madsin explains that the Expedition menu opens with a level 22 story quest, and that energy only starts building once it is open.
| Odyle Energy | Game data |
|---|---|
| Recharge | 15 points every 3 hours, 120 a day |
| Storage cap | 560, or 840 with a subscription |
| First Expedition | Krao Cave Exploration, entry level 20 |
Creator tip
If you optimize everything and basically speedrun the process, you can reach level 45 in around 3 and 1/2 hours. For a normal player, I'd say 5 hours or less is a realistic target.
The route
The main story quests are yellow. They unlock green side quests along the way. You do not have to finish the green quests, but Anders picks up the ones that sit on the path to the next objective.
| Stage | Story Expeditions | What stops you |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Main story to the first Ascension | Ascension gauge. Anders was at about 85% and needed about five more sealed dungeons, strongholds or green quests | |
| 2. Main story to the second Ascension | Krao Cave, Urugugu Canyon | Ascension gauge again, about five more side activities |
| 3. Straight to 45 | Fire Temple | Nothing; you reach 45 before the story ends |
| 4. Draupnir and the Abyss | Draupnir, then the Abyss | Item level gates, covered below |
On global, TheWhelps reports what side content gives, which is why it makes you noticeably stronger while leveling:
| Activity | Skill points | Daevanion points |
|---|---|---|
| Green side quest | 1 | 1 |
| Sealed dungeon | 2 | 2 |
Pick accessory quests
Anders and FRESHY both prioritise green quests that reward accessories. The later Expeditions have an item level requirement, and those accessories are the easiest way to meet it. The quest jewelry is all item level 43.
Quest jewelry to collect
Story Expeditions: clear them, skip the cube
Every story Expedition can be cleared without opening its reward cube, and the quest still moves on. All three creators who cover leveling tell you to leave the cube closed.
Creator tip
Do not collect the reward from these exploration dungeons when you're starting the game. Opening that reward costs Odyle Energy, and you want to save the energy for conquest dungeons at level 45.
TheWhelps adds that the gear from these cubes is replaced quickly. The story's last quests give you a level 45 weapon, so the Fire Temple weapon is not worth the energy. The one exception Anders mentions is a Fire Temple extendable weapon for PvP, and even then he would save the energy.
| Expedition | Unlocks at | Item level to enter | Cube cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krao Cave Exploration | Level 20 | 200 | 20 Odyle Energy |
| Urugugu Canyon Exploration | Level 28 | 300 | 20 |
| Fire Temple Exploration | Level 35 | 500 | 30 |
| Draupnir Exploration | Level 45 | 700 | 40 |
Levels, item levels and costs are from the game data. All four Exploration modes can be done solo, which Anders confirms.
The item level walls at 45
Gear score in Aion 2 is your total item level, shown under your character level. It is a different number from combat power. The gear score guide explains both.
| Story step | Needs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Draupnir Exploration | Item level 700 | Anders expects many players to be short here |
| The Abyss (Chaotic Lower Reshanta) | Level 45, item level 1000 | Wakayashi: the final main and Ascension quests wait behind it, and give the guard and bracelet you keep for a long time |
To get over both walls:
- Open the Clash Rune chests from quests and equip both runes. Each is item level 40.
- Finish the sealed dungeons, strongholds and green quests you skipped. Every Daevanion point you spend adds item level.
- Use the Spacetime Rift to reach the other faction's map. Anders and FRESHY both pick up the rift side quests before crossing. You have an hour on the other side, so new players need several trips. Check the next rift on the timers page.
What to skip and what to save
| While leveling | Why |
|---|---|
| Skip enhancing | Anders: not needed. Madsin: dismantling returns Enhance Stones but not the Kina |
| Skip feathers | Collected at 45 for the Monolith, which Madsin notes syncs to your other characters on the server, so only your main needs them |
| Save Shugo Festival keys | Anders spends them at 45; Madsin says the rewards scale with level |
| Save Odyle Energy | All of it goes to Conquest at 45 |
Alts on day one
Grobs and Madsin both take every character to level 22 on the first day, so each one starts recharging its own Odyle Energy, before leveling their main to 45. The game data gives each character its own energy.
FRESHY takes one to three alts to the same point, about an hour each, and later uses their Expedition Kina to fund his main. This is optional. Madsin's view is that the game rewards steady play more than a perfect start.
Next steps
- What to do at level 45: the first-day checklist at the cap.
- Gear score guide: every item level threshold after 45.
- Daily and weekly checklist: the routine once you are at the cap.
- Which class to play: if you have not picked yet.
Explore the encyclopedia
Sources
- Anders: AION 2 global leveling guide, what to do, what to skip, what to save
- FRESHY: The fastest and most efficient way to reach 2200 gear score in AION 2
- Madsin: My progression plans for global
- Grobs: AION 2 daily and weekly checklist plus perfect week 1 plan
- TheWhelps: How to hit 1400 GS without wasting energy
- TheWhelps: Big changes for global Aion 2
- Wakayashi: AION 2 first steps at level 45
- Corpus: Aion 2 dungeons
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