Elyos or Asmodians in AION 2: which faction (race) to choose

In 30 seconds

Same powerBoth factions have the same 8 classes, skills and stats. There are no racial bonuses.

Same looksAsmodians no longer have claws or beast features: both sides share one character editor.

What differsYour own continent and towns, your own story, your own field bosses, the colour of starting wings and the names of crafted items.

Separate serversEvery server belongs to one faction. You cannot move to a server of the other faction.

The main ruleChoose together with your friends: Elyos and Asmodians never share a legion.

Elyos vs Asmodians: what is the difference

The Elyos live on the sunlit side of Atreia, the Asmodians on the harsh, cold one

In the first AION your side changed a lot: you could spot an Asmodian from afar — claws, dark skin, red eyes. In AION 2 that difference is almost gone. Power, classes and looks are the same for both factions; what differs is the world, the story and your server neighbours.

	Elyos	Asmodians
Side of the world	The upper, sunlit half of Atreia	The lower, cold and twilight half
Starting zones	Poeta → Verteron → Eltnen (later)	Ishalgen → Altgard → Morheim (later)
Story mood	Duty, defending the homeland, divine right	Survival, pride, resentment of the "chosen"
Starting wings	White	Black
Classes and skills	All 8 classes	All 8 classes

What is the same

Classes and skills. A Gladiator is a Gladiator on either side. There are no racial bonuses — your faction does not make your character stronger.
Appearance. The character editor is the same: anything an Asmodian can create, an Elyos can too.
Gear and skins. Crafted gear has the same recipes, materials and stats — only the name changes. Both factions wear outfits, wings and skins.
Pets. You can collect any creature. You simply meet the beasts of your own half of the world first, and go through rifts for the rest.

Crafted item namesThe same items have different names for Elyos and Asmodians. When you read a guide by a player of the other faction, compare the item tier and level, not the name. The stats are identical.

What your choice actually changes

Asmodians start in the cold lands of Ishalgen and Altgard

World and story

Each faction has its own continent, towns and voiced story with cutscenes. While you level you do not see the enemy lands. Later rifts take you there for sealed dungeons and strongholds. If the story matters to you, this is the main criterion: you will only see the other story on a character of the other faction.

Field bosses

Each side has its own bosses with their own names, spawn points, achievements and titles. In Verteron it is, for example, Eternal Gartua, in Altgard — Immortal Gartua. The full list is in the World and field bosses guide.

Servers

This is the main difference from the first AION. Every server belongs to one faction. An Elyos server is paired with an Asmodian one, and that is who you fight in the Abyss and rifts. The pairs are not permanent: they are reshuffled to balance the sides. Dungeons and other instances are shared by all servers, so in PvE your faction does not matter.

You cannot change factionCharacter transfers open on 14 October, but only between servers of the same faction. If you picked the wrong side, you have to start over.

How to choose

ElyosIf you like bright summer landscapes, marble and the "noble" defender's story.

AsmodiansIf harsh gothic, autumn colours and a story of survival and pride feel closer.

If aesthetics are not enough, practical points decide:

Friends and legion. Factions never share a legion. Agree on a side before you create your main
Your community. Before the launch Russian-speaking legions in Europe gathered mostly on Asmodian servers, but there are plenty on Elyos servers too
Story. Pick the story you want to play. You can see the other one on an alt
Levelling helper. The main story route with notes in DBAion2 Tracker is made for Asmodians so far

Choosing a faction for powerThere is none: classes and stats are the same.
Choosing for looksBoth sides share the editor.
Creating your main without asking friendsYou cannot switch sides, only start over.
Fearing your side will "die"Server pairs are rebalanced by strength, and all dungeons are shared.

The bottom line

Elyos and Asmodians in AION 2 are equal in power and looks. They differ in continent, story, field bosses and servers. Choose your side together with friends and by the story you want to play: a finished character cannot change faction.