The Playable Factions in Aion 2: Complete Guide

If you are gearing up for Aion 2, you already know that the biggest choice you will make happens right at the character creation screen. Set on the world of Atreia 200 years after the original game, Aion 2 brings back the classic, uncompromising rivalry that defined the franchise: the Elyos versus the Asmodians.

It is a strict binary division, and it is a choice that will dictate your entire experience. To make things even more interesting, the Balaur return as a major non-playable faction, acting as a brutal common enemy that hates both sides equally.

Unlike a lot of modern MMORPGs that let opposing factions mingle in neutral towns or queue for dungeons together, Aion 2 takes an old-school approach to faction pride. Factions are forced onto separate servers. That means if your friends are playing Elyos, you cannot roll an Asmodian on the same standard server to hang out or form a guild with them. Outside of specific cross-realm events, you are completely separated.

Choosing a side is a big deal. Here is a complete look at both playable factions, how they feel, and the mechanics tied to your choice.

1. The Elyos: The Celestial Vanguard

If you like the aesthetic of holy warriors, radiant light, and breathtaking scenery, the Elyos will probably be your go-to.

• Lore: The Elyos are an angelic, humanoid race. After the Epic Cataclysm shattered Atreia, they lucked out and ended up living in a region bathed in perpetual sunshine for centuries. Because of this, they view themselves as the chosen people of the god Aion. This gives them a massive sense of divine righteousness—they genuinely believe they are the good guys.

• Aesthetic: They are visually stunning, featuring fair skin, bright features, and pristine white wings.

• Environment: Their homeland is Elysea, and it looks like a paradise. It is packed with vibrant, lush, sunlit landscapes that feel genuinely majestic to explore.

• Gameplay Feel: When you play an Elyos character, your combat and skills emphasize light-based visuals, fluid grace, and swift, agile movement.

2. The Asmodians: The Resilient Shadows

On the flip side, if you prefer a grittier, darker, "survival against all odds" vibe, the Asmodians are an incredibly compelling choice.

• Lore: When the world split, the Asmodians were cast into the dark, frozen upper half of Atreia. They spent a thousand years surviving a brutal, unforgiving environment. This hardship changed them, making them resilient, fiercely loyal to their own kind, and absolutely brutal to outsiders. They are not evil; they are just survivors who did what they had to do.

• Aesthetic: They have a dark, imposing look with pale skin, sharp claws, dark maned wings, and eyes that glow a menacing red whenever they enter combat.

• Environment: Their homeland, Asmodae, is a stark contrast to Elysea. It is a cold, jagged world covered in perpetual twilight, heavy shadows, and ice.

• Gameplay Feel: Playing an Asmodian feels rugged and heavy. Their skill themes focus on dark energy visuals, emphasizing raw survival, physical grit, and pure resilience.

Key Faction Mechanics You Need to Know

Your faction choice is not just skin-deep; it fundamentally alters your social environment and how you progress through the game.

• Server Lockouts: To reiterate, your faction choice locks your server access. Elyos and Asmodians cannot share standard servers, cross-chat, or join the same guilds. Coordinate with your group before launch day!

• Faction Rivalry (PvPvE): The core of Aion 2's endgame is built around open-world PvPvE conflicts. You will be fighting the opposing faction for territory and resources, but you always have to keep one eye on the sky. The NPC-controlled Balaur can trigger sudden invasions, turning a standard faction fight into a chaotic, three-way war.

• Universal Classes: The good news is that choosing a faction will not lock you out of your favorite combat style. All 8 launch classes are fully playable by both the Elyos and the Asmodians.

Here is a quick breakdown of the classes available to both sides:

Character Customization: Making Your Character Unique

Aion 2 heavily expands on the original game's legendary character customization tool, ensuring that even if you choose the same faction as thousands of other players, you can still look entirely unique.

The creator features more than 200 morph sliders, giving you granular control over facial structures, muscle definitions, and body proportions. The game also brings back iconic body type presets, meaning you can build anything from a realistic, towering warrior to the highly stylized, tiny "Chibi" proportions that the original Aion community loved.

Finally, because flight and gliding mechanics are a massive part of exploration and combat, you can fully customize your wings. You will be able to modify the colors, shapes, and overall styles of your wings to perfectly match your armor set.