Aion 2 launches worldwide on Monday, and the most important decision is about to be made. We’ll tell you which class suits you best and which ones you should avoid for your first character.
Since September 30, the first players have already been soaring through Atreia—at least those with the Founder’s Pack. On Monday, October 5, the rest of the world will get its turn, and Aion 2 will launch as a Free2Play MMO exclusively for PC.
After the tutorial, however, you’ll face the class selection—and in Aion 2, just like in any MMO, that’s a pretty critical decision. If, for example, you realize after 20 hours as a mage that constantly dying is getting on your nerves, you’ll have to start over with a new character.
To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, we’ve taken a look at all eight classes: Which ones are forgiving of beginner mistakes, which ones do best on their own, and which ones find a dungeon group the fastest?
Before You Commit: Three Things You Should Know
Your class is permanent: The game doesn’t allow you to change classes, and NC hasn’t announced any plans to do so for the global version yet. At least every account starts with four character slots. If you’re unsure, feel free to try out two or three classes for a few hours before settling on a main character.
Faction and gender don’t matter. All eight classes are available to both Elyos and Asmodians, regardless of whether you create a male or female character. So you don’t have to choose between your favorite class and your favorite faction.
The Brawler is coming later: Aion 2 has been live in Korea and Taiwan since November 2025; there, the Chapter 1 update in July added a ninth class: the Brawler, a fist-fighter who wears combat gloves. The global version will launch without him, and NC hasn’t announced a release date yet. So if you read anywhere about nine classes, that refers to the Asian version.
All 8 Classes at a Glance
| Class | Role | Solo Playability | Beginner-Friendliness | Popularity in Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Templar | Tank (Sword & Shield) | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Gladiator | Melee DPS & Off-Tank (Greatsword) | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Assassin | Melee Burst (Daggers) | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ranger | Physical Ranged (Bow) | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Mage | Magical Ranged (Spellbook) | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Summoner | Summoner & Control (Orb) | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Cleric | Healer (Mace) | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Cantor | Hybrid Support (Staff) | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
The Best Classes for Solo Players
First, the good news: Aion 2 can largely be played solo. The story, open world, solo dungeons, and daily activities are designed for single players.
However, you’ll need a group for the toughest PvE challenges: Expedition and Transcendence dungeons are designed for five players, and the Sanctuary raid for ten. You don’t need a permanent guild for this, though, because the group finder searches for fellow players across all servers in your region.
Gladiator
The Gladiator wields a greatsword, hits multiple enemies at once, and some of his attacks heal him. This allows him to get by for a long time even without a healer, making him the ideal solo fighter.
Still, he’s not exactly a walk in the park. Many skills deal significantly more damage when the enemy is already downed or stunned, and those who master these combos will get much more out of the class.
Summoner
The Summoner summons elemental spirits, each with its own role: the Earth Spirit draws enemies’ attention, the Wind Spirit heals, the Water Spirit restores mana, and the Fire Spirit deals area-of-effect damage. On top of that, there are curses, damage-over-time effects, and fear effects.
The catch: You constantly keep an eye on your character and your spirit, switching to the appropriate companion depending on the situation. This takes some practice. In groups, the Summoner also ends up further down the list when it comes to pure boss damage.
Who Is Most in Demand in Groups
A classic dungeon party in Aion 2 looks like this: one tank, one healer, three damage-dealing classes. If you do the math, things get tight for DDs. Six pure damage-dealing classes have to share the three spots, since Templars and Clerics practically have their roles all to themselves. If you want to get into dungeons as quickly as possible at launch, you’re best off with these two. In Korea, the Cleric is by far the most sought-after group class.
There’s also a detail that many overlook: Some group buffs don’t stack. For example, the Gladiator’s damage buff doesn’t stack with the Templar’s, and the most important buffs from the Cleric and Cantor are also incompatible. It’s possible that, as a result, you might not be invited to join a group in the absolute endgame.
The quick search for dungeon groups doesn’t take such nuances into account, of course—there, you simply select your role.
Not for MMO Beginners: Mage and Assassin
Both classes are powerful; the Assassin is particularly impressive in PvP.
But both classes reward high skill and punish mistakes harshly. The Mage combines fire and ice magic, wipes out entire groups of enemies, but isn’t very durable. On top of that, he has to stand still briefly to cast some of his most important spells. In boss fights, as is typical in MMOs, you’ll have to dodge a lot of effects.
The Assassin thrives on stealth, backstabs, and pure burst damage. In Korea, he deals more damage than any other class in the first ten seconds of a fight, but his damage drops off after that. If you don’t master his rotation, you’ll suffer more than, say, Rangers or Gladiators.
Neither class is unplayable as a first character, but the frustration factor is noticeably higher, especially in solo dungeons. While the Gladiator can charge in, beat up four mobs at once, and heal himself through passive talents, Assassins and Mages must proceed much more cautiously.
