First of all, thank you to Fatal Fool from over at the Aionsource.com forums! He’s a great member of the aion/assassin community and wrote this amazing guide, as well as gave us over here at AionFTW permission to use it. So thank you very much Fatal Fool! It’s thanks to members of the community that put the time and effort in to do stuff like this that makes the game overall more enjoyable for the rest of us.

Basic Overview

The Assassin class is the “Rogue” or “Thief” archetype found within Aion. Like the majority of games which have such a class, you will find that dual wielding, stealth, and large amounts of melee (physical) based damage make up the class’ basic utilities. They rely on their ability to “burst” (do large amounts of damage in a short period of time) and restrict their targets movements through the use of stuns.

The Assassin is one of two specialized classes you are able to choose upon reaching level 10 in the initial Scout school/subclass. The other being a Ranger.

Hide

Does the Assassin get some type of stealth skill?

Yes. The Scout class gets the skill Hide I (lvl. 5), which is the Aion equivalent of “stealth”, allowing both Assassins and Rangers to use the initial rank. Assassins however are the only ones which obtain Hide II (lvl. 34), which is much more difficult to detect, and lasts slightly longer.

Are there any abilities that can only be used while Hiding?:

NO. As of now there are no abilities that are performed exclusively while in Hide mode, or any special damage/crit or other bonus for attacking while in Hide mode. Furthermore any ability used while in hiding will take you out of hiding.

Signet Patterns

What are Signet Patterns? How do they work? How do they effect stuns?

Signet Patterns are often considered to be the Aion equivalent of a WoW Rogue’s “Combo Points”. Both of which can be stacked up to the maximum intensity of 5, and upon using a signet skill all engraved signet patterns on the target are consumed.

How are they used?:

- The more signet patterns engraved on a target, the greater effect the signet bursting ability will have on the target.

- Pain Rune is an example of a skill that utilizes signet patterns. As you can see from the tooltip, the more signet patterns erased/consumed, the higher the damage will be, and the higher chance you have of stunning the target.

- Signet Patterns are arguably the most difficult concept behind Assassins, as well the hardest thing to efficiently manage (next to rotation and cooldowns). Not every skill uses signet patterns, or applies patterns.

- Signet patterns compound with other Assassin’s engraving abilities. If you have two Assassin’s on one target, their signet pattern application and consumption will be from the same pool, and are still capped at 5 pattern levels. Therefore monitoring, coordinating, applying, and removing signet patterns is rather important when two or more Assassin’s are on a single target at the same time. Read on to find out more.

Signet Stun Mechanics: Coming soon.

(3.1) Pattern Engraving: Engraving is the method of applying a pattern to your target. Each skill that has the ability to apply a pattern can only do so up to a certain intensity, and that intensity can be found in the skill description. See the following skill for an example: Rune Carve

As you can see from the above tooltip the skill “Engrave Signet” can apply patterns “up to the level of 3″. The pattern level can only go up one level at a time, per skill used. There are skills that are capable of applying up to 3 signet pattern levels, as well as ones that are capable of applying up to 5 signet pattern levels. See the following skill for an example: Fang Strike

The skills that can apply up to the 3rd level means that upon reaching pattern level 3 it will not be capable of pushing the pattern level any higher without using a skill that can go to level 5. Skills that can apply pattern up to level 5 however can further the targets Signet level from 1, all the way up to 5. This limitation makes it more difficult to obtain the maximum 5 patterns, and forces you to choose which skill to use in order to further it rather than simply spamming random skills to achieve 5 patterns without effort.

Photos: The following photo is of an Assassin’s level 5 pattern graphic. At level 1 there is only one square, at level 2 there are two squares, and so on. This is different than the debuff icon found found on the targets buff/debuff bar. The graphic only lasts for roughly .5-1 second before fading.

The picture below is of the Signet Engraving debuff icons that are greatly enlarged. In order of 1-5 (left-right):

*** MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE AFTER THE BREAK!

Back Attacks

Do Assassins get a “Backstab” type of ability? (An attack that does more damage from behind, and/or can only be done from behind):

Yes. Assassins get two attacks that deal bonus damage from the back. They are usable from any side, but the bonus will only be applied if you are at the targets back. The skills are as follows:

The above skills are rendered virtually useless if not executed at the opponents back. Coupled with their long cooldown periods it is wise to only use them on a stunned, fleeing, or unaware target that you can easily approach from behind.

NOTE: There is a third “backstab” ability. However, it is a Divine Prayer skill and has been excluded from the list due to the high level requirement (50), DP (4000), and cooldown (1 hour) on the skill. I may add it later.

Stuns

Do Assassins have any stun abilities?

Yes. The Assassin gets a total of seven stuns to work with. Stuns are an essential tool to any Assassin that will effectively prevent your target from fleeing, casting, and damaging you. Stunning also grants you the opportunity to get in devastating back attacks that can turn the tide of any fight. While stunned the target is incapable of not only casting or movement, but defending themselves through the use of passive blocking, dodging, or parrying which indirectly boosts the Assassins damage on the target.

Due to the importance and complexity of Assassin stuns, I have written a full guide on them which can be found in the AionSource forums here: Assassin Skillset – Stuns. I urge anyone that has yet to view it to give it at least a once over.

Stigmas

What are stigmas? How many do I get? Where do I get them?

(6.1) Stigma List

Stigmas are abilities that are only usable when a “Stigma Stone” is equipped in a “Stigma Slot”. Come patch 1.5, you will be able to equip an additional 3 stigma stones! Bringing the total you can equip to 8 at level 50.

Here is a full list of currently known Assassin Stigma’s. They can be obtained through two methods: quests and drops. This list will grow as the new Advanced Stigma’s are revealed. Also, if you are curious as to what quest you get the item from, or what mob(s) drop it, click on the stone name.

Format: (Level) Name of Ability – Name of Stone: Location (Quest, Drop, or Unknown)

(20) Sigil Strike – Sigil Strike I: Quest.

___

(20) Flurry – Flurry I: Drop.

___

(22) Aethertwisting – Aethertwisting I: Drop.

(25) Ambush – Ambush I: Drop.

(28) Apply Deadly Poison – Apply Deadly Poison I: Unknown

(28) Pattern Crush – Pattern Crush I: Unknown.

(31) Oath of Accuracy – Oath of Accuracy I: Unknown.

(34) Rune Knife – Rune Knife I: Unknown.

(37) Eye of Wrath – Eye of Wrath I: Unknown.

(37) Blinding Burst – Blinding Burst I: Unknown.

(44) Throw Shuriken – Throw Shuriken: Unknown.

(44 Asmodian Only) Ancestral Darkness Rune – Ancestral Darkness rune I: Unknown.

(44 Elyos Only) Ancestral Radiant Rune – Ancestral Radiant Rune I: Unknown.

(48) Escape – Escape I: Unknown.

Unlike regular skills that go up in rank as you level, new stigma ranks must be acquired through drop or quest. You may not stack multiple ranks of the same stigma in order to avoid the cooldown of the ability.

(6.2) Advanced Stigma Stones:

With the introduction of patch 1.5 each class will gain access to roughly six new stigma stones (abilities).

In order to unlock the three additional stigma slots you will have to do the following:

1.) Complete the initial introductory quest at level 40.

2.) Complete another quest quest at level 45, which unlocks two advanced stigma slots.

3.) And lastly, you must complete the third final quest at level 50 which unlocks the third and final advanced stigma slot.The in game stigma stone tab as of 1.5 will look like the following:

The three slots on the right within the yellow rectangle are the “Advanced Stigma Slots”. You are capable of equipping any stone in these slots, but are unable to equip “Advanced Stones” in the original five slots on the left.

The Advanced Stones are more complex than original stones, and have pre-requisites to equip; such as other Advanced Stones, and/or regular stigmas. This will create a lot of customization between characters.

-For exact translations of the new Assassin stigmas and bonuses, go >here<

(6.3) Advanced Stigma List (Courtesy of TTB):

-For a full discussion on Advanced Stigmas, visit this link.

Advanced Stigmas: Chain Pattern Explosion option
Beastly Scars
Level: 45
Cast time: instant
Cool-down: 6 sec
Required Stigmas: Long Range Engrave Signet, Pattern Shattering
Inflicts 362 to 366 physical damage and engraves a signet pattern upto level 5.
Chain skill level 4
Beastly Strike > Beastly Scars

Rapid Slash
Level: 45
Cast time: instant
Cool-down: 24 sec
Required Stigmas: Eye of Wrath
Inflicts 318 to 322 physical damage, decreases targets magical resistance by 200 and all elemental defenses by 50.

Chain Pattern Explosion
Level: 50
Cast time: instant
Cool-down: 1 min
Required Stigmas: Beastly Scars, Rapid Slash
Inflicts 1250 fire magical damage to a target within 10m.
Chain skill level 2
All pattern explosions > Chain Pattern Explosion

Advanced Stigmas: Surprise Slash option

Explosive Apply Poison
Level: 45
Cast time: instant
Cool-down: 3 min
Required Stigmas: Deadly Apply Poison, Contract of Accuracy
Uses 5 scolopen poison to apply poison to your weapon. For 30 seconds, inflicts 579 additional damage with 20% chance each time you attack.

Lightning Slash
Level: 45
Cast time: instant
Cool-down: 24 sec
Required Stigmas: Blinding Burst
inflicts 318 to 322 damage and decreases targets magical accuracy by 200.

Surprise Slash
Level: 50
Cast time: instant
Cool-down: 3 min
Required Stigmas: Explosive Apply Poison, Lightning Slash
>Rushes to a target within 20m and inflicts 923 to 927 physical damage

As soon as the armory includes the above Advanced Stigmas, the display format will be changed.

What should I socket?

You should socket according to the primary stats listed above. Focus entirely on Physical Crit rating. The majority of players will not deviate from full crit sockets until they are capable of maintaining a high value (350-400+ at least) while socketing Evasion, which shouldn’t occur until much later on ( level 35+).

Play around with your stats to find your ideal amount of evasion and critical rate. But remember, crit always supersedes evasion in the stat food chain. In the end the higher you can get of both stats, the better.

(10.1) Manastones: Specifically, what stones should I use, on what gear, and at what levels?

It is wise to use only level 4 stones up until your mid 20’s, and only on green gear that you’ll be using for some time. Never waste a crit stone on a white item, ever. After that it’s up to the discretion of the player.

You can use alchemy and transform stones into even better ones (8’s, 9’s, 11’s, 12’s) and save them for higher levels, or you can use them on your good gear that you will be using for some time. The way to know what items you will be using for some time is to actually ask around and/or look on sites such as AionArmory – Aion Database to see what future gear you will have access to in the following levels.

(10.1) God Stones:These are much like Manastones but are much more difficult to get, and a good deal more powerful. They are usable on weapons and grants a special “glow” or “visual effect”.

You can find a list of the stones here. Also you can take a look at my Assassin Skillset – Stun posting to see a list of God Stones with the stun effect.

Faction Skills

What are faction skills?
- Faction skills are unique abilities that the Elyos and Asmodians get, that the opposing faction does not. Not including Divine Prayer skills, they both get two abilities unique to their faction’s class.

Asmodian Skills:
(1st and only rank at LVL. 42)

(1st rank at LVL. 45)

Elyos Skills:
(1st and only rank at LVL. 42)

(1st rank at LVL. 45)

Poisons

Do Assassins get any type of poison abilities?
- Yes. They get two poisons to work with. The most important thing to know, and is by no means common knowledge, is **a poisoned target cannot initiate flight**. If poisoned while in flight however they will not be forced out of flight, but will still take damage from the poison as usual. Meaning if they are on the ground and in an area where you can fly, if you poison them they will not be able to pull out their wings until that poison is cured and/or wears off. They WILL be able to glide however, so don’t rule that out by any means. This will reduce their chance of fleeing by leaps and bounds.

-The poisons require a reagent named Scolopen’s Poison, which is quite cheap and can be purchased from every General Goods Merchant throughout the game. The skills that you are able to use are as follows:

(1st rank at LVL. 16)

The above poison is very useful in both PvE and PvP, due to the fact that it not only deals periodic damage to the target, but when used in conjunction with the Assassination skill you can dish out a great deal of bonus damage.

The second skill is actually a stigma, so it requires you to equip it in order to use it:

(1st and only rank at LVL. 28)

Primary Stats

What are the main stats an Assassin uses, and looks for in items and armor?- The most valuable statistics for an Assassin are without question Physical Crit., Attack Speed Increase, Evasion, and Attack. (Magic Resist at end game PvP)

(9.1) Physical Crit.:

Physical Crit. is the most crucial statistic for an Assassin, and can be the difference between a bad Assassin character, and an amazing Assassin character. For every 10 Critical rating you have, you gain roughly ~1% critical rating. So if you were to have 400 critical rating, it would be in the 40% crit region.

This stays true until 450 critical rating. From 450 and beyond you begin to get diminishing returns. Every 10 rating from 450 and on will in turn grant you half a crit. So 10=.5%, rather than the usual full 1%. This would mean that at 450 critical rating, you would be sitting at 42.5% crit.In short: The faster you are able to reach and maintain 400+ critical rating the better. You will see a substantial increase in your slaying speed and efficiency as your critical rate increases.

**Important Fact**

As of patch 1.5 (the version which NA/EU will be launching with), the critical damage modifier (NOT THE RATE) on both swords and daggers have been lowered. The exact figure is unknown but is rumored to be around 2.2x (down from 2.5x)

(9.2) Evasion:

Evasion is the main defense method of the Assassin. Due to their low P. Defense they must rely on avoiding as many hits as possible. Evasion does not effect your chances of resisting or avoiding spells however. It is suggested that once you are capable of attaining a high level of critical rating, that you then focus on evasion. it is highly debated as to just how effective evasion is, but from personal experience I must say that from a PvP standpoint it’s very, very strong.

(9.3) Attack Speed Increase

The Attack Speed Increase stat increases the speed with which you attack with your auto-attack, and engravings. The stats soft and hard caps are unknown, but one is able to stack potions and skills upwards of 65% as of now. Furthermore, if you are using two weapons with + attack speed, only the weapon with the higher total amount will count (they are not cumulative anymore).

Currently the stat can be found on several weapons (such as this one: Alukina’s Silver-Decorated Knife), a few pairs of gloves (as seen here: Archon Centurion Leather Gloves), and even some titles.

The faster you attack, the faster you are able to execute pattern engraving abilities, as well as increasing your white damage a significant amount.

(9.4) Attack:

The attack rating is just what it sounds like. It is the amount of damage you are able to output. The higher the attack rating, the harder you will hit with both regular attacks as well as physical based skill attacks (Pain Rune is an example of a skill that is not affected by your attack rating).

**Important Fact**:When using a weapon in the offhand that increases attack (such as this: Black Claw Chieftain’s Dagger), the bonus is applied directly to both your main and offhand. I.E. if your original attack was 100 on your main hand, upon equipping that dagger in your offhand you would see a new rating of 110, which is equivalent to a +5 enchantment.

Flight

How do Assassins fair in flight combat? What abilities do they get while in flight?

This is a very valid and frequently asked question that is heavily debated. While the Assassin obviously does not want their target to live long enough to move, let alone take off into flight (which can be prevented through the use of poisons), they are capable of holding their own while in an an aerial battle. They are given several abilities that can solely be used while in flight combat.

One of the most valuable assets for an Assassin to use while in flight is a bow. Get a good bow and work on fast weapon swapping + auto attack, and you’ll be much more powerful in the air.

(11.1) Flight Abilities:Assassins are granted two passive abilities (ones that do not need to be activated) while in flight form. The first of which is a Winged Fury that grants an additional 50 (5%) crit rating while in flight form. The second is Winged Death, which increases the Assassins flight speed by 20 as well as 10 STR/AGI to several other stats. Although at level 25 everyone gets a similar flight speed increase, it still is noteworthy.

Sprinting, which stacks with the aforementioned Blessing, as well as flight scrolls and items, will make catching people or fleeing while in flight easiest for an Assassin in comparison to other classes.

They also have a flight only stun called Throw Dagger.

When you add up all the tools at an Assassins disposal while in flight they become quite a formidable aerial combatant.

Crowd Control

Do the Assassins get any form CC abilities?- No. As of now there are no CC skills. Stuns do not count as a CC in the traditional sense of the word. A “Crowd Control” skill is one that completely disables a target for a considerable length of time.

The only CC skills within Aion are: Curse of Roots (Sorcerer), Sleep (Sorcerer), and Sleep Arrow (Ranger). Fear (Spiritmasters) is also considered by some as a CC.

Pickpocketing

Can the Assassin pickpocket or steal in Aion?
- No. As of the most recent update (patch 1.5), the Assassin does not have any method of pickpocketing or stealing in their arsenal. There has also been no mention as to whether or not such an ability will be added.

Titles

What are titles? What should I use as an Assassin?

What are titles?:

Titles are exactly what they sound like. Where a surname would go after someones name, a title precedes it. Titles offer special stat bonuses that can prove to be quite beneficial. See below for an example of a title:

(The name of the above character is “Fatal Fool”–most people don’t have spaces in their names, which makes the “Fatal” part actually appear to be a title in and of itself. The part in the red rectangle is the title.)

They are given out as a reward for completing difficult quest chains, or accomplishing great feats such as defeating a specific boss, or mastering a profession. The bonuses and names are unique to each faction. Some titles clearly cater to specific archetypes more than others, and would only be used by an opposing archetype for the name of the title itself, and not the bonuses. For example: A Sorcerer (mage) wouldn’t use the “Expert Fisher” title which grants 7 accuracy for any reason other than they like the name of the title itself. Reason being that mages use “Magical Accuracy” for their attacks, not regular Accuracy, which applies to melee.

What title should I use as an Assassin?:

As an Assassin you should first and foremost use the best title you have at your disposal. If you only have one title, you might as well use that one rather than none. If you have multiple titles however, the title you choose should focus on boosting one (or several) of the main attributes of your class which are initially: Physical Crit., Evasion, and Attack.At later levels however you get to choose from superior titles that give Attack Speed, Flight Speed, and Speed increases. Those would be the ideal titles to use, because they make a much larger impact even in small doses than say +3 crit, or attack would.

In the beginning your titles will be very limited due to the quests that you can complete. It’s not possible for you to attain specific titles of your choosing due to the level restrictions on quests. If for instance you were level 12, and the title you want to use is obtained through completing a quest that involves an Abyss NPC, you wouldn’t be able to get it due to the fact you are unable to even set foot in the Abyss until level 25. Therefore that title is out of the question for anyone lower than level 25.

(14.1) Elyos Titles:

Here are four great titles for the Elyos. A full list can be found here.

(LVL. 14) – Bottled Lightning – Quest Chain: Missing Village Seal – +3% speed

(LVL. 24) – Savior of Eiron Forest – Quest Chain: Three Kurin Brothers – +5% Speed Increase, +36 HP, +36 Mana

(LVL. 38) – Honorary Black Cloud – Quest Chain: Jakurerk’s Opportunity to Make it Big – +5% speed increase.

(LVL. 47) – Owner of the Dragon Sword – Quest Chain: [Group] True Owner of the Dragon Sword – +6% Speed, +3 Flight Time, +3% Flight Speed, +52 Maximum HP (This is my personal favorite Elyos title for PvP)
(14.2) Asmodian Titles:Here are four great titles for an Asmodian Assassin (for a full list go here):

(LVL. 14) – Mosbear Slayer – Quest: A Friendly Wager – +2 Evasion

(LVL. 21) – Postal – Quest Chain: [Infiltration] Elim of Elysea – +4% speed increase.

(LVL. 38) – Wheeler-Dealer – Quest Chain: Contract of Black Cloud Traders – +5% speed increase.

(LVL. 25 through 40) – Heroic – Quest: Confrontation with Elysean Army General – +52 Maximum HP, +3 Flight Time, +3% Flight Speed, +6% Speed (This is my personal favorite Asmodian title for PvP)

Professions

What are the best professions for an Assassin? For PvP? For PvE? For making money?

In order to save a lot of time, I’m just going to summarize the following information into the main point:

Choose professions based first and foremost on personal preference & goals. Followed closely by legion/friend demand, and then server demand. Don’t be too concerned with what other people classify as PvE or PvP professions, because in Aion every single profession is viable for both.

If you feel the need to understand why I said the above, be my guest to read on through the full explanation!

What are the best professions for an Assassin?

Despite circulating rumors there are no definitive “best professions” for an Assassin. The reason being that the best professions will always be relative and extremely subjective. Relative in the sense that the value of the professions will be directly connected to demand of the goods on your server. Subjective in regard to the fact that the goal of having professions is different from person to person. Some people pick up a profession to be self-sufficient, while others will pick up a profession to be profitable, or a mixture of both.As of patch 1.5 you will be able to bring two skills to 450, so you won’t have to narrow it down to just one.

Professions for PvP & PvE:PvP – The pre-packaged answer for PvP professions seems to always be Alchemy first, followed by Cooking. I agree that potions and scrolls are absolute necessities for PvP, there’s just no way around it. Cooking bonuses are also huge for PvP, and just as beneficial for PvE. The problem here is that countless people are thinking the same thing in terms of PvP professions. Meaning that there will be a lot of people around to be crafting them, whether they be friends, legion mates, or just someone doing it for skill up’s and/or a fee. It doesn’t matter who crafts the potions/scrolls, since you still need to provide the materials.

Also purchasing food, scrolls, and potions off of the broker can sometimes be easier/faster than crafting if you have the gold at your disposal from farming, or selling goods from another profession.

PvE/Making Money:- Any and all professions in the game will be useful in PvE. If you craft a sword it will obviously be used regardless of if you are fighting mobs, or players. There will also be a demand for that sword from other players and can in turn be sold for large sums.

Weapons

What is the best weapon type (Sword/Dagger) to use as an Assassin overall? For Main-Hand? For Off-Hand? Can we use bows? What are extendable weapons?

What melee weapon type should I be using?:

What weapon type an Assassin should use is a very subjective and situational decision. The most logical answer to this question is use the best weapon (based on stats) that you have at your disposal, regardless of the type. The higher you get in level the more this will hold true. If you are using your level 10 green quest dagger (Dagger of Karma) at level 18 over some level 18 sword you just looted (i.e. Nukaka’s Sword), simply because it’s a dagger, you’re unnecessarily hurting your damage because of a weapon type bias.

Is there a definitive best weapon type for my Main-Hand or Off-Hand?:NO. As aforementioned the stats of a weapon precedes the type. However, if you have a say/choice in the type of weapon upgrade you will be getting that’s a different story. At lower levels it’s common practice to use a Dagger MH, and a Sword OH. Reason being that the crit rate of a dagger is double (100 base crit rate) of a sword (50 base crit rate), and you will most likely be lacking in crit at lower levels (1-25ish) more so than at higher levels (30-50). Also a Sword hits harder than a dagger, so having a harder hitting weapon in your OH is a good thing since your dual wield swings both hands at the same time, not independently of one another.

Bonus stats can be a deciding factor in weapon choice as well. This mechanic is further elaborated on in the next section.

(16.1) Bonus Stats: What are bonus stats on weapons? How do they work?

What are bonus stats on weapons?:

They are additional statistics that are most commonly found on green quality (and higher) weapons. Please refer to the following picture for a better understanding:

The regular stats that are found on every weapon can be seen in the blue box.
The bonus stats are in the red box, and are only on specific weapons.

How do bonus stats work?:

Bonus stats are quite unique in the way that they apply to your dual wield. If you look at the bonus stats in the above picture you will see that this particular weapon has Physical Crit, Physical Attack, and Attack Speed. There are other bonus stats besides these such as Parry, Accuracy, HP, and MP just to name a few.

Bonus stats are applied to BOTH weapons in your dual wield, regardless of what hand you use the weapon in. This can play a huge role in your weapon choice. This means that if your off-hand sword adds +10 physical attack, you will gain that attack on your main-hand and your off-hand.

There is however an exception to how Attack Speed is applied to your dual wield. If you are using two weapons with Attack Speed Increase only the highest percent will be used, and the other will be completely ignored. Every other bonus stat will be applied to both hands of your dual wield cumulatively. (If you still don’t understand the concept don’t hesitate to PM me for further explanation).

(16.2) Bows: Can we use them? How well?

Can we use them?

Yes. The use of bows is granted to the School of Scouts. Because the Assassin is within that school, they are able to use bows. While they are not a staple of the Assassin class, as they are with the Ranger, they are quite important.

How do we fare with them?

Like Daggers, Swords, and Dual Wield proficiencies, we are able to rank up our bow proficiency as well. This increases our damage with them as we level, and makes them increasingly more powerful, so it would be unwise to not purchase the new ranks.

Bows are a huge asset to an Assassin when pursuing a fleeing target. If someone takes off into flight and is low health you can often finish them off with your bow before you even get to them. Also if you are running from someone til your pot cool is finished, or another skill, peppering someone with your arrows can add up. Every good Assassin will have a bow, and a good one at that.

Bow auto attacks can be used while running/flying.

(16.3) Extendable Weapons: What are they? When can I get one?

What are they?

Extendable weapons are weapons which have a greater range (reach) than your typical weapon. Because of this they are extremely rare, highly sought after, and very powerful. It is not uncommon for an individual to use an extendable weapon with slightly worse stats than a non-extendable, due to the unrivaled reach of said weapon. There are several extendable weapons to be found in Aion and they are one of the greatest assets to an Assassin, making combat, especially while flying, exponentially easier.

They come in all types, such as swords (1 and 2-handed alike), maces, daggers, polearms, and so on.

Here is a video of an extendable dagger in action:

Extendable Daggers – Kromede’s Silver-decorated Knife (lvl. 35)

When can I first use an extendable weapon? The very first extendable weapon that you will have access to is a level 35 orange dagger seen here:

The above dagger is shown in the video example previously linked. The other weapon is a level 35 sword which you can view at the bottom of this post in section 19.2. The next level extendable weapon can be found at level 40, though it is a sword. There is also a quest at level 43 for an extendable weapon, as well as this dagger drop at 44:

Snares

Do we get a Snare of any kind?
- NO. As of now (1.5) we are completely and utterly devoid of any kind of snare skill. Whether it be a slow, root, or any variation thereof. Because of this Assassin’s have more stuns than any other class, and must rely on them to compensate for their lack of snares.

- *Due to the ever changing nature of MMO’s, skills are frequently added, removed, or altered. Because of this a future snare effect in the Assassin’s arsenal isn’t out of the question.*

Consumables

What do they do? Should I use them? What ones? Where do I get them?

What do they do??:

- Consumables are any and all items which you use or “consume” for unique beneficial effects. Once you’ve used the consumable the original item is discarded. Food/drink, potions, and scrolls are the three main consumables types in Aion

Should I use them?:

YES! Consumables are truly a necessity when it comes to PvP, and can be equally beneficial in PvE. They can greatly influence leveling speed, as well as increase survivability.

Some mobs and quests that would typically be unsoloable by an Assassin are made doable thanks to the correct use of health potions. If you come up against a player in PvP that is utilizing potions to the fullest you are immediately at a disadvantage. After reaching your low 20’s, every Assassin should have a nice stockpile of consumables at all times.

Where do I get them?

There are five ways to get consumables. The first way (and most common) is from Alchemy, and Cooking. The second source is from the Food Merchant and Potion Merchant. The less common way is from mob drops, and quest reward (though you get quite a good amount early on via quests).

However, the last way to get consumables is from the Abyss vendors. The best consumables in the game are bought with Abyss Points from these vendors. The downside of using them however is that they are on a longer cooldown, and obviously they take Abyss Points which you also use for armor and weapons.

What consumables should I be carrying?[INDENT]Not every consumable is all that useful for an Assassin, so you should know what to stock up on in advance in order to save you a good deal of time and money. The most important consumable type hands down are potions, and here are the main ones that should always be carried:

(18.1) Potions: I will be listing the lowest ranks of the potions, as they will be the first potions you have access to. As you level up and amass more kinah/abyss points you will obviously want to use superior ones

(Cure/Cleanse) – Lesser Healing Potion – 30s cooldown. Arguably the most important potion you can carry. This handy thing cures poisons (if you get poisoned you can’t fly, so just pop this and then take off ASAP), roots, slows, DoT’s, and various other stat ailments. This potion can save your life and/or end others more than you can imagine.

**If you are rooted you are unable to use Ambush or Dash Attack, so always use a cure pot first**.

(Flight Time) – Lesser Wind Serum – 30s cooldown. When traveling in the Abyss, pursuing or fleeing from a target, or even gathering aether, having enough flight time is crucial. Running out of flight time can be the difference between killing someone you’re chasing and falling to your death.

(Instant Heal) – Minor Life Serum – 30s cooldown.. Health=good, enough said . **On separate cooldown from its Heal Over Time counterpart**

(Heal Over Time AKA HoT) – Minor Life Potion – 30s cooldown. It’s very good to use these preemptively the second you start taking damage. Since it’s on a different cooldown than the instant potions they can be amazingly effective. **On separate cooldown from its Instant Heal counterpart**

(18.2) Scrolls: The actual increase values on these scrolls are not accurate on Aion Armory

(Flight Speed) – Lesser Raging Wind Scroll – This scroll stacks with items as well as Sprinting. It’s a must for any serious abyss hunting.

(Run Speed) – Lesser Running Scroll – Like the flight speed counterpart, it also stacks with run speed items and sprinting. It also stacks with transformations which can be one of your best friends during rift hunting.(DMG Absorb) – Lesser Anti-Shock Scroll – If used prior to several stunning effects (such as Ambush) it can completely negate the stun. For a full list of stuns that can be resisted check back later.

There are also magic resist, evasion, and crit scrolls that are very nice as well. I can’t seem to find links to any of them as of right this second.

(18.3) Food: 18.3-4: Coming soon.

Links and Resources

An ever growing list of important/helpful links to other informative posts, videos, and more.

(19.1)Posts/Articles:

• [Translation] Know-How: Assassin PvP – For real – Translated Assassin PvP information.
• Ranger or Assassin – Ranger vs. Assassin class choice thread (very long)
• Aion Class Interview – The Assassin | Ten Ton Hammer – Assassin interview with Lani Blazier (”Liv”).
• Assassin Pics – The main Assassin picture thread.
• Assassins: Elyos or Asmodian? – Faction choice debate.
• Assassin Skill Rotation – PvE (Solo) – Skill rotation discussion (read through other posts for alternative methods)
• Assassin Skillset – Stuns – Full list of stuns, their mechanics, etc.
• How awkward is Flight Combat – Large flight oriented discussion.
• Advanced Stigmas – Scouts – Advanced Stigmas & 2 new normal stigmas
• Assassin Stigma Calculator – Stigma template tool
• Deutsche Assassin FAQ – German translation of this FAQ, courtesy of Ellnassil.

Contributors & Sources: I’d like to give a special thanks to the following.
The whole Aion Armory staff – Thanks for compiling and maintaining such a useful tool.
Isabella – Headers and Banner
r0yc3 – Insight and link
Xenobius – Pattern icon pictures
elliot – Useful 1.5 stigma article
That’s Too Bad – Advanced stigma list, crit change clarifications, links.
HellBound – 1.5 Translation page
Ryizzel – Question contributor

Related posts:

1. Aion Class Description: Assassin
2. Aion Class Description: Sorcerer
3. Guide to Aion Beta 5

Sadly I was not able to play as much as I wanted during the “Head Start” program due to unforeseen events. I did get a good taste of the excessive server queues though! I was able to finally get some play time in last night and was overjoyed. As some of you know the www.AionFTW.com crew have settled on the Triniel Server as Elyos. The quests at low level have not changed since the BETA so it was very easy to plough through a few levels.

One issue that needs to be addressed immediately is the bug (I assumed this is a bug) where when getting disconnected we are placed back in the queue. This was addressed very early with WoW (you had a grace period to log back in bypassing the queue) and I imagine it won’t be long before something to that effect is applied to Aion. I was playing in full screen mode and alt-tabbing to respond to MSN conversations… the game crashed and when I went to log back in I was placed at the end of a 2000+ player queue.

As frustrating as that was, I still enjoyed a few hours of gameplay and used this time to really understand the UI while grinding to level 7. For those of you actually reading this blog I have a piece of advice regarding skipping the server queue (this may be common knowledge): simply set up shop and AFK. There is no rule against this yet and for the moment it seems you can remain logged with an active private store for an excessive period of time. I’m sure this will be corrected soon (I hope they work harder to eliminate the queue itself) at which point I don’t doubt players will find other ways to stay logged.

Tune in for more!

Related posts:

1. Aion Online Open Beta Cinematic Trailer
2. Guide to Aion Beta 5

This new official Aion trailer is in one word…”Delicious”.  It was released today (July 31st), and in all honesty – is one of the finest trailers I’ve seen to date. It gets the blood pumping, and has me more excited than ever for 3PM EST today when the servers open up and we can jump into beta weekend #5!

The trailer showcases mostly gameplay content, and gives a decent idea, albeit stylized, what fighting in groups in Aion will look like. All in all, the purpose of it seems to just tantilize those of us who are sitting on the edge of our seat waiting for the release of this amazing game.

Related posts:

1. Aion Online Open Beta Cinematic Trailer
2. Class Description: Ranger
3. Guide to Aion Beta 5

Well, it seems Aion has reached a level of popularity (at least in it’s far-eastern markets) that megacorp Coca Cola has taken interest. In my opinion, this is a good thing…heck, who wants to play an unpopulated MMO? It’s nice when the game you play has reached a certain level of mainstream/pop-culture precedence.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve seen people walking down the street wearing t-shirts and hoodies splatted with the alliance, or horde symbols – it’s neat…knowing that person plays the same game as you.

There are the haters of course…that dislike the popularity. They like being a sub-culture, I suppose. Me personally – I couldn’t really care less either way to be honest…if the game is fun to play, then who cares if it’s a Coca Cola marketing tool?

What remains to be seen is if Aion’s reach into the North American market will be as successful as it’s counterpart in the far east. Will we be seeing Aion commercials alongside WoW commercials on the mainstream media powerhouses on this side of the pond? Will NCsoft’s marketing be able to penetrate our collective North American pshyce the way that Blizzard has?

The next few months is crucial for NCsoft. I believe the first few months of an MMO’s release dictate it’s failure, or it’s success. So – by december or so of 2009, I think we’ll have a good idea of what kind of reach Aion will be able to attain.

Related posts:

1. Aion Video: Aion Armor Dance Emotes
2. Aion Online Purchases Limited to 1 per household…WTF?

Dates, Times and all that Jazz.
The fifth beta will run from 31st July (12:00 PM PT, 9:00 PM CEST, 8:00 PM BST) till 3rd August (12:00 PM PT, 9:00 PM CEST, 8:00 PM BST) and a count down can be found here: http://kindred.aion.tv/status/ This beta is focusing on levels 1-30. To see recent client updates try here: http://eu.aiononline.com/uk/news/clo…-coming-1.html

How to get a key
It has been mentioned that there will be no more giveaways for closed beta keys so currently the only way to get on to the beta is to preorder Aion. Some previous giveaway keys (MMORPG.com, Fileplanet etc) were only for one beta event so your key may now be invalid!
You don’t have to commit to buying at this stage, (although some places ask for a deposit, its not much!) but by preordering you will get access to all the beta events coming up and an early access weekend (where you can play retail Aion before its released in the west) as well as a few fancy in game items.
For a list of what you get from pre-ordering see here: Pre-Order | Aion: The Tower of Eternity

However not all sites and shops are aware of the Aion preorder beta codes (not all of them are taking part in the promotion) and Ncsoft have released an official list of retailers supporting the keys (The EU one is here: Retail | Aion: The Tower of Eternity ). Be warned though that even these sites aren’t reliably informed! For more info try here: http://www.aionsource.com/forum/ques…order-faq.html
It is important you get a code for your area i.e. EU code for EU, NA code for NA because there are now IP blocks on the accounts and currently you cannot use an account not in your area.
(Although this is being looked into by Ncsoft so may change in the future.)
Much More after the break…
Aionsouce recommended retailers:
While many places have released keys time is ticking and there are few places left that will be giving keys in time for this weekend here are a few places that Aionsource posters have had no trouble using and are still releasing keys:
EU and NA keys: Onlinecdkey - Sells just the preorder key its quite cheap (especially the euro version) Online CD Key Online Gaming Home
Game cards are also selling the preorder packs separately but for slightly more GameCards In Game within a Second
Ncsoft online store – will give you the code instantly but you have to pay the full price for the retail game on the spot as it is a prepurchase (the difference is stated here: http://help.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/ncsoft.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=7281&p_created=1245271539&p_si d=nqsojPBj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_ sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3J vd19jbnQ9MTMsMTMmcF9wcm9kcz00NzEmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wd j0xLjQ3MSZwX2N2PSZwX3BhZ2U9MQ!!&p_li=&p_topview=1)
This is useful for people wanting a CE and not minding not getting the box and physical goodies (you still get the virtual ones) as its slightly cheaper and includes more free game time. https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/Store.pl
NA keys only - Gamestop have beta key packs in most stores and also release them digitally through email for online orders although they now charge for cancelling orders. These are NA keys.
Beta key for just $3 (digital delivery): Buy Aion PreOrder and Beta Code (US and Canada)
EU keys only -DLgamer, Born2play, g2play and CDON - all are releasing EU keys digitally.
If you have preordered from a retailer definitely giving out keys (And before their cut-off dates) but haven’t got a key check this thread: http://www.aionsource.com/forum/gene…rder-list.html

The CE edition is out of stock?!
Fear not you can still preorder directly from the NCsoft store – however this is a digital version and not a retail version so you won’t get the boxed goods like the soundtrack and figurine. (It is cheaper than most places though and you get an extra 7 days play time added to the account too, just to play devils advocate.) Specialist Collector?s sites (such as this UK based one: Specialty Software – Aion: The Tower of Eternity Collector’s Edition) will still have the boxed CE but be prepared to pay through the nose!

When I preorder the CE what in game items do I get?
Quick answer: All of them!
You’ll get the preorder items: Black Cloud Hat, Lodas’ Amulet and One Ancient Ring of Power (type depends on where you ordered) during the early access weekend just before the game goes live.
When the game goes live and you’ve added your CE serial code to your playNC master account (where your preorder code will live) you’ll get the CE items: Black Cloud Wings, Black Cloud Earring and special Colour dye! (as well as title and emotes).
You don’t get the Wings, earring or dye if you haven’t ordered the CE. You wont get any of the items during beta weekends either and preordering more than one copy of the game will not get you two different rings either (read this for more details: Support | NCsoft )

What do I do with my key / how do I create an account?
You will need to create an account here https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/accountManagement.pl and when your code comes you add it all in on the website under ‘Add a serial code’ under ‘my account.’ You’ll create the log in details and everything there.

Where Can I Download the Client?
Here: http://aion.patcher.ncsoft.com/liteinstaller/Aion.exe

This will install the Ncsoft launcher which will download Aion for you. It will come up saying that it is the US version but this is fine for EU users – just simply change your region in the Ncsoft launcer by going to file- settings- advanced- region and selecting Europe from the menu when Aion is fully installed (not before) this thread takes you through the process using screenshots if you are unsure: http://www.aionsource.com/forum/gene…tings-faq.html.
If you have trouble installing see this thread: http://www.aionsource.com/forum/gene…-problems.html

How Big is the Client?
Currently the link above installs everything at 7.8G but some other client downloads will install at the full 14.5G so be sure to leave plenty of time before the weekend to download the client (note: if your client is neither of these two sizes you will need to run the repair /consitencey check from the NcSoft launcher)! You don’t need to have a beta key in order to download or even launch Aion, so you can download just to see the pretty log in screen… everyday… <.<

Client Errors!
If you are having any trouble with installation check this thread: http://www.aionsource.com/forum/ques…oting-faq.html

How do I report in game bugs?
The beta forum goes live today and its full of devs and happy peoples poking around about Aion so come join in the fun *Squee* The shiney happy beta boards can be found here *looks around* Shiney right ? You ish in teh wrong section for bugs though so try the bug reporting thread here: http://betaboards.aiononline.com//forumdisplay.php?f=26

The 48 hour headstart
The headstart is tied into your beta key, NOT the key that comes in your box (or digitally at release date if you didn’t order a box). So you will not receive another key until Aion has been officially released (22nd in NA and 25th in EU).
The headstart date is the 20th for both the NA servers and the EU servers. The EU headstart will, apparently, stay open 5 days until official release on the 25th.
During this time you will get your preorder (NOT CE) items. How is not yet known and we also do not know yet if they will be bound to the account or just one character.

Billing / Free Gametime
If you brought a SE or CE from a retailer you will get 30 days free time. Your billing account may currently say you next need to pay on the 8th of October but this is just a bum date and will be changed closer to the release date.
If your brought a SE or CE from NcSoft Store directly you will get 37 days free time. The billing date is also wrong on these accounts and will be changed at some point.
If you prefer to buy your game time on a game card rather than direct through your credit card then you can pre-purchase one of the standard NcSoft prepaid game cards instead.
For more detailed information on the billing please try here: Support | NCsoft

Source: Aion Official forums, User: “Ku Ku”

Related posts:

1. Aion Beta Schedule
2. Aion Online Open Beta Cinematic Trailer
3. Aion Assassin Guide – Compendium of Sin

Assassin:

Some say rogue/assassin classes are only played by douchebags who only want to gank other players and make badass pvp videos. I’m not going to argue against that! The assassin is the burst melee damage you expect him to be, along with the obvious ability to stealthily approach his target. Now combine this with Aion’s flight system and you have a fantastic killer who can nearly always get away. Their unique abilities and damage capabilities will always encourage groups to bring them to encounters along with Gladiators for melee.

The PVP potential of the class is very obvious; it appeals to those who enjoy stalking a prey and finishing them off quickly before others can intervene. They have the ability to keep a target stunned for a very long time through chaining skills and are hard to hit do to their agility.

Important Statistics: Agility, Accuracy, Strength – Watch the video after the break…

Related posts:

1. Class Description: Ranger
2. Class Description: Templar
3. Class Description: Gladiator

With the release of Aion so near I can only imagine most of us who intend to play are wondering which class we will be rolling. Many of us are or were WoW players and this may influence us on which class seems most comfortable. One thing to keep in mind is the truly defined classes found in Aion. Several WoW players became frustrated with the lack of specialization (especially in the recent year) between classes, namely due to the hybrids. Tanks who had been so since release became furious when hybrid classes excelled at this role while easily being able to accommodate the raids other needs. Pure DPS players were enraged when a simple talent switch could make a healer class outdo them in damage.

Aion will feature a total of 8 classes when breaking down each primary class to their 2 specializations which are set at level 10. Here are the classes available (the brief descriptions mostly focus on their PVE roles):

Scout

Assassin – burst damage melee

Ranger – High damage ranged

Warrior

Gladiator – frontline melee (strong AOE)

Templar – main tank

Mage

Spiritmaster – summoner

Sorcerer – caster dps

Priest

Cleric – Primary healer

Chanter – Buffer

This being said; Aion’s classes are far more defined mainly due to the lack of talent trees and alternate specializations. Those of us who intend to role a main tank are clearly driven to the Templar while a Cleric is ideal for someone who loves the challenge of keeping the group alive with heals. Many of us see this as very refreshing over what we may have been used to in other games. Others may see this as simply reduced options, limiting our play experience.

I foresee less of a need to constantly alter/nerf classes for fine tuning in both PVE and PVP. Once a class role is set and its abilities allow it to excel at the task required; only the occasional minor adjustment (due to new content/game items) may be necessary.

Stay tuned, as we’ll be playing each class during this weekend’s BETA event, and will be writing thorough descriptions and guides for each class, to better help you decide what you might want to choose as your class.

Related posts:

1. Aion Class Description: Cleric
2. Class Description: Gladiator
3. Aion Class Description: Assassin

A few classes have the ability to heal other players in Aion; however only the Cleric has the restoration power needed for a main healer role. They also have a significant amount of survivability by use of a shield. In Aion, both the Priest subclasses (Cleric and Chanter) can actually deal a reasonable amount of melee damage when needed. Leveling solo as a Cleric is not as painful as one would have expected. 48furamdv3

In PVP the Cleric’s survivability is even more powerful through the use of stuns and roots. This allows them to kite any would be attackers while still keeping heals on their teammates.

Important Statistics: Will, Knowledge, Health…Watch the Video after the break…

Related posts:

1. Class Description: Gladiator
2. Class Description: Templar
3. Aion Class Description: Spiritmaster

Aion only features 2 playable races; however the ability to fully customize your character’s features (to the smallest detail) will ensure a significant variety. Many RPG players enjoy playing exotic, unorthodox races (hello gnomes); these players will most likely be disappointed that the playable characters in Aion all look “normal” and are not very distinguished from each other.

The two playable races are the Elyos and Asmodian; neither of which seems to be the “bad guys” (like the Horde). The lore of the game states that their world was split in two during a massive war and that after several years the two races finally met again in the center only to renew their ancient conflict. The lore and intonation surrounding the races will most likely be what drives each player to their choice. Although there are abilities and equipment available only to each race, this does not seem to affect the choice players have been making since the differences are so balanced.

The Elyos can be described as elitist and vain; they see the Asmodians as a lower cast and are overly proud of their own beauty. Their city of Sanctum (pictured above) is colourful and filled with light, along with their starting zones. Most notably, the Elyos wings are more angelic and vibrant.

The Asmodians, on the other hand, seem far more aggressive and feel a need for revenge as they blame the destruction of the Tower of Eternity on the “weak” ancestors of the Elyos. They have lived all this time in near darkness (which has caused their eyes to glow red, and that’s totally badass) while struggling in a harsh world. Their home city of Pandaemonium is a bit more twisted and dark in comparison to Sanctum but still has it’s own form of beauty to appreciate while passing through.

Regardless of the race you decide on, all classes will be available to you. Details on the skill differences have not fully been released (perhaps we’ll have more regarding this after the beta testing this weekend). For those of us coming from WoW we can most likely expect a generally more mature crowd in this game so I wouldn’t worry too much about which race the bratty kids will select!

Related posts:

1. Head Start
2. Guide to Aion Beta 5

When a company is making as many online sales as NCsoft currently is with Aion – I completely understand that they are taking precautions against being nailed by fraud.

HOWEVER…

One copy per household?! That to me is pretty outrageous…I’d say a vast chunk of the MMO community at large is people who play with siblings, parents, roommates, girlfriends, boyfriends etc etc. In my particular example, my girlfriend decided she wanted to play Aion…She was pretty addicted to WoW for about 6 months after launch, and we both think this will be a fun game to play together as well, as we haven’t really gamed together since WoW. In the end I was forced to buy it from steam for her, so it wasn’t a total disaster…but I do think it’s rather annoying that the purchase limit is 1 per household…

Have you had a similar problem? Do you know what the delay between being allowed to make purchases to the same household is? Leave a comment and talk to us dammit!

Related posts:

1. Guide to Aion Beta 5
2. Welcome to AionFTW.com!
3. Head Start