Choose the AION 2 faction whose identity and starting territory you prefer, or join the side your friends plan to play. Official announcements do not establish that Elyos or Asmodians are stronger, more populated, or better for a particular class. The choice matters for some race-based PvP, but it is less of a barrier to playing together than AION’s original faction-war framing might suggest: NCSOFT announced cross-faction PvE parties in March 2026.
What does choosing a faction change?
AION 2 has two playable factions: Elyos and Asmodians. NCSOFT’s May 2025 core-content announcement described separate starting regions and a conflict that develops into large-scale realm-versus-realm battles. It did not announce a faction-specific stat advantage, exclusive class access, or a competitive edge for either side. That is not proof that every service region or activity has identical rules; it is the limit of what that announcement establishes. NCSOFT’s May 30, 2025 announcement
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The same announcement introduced eight classes: Gladiator, Templar, Assassin, Marksman, Sorcerer, Spiritmaster, Cleric, and Chanter. Later update details refer to revised class skills and name Elementalist and Ranger, so the original list should not be treated as a permanently exhaustive current roster. The cited announcements do not confirm whether every regional version makes every class available to both factions.
How do Elyos and Asmodians compare?
| Decision factor | Elyos | Asmodians |
|---|---|---|
| Faction identity | Choose if this faction’s identity appeals to you; the cited announcements do not establish a gameplay advantage. | Choose if this faction’s identity appeals to you; the cited announcements do not establish a gameplay advantage. |
| Starting territory | Eltnen was assigned to Elyos territory in NCSOFT’s announced Chapter 1 update. | Morheim was assigned to Asmodian territory in NCSOFT’s announced Chapter 1 update. |
| Classes and combat strength | No comparative faction advantage or faction-exclusive class list is established in the cited announcements. | No comparative faction advantage or faction-exclusive class list is established in the cited announcements. |
| Population | No current official population figure is provided. | No current official population figure is provided. |
| Playing with friends | Cross-faction PvE parties were announced; check the rules of the activity you want to play. | Cross-faction PvE parties were announced; check the rules of the activity you want to play. |
NCSOFT’s June 17, 2026 announcement assigned Eltnen to Elyos and Morheim to Asmodians in its announced Chapter 1 update. It does not say that either territory is more enjoyable or provides a gameplay advantage. NCSOFT’s June 17, 2026 announcement
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Can Elyos and Asmodians play together?
In some ways, yes. NCSOFT announced in March 2026 that Elyos and Asmodians could form PvE parties across factions, with limited cross-faction communication in those settings. This does not establish unrestricted cross-faction play in every activity. NCSOFT’s March 11, 2026 announcement
PvP rules depend on the mode, so “faction matters” is not a universal rule:
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- Chaotic Abyss: NCSOFT described server-level West-versus-East force battles that operate regardless of race alignment.
- Spacetime Rift: The March 2026 description retained race-based matchmaking.
- Abyss of Chaos: NCSOFT described matchups that can put players of the same faction against each other, such as Elyos versus Elyos or Asmodians versus Asmodians.
These descriptions are specific to the named modes and announcements, not a guarantee that all current PvP activities use the same rules. NCSOFT’s March 25, 2026 announcement on Chaotic Abyss and NCSOFT’s February 23, 2026 announcement on Abyss of Chaos
Which faction should you pick?
- Ask friends or your intended Legion first. Pick their faction if shared activities are your priority. Cross-faction PvE parties provide an option for some group play, but they do not cover every activity.
- Choose the territory you want to experience. Elyos are associated with Eltnen and Asmodians with Morheim in the announced Chapter 1 update. Pick based on the setting you prefer, not an assumed difficulty or reward difference.
- Consider the PvP modes you care about. If race-based matchmaking matters to you, check the current rules for the specific activity. Other announced formats are server-side and race-independent, or allow same-faction opponents.
- Make the choice on preference if you have no other constraint. The official comparisons cited here do not support a claim that either side is stronger, more populated, or better for a class.
What is not established about faction balance?
NCSOFT has described server matching based on combat metrics and announced repeated matching adjustments. Those measures show that matching has been managed; they do not show that the factions had equal populations or that one side was stronger at a particular time. No current official population figures or head-to-head faction performance statistics are provided by the cited sources. NCSOFT’s February 11, 2026 announcement
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- Innovative PvPvE: Aion introduces a new dynamic to MMOs by combining both PvP and PvE gameplay into an exciting new style.
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The updates cited here are official English-language announcements published from February through June 2026. They do not provide one continuously updated rules page or establish that every regional client has identical rules. For your server’s current restrictions, matching schedule, and activity rules, check the live official notice for your service region.
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