TL;DR
- Elyos and Asmodians share all 8 classes — neither faction has a stat or power advantage over the other.
- The choice locks in your server, your starting zone, your main story campaign, and your side in the faction war.
- Elyos start in Elysea — bright, radiant landscapes with white or golden wings at Ascension.
- Asmodians start in Asmodae — darker, harsher terrain with bat-like, shadowed wings at Ascension.
- Both factions play on separate servers. They meet and fight each other in the Abyss and other PvP zones.
- You cannot change faction on an existing character. Server Transfer only moves you between same-faction servers.
- If you are playing with friends, matching their faction and server is the single most important decision you will make.
- Pick based on which aesthetic and story appeals to you — both sides are mechanically equal.
What Are the Two Factions in AION 2?
AION 2 is built around a conflict that has defined the franchise since the original game. The world of Atreia was shattered long ago by a catastrophic event called the Cataclysm, splitting it into two hemispheres. The Elyos occupy the upper hemisphere — a land called Elysea. The Asmodians occupy the lower hemisphere — a region called Asmodae. Both sides became the Daeva, ascended winged beings shaped by their very different environments, and have been at war ever since.
That conflict is not just backstory. It is the backbone of AION 2’s endgame. The faction you choose at character creation determines where you live in Atreia, which story you experience, who you fight alongside, and who you fight against. It is the first major decision the game asks of you, and it sticks for the life of that character.
A third faction — the Balaur, dragonkin enemies — serve as the primary PvE threat in the open world, pressuring both Daeva factions and forcing them into shared PvE objectives even while they remain at war with each other.
Elyos vs Asmodians — Side by Side
| Factor | Elyos | Asmodian |
|---|---|---|
| Home Region | Elysea (upper hemisphere) | Asmodae (lower hemisphere) |
| Aesthetic | Light, bright tones, classical motifs | Darker palettes, harsher silhouettes, gothic motifs |
| Wings at Ascension | White or golden feathered wings | Dark, bat-like, leathery wings |
| Zone Atmosphere | Radiant forests, ancient temples, open skies | Frozen wastelands, volcanic terrain, dark caves |
| Classes Available | All 8 launch classes | All 8 launch classes |
| Combat Stats | Identical to Asmodian | Identical to Elyos |
| Skill Visual Effects | Light-based, radiant animations | Shadow-based, darker animations — same mechanics |
| PvP Opponent | Asmodians in the Abyss | Elyos in the Abyss |
| Server Type | Elyos-only server | Asmodian-only server |
Are There Any Gameplay Differences Between Factions?
This is the question most new players want answered first. The short answer is no — at least not in terms of power, stats, or combat advantage.
Both factions have access to all eight launch classes. A Gladiator plays identically whether you are Elyos or Asmodian. A Cleric heals the same way. A Sorcerer deals the same damage. There are no faction-exclusive classes, no faction-locked skill trees, and no hidden stat bonuses tied to either side. AION 2 was deliberately designed to keep both factions mechanically equal so that faction-war PvP stays competitive.
The one cosmetic difference in combat is skill visual effects. Elyos skills tend to explode with radiant light, while the same skill on an Asmodian delivers its effect through darker colors, heavier animations, and shadow-inspired visuals. Same mechanics, different presentation. It gives each faction a distinct feel without creating an imbalance.
What does differ in a real way is your starting zone, main story quest line, and open-world geography. The two factions do not share leveling content at all until the Abyss brings them together in PvP.
The Elyos — Lore, Starting Zone, and Aesthetic
The Elyos are shaped by a world of light. Elysea is the brighter half of Atreia — radiant forests, ancient temples, structured cities, and open skies define their homeland. The faction carries a classical, almost divine aesthetic. Elyos characters tend toward symmetrical facial features and lighter tones, and their wings at Ascension are white or golden feathered designs that match the faction’s celestial identity.
Story-wise, the Elyos are often framed as the guardians of balance — a proud, ordered civilization aligned with the Seraphim Lords who see themselves as protectors of what remains of Atreia. From the Asmodian perspective, that same story looks very different. But the Elyos narrative is one of duty, light, and ancient order.
The Elyos starting experience tends to be described as smoother and more guided. The zone design is bright and visually accessible, which many players find welcoming when first entering the game.
The Asmodians — Lore, Starting Zone, and Aesthetic
The Asmodians are shaped by survival. Asmodae is the darker half of Atreia — frozen wastelands, volcanic terrain, dark caves, and fortified settlements built out of necessity rather than elegance. The faction has a rugged, battle-worn identity. Asmodian characters carry a harsher aesthetic — pale bluish skin, angular features, and the distinctive bat-like, leathery wings that mark them as Daeva shaped by hardship rather than grace.
The Asmodian story is one of betrayal and resilience. Seen by the Elyos as corrupted, Asmodians remember a different version of history — of exile, self-sufficiency, and surviving under near-constant darkness. Their alignment is with the Shedim Lords, and their worldview is built around the idea that strength comes from enduring what others cannot.
The Asmodian early game is sometimes described as having faster momentum before slowing slightly in mid-levels. Their zone design leans into darker fantasy — an atmosphere that suits players who prefer a grittier, more gothic visual palette.
How the Server Structure Works
This is the most practically important part of the faction choice. AION 2 does not place both factions on the same server. Elyos and Asmodians live on entirely separate faction-dedicated servers. You pick your faction by picking your server. Choosing an Elyos server means you play as Elyos. Choosing an Asmodian server puts you on the Asmodian side. There is no separate quest or ceremony — just a server selection.
NC designed the system this way deliberately, as a faction balance measure. The classic problem in faction-based MMOs is that one side attracts too many players, leaving the other outnumbered and making PvP uncompetitive. By separating factions onto their own servers and then pairing those servers for PvP content, AION 2 sidesteps that problem. You face players from a paired opposing server in the Abyss, not necessarily from your own.
A few practical rules that follow from this:
- You only see your own faction in the open world. Encounters with the opposing faction happen in designated PvP zones, events, and the Abyss — not during normal leveling.
- The Auction House / Market is faction-specific. You trade with players on your own faction’s server economy.
- Legions (guilds) are single-faction. An Elyos Legion cannot recruit an Asmodian member. Everyone in your group needs to be on the same faction and server.
- Some cross-faction content exists. Instanced content like dungeons, Transcendence, Expeditions, and Sanctuaries can be run alongside players from the other faction in some cases.
The Abyss — Where the Faction War Comes to Life
The Abyss is the floating PvPvE zone called Reshanta — the void that opened between Elysea and Asmodae when the world fractured. It is the primary endgame conflict zone and the place where the faction choice you made at character creation has its biggest impact. Both Elyos and Asmodian servers are paired here, and players fight across factions for territory, field bosses, artifacts, and Abyss Points.
Abyss Points earned through PvP can be spent in the Abyss Shop on high-tier gear, Stigma Shards, and other endgame resources. How well your faction performs in the Abyss directly affects your access to those rewards. A well-organized faction on an active server will outperform a disorganized one regardless of which side it is.
The War for Atreia creator event, announced in September 2026 at global launch, added a competitive dimension to this by pitting regional faction captains against each other — community leaders from each side representing their faction’s performance on each regional server cluster.
For a deeper look at endgame systems, see our AION 2 Endgame Guide.
Can You Change Faction in AION 2?
No. Faction choice is permanent on a given character. There is currently no in-game service that lets you convert an Elyos character to Asmodian or vice versa. Server Transfer exists as a paid service, but it only allows moves between servers that share your character’s current faction. You cannot transfer an Elyos character to an Asmodian server through that service.
If you want to try the other faction, you need to create a new character on a server of that faction. You can have characters on both Elyos and Asmodian servers — just not on the same server simultaneously.
Which Faction Should You Choose?
The honest answer is that it depends on two things: who you are playing with and which aesthetic speaks to you. Here is how to think through it.
If You Are Playing With Friends
This is the most important factor by far. Coordinate your faction and server before anyone creates a character. Once a friend is locked into an Elyos server, you cannot join them from an Asmodian one. You will be leveling separately, using separate economies, and unable to group up in open-world content. Match their faction and server. Everything else is secondary.
If You Are Playing Solo or Starting Fresh
Pick based on which world you want to live in.
- Choose Elyos if you prefer radiant landscapes, a classic light-versus-dark heroic narrative, elegant wing designs, and a visually accessible starting experience. If traditional fantasy aesthetics with bright colors and divine imagery appeal to you, Elysea will feel like home.
- Choose Asmodians if you prefer darker, harsher environments, a grittier underdog story of survival and betrayal, gothic wing designs, and a more rugged faction identity. If dark fantasy atmospheres and angular, battle-worn aesthetics appeal to you, Asmodae is where you belong.
Do Not Pick Based on Power
There is no stronger faction in AION 2. Neither side deals more damage, heals better, or has access to superior classes. Your class choice, gear, Stigma build, and Daevanion board matter far more for your combat power than your faction banner. Spend your real deliberation on those systems, not on which faction hits harder — because neither does.
For help with those systems, see our AION 2 Stigma Guide and our Leveling and Progression Guide.
What About Skill Visual Effects?
This is a small but real difference worth noting. The same skill on an Elyos and an Asmodian character produces different visual effects. An Elyos Spiritmaster, for example, uses lighter elemental visuals — their skills burst with radiant energy. The Asmodian version of the same class uses darker, shadow-inspired animations for identical mechanical effects.
This means if you are writing a build guide or following one from the other faction, check the skill by its mechanics and tier rather than its visual look. The effect is the same. The presentation is different. AION 2 uses this approach to give each faction a distinct visual identity without creating any mechanical imbalance between them.
Quick Summary — Elyos or Asmodian?
- Playing with friends? Match their faction and server. Full stop.
- Want bright, radiant visuals and a classic heroic story? Elyos.
- Want dark aesthetics, a rugged underdog narrative, and gothic wings? Asmodians.
- Worried about power? Don’t be. Both are mechanically equal. Focus on your class and gear instead.
- Worried about faction balance? AION 2’s separate faction-server structure handles this. You are not chasing population.
- Can you switch later? No. Choose carefully. It is permanent on that character.
Where to Play AION 2
AION 2 is free to play:
More AION 2 Guides
- AION 2 Beginner’s Guide — Tips and Tricks
- AION 2 Review
- Leveling and Progression Guide
- How to Level Up Fast
- How Long to Reach Max Level
- Stigma Guide
- Endgame Guide
- What to Farm First
- What to Do With Old Gear
- How to Increase the Ascension Gauge
- Character Customization Guide
- Character Sharing Board Guide
- Pet Selection Chest Guide
- List of All Pets
- All Hidden Cube Locations
- Best Settings for Smooth Gameplay on PC
- AION 2 PC Requirements
