Contents
In short
- Both factions have all 8 classes. No source reports a stat advantage for either side.
- On Global each server holds one faction only; your opponents in the Abyss and Spacetime Rifts come from a paired enemy server (official).
- Elyos start in Poeta and level in Verteron; Asmodians start in Ishalgen and level in Altgard. The story routes differ.
- A character cannot change faction: server transfers only go to servers of the same faction (official).
- Pick the faction your friends or Legion play. Otherwise, pick the look and story you like.
ElyosAsmodianRvRAbyssSpacetime RiftVerteronAltgard
Status labels: [Official] — NC; [Community ×N] — N independent guides agree; [Single source].
The short answer
Choose the faction your friends or Legion (guild) play. If you play alone, choose the look and story you like. Gameplay power is the same on both sides.
What differs between Elyos and Asmodians?
| Elyos | Asmodians | |
|---|---|---|
| Homeland | Elysea (south, bright lands) | Asmodae (north, snow and shadow) |
| NC tagline | “Guardians of Light, Wings of Grace” | “Forged in Shadows, Wings of Dominion” |
| Start zone → leveling zone | Poeta → Verteron | Ishalgen → Altgard |
| Enemy Dragon Lord in the story | Ishtar | Fafnir |
| Look | Light skin tones, feathered wings | Pale, bluish tones, claw-like details, dark wings |
| Classes | All 8 | All 8 |
Sources: zones — [Community ×2]; taglines and Dragon Lords — [Official]; looks and class parity — [Single source + official class list].
In plain words: the two sides look different and follow different story paths, but they play the same classes with the same rules.
How do servers and factions work on Global?
- When you start the game you choose region → faction → server — [Official].
- Each server holds only one faction. Every Elyos server is paired with an Asmodian server for a limited time — [Official].
- In the Abyss and Spacetime Rifts, enemy players come from your paired server — [Official]. Pairings can change over time.
- Instanced content (dungeons) is cross-server — [Single source: NC notice mirrored on Steam].
So you never meet the enemy faction while questing in your home zones. You meet them when you choose to: in the Abyss or through a rift. See Fast leveling and Spacetime Rifts.
Is the choice permanent?
Yes, for that character:
- There is no faction change service in the shop lists we checked.
- Server transfers only go to servers of the same faction — [Official]. Details: Server transfer.
To play the other side, create a new character on a server of that faction. Character slots are counted per server — [Official, server transfer Q&A].
Does the faction affect PvP?
Your faction decides your side in the Abyss and in rifts. NC does not publish faction population, so we cannot say which side is “bigger”. On Global, pairing one Elyos server with one Asmodian server is NC’s answer to population balance. Watch your own server’s queue and the server status page instead of global totals.
How to decide in 3 questions
- Do you have friends or a Legion? → Join their faction and server. Nothing else matters as much.
- Do you care about looks? → Elyos for a bright, feathered style; Asmodians for a dark, sharp style. Try both in the character creator.
- Do you care about story? → Both routes tell the same war from opposite sides. Lore summary: Factions and the Balaur.
Pending verification
- Exact level of each zone band (community guides differ slightly).
- Whether faction-specific skill visual effects change anything beyond looks.
FAQ
Can I change my faction later in AION 2?
Not on the same character. NC’s server transfer rules allow transfers only to servers of the same faction. To play the other side, create a new character on an Elyos or Asmodian server.
Is one faction stronger?
No source reports stat or class differences. Both factions have the same 8 classes. Some guides say skill visual effects differ (light vs shadow), which is cosmetic.
Can Elyos and Asmodians play together?
Not as allies in the open world, because each server holds one faction. They meet as enemies in the Abyss and Spacetime Rifts. One guide says instanced dungeons are cross-server; that does not make the other faction your party member.
Which faction has more players?
NC does not publish faction population. Because each server is single-faction and paired with an enemy server, raw totals matter less than your own server’s queue and population.
Do Elyos and Asmodians look different?
Yes. Elyos have feathered, light wings and a bright look. Asmodians have darker skin tones, claw-like details and dark, leathery wings. Both use the same character creator.
Sources
We rewrite facts from sources in our own words and link to the originals.
- New Server and Matchmaking Information — one faction per server; region → faction → server; pairing for the Abyss and Spacetime Rifts · accessed Oct 15, 2026
- Server Transfer Products Info — transfers only to servers within the same faction; Lv. 10+, not in a Legion · accessed Oct 15, 2026
- About the Game — AION 2 Global official site (classes, dungeons, flight, pets) — faction taglines, Ishtar/Fafnir lore, Verteron and Altgard places, 8 classes · accessed Oct 15, 2026
- Server Transfer Q&A — character slots are per server · accessed Oct 15, 2026
- Mein-MMO — Factions: Asmodians or Elyos, which side should I choose? — all classes on both sides; regions, looks, skill effect themes; no faction change · accessed Oct 15, 2026
- Power Up Gaming — AION 2: how to level up fast — Poeta → Verteron; Ishalgen → Altgard · accessed Oct 15, 2026
- AION2HUB — Leveling routes by faction (Global 1–45, KR/TW 45–50) — faction leveling bands and zones · accessed Oct 15, 2026
- Steam news (NC) — new servers and matchmaking — instanced content is cross-server (Steam mirror of NC notice) · accessed Oct 15, 2026
Page history
- — First version.