AION 2 retains the IP's defining faction split. The shattered world of Atreia is divided between the Elyos, who inhabit the upper hemisphere of Elysea, and the Asmodian, who inhabit the lower hemisphere of Asmodae. The two factions are at perpetual war, fighting across the void of Reshanta (the Abyss) that opened between them when the world fractured.
In AION 2, the Balaur, the dragonkin antagonists of the original IP, return as a third hostile force. The narrative frames the Balaur as newly empowered, pressuring both Daeva factions and reshaping the territorial map of Atreia.
Faction Comparison
Aspect | Elyos | Asmodian |
|---|---|---|
Hemisphere | Elysea (upper) | Asmodae (lower) |
Aesthetic | Light, bright tones, classical motifs | Darker palettes, harsher silhouettes, gothic motifs |
Society | Order-leaning, devotional, structured | Survival-leaning, harder culture shaped by a colder world |
Daeva Form | Wings appear as feathered or radiant | Wings appear as bat-like, leathery, or shadowed |
Choosing a Faction
Faction choice is made at character creation and is permanent on a given character. Both factions have access to the same eight classes and parity in core systems; the practical differences are aesthetic, story flavor, starting regions, and which side of the open-world PvP map you spawn into.
If you plan to play with friends, agree on a faction first. Cross-faction grouping in shared open-world content is restricted: the Abyss in particular pits Elyos and Asmodian against each other in PvP. Instanced PvP queues and arenas treat factions as opposing teams, so split-faction premades are not playable for those modes.
The Daeva and Ascension
Members of both factions become Daeva, ascended beings able to fly under their own power. Ascension is the in-world justification for player flight and is core to identity, progression, and the Daevanion talent board. The Daeva ascension also unlocks access to the aerial combat systems that define AION 2's encounter design.
The Balaur
Balaur are dragonkin who serve as the primary PvE enemy faction in much of the open world. AION 2's framing is that they have grown more dangerous since the events of the original game, prompting both Daeva factions to push deeper into contested territory. Several open-world events and dungeons feature Balaur antagonists at the top of the encounter list.
