Aion’s Stigma System is a feature giving players the ability
to
further
customize their characters by allowing them to equip special
“Stigma Stones”. Each Stigma Stone grants a
particular
ability unique to that class. For the lore buffs out there, you can
take relief in knowing each Stigma stone carries the memory and
strength of one of your fallen number.  Stigmas help
distinguish you from other members of your chosen class by granting you
unique abilities some others might not have.

style="margin: 2px; width: 210px; float: right;">

href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/74599" target="_blank"> style="width: 200px; float: right;" alt="Stigmaguide1"
src="/image/view/74599">

Getting
Started - What  is the Stigma System?

Aion’s Stigma System is a feature which gives players the
ability to further
customize their characters by allowing them to equip special
“Stigma Stones”. Each Stigma Stone grants a
particular
ability unique to that class. For the lore buffs out there, you can
take relief in knowing that each Stigma stone carries the memory and
strength of one of your fallen number.  Stigmas help
distinguish you from other members of your chosen class by granting you
unique abilities some others might not have.

How
do you find them?

Stigma stones are rare drops from regular enemies found throughout the
game. Named enemies tend to drop them in greater frequency. You will
find that if you do not care to wait on drops, other players
will be selling them. They usually fetch good profit as they are an
in-demand item, although by using the account warehouse
feature in your warehouse you can allow other characters you create to
have access to them. This saves you the trouble later.

It should also be noted that certain Stigmas will be more rare than
others, making them extremely sought after because of their unique and
powerful abilities. The more rare a Stigma is, the more difficult it
will be to obtain.

When
can you start using Stigma Stones?

style="margin: 2px; width: 210px; float: left;">

href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/74598" target="_blank"> style="width: 200px; float: left;" alt="Stigmaguide2"
src="/image/view/74598">

A player gains access to the Stigma System upon reaching level 20, at
which time you will automatically pick up a new Campaign quest. The
quest is for the lore junkies obviously (no spoilers here). After
completing the quest you gain the ability to socket Stigma stones,
along with your first Stigma stone which is of course very useful.
Stigma slots become available as you level up, starting at level 20.



Level 20 - 2 Slots

Level 30 - 3 Slots

Level 40 - 4 Slots

Level 50 - 5 Slots

Patch 1.5 introduced 3 additional advanced Stigma slots for a total of
8 slots.

How do you get them equipped,
and is there a cost?

Stigma Stones require a special NPC known as a Stigma Master found in
each faction’s major cities. There is a cost to equipping
them - Stigma Shards. By completing your Stigma quest at level 20 you
receive some as a 1 time reward. After that you will need to obtain
them by way of the Abyss; they drop commonly from enemies found there
and add up over time. Keep in mind that the cost to equip the Stigma
stone goes up with the level of the stone. Your level 20 Stigmas will
be much cheaper to equip than higher level stones. Once you get a
Stigma, you can change them out whenever you want without worrying
about losing
the Stigma stone itself since they return to you as you switch them
out. It
will be the shard cost to consider.

Conclusion

Your access to Stigma stones will increase with your level, and each
time you reach that new milestone and get a new Stigma stone equipped
(along with all your appropriate skills for your level) you will see
the bigger picture here. Stigmas set you apart from other players by
allowing you to customize your skills. A Templar is a good class to use
here as an example because a Templar by default is the best tank,
however, utilizing certain stones such as Stigmas that heal or do
ranged stuns will also give them an arguable edge in PvP over PvE. The
same goes for other Stigmas that buff their tanking abilities even
further,  such as 1 that diverts damage taken by a group
member to their selves. Players will find ways and useful applications
for everything. The level of customization in Aion remains superb.