Aion
is getting a major upgrade with the 2.5 style="font-style: italic;">Empyrean Calling
patch and Ten Ton Hammer has got the exclusive sneak peek at the style="font-weight: bold;">2.5 style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Empyrean
Calling style="font-weight: bold;"> Feature Guide.
To get you pumped for the new update, check out the href="http://www.youtube.com/user/aionus#p/u/9/BbwST6LqIvY"> style="font-style: italic;">Empyrean Calling
Highlight Video and keep reading
to see the update's features.

Patch 2.5 “ style="font-style: italic;">Empyrean Calling”
Feature Guide

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Please note that the terminology used in this document could be changed
before release.



Players have a plethora of brand new experiences to look forward to in
the Empyrean
Calling update, including:

• Two new Group Instanced
  Dungeons, Esoterrace, a clandestine Balaur research facility, and the
  Empyrean Crucible, a trial of endurance that will pit players against
  waves of ferocious monsters!
• An overhauled World Map
  system with dynamic objects and additional features.
• Improved high resolution
  graphics make Atreia more beautiful than ever!
• A new Mentor system rewards
  high level players for helping low level players with Quests and
  Instanced Dungeons.
• Improved Legion features
  enhance Aion’s
  social dynamics.
• New pets, including Loot
  Pets and Buff Pets, and additional pet features.

Please continue reading for more detailed information about the
features and changes coming in Patch 2.5 “Empyrean
Calling”!



New
Class Skills

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Two new skills were added for each class in 2.5 style="font-style: italic;">Empyrean Calling.
One of the new skills is learned from a Skillbook, which can be
purchased from the Class Preceptors. The other new skill is a Stigma
skill.



To acquire the first new skill, purchase the Skillbook from the Class
Preceptors located in the Cloister of Kaisinel or Convent of Marchutan.




To acquire the second new skill, a Stigma skill, purchase the Stigma
from the Stigma Tuner located in Sanctum or Pandaemonium. This new
Stigma can also drop from monsters.



New
Dynamic Map System

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The World Map has received a complete overhaul, and boasts several new
features and functionalities.



Players can now filter important objects on the map including Quests,
Rifts, Obelisks, Merchants, and Mailboxes.



In addition, players can zoom in and out to view geographical details
of different areas and zones.



New
Advanced Graphics Engine

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Standard Graphics

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Advanced Graphics

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Standard Graphics

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Advanced Graphics



Players with machines that meet the system requirements can use the new
Advanced Graphics Engine by enabling it in the Video options.



Players with machines that cannot meet the requirements for the
Advanced Graphics Engine can still enjoy Atreia in standard graphics.



New
Character Customization Options

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Fashion conscious Daevas will be delighted with the exciting new
character customization options introduced in 2.5 style="font-style: italic;">Empyrean Calling.




Several character customization features have been improved, including
more diverse facial expressions and body shapes.

New
Dresses and Formalwear

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Players will find more luxury attire available at the Galleria of
Grandeur and Vanahal Boutique, including a new option to purchase
Gift-Wrapped attire.



In addition to the offerings at the Galleria of Grandeur and Vanahal
Boutique, players can purchase a new line of fashionable clothing using
tokens from the Empyrean Crucible.



These tokens can be exchanged for fashionable clothing at the Kaisinel
Academy and Marchutan Priory.



New
Character Animations

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A character at rest and in motion using the Levitate animation!



A new feature has been added that allows players to change their
character’s movement animations. By using a special Manual,
players can replace one animation with another.



For example, players can replace their jump animation, or run
animation.



Pet
System Update



2.5 Empyrean
Calling introduces several
new pets, including the Pink Nyanco, Aion’s first Loot Pet
that will loot items for players!



New pet features, including a more advanced Pet Mood system, have also
been introduced.



Buff
Pet: Pointyhat Sprigg

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This helpful pet can store food and scrolls, and will automatically
buff the player when their current food or scroll buff expires.



Loot
Pet: Pink Nyanco

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This helpful pet will automatically loot corpses and deposit the loot
in the player’s inventory.



Pack
Pet: Sunset Drakie

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This charming little Drakie is ready for an adventure, boasting a handy
backpack with a maximum of 18 inventory slots.



New
Weapons and Armor



Players have several new weapons and armor sets to look forward to in
the 2.5 update, including the new Brigade General weapons and armor,
which can be purchased with Abyss points and Platinum Medals.



Brigade General’s Set

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Want the most powerful equipment in Aion? You’ve found it:
the Brigade General’s weapons and armor. This equipment is
awarded to players who have accumulated massive amounts of Abyss points
and participated in countless Fortress sieges, as it can only be
purchased with Abyss points and Platinum Medals.



Players can purchase Brigade General series weapons and armor from
merchants at the Cloister of Kaisinel or Convent of Marchutan. Be
aware; this equipment doesn’t come cheap!



Empyrean
Crucible Rewards

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Participating in the Empyrean Crucible offers its own set of powerful
arms and armaments. Players can earn weapons, armor, and accessories
from the Empyrean Crucible. In addition, many of these items can be
infused with divine power using the Conditioning system, which grants
temporary attributes.



Most of the monsters in the Empyrean Crucible will not drop loot, and
instead, players will earn points from slaying monsters.



When the Empyrean Crucible ends, those points will be converted to
tokens, and players can use those tokens to purchase equipment from
merchants located in the Kaisinel Academy or Marchutan Priory.



Mentor
Quest Rewards

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The new Mentoring system is a great way for high level players to
interact with their lower level counterparts, and earn some fat loot!



By completing Daily Quests for the new Orichalcum Key or The Circle
factions, players can earn tokens which can in turn be traded for
weapons, armor, accessories, and other special rewards.



Changes
to Abyss Points



2.5 Empyrean Calling introduces both small and big changes to Abyss
points.

Bundled
Abyss Relics

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Players can now exchange ten Abyss relics at a time, while previously
it was only possible to exchange relics one at a time.



Administration Officers have appeared at the Fortresses in Balaurea,
allowing players to exchange bundles of Abyss relics. The Abyss Points
earned from exchanging Abyss relics in a bundle is identical exchanging
one at a time.



However, players will still earn more Abyss Points from exchanging
Abyss relics outside of the Divine Fortress.



New
Means to Acquire Abyss Points
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The Esoterrace, one of the new Instanced Dungeons introduced in 2.5,
can be a great source for Abyss Points and Platinum Medals.



Players looking forward to donning the Brigade General’s set
would be wise to take advantage of the Abyss Points from Esoterrace.



Platinum Medals can be acquired from Fortress sieges in Balaurea, the
Abyssal Splinter, and Esoterrace.



New
Instanced Dungeons



In Aion’s
two newest Instanced Dungeons, Esoterrace and the Empyrean Crucible,
players will brandish their weapons and magic against colossal foes,
with the opportunity to earn exciting rewards!



The
Empyrean Crucible

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The goal of the Empyrean Crucible is survival. In this trial of
endurance, players will need both wits and tenacity to overcome
fearsome challenges.



The Empyrean Crucible consists of ten stages, with five rounds in each
stage, for a total of fifty rounds. Players level 50 and above can
enter the Empyrean Crucible.



By defeating the monsters that appear in each round, players will
accumulate points. When the Group has completed all ten stages, or is
wiped out, the Empyrean Crucible will end and tokens will be
distributed to each player based on the total points accumulated.



These tokens can be used to purchase powerful arms and armaments unique
to the Empyrean Crucible. Thus, even players who tend to have poor luck
with loot drops can look forward to earning rewards from the Empyrean
Crucible.



Weapons and armor are not the only new items that can be purchased with
tokens from the Empyrean Crucible; players can also purchase unique
costumes, pets, consumables, and much more!



Esoterrace

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The Esoterrace is a Group Instanced Dungeon accessible through the
Fortresses in Balaurea. In Esoterrace, players can acquire Abyss relics
and Platinum Medals, in addition to a few select pieces of Fabled
equipment.



Players level 50 and up can enter Esoterrace to complete a variety of
Quests and objectives, including Repeatable Quests that offer the
powerful Earth Dragon weapons as a reward.



Five
Important Updates to Existing Content



Balic
Advanced Designs

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With new advanced designs, crafting Balic items is now much easier.
Players can now take 3 Superior items, and craft them into 1 Heroic
item using the Balic Advanced Designs.



For example, players can now craft the Noble Sky Dragon’s
Mace by combining 3 Sky Dragon’s Maces. Thus, the difficulty
of crafting Balic items has been significantly reduced.



The advanced Balic designs are sold by the Tigraki Workshop Merchants
found in the capital cities of each race (Shoshinerk in Sanctum, and
Chopirunerk in Pandaemonium).



Energy
of Repose and Energy of Salvation Boosted

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Energy of Repose and Energy of Salvation now also increase item drop
rates by 5%, allowing players to level up and acquire loot faster!



Energy of Repose is accumulated when a character is logged out of the
game, while Energy of Salvation is accumulated when a character spends
significant time in-game without increasing their level.



New
Legion Features

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Numerous Legion features have been added in style="font-style: italic;">Empyrean Calling.




The maximum Legion level has been raised from level 3 to level 5, which
increases the maximum number of players in a Legion to 150 (for a level
5 Legion). In addition, players will enjoy new Legion ranks, and more
storage.



For level 4 and level 5 Legions, players will have the option to
purchase exclusive Legion cloaks which prominently display their colors
and emblem. 



The
Mentor System

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A new Mentor system connects high level and low level players.



By completing Daily Quests for two new factions (one for each race),
high level players will earn tokens for assisting low level players
with Quests, Instanced Dungeons, and other challenges. Low level
players will receive great benefits from their mentors, including
unrestricted loot drops!



The tokens high level players earn from completing Daily Quests as a
Mentor can be used to purchase Eternal and Fabled equipment. In
addition to equipment, high level players can earn unique items, such
as charms which increase item drop rates!



Level
50 Daevonian Armor Quest Simplified

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Players can now begin the Miragent or Fenris Quests at level 50 without
completing all Campaign Quests in each zone.



This new feature allows players outfit their alternate characters, and
grants new players easier access to equipment needed to experience all
of the content in 2.5 style="font-style: italic;">Empyrean Calling!