As launch quickly approaches, NCsoft is working towards the
smooth implementation of the
Aion update 1.5 that will put the North
American and European version of the game up-to-date with the Korean version.

While it is no doubt no easy task to squeeze in nearly a
year of additional live game content before a major launch, North American
players are getting the benefit of well tested content and a fuller end game
experience.

The 1.5 update has been added to open beta and continues to
undergo optimization but for those who haven’t had a chance to get into beta,
here is the scoop on what the finished version of the game will have available.

Atreia’s Inhabitants Discover New Lands

With more than a dozen original zones and instances, the
game has been beefed up to give a broader end-game including a raised level cap
to 50.  Update 1.5 adds a couple of new large zones along with some interesting
instances that take the high level players into an alternate timeline where war
has ravaged the lands of Poeta.

Contested dungeons make gameplay a bit more interesting. 
The Dredgion allows both Asmodian and Elyos players to enter allowing for true
PvPvE combat as players battle it out while progressing through the instance. 

The Abyss has added fortress instances that take PvP to a
whole new level.  If you want to get into the fortresses to play, your faction
has to have control!

For lower level players, the Nochsana Training Camp is a
new zone intended to acclimate new players to the Abyss.  Consider it to be boot
camp for newbie PvP.

These are just a sample of what has been added.  The new
add more content, more quests, and more rewards rounding out the end game and
tying together PvP and PvE in a very nice little package.

Balance Remains a Top Priority

Quite possibly one of the most important additions is the
class changes, new skills, and greater stigma stone slots.  In a game that
focuses on PvP, class balance and customization is insanely important.

First in PvP, players are discouraged from hunting in the
opposing faction’s lands making the world just a little bit safer for PvE
players.  These opposing faction hunters will suffer penalties for not only
encroaching on the lands but will suffer them faster if they are ganking lower
level players.  In addition, they will be shown on the map and marked as an
intruder making them fair game for the region’s protectors.  Kill an intruder
and you will receive blessings and heroic tidings!

Classes are getting more skills and more stigma slots! 
Greater stigma stones have been added into game, allowing for further
customization of your character.  Great stigma slots have been added to receive
these stones but the greater stigma slots can also be used with regular stigma
stones if you haven’t picked up a greater stigma stone just yet.

A whole lot of new skills are being added, mostly for
levels 45-50 which beta players haven’t experienced yet and won’t until after
release.  Tweaks were made across the board and players will find several skill
alterations for every class in game.  These alterations are made in the name of
balance and while you will be seeing quite a few decreases in skills (or nerfs)
you’ll also get many increases. 
Click here for the full list of class skill
changes.

It’s Always in the Details

For the casual players, the awesome idea of “Repose” has
given you a boost to make things just a little easier when you struggle to keep
up with the bulk of the player base.  Repose builds over time when you are
logged out of game so that when you log in, you can enjoy a 20-30% increase in
experience when killing enemies in PvE or fighting in PvP!  This is a nice bonus
for the weekend warriors who don’t get to play as often as they’d like to but
still want to be competitive in game.

As part of the localization, large amounts of smaller
features have made it into game at the request of the player base.  Some of the
highlights include:

• More character creations options
• New channels to connect with other players
• Zoom has been added to the mini-map for player ease
• Click-to-move is still an option but no longer the default
• Invert mouse has been added as a UI option
• You may now use the left mouse button to change camera angle

So far, NCsoft has been very on the ball with player
requests.  Feedback is being heard and utilized in some cases, so all are
invited to join the open beta and share your own feedback.  To see a video
preview of some of the 1.5 update features, check out
Sardu's PAX
video interview with NCsoft's Lani Blazier.  If you haven’t
picked up an Aion beta key yet, then you can finally get in for the low,
low cost of free.  For a limited time,
Fileplanet is offering beta keys with
registration, no purchase required.  This is your chance to check out what could
be the game of the year before it goes live!

Class Patch Notes - Find out if 1.5 Made Changes to Your Class!

Templar

• Iron
  Skin can now be used with the Templar’s Greatsword equipped.
• The
  effect range of Provoking Roar has been changed from 9m to 10m.
• The Iron
  Skin skill effect is put above the Attack skill effect.
• The
  damage reflection rate of Righteous Punishment* has been slightly increased. 
• The
  Gladiator/Templar’s Siegebreaker skill has been enhanced.
• The stun
  times of [Ancient Stigma] Holy Punishment, Holy Punishment, and Punishment of
  Light* have been changed to 3 seconds, and the skill cooldown time from 1 minute
  to 2 minutes. 
• The
  probability of captured by Divine Grasp has been increased.
• The
  defense from Seal of Protection*has been decreased in PvP.
• The
  defense of Empyrean Armor has been decreased in PvP.
• A
  problem with duplicate messages when using an emote after casting Blessed Shield
  has been corrected.

Gladiator

• A
  defense reduction debuff has been added to [Ancient Stigma] Piercing Wave*,
  Piercing Wave*, and Piercing Rupture*.
• Force
  Cleave has been changed to a level 2 long-range chain skill continued from
  Cleave.
• When
  blocking a physical strike with a weapon using Wall of Steel, the effect is now
  receiving half the damage rather than blocking all of it.
• The
  attack enhancement of Aion’s Strength has been increased in PvP. 
• The
  defense boost of Defense Preparation* has been increased in PvP. 
• Magical
  accuracy has been added to Aion’s Strength skill effect, and the attack
  enhancement has been increased in PvP.
• A
  problem with receiving additional damage when climbing the lava using the
  Slaughter skill has been corrected.

Ranger

• Movement
  speed is decreased while using Sniper Stance in flight.  
• A
  problem with using the Sandstorm Trap skill in the air has been addressed. 
• If an
  opponent has been immobilized due to Binding Arrow or Shock Arrow* skills, the
  status is no longer affected by the one-time use of physical healing potion.  
• Shock
  Arrow* has been changed to have the same effect as Shackle Arrow*.
• [Ancient
  Stigma] Condor’s Arrow and Deadly Arrow have been changed to have the same
  effect as [Ancient Stigma] Brightwing Arrow and Holy Arrow.
• Vaizel’s
  Arrow* and Triniel’s Arrow* skills have been changed to cast skills. 
• The cooldown time of Stunning Shot has been reduced from 18 seconds to 12 seconds.
• The cooldown time of Rupture Arrow* has been reduced from 32 seconds to 24 seconds.
• The
  See-through Eye* skill book has been added.

Assassin

• [Ancient
  Stigma] Radiant Rune, Radiant Rune, and Divine Rune have been changed from a
  stun to silence and decrease in attack speed.

Scout

• A
  problem with not being able to evade the Assassin’s Ambush* skill while using
  Focused Evasion* has been addressed. 

Cleric

• Clerics
  can now earn the Calmness skill. This skill can be acquired at levels 16/28/40
  and reduces the enmity rate toward your target when used.
• Brilliant Protection*, Yustiel’s Splendor*, and Marchutan’s Splendor can now be
  used in a non-combat state.
• Chastise
  damage has been decreased, and the damage rate of Chastise II has been
  increased.
• The
  damage of Smite V skill has been slightly decreased. 
• A system
  message displays if your Cure Mind or Purify spell is not high enough level to
  dispel the target.
• Healing
  Grace* I, II, III skills now have greater HP recovery.

Chanter

• Recovery
  Spell*, Word of Life, Swiftwing, Shield Mantra*, and Protection Mantra* can now
  be used in a non-combat state. 
• The
  damage rate, MP consumption, and cooldown time of Soul Crash skill have
  increased.
• The cooldown times of Stunning Strike and Soul Strike skill have increased from 10
  seconds to 12 seconds. 
• The
  skill accuracy of Binding Word and Defense Incantation has been increased.
• The cooldown time to restore the Rage Spell* skill effect has been changed from 100%
  to 500%. 
• The cooldown time for Binding Word has been changed from 5 minutes to 45 seconds. 
• A
  problem with being unable to use Tremor while inflicted with Silence has been
  corrected.
• A
  problem with being unable to see the Stunned effect when using Soul Strike has
  been addressed.

Mage

• Stone
  Skin now inflicts less damage in PvP combat.

Sorcerer

• The
  immobilization and movement speed effects can be removed when using the
  Dimension Door skill.    
• The
  range of Cold Summon* has been changed from 2m to 3m.
• The
  casting time rbeing able to see the effect of Ice Sheet III has been addressed. 
• A
  problem being unable to move the character when using the Barrier of Severance*
  skill has been addressed.

Spiritmaster

• Curse of
  Water and Curse: Movement Speed* have been changed so that the effects do not
  decrease during the Fire Spirit state.
• Summon
  Energy skills can now be used while flying.  
• The MP
  consumption rate of Fear Shriek has been slightly decreased. 
• The
  reuse time of Summoning Alacrity has been changed to 1 minute.  
• The HP
  and defense of the Earth Spirit that the Spiritmaster summons have been
  increased.   
• The HP
  of the Tempest Spirit and the Magma Spirit summoned by the Spiritmaster has been
  increased.
• Spiritmaster’s Wing Root skill effect has been changed; flight time decreases by
  20% instantly and continues to decrease by 6% every 3 seconds for 30 seconds.
• The Spiritmaster no longer receives falling damage after using the Fear skill while
  transformed.
• The MP
  required to cast Energy of Fire, Energy of Wind, Energy of Water, Energy of
  Earth, Dispel Magic*, and Ignite Aether have been decreased.eduction effect has
  been increased while using Boon of Quickness*. 
• The fire
  resistance effect of Flame Fusion* I and II have been changed from 40/50 to
  120/150.  
• Winged
  Magic I and II passive skills have been enhanced and the Winged Magic III skill
  has been added.
• Curse of
  Weakness* I and II skills have increased their duration from 8 seconds to 1
  minute, and the Curse of Weakness* II effect has been enhanced.
• The cooldown times of Lumiel’s Wisdom*, Zikel’s Curse*, and Vaizel’s Wisdom* have
  decreased from 1 minute to 30 seconds.