Crafting in Aion 2 is a key system that significantly impacts gameplay, progression, and the in-game economy. It allows players to create high-tier gear, useful consumables, and even items that can provide long-term advantages in both PvP and PvE. Crafting not only enhances your character's performance but also offers opportunities to profit within the game.
Core Crafting Professions
There are five primary crafting professions in Aion 2, each tied to specific crafting tables scattered across major cities. These professions focus on different aspects of the game, allowing players to specialize in a particular area of crafting. Below is an overview of each crafting profession:
Blacksmithing
- Focus: Melee weapons (e.g., Greatswords, Longswords, Daggers, Maces)
- Blacksmiths are essential for those who prefer combat-focused characters. The weapons they create provide powerful stats for players who favor physical damage and melee combat. As a blacksmith, you can craft high-tier melee weapons that rival dungeon drops and can be a critical part of your progression.
Armorsmithing
- Focus: Full armor sets (e.g., helms, pauldrons, gloves, boots)
- Armorsmithing is ideal for those who want to boost their defensive capabilities. Crafting armor sets is crucial for increasing your character's survivability, and you'll need to craft sets to progress further into the game's tougher zones and dungeons. Armorsmiths create both protective and stylish armor that can offer substantial stat bonuses.
Handicrafting
- Focus: Long-range weapons (e.g., Bows, Staves) and jewelry (e.g., Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets)
- Handicrafting covers a wide range of items, from ranged weapons for characters who prefer distance combat to jewelry that can provide important stat boosts. This profession is perfect for ranged damage dealers or those who want to enhance their character's attributes with rings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Alchemy
- Focus: Spellbooks, Orbs, Mana/HP potions, and Buff Scrolls
- Alchemy is vital for creating consumables like potions and scrolls that boost your character's performance in battles. Whether you need mana potions to keep casting spells or buff scrolls that grant speed, healing, or critical hit chances, alchemists are the masters of support. Alchemy is crucial for any player who engages in regular combat, as the buffs and healing items provide sustainability during long fights.
Cooking
- Focus: Food and beverages providing temporary stat buffs
- Cooking plays a strategic role in providing stat boosts for both PvP and PvE. Whether you need increased attack power, defense, or speed, cooked food can make all the difference in a battle. Additionally, many foods can also heal you over time, providing crucial support during long fights or dungeons. Cooking is often overlooked, but its benefits are essential for boosting your character's potential.
How to Craft: Step-by-Step
Crafting in Aion 2 requires a few key steps to ensure you create high-quality items. Below is an outline of the crafting process:
1. Gather Materials
- The first step to crafting is gathering raw materials. This is done using the Essence Extraction skill, which allows you to extract resources from the world around you. You can gather resources from various sources like mining ores, gathering herbs, or cutting down trees.
2. Obtain Recipes
- You'll need recipes to craft items, and these come in different tiers. Basic recipes (white/green) can be purchased from vendors in the Artisan's Hall. However, higher-tier recipes (blue/purple) may require you to defeat elite mobs, complete quests, or earn rewards from work orders. The rarer the recipe, the better the item you can craft.
3. Use Crafting Tables
- Once you have the necessary materials and recipes, head to a specialized crafting table located in major cities. Each crafting profession has its own table, such as the Blacksmithing Table, Alchemy Bench, or Cooking Station. At these tables, you will be able to combine materials according to your recipes.
4. Catalysts for Crafting
- In many cases, you will need to purchase catalysts from nearby vendors to help complete your crafting. Catalysts are consumable items required for successful crafting and are bought with Kinah (in-game currency). Keep in mind that the better the catalyst, the higher the chances of crafting rare or superior items.
5. Substance Morphing
- Substance Morphing is an advanced feature in crafting that allows you to use Odal Crystals to transform resources directly into other materials. This is a shortcut to avoid failure or success mechanics and can be a useful way to access higher-tier materials instantly, especially for crafting rare items.
Advanced Crafting Mechanics
In Aion 2, crafting has some additional mechanics that add complexity and depth to the system:
The “Proc” System
- One interesting feature of crafting is the Proc System, which introduces a random element to your crafting. This system can trigger an event where your crafted item turns out to be of a higher quality than expected. For example, a simple white item may turn into a rare blue item, or a green item could become a rare purple item. This "proc" system adds excitement and offers an opportunity to get rare items from crafting.
Work Orders
- Work Orders are repeatable quests given by crafting masters in cities. They allow you to level up your crafting profession by using materials provided by the quest giver. Work orders require a small Kinah fee and save you from having to gather all the materials yourself. They are a good way to level your profession without spending too much time gathering resources.
Profiting from Crafting
- Crafting can be a profitable endeavor in Aion 2. Items crafted from certain professions, such as Mana Stones or rare accessories, can be sold for a significant amount of Kinah. You can "AFK craft" these items by setting them to craft while you do other activities in the game, such as questing or farming. This allows you to passively earn Kinah over time.
Arcana Crafting
- Aion 2 introduces Arcana Crafting, where players can craft and enhance Arcana Cards. These cards provide significant combat bonuses, both passive and active, and can be a game-changer in combat situations. Arcana Crafting allows players to further specialize and enhance their combat capabilities, providing buffs that make a noticeable difference in both PvP and PvE encounters.
Crafting Economy and Market
Crafting in Aion 2 is also directly tied to the game's economy. Many crafted items can be sold in the market, and the success of your crafting career can depend on the market demand. Some items, like powerful potions or gear, are in high demand and can sell quickly, while others may take longer to find buyers. Keeping an eye on market trends and adjusting your crafting strategy accordingly can help you make a steady income.
Additionally, specialized crafting professions, like Arcana Crafting, Cooking, or Alchemy, can provide valuable items for players who engage in specific types of gameplay, such as PvP or dungeon runs. Knowing what items are highly sought after can give you an edge in crafting.
Crafting in Aion 2 is an enriching and rewarding system that can significantly impact your character's progression. Whether you're crafting powerful weapons, durable armor, or helpful consumables, the ability to create these items can be a game-changer. By gathering materials, acquiring recipes, and using specialized crafting tables, you can create items that will not only help you progress but can also be sold for a profit in the game's economy. Understanding the advanced mechanics, such as the Proc System and Work Orders, will help you become a master crafter. So dive into the world of crafting and see how it enhances your Aion 2 experience!
