Camera Modes
Aion 1 mode: Fixed camera, you rotate with mouse.

Aion 2 mode: Mouse directly controls camera (similar to Guild Wars 2 action camera). Easier for combat, but may cause jitter and motion sickness.

Mounts
You get your first mount quickly. Available mounts include stags, golems, trolls, slimes, trees, even a star – but most are behind paywalls or expensive on the auction house.

5. The Business Model: Pay-to-Win? (Crucial for New Players)
Aion 2 is free-to-play but has three monetization pillars. Western players should expect changes before global release.

Pillar    Cost (Approx.)    What It Does
Comfort Membership    Part of ~€47/month total    Unlocks account trading & auction house access. Seen as mandatory.
Content Membership    Part of ~€47/month total    Increases daily dungeon limits & Abyss time. Massive gameplay advantage.
Premium Battle Pass    28-day duration    Sells resources for gear upgrades, not just cosmetics Aion 2 Items.
Cash Shop    Variable    Sells resurrection stones, buffs, and premium currency.
Indirect Pay-to-Win
Buy premium currency → trade for in-game gold → use gold on auction house → buy upgrades.

"Whales" (unlimited budgets) can reach max gear level in days, while free players grind all season.

Developer Note: The monetization is currently being tested in Asia and may differ for the Western release.

6. Current Problems & What Needs to Change for Global Release
Based on Taiwanese server feedback:

❌ Major Issues
Bots overrunning the economy. Korean servers use real-name verification; Taiwan server (where many Westerners play) is flooded.

Upgrade mechanics rely on luck (success rates), not just loot. Materials become scarce; success rates drop. Real money bypasses this.

Rigid animations – cannot be canceled smoothly. PC veterans call combat "clunky."

Overloaded menus – dozens of submenus with red exclamation marks. You'll spend hours clicking just to clear notifications.

Lag in hubs – Dawn Legion Base drops to ~10 FPS with multiple players (may be VPN-related).

No English voice-over – currently Chinese with English subtitles. Full localization expected for global release.

✅ What Works Well
Beautiful world, impressive draw distance, detailed enemies.

Fast entry into cinematic dungeons – no endless monster grinding.

Casual-friendly while still offering raid challenges.

Flying + verticality is genuinely unique.

7. Quick Tips for New Players (Based on Current Asian Build)
Use a VPN if trying the Taiwanese server from Europe/Germany – otherwise you cannot connect.

Expect to pay ~€47/month if you want to be competitive. If you just raid with friends, you can ignore the "who has the longest sword" comparison cheap Aion 2 Items.

Choose your camera mode carefully: Aion 2 mode is easier for combat but may cause motion sickness.

Don't skip the prologue – it teaches flying and basic mechanics.

Join a guild for Abyss content – solo PvP in the zone is brutal.

Watch for weekly PvP caps – you cannot exceed them, so plan your grind.

Accept the menu bloat – use hotkeys to survive.

8. Final Verdict (Based on the Description)
"Aion 2 is a good MMORPG that genre fans are rightfully excited about. But the monetization must be adjusted for the West. Currently, a WoW subscription looks like a bargain."

Play if: You want unique vertical flying combat, a PvE-focused modern MMO, and don't mind waiting for the global release fixes.

Wait or avoid if: You hate pay-to-win mechanics, rigid animations, daily chore lists, or zerg-based PvP.

Global release is planned for second half of 2026. Follow the game closely – if NCSoft fixes the business model and the clunky combat, this could truly be the next big thing.