The map of Iluma (Click to enlarge)
Iluma (also known as Esterra) is the land on which bottom half of the Tower of Eternity stands. It is located at the top-right of Elysea and caters to players between level 66-75. Players need to have completed the Archdaeva Ascension to be able to enter Iluma.
Accessing Iluma
History
"The hallowed grounds around the twin bases of the Tower of Eternity have awakened from their long slumber. Beasts not seen for a thousand years once again stir, and life in the days of the Cataclysm resumes.
For the Elyos, Iluma represents the holiest of holy grounds, defiled by the Asmodians' barbaric paranoia and insistence on bloodshed. And yet, there is wonder yet to be found here, and ancient secrets long forgotten - for within the Tower of Eternity itself, at the heart of all knowledge, exists a truth that will reshape Aion's grand creation forever."
--Official description from the Echoes of Eternity minisite.
Lay of the Land
Iluma is large map which primarily distinguishes itself through its incredibly dense forestry, with the area inhabited by the Tarhan Krall serving as the lone exception. Few mystical ponds and lakes are dotted across this map, where hillsides and other geographical barriers are more rule than exception. The local wildlife has been allowed to flourish practically unchecked for centuries; add up the narrow roads, and the average player will find Iluma a visually appealing yet difficult map to master.
Players start at Ariel's Sanctuary at the center of the map. The area directly surrounding it caters to level 66-68 and contains the entrances to the instances. The rest of the map (the whole 'outer ring') can be split up in 'districts', with each district containing monsters of a specific level range. While the lower level districts are fairly easy to navigate, players will find that traversing the higher-level areas becomes increasingly difficult to the point where mounts cannot be used efficiently and improved gear may be required to traverse safely.
Iluma's location in the world
Leveling
Different from preceding maps is that leveling in Iluma is largely grind-based at this point in time, although there are plans to remedy this [1]. Starting at level 66, players can take hourly (or daily) repeatable quests for any of the major areas and complete these until they (eventually) are level 75. Due to the low experience these quests award compared to the amount of monster kills needed many have instead opted for alternative methods of leveling up, such as clearing the Upper Abyss Barracks solo or duo for experience.
Crafting
All monsters in Iluma have a chance to drop Archdaeva morphing materials, Archdaeva manastones and, at higher levels, eternal or mythic-grade Archdaeva gear (or even wings) when killed. Additional gear and (higher grade) manastones may be acquired from the local instances. Iluma also has with an unique skin set which can be crafted via a currency obtained by by completing [Spy] quests for Norsvold and then seeking out the shugos shattered throughout the map for the crafting recipes.
PvP
Iluma itself is an unrestricted 24/7 PvP map: there are no neutral zones (unlike Katalam) or gates (unlike Cygnea), offering little protection against incursions from the opposing race. The major questing outposts (and instance entrances) have garrisons, but the smaller outposts only have normal-grade guards protecting them.
Asmodian players can enter Iluma via a number of rifts that may randomly appear in Norsvold every hour. The max capacity of these rifts, as well as the duration during which they will be active, varies (this is explained as rifts that appear further away from the Tower of Eternity being weaker). Asmodian players can complete [Spy] quests for special tokens that are used to craft a special outfit.
Dynamic Content
- Transportation: Windstreams and free-flight zones are available in different areas based on the time of the day.
- Boss Monsters: Special monsters may appear in select areas during either daytime or nighttime, and can be killed for quests which award Archdaeva gear and experience.
- Portals: The appearances of rifts and access points to the Tower of Eternity are largely randomized.
- New phenomena such as geysers and aether shrouds may randomly appear in the landscape and buff your character with effects ranging from increased casting times to invisibility for a limited time.
Instances
Solo Instances
- Fissure of Oblivion [66+]
Group Instances
- Adma's Fall [66+]
- Theobomos Test Chamber [66+]
- Drakenseer's Lair [66+]
- Fallen Poeta [66+]