Instances are Aion's equivalent of dungeons. They are special zones and are named 'instances' because they have a separate copy for every group of players that enters these 'instanced zones'. Instances are generally PvE, though it should be noted that there are certain exceptions such as the arenas (PvP) or battlegrounds (PvPvE).
There are a wide variety of instances in Aion, each serving different purposes: some are great for farming experience or gear, whereas others provide valuable materials and yet others need to be completed in order to proceed with main quest or level up a legion. Most instances are available to anyone who meets the minimum level requirement, although some may require the completion of a certain 'entry quest' first or require the player to have a particular item on them to enter. There are restrictions on the amount of times players can enter a selected instance per day/week, which is based on that instance's entry count.
Basics
Player Limit
There is a limit on maximum number of players that can enter each instance. To enter a 1-man instance you have to be out of the group, although you can join a group once you are inside. For a 3-man or 6-man instance you are required to be in a group, for instances requiring 12 to 24 players in an alliance, and for instances requiring over 24 players in a league.
Entry
To enter an instance the player(s) will need to find and manually enter through that instance's portal or access point (typically indicated via a cave icon on the map). This is typically done by interacting with an object or NPC who will then teleport them inside. Once any member of a group enters, a copy of the specific zone is created and 'bound' to that group. Other members will enter into the same copy as long as they are part of that group. If additional or new party members are invited to the group while the instance is already open, they will enter into the same copy. When entering an instance using the cross-server function (i.e. instances that can be accessed while on the Fast-Track Server or the Dredgions), the copy and all members who enter it are placed on the Instance Server instead.
Once a person enters, their entry count for that instance will be deducted by -1 and his/her personal cooldown for that zone will be initiated, which prevents going into another copy of it. The entry count varies per instance and may reset every week, day, or on selected days. Additional entry counts can be obtained by using reset/entry boost scrolls for that particular instance, the cash shop, or (in later patches) using kinah to 'purchase' an additional entry count manually.
If the player fails to use their additional entries before the next reset, it will be wasted. If the player uses a scroll with the maximum amount of entries available, it will be added to the amount of entries available (for example, displaying as 2/1 entries available).
Leaving, Rejoining & Resetting
If you leave the group while inside a group instance, you will be kicked out after 1 minute. If you rejoin that very same group, you will be able to re-enter the same 'copy' of instance under certain conditions: at least one group member should have remained inside, and the original group that went into the instance should not have been disbanded at any point.
If a group gets disbanded, everyone will be kicked out of the instance and it will reset. An efficient way to thus do multiple runs of the same instance is to quit the party at the end and have the party leader 'remake' the party. Furthermore, if there is no player inside an instance for about 10 minutes, it will reset.
As of the 5.0.5 patch, players who re-enter the same solo instance before the auto-reset has kicked in after about 10 minutes can choose whether to continue in the same 'copy' of the instance or reset it and start over anew, which will consume another entry count.
Mechanics
- Instance monsters offer a great deal more EXP and way more valuable loot than open-world monsters. Most instances also have (repeatable) quests associated with them that will greatly benefit players.
- Monsters and bosses do not respawn once killed. In very few cases, like in certain Abyss instances, obstacles like barricades, monsters or other objects may respawn after some time.
- Most rare items, once looted, are tradeable among players of the same group for about 5 minutes. This does not apply to groups who entered via the Fast-Track Server.
- Monsters (or bosses) will reset and gradually recover all their HP (in chunks of 25%) once all players who hit them at least once have died or disconnected. Unlike open world, most monsters in instances do -not- reset or drop their aggro if the players run away for a while -- they will pursue and not stop until the affected player(s) have been dealt with.
List of Instances
Detailed information about instances (such as amount of remaining entries, reset time etc.) can be checked in-game by clicking the "Instance" tab on the World Map, "Instance Info" from the main menu in-game, and/or by hovering over the instance's icon on the world map.. Additionally, we have compiled a list of instances in the game and their purposes below.
Notes
- Instances that provide very good EXP/Gear and are strongly recommended for players around that level to do will have their name and purpose indicated through a bold font.
- [*] means that an entry item and/or quest is required for accessing this instance.
- Misc purposes indicate souvenirs or other uncommon drops, such as wings or plumes.
- [Event] instances are special dungeons that are usually only available during select moments a year or serve optional purposes (e.g. Luna Shop), but are always worth doing. In most of these instances the player will be transformed into a monster and receive preset stats (such as HP/def) as well as skills that do a preset amount of damage, similar to Taloc's Hollow. This way anyone who meets minimum level requirement can do these instances.
PvE Instances
Name | Max players | Min. Level | Reset | Entries | Recommended Min. Level | Purpose | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[Event] Contaminated Waterway | 1 | 10+ | Daily | 1 | - | EXP, Luna Shop Crafting Materials | |
[Event] Secret Munitions Factory | 1 | 10+ | Weekly | 1 | - | EXP, Luna Shop Crafting Materials | |
Haramel | 1 | 16+ | Daily | 16 | 16 | EXP, Gear | |
Nochsana Training Camp | 6 | 25+ | Daily | 5 | 25 | EXP, Crafting Materials, Legion Task | |
Fire Temple | 6 | 27+ | - | ∞ | 30 | EXP, Weapon, Legion Task | |
[Event] The Nightmare Circus | 6 | 30+ | Daily | 1 | - | Fun & Rare loot | |
Aetherogenetics Lab | 6 | 35+ | Daily | 16 | 35 | EXP | |
Alquimia Research Center | 6 | 35+ | Daily | 16 | 35 | EXP | |
Azoturan Fortress | 6 | 35+ | - | ∞ | 35 | Campaign Quest (Elyos) | |
Kromede's Trial | 1 | 37+ | Daily | 5 | 37 | EXP, Gear | |
Draupnir Cave | 6 | 39+ | Daily | 5 | 42 | Legion Task, Crafting Materials, Campaign Quest (Asmodian) | |
Steel Rake Cabin | 1 | 40+ | Daily | 5 | 40 | EXP, Gear | |
Steel Rake | 6 | 40+ | Daily | 5 | 40 | EXP, Gear | |
[Event] Shugo Emperor's Tomb | 3 | 40+ | Daily | 1 | - | Fun & Rare loot | |
[Event] Smoldering Fire Temple | 3 | 40+ | Daily | 1 | - | Fun & Rare loot | |
Indratu Fortress | 6 | 41+ | - | - | 41 | Crafting Materials, Campaign Quest (Elyos) | |
Left Wing Chamber | 6 | 45+ | Daily | 1 | 45 | AP, Medals, Balic Materials | |
Right Wing Chamber | 6 | 45+ | Daily | 1 | 45 | AP, Medals, Balic Materials | |
Sulfur Tree Nest | 6 | 45+ | Daily | 1 | 45 | AP, Medals, Balic Materials | |
Asteria Chamber (Carpus Isle Storeroom) | 6 | 45+ | Daily | 1 | 45 | AP, Medals, Balic Materials | |
Chamber of Roah (Hamate Isle Storeroom) | 6 | 45+ | Daily | 1 | 45 | AP, Medals, Balic Materials | |
Krotan Chamber (Isle of Roots Storeroom) | 6 | 45+ | Daily | 1 | 45 | AP, Medals, Balic Materials | |
Kysis Chamber (Grave of Steel Storeroom) | 6 | 45+ | Daily | 1 | 45 | AP, Medals, Balic Materials | |
Miren Chamber (Twilight Battlefield Storeroom) | 6 | 45+ | Daily | 1 | 45 | AP, Medals, Balic Materials | |
Adma Stronghold | 6 | 46+ | Daily | 16 | 46 | EXP, Legion Task, Misc | |
Theobomos Lab | 6 | 46+ | Daily | 16 | 46 | EXP, Legion Task, Misc | |
Dark Poeta | 6 | 48+ | Daily | 2 | 48 | EXP, Gear, Legion Task, Crafting Materials, Misc | |
Abyssal Splinter (removed) | 12 | 50+ | Weekly | 3 | - | AP, Gear, Misc | |
Unstable Abyssal Splinter (removed) | 12 | 60+ | - | AP, Gear, Mythic Supplements, Legion Coins, Misc | |||
Crucible Challenge | 1 | 50+ | Daily | 1 | 50 | Crucible Insignias | |
Empyrean Crucible | 6 | 50+ | Daily | 1 | 50 | Crucible Insignias | |
Esoterrace | 6 | 50+ | Daily | 1 | 50 | AP | |
Taloc's Hollow | 1 | 51+ | Daily | 1 | 51 | EXP, Campaign Quest advance (A/E), Misc | |
Lower Udas Temple | 6 | 51+ | Daily | 5 | 51 | EXP, Gear | |
Udas Temple | 6 | 51+ | Daily | 5 | 51 | EXP, Gear | |
[Event] Shugo Imperial Tomb | 3 | 51+ | Daily | 1 | - | Fun & Rare loot | |
Beshmundir Temple | 6 | 53+ | Daily | 2 | 53 | EXP, Gear, Misc | |
Aturam Sky Fortress | 1 | 55+ | Daily | 1 | 55 | EXP, Kinah, Gear | |
Satra Treasure Hoard (Removed) | 6 | 55+ | Daily | 1 | - | AP, Mithril Medals | |
The Hexway | 6 | 55+ | Daily | 1 | 55 | AP, Supplements (Mythic), Composite Manastones | |
Padmarashka's Cave | 48 | 55+ | Weekly | 1 | 55 | Gear | |
Argent Manor (removed) | 12 | 57+ | Daily | 1 | - | Gear, Kahrun Symbols, Misc | |
Elementis Forest (removed) | 12 | 57+ | Daily | 1 | - | Gear, Kahrun Symbols, Misc | |
Muada's Trencher (removed) | 12 | 57+ | Daily | 1 | - | Kahrun Symbols, Legion Task | |
Rentus Base | 6 | 57+ | Daily | 2 | 57 | EXP, Gear, Misc | |
Tiamat Stronghold | 6 | 57+ | Daily | 1 | 60 | Gear, Misc, Legion Task | |
Raksang Ruins | 1 | 60+ | Weekly | 3 | 60 | EXP, Ancient Coins | |
Dragon Lord’s Refuge | 12 | 60+ | Weekly | 5 | 65 | Gear, Misc, Legion Task | |
(Solo/Group) Steel Rose Quarters (removed) | 3 | 61+ | Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 am | 1 | - | EXP, Kinah, Ancient Coins, Gear | |
(Solo/Group) Steel Rose Cargo (removed) | 3 | 61+ | Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 am | 1 | - | EXP, Kinah, Ancient Coins, Gear | |
Steel Rose Deck (removed) | 3 | 61+ | Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 am | 1 | - | EXP, Kinah, Ancient Coins, Gear | |
Miren Barracks | 6 | 61+ | Daily | 1 | 70 | AP, Spinel Fragments, Ceramium Medals, manastones (archdaeva/composite), consumables | |
Krotan Barracks | 6 | 61+ | Daily | 1 | 70 | AP, Spinel Fragments, Ceramium Medals, manastones (archdaeva/composite), consumables | |
Kysis Barracks | 6 | 61+ | Daily | 1 | 70 | AP, Spinel Fragments, Ceramium Medals, manastones (archdaeva/composite), consumables | |
Danuar Sanctuary | 6 | 63+ | Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat 9:00 am | 1 | 63 | Ancient Coins, AP, manastones (ancient) | |
Ophidan Bridge | 6 | 63+ | Weekly | 3 | 63 | Blood Marks, Crafting Materials, Gear | |
[*] Sealed Danuar Mysticarium | 1 | 65+ | - | - | 65 | AP, Ancient Coins, Manastones | |
[*] Sealed Argent Manor | 1 | 65+ | Weekly | 7 | 65 | Gear, Chargeable Stigma, Manastones, Ancient Coins, AP, Misc | |
Lucky Danuar Reliquary (removed) | 6 | 65+ | Daily | 3 | - | Ancient Manastones, Idians, Composite Manastones, Ceramium Medals | |
Danuar Reliquary | 6 | 65+ | Weekly | 3 | 65 | Gear, Ancient Manastone, Legion Task | |
Infernal Danuar Reliquary | 6 | 65+ | Weekly | 1 | 65 | Ancient Manastones, Cruxes (Infernal only) | |
Illuminary Obelisk | 6 | 65+ | Weekly | 3 | 65 | Gear, Ancient Coins, Ancient Manastones, Misc | |
Infernal Illuminary Obelisk | 6 | 65+ | Weekly | 1 | 65 | Cruxes (Infernal only) | |
(Legion's) Idgel Research Center (removed) | 6 | 65+ | Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat 9:00 am | 1 | - | Ceramium Medal | |
Infinity Shard | 12 | 65+ | Weekly | 2 | 65 | Gear, GP, Crafting Materials, Legion Task | |
[*] The Eternal Bastion | 24 | 65+ | Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat 9:00 am | 1 | 65 | AP, GP, Ceramium Medals, Gear, Legion Task, Misc | |
Sauro Supply Base | 6 | 65+ | Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat 9:00 am | 1 | 65 | Gear, Composite Manastones, unique weapon/head skins, Legion Task | |
(Legion's) Void Cube (removed) | 6 | 65+ | Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat 9:00 am | 1 | - | Ceramium Medals | |
Linkgate Foundry | 1 | 65+ | Daily | 1 | 65 | Ancient Coins, Ancient Manastones, Crafting Materials, Plume (small % on max difficulty) | |
Occupied Rentus Base | 6 | 65+ | Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat 9:00 am | 1 | 65 | Gear, Blood Marks | |
Seized Danuar Sanctuary | 6 | 65+ | Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat 9:00 am | 1 | 65 | Ancient Coins, Manastones (Ancient), AP | |
Anguished Dragon Lord's Refuge | 12 | 65+ | Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat 9:00 am | 1 | 65 | Gear, Furious Longtooth purification prototype | |
Drakenspire Depths | 12 | 65+ | Weekly | 1 | 65 | Gear, GP, Legion Task, Misc | |
[*] Stonespear Siege | 12 | 65+ | Weekly | 1 | 65 | Legion Outpost occupation in Enshar/Cygnea, Title, Misc (Augment Bundle), Ceramium Medals | |
Theobomos Test Chamber | 6 | 66+ | Weekly | 2 | 66 | EXP, Gear, Ancient Coins, Blood Marks, Costume, Archdaeva Materials | |
Adma's Fall | 6 | 66+ | Weekly | 2 | 66 | EXP, Gear, Ancient Coins, Blood Marks, Costume, Crafting Materials | |
Archives of Eternity | 6 | 66+ | Weekly | 3 | 68 | EXP, Gear, Manastones, Campaign Quest, Crafting Materials, Misc | |
Drakenseer's Lair | 6 | 66+ | Weekly | 3 | 70 | EXP, Gear, Manastones, Archdaeva Materials | |
Cradle of Eternity | 6 | 66+ | Weekly | 4 | 73 | EXP, Gear, Manastones, Campaign Quest, Crafting Materials. Misc | |
Fissure of Oblivion | 1 | 66+ | Daily | 1 | 66 | EXP (!!), Ancient Coins, Campaign Quest (Elyos/Asmodian), Misc | |
Fallen Poeta | 6 | 66+ | Weekly | 3 | 71 | EXP, Gear, Crafting Materials | |
Dredgion Defense: Pandaemonium (for Asmodians) or Sanctum (for Elyos) | 384 | 66+ | Daily | ∞ | 73 | Gear, Archdaeva Manastones, Illusion Godstones, Crafting Materials, Misc |
PvP Instances (Arenas)
In the arenas players of both factions can compete for AP, currencies used to acquire PvP gear (which can be used or sold), or other rewards. Unlike in many other games gear and levels are not equalized inside Aion's arenas.
Name | Max players | Level | Reset | Entries |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arena of Chaos | 8 |
51-55, |
Weekly | 5 |
Arena of Discipline | 1 + 1 | |||
Arena of Harmony | 3 + 3 | |||
[*] Arena of Glory | 2 + 2 |
56-60, |
- | Unlimited |
Hall of Tenacity | 1 + 1 (32 max) | 66+ | Weekly | 2 |
Name | Max players | Level | Reset | Entries |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chaos Training Grounds | 8 |
51+ |
- | Unlimited |
Discipline Training Grounds | 1 + 1 | |||
Harmony Training Grounds | 3 + 3 | 46+ | ||
Unity Training Grounds | 2 + 2 |
PvPvE Instances (Battlegrounds)
Battlegrounds are the ultimate chance (besides sieges) for players to prove both their own and their faction's mettle. Your group/alliance will face against both the Balaur and a group/alliance of players of the opposing race at the same time in a challenging environment. These instances are timed, with the victors being determined by the amount of points and/or the final boss kill. To the winners go AP, GP, a number of the latest medals, and -very- valuable gear pieces or accessories.
Name | Format | Level | Reset | Entries |
---|---|---|---|---|
Baranath Dredgion | 6 vs 6 | 46-50 | Daily | 3 |
Chantra Dredgion | 51-55 | |||
Terath Dredgion | 56-65 | |||
Ashunatal Dredgion | 66-75 | 1 | ||
Engulfed Ophidan Bridge | 6 vs 6 | 61-65 | Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 am | 1 |
Idgel Dome | 6 vs 6 | 61-65 | Daily | 1 |
Kamar Battlefield | 12 vs 12 | 66-75 | Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 am | 1 |
Iron Wall Warfront | 24 vs 24 | 66-75 | Weekly | 2 |
Idgel Dome Landmark | 6 vs 6 | 66-75 | Daily | 1 |
Ophidan Warpath | 6 vs 6 | 66-75 | Daily | 1 |