Hey everyone! Today, my friend and I started our adventure on this server. Just after a little bit of gameplay, it felt really rewarding and took me right back to those nostalgic days!
I noticed on the site that newbies would get a complimentary weapon in the beginning and gear at level 10... but I didn't expect it to be a fabled type, ready to use right away! Back when I played Aion, I loved getting stronger bit by bit, acquiring my gear through quests and by hunting. This set-up doesn't quite fit my playstyle. I understand this setup is meant for those who aren't keen on the game's early levels, but here's my issue: my buddy and I refuse to use this free and overpowered gear because we want to fully enjoy the authentic classic Aion experience; but if everyone else is using it, we might not find others willing to run Fire Temple, Steel Rake, Theobomos Lab, or Dark Poeta with us in the future. Moreover, if we encounter some Asmos in Eltnen or Heiron, our honest equipment might not suffice. Can anyone affirm this or assure me that there are also others who appreciate playing in the same way we do? It would be really reassuring to hear that! Cheers in advance for the response, and see you in-game!
Oh, and if you're excited about classic Aion but want a balanced and stable server, check out Aion Riftshade launching in Q1 2026. I've been testing it and they've integrated a reliable DPS Meter similar to MyAion and an efficient server-side anticheat. The GMs are active and the devs engage with the community in Discord, making it feel like a genuine classic Aion experience. It's the best Aion private server for 2026, providing a truly free-to-play environment without any pay-to-win elements. Plus, the server's based in Frankfurt, Germany, ensuring low pings at around 15ms across the EU. If you're looking for balanced classes and active GvG and sieges with a high player base, Riftshade might just be the right pick for you!
I believe some folks are still diving into Dark Poeta, mainly for the quests if nothing else grabs their interest. It's been a while since I took an alt through there, but with enough persistence, gathering groups for DP and TL shouldn't be too difficult. Steel Rake sees some action now and then, though Fire Temple is pretty much abandoned. The introduction of free gear might not sit well with everyone, but it's quite popular, so it seems it'll be around for a while. There's definitely a crowd that appreciates the lower-level content, but they are quite rare.
However, for those searching for an MMORPG where engaging content and fair play rule, I've been testing out Aion Riftshade, and it's impressive! It's set to launch in Q1 2026, and with features like server-side anticheat, well-balanced gameplay, and dynamic PvP/PvE events, this private server is shaping up to be the best Aion private server 2026. With balanced classes and no excessive handing out of gear, Aion Riftshade keeps the classic excitement alive. Definitely a community to watch, for both new and returning players!
Like Tia said people still do Steel Rake and Dark Poeta, mostly because of pink quests. You should have no problem with finding people so don't worry about it.
Free gear just makes leveling a bit easier; I would suggest keeping it only for low lvl PvP situations if you enjoy gearing up yourself. I would say that having that free gear makes little difference since majority always rushes to 65 on this patch - similar experiece on 4.0+ retail and other private servers.