New Player Guide — 20 Stages to Endgame

A start-to-endgame path for someone brand new to this server. Each stage is a clear goal, what to do, and the mistakes to avoid. Work top to bottom — don't skip the early UI stages, they save you hours later.

About this server: level cap is 130 (effective endgame; the XP table tops out at 131), and base rates are 1× (retail-like) — no dynamic XP multipliers. The big endgame draw is the two daily party instances, which open at Lv. 105 — but 105 is the entry level, not the cap: you keep leveling 105 → 130 while you run them. Modern L2 is far faster than old-school L2 by design; the real time-sink is gearing and the 105–130 climb.

Act I — Starter (Lv. 1–40)

Stage 1 — Connect & account

Goal: get in-game. Install the client, create an account, log in, and on the character screen select the server (shows as "Sakura Isle"). Watch out: wrong client version can't connect — use the client this server ships with.

Stage 2 — Choose race & class

Goal: pick what you'll play for a long time. Seven races: Human, Elf, Dark Elf, Orc, Dwarf, Kamael, Ertheia. Every character starts as a broad archetype — a Fighter (melee/physical) or a Mystic (caster); your true class is chosen at the 1st transfer (Stage 6). Full breakdown in Classes & Builds. Watch out: healers and supports level slower solo but are always wanted in parties.

Stage 3 — Create character & first login

Goal: be standing in the world, able to move and fight. Learn the basics: left-click to move/target, click a monster then attack, rotate the camera with right-drag. Watch out: don't burn starter items yet — read Stage 4 first.

Stage 4 — Learn the interface

Goal: never fight "naked" of automation again. Set up your hotbars, turn on auto-attack, and once you have shots, auto-use Soulshots/Spiritshots. Make simple macros and bind a potion to a key. Watch out: forgetting to auto-enable shots is the #1 new-player DPS loss.

Stage 5 — Newbie leveling (1–20)

Goal: hit ~Lv. 20 fast and cheaply. Follow the Newbie Guide / starter NPCs; do the starter quests for free gear, shots, and adena. Watch out: keep your Soulshots topped up — newbie quests hand them out; use them.

Stage 6 — 1st class transfer (~Lv. 20)

Goal: become a real class. Visit your class trainer and do the 1st class transfer (free), then learn all available skills. Watch out: pick the transfer matching the role you actually want.

Act II — Growth (Lv. 20–76)

Stage 7 — Leveling 20–40

Goal: build the party-and-shots habit. Hunt level-appropriate zones, party up for faster XP, always run Soulshots/Spiritshots matched to your weapon grade. Watch out: don't out-level your gear grade (Stage 10).

Stage 8 — 2nd class transfer (~Lv. 40)

Goal: your second specialization. Do the 2nd class transfer and learn the new skills — this is where classes start to feel distinct (burst, AoE, support kits diverge).

Stage 9 — Shots & consumables

Goal: lock in the consumables that multiply your power. Soulshots (physical) / Spiritshots (magic) / Blessed versions for crits — auto-use them. Keep HP/MP potions and buff scrolls. Watch out: running out of shots mid-grind tanks your kill speed — stock in bulk.

Stage 10 — Gear & grades

Goal: understand the gear ladder and stay current.

Equipment comes in grades: No-Grade → D → C → B → A → S (S80/S84) → R (R95/R99) → top-tier. Equip the highest grade your level allows and match Soulshot grade to weapon grade. Watch out: a higher-grade weapon you can't yet equip does nothing — check the level requirement. Deep dive: Gearing & Enchanting.

Stage 11 — Leveling 40–60

Goal: steady climb with daily structure. Start doing Daily Missions and use Sayune (in-world fast-travel rings) to reach zones. Keep gear within one grade of your level.

Stage 12 — 3rd class transfer (~Lv. 76)

Goal: your final pre-awakening class — your "complete" classic class with the full pre-awakening kit.

Act III — Veteran (Lv. 76–85)

Stage 13 — Leveling 60–76

Goal: transition into real group content. Join a clan — clan skills, XP buffs, and people to party with are a huge boost. Hunt stronger zones; learn your rotation and positioning.

Stage 14 — Subclass / dual & certifications

Goal: extra power outside your main skills. Add a subclass (and dual-class where supported) and collect certification passives/actives for your main. Note: on this server the classic sub/certification path applies (retail's Exalted ability path is not ported).

Stage 15 — Awakening (Lv. 85)

Goal: the biggest single power jump in the game. At Lv. 85 do the Awakening — your class transforms into its awakened archetype (Sigel/Tyrr/Othell/Yul/Feoh/Iss/Wynn/Aeore, plus Ertheia and the Kamael Samurai line) with a whole new, stronger skill set. Watch out: relearn your rotation — awakened skills are not the same buttons. See Classes & Builds.

Act IV — Endgame Ramp (Lv. 85–105)

Stage 16 — Leveling 85–99

Goal: start the long endgame grind with quests + dailies. Do the main-story + daily quests for big XP and reward gear, and grind the recommended 85–99 zones. There is no wall here until 130 — 99 is just a number on the way up.

Stage 17 — Enchant, attribute & augment

Goal: make your gear actually strong, not just equipped. Enchant (use Blessed scrolls where you can), add elemental attributes to weapon and armor, and augment weapons for extra skills. Watch out: don't dump resources enchanting low-grade gear you'll replace. Full detail: Gearing & Enchanting.

Stage 18 — Leveling 99–105

Goal: reach the instance-entry level (105). Hunt the high zones and keep doing dailies. At Lv. 105 the headline Sakura content unlocks — but 105 is the entry level, not the cap. Keep leveling 105 → 130 while running the daily instances; Hard mode targets Lv. 130.

Act V — Endgame (Lv. 105–130)

Stage 19 — Endgame gear

Goal: assemble a top-tier kit. Chase Dragon Weapons, Cursed Swords (where enabled), and L-grade gear; build jewels/brooch, artifacts, talismans, and Seed Bracelets. Watch out: some endgame items are not yet ported here — Gearing & Enchanting lists exactly what's in.

Stage 20 — The endgame daily loop

Goal: the repeatable top-level routine you'll run from here on.

Visit Benusta for the two daily party instances (Lv. 105+, party 2–7, once per day each, reset 06:30 server):

• Sakura Isle: kill 100 monsters to drop the boss barrier, then kill the boss. Do ≥5% boss damage for a reward box; top damage → shining box.
• Chaos' Air Fortress: break the boss barrier, then kill the Golem boss.

Round out the loop with hunting-zone grind + raid bosses, spend rewards on enchant/craft/upgrade, and compete in Olympiad, clan/sieges, and live events. Watch out: instances are once/day — do both every day; missed resets are lost progress. Deep dive: Daily Instances.

Always-true beginner tips

• Use shots. Auto-enable Soulshots/Spiritshots the moment you can afford them.
• Party. XP and survivability scale hugely with a group; join a clan early.
• Stay on-grade. Weapon, armor, and shots should match your level band.
• Do dailies. Daily Missions + (at endgame) the two Benusta instances are your steady income.
• Don't over-invest in throwaway gear. Save enchant/augment resources for gear you'll keep.

Figures are infographics built for this guide, not in-game screenshots.