AION 2 Ludra: Abyssal Forge on Normal and Hard, item level and loot

The new Ludra's mechanics are not documented by reliable sources yet. NC announced new or adjusted mechanics and attack patterns unique to Global: the Early Access and Korean strategy summarised below is only a reference point. This guide will be completed.

Ludra at a glance

NC stresses that the minimum item level "is only a requirement for entering the content and does not guarantee a successful clear": you also need advanced progression, mastery of the mechanics and a coordinated Force, especially on Hard.

Normal or Hard: which one?

Start with Normal. According to NC, you can keep progressing and earning rewards without ever clearing Hard: Normal offers the same types of item rewards, only the drop rates change with difficulty. Hard targets the most advanced Forces: it opens the regional Hall of Fame and the Ludra Hunt titles, and its guaranteed voucher is worth two Normal vouchers for the bracelet.

• Normal (2,800): the progression route for most players. Weapon, guard, Abyssal Bracelet, wings and a Gear Change Voucher: Ludra to pick as a guaranteed reward.
• Hard (3,000): the same items at other rates, and a Gear Change Voucher: Ludra (Hard) to pick as a guaranteed reward. Hall of Fame and first-clear titles on top.

Rewards and vouchers

"Pick, guaranteed" means you can select that voucher as the mode's guaranteed reward. Ludra gear earned in Early Access was removed on 5 October; NC gives it back with the raid's return and refunds the materials spent upgrading it.

Ludra's Bracelet and Abyssal Bracelet

Two bracelets arrive with the Abyssal Forge. The Abyssal Bracelet drops at random in both modes and Amplifies up to level 3. Ludra's Bracelet, stronger in Amplification (up to level 5), does not drop: you get it by using Substance Morph on vouchers.

So the maths is the same in both modes: 6 Normal vouchers equal 3 Hard vouchers. The conversion helps complete a set, for example 2 Hard and 2 Normal vouchers make one bracelet. Amplify levels and their cost are explained in our gear guide.

Hall of Fame, Ludra Hunt and titles

The top Forces on Hard enter the Hall of Fame based on their regional ranking; duplicate entries of the same character can be removed, as can characters caught in prohibited activities. Alongside it, the Ludra Hunt event awards titles until the 25 November maintenance (Central European Time), in all five Global regions: Europe, NA East and West, South America and Asia.

Rank 1 to 3 titles have a decorative background, and only a clear during the event counts. NC sends them no later than 2 December; the cut-off differs between the English notes (23:59 Pacific time) and the French notes (08:59 Central European Time).

Ludra's return events

Every event, with all its rewards, is detailed on our events page.

Getting ready for the Abyssal Forge

1. 1

   Go past the item level gate

   2,800 opens Normal, but NC reminds players it is only an entry requirement. Hard expeditions (2,600 then 2,700) give Ariel Fragments, Unique materials and more: see our Hard expeditions guide and the item level tiers.

2. 2

   Set up your 10-player Force

   Assign roles before entering. In Early Access and in Korea, the Force split into two groups of 5 with different jobs; nothing says yet whether the Global version keeps that split. For hard content, the most recommended base is still a Templar, a Cleric and three DPS per group of 5 (see our PvE tier list).

3. 3

   Plan a full session

   A run lasts 1 hour at most: bring enough to last the whole time, food and scrolls included.

4. 4

   Check cost and limits before entering

   In Early Access, each Sanctuary cube cost Odyle Energy and attempts were counted per week. NC has not republished these values for the new version: read the entry screen and your in-game counter.

5. 5

   Learn the layout

   The Abyssal Forge map shows the instance's bosses and monsters (October survey, before the rework).

What we knew about Ludra before 4 November

This summary comes from Korean guides and Early Access, before the Global rework. Keep it as a reference point only: NC changed mechanics and attacks.

• The fight opened with a falling reactor, then one group fought Rahu, a time bomb you pass around (three black holes meant a wipe), while the other activated Abyss stones.
• Ketu swapped the roles, then the whole Force chained into Ludra.
• Ludra added the Ludra Trial, a checkerboard at 50% and 25% HP, and the Thunder Zone, where everyone had to step into a circle of their colour at the right time.

NC removed Ludra at launch because it had been cleared in Early Access at a lower progression level than intended. The new version keeps the raid's "core identity" with new or adjusted mechanics: even Early Access players have something new to learn.

Global and Korea

• On Global, the Abyssal Forge is the only Sanctuary open so far. Korea, at level 50, has received other Sanctuaries since: their gates and loot do not apply here.
• Gates differ: 2,800 on Normal on Global, against 2,700 in Korea according to our Korean version data.
• Mechanics differ too: NC created attack patterns unique to Global. A Korean Ludra guide may not describe what you will see.

• Hard expeditionsThe 2,600 and 2,700 tiers that lead to Ludra.
• Gear and item level tiersHow to go from 2,100 to 3,000.
• Dungeons and bossesBoss sheets and loot for every dungeon.
• Current eventsCheck-in, Twitch Drops and Ludra Hunt, with dates.
• Patch notesEverything the 4 November patch changed.