You want
To spend upgrade materials where they count and know what item level the next dungeon asks for.
This page gives you
An upgrade order, each upgrade system with the limits seen in official item data, and item level targets by content. Success rates and material costs are unknown: NCSoft has not published them for global.
Checked against: Global patch Oct 7, 2026 · reviewed Oct 12, 2026.
Upgrade order
- Weapon first.
- Then the weakest accessory or armor slot, not the one that is already highest.
- Guard (off-hand) last.
- Spread levels. +1 on several items beats +5 on one you will replace. The reported exception is the belt and the Revelation amulet, which cannot be exchanged once fully upgraded, so plan those two as long-term pieces.
- While leveling, upgrade only when you hit a wall. Swap to regional quest rewards at 45.
Community source
Community source KeenGamer progression guide (Oct 3, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source MeinMMO launch mistakes article (Sep 7, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source MeinMMO leveling article (Sep 2, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Upgrade systems and their limits
| System | Applies to | Limit seen in official item data |
|---|---|---|
| Enchant | Most gear | Max level depends on the item: Common 2 or 5, Rare 3, 5 or 10, Epic 4 or 10, Unique 5, 10 or 15, Special 10 |
| Exceed enchant | Some weapons and armor | 1, 3 or 5 extra levels |
| Magic stones | Weapons, armor, accessories | 1 to 4 sockets per item |
| God stone | Weapons and guards | 1 socket |
| Belt | Noble Belt | Uses Belt Enhance Scrolls from Strongholds; after 10 enchants it can be upgraded through Substance Morph |
| Substance Morph | Sealed Wings to Enhance Stones | 20 per week per server (Oct 6 patch) |
Official source Limits come from the official item data of gear worn by the top global characters on Oct 12, 2026; other items may differ. Success rates and materials: unknown. NCSoft publishes enhancement probabilities for the Korean service only; we found no global page, and Korean rates are not copied here.
Official source Official character armory (skill unlock levels, sampled) · observed October 12, 2026
Official source Official patch notes, Oct 6 (PDT) / Oct 7 (CEST) · observed October 12, 2026
Official source NCSoft probability disclosure, Korean AION 2 (no global page found) · observed October 12, 2026
Item level targets
| Item level | What it opens |
|---|---|
| about 700 | Early Conquest (Krao Cave and Draupnir tier): first real dungeon gear |
| 1,000 (at level 45) | Solo Ascension Trial (Forgotten Repository), easy |
| about 1,400 | Next Conquest tier: replace early Unique gear |
| 1,500 | Ascension Trial, normal difficulty |
| about 1,600 | Early Transcendence farming, start on Arcana |
| about 2,100 | Fire Temple and Ferocious Horn Den tier, harder Transcendence |
| 2,200 to 2,500 | Higher Transcendence stages, better Arcana |
| about 2,800 | Abyssal Forge: Ludra (10-player raid). Temporarily removed at global launch; returns with global-only mechanics, date not yet announced Official source |
Community source Approximate thresholds reported after launch. Krao Cave, Draupnir and Fire Temple are named on the official site, which says its dungeons come in solo, 5-player and 10-player formats. Official source
Community source KeenGamer progression guide (Oct 3, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source MeinMMO launch mistakes article (Sep 7, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Official source Official AION 2 site (About: dungeons, pets) · observed October 12, 2026
Official source Official global notice: Ludra temporarily removed at launch (Oct 5, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Item level is only half of it
Combat power adds Daevanion boards, skill and stigma levels, titles and wings on top of item level (whether Daevanion crystals and Arcana also raise item level is unconfirmed). If your item level meets a target but groups still turn you down, fill your Daevanion board and stigmas first. How the score itself is counted: gear score guide. Community source
Global vs Korea: gear slots
| Slot | Global (NA/EU) | Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon, guard, 8 armor (incl. cape and belt) | Yes | Yes |
| Necklace, 2 earrings, 2 rings, 2 bracelets, amulet, 2 runes | Yes | Yes |
| Pendant, 2 brooches, 2 seals | Not shown at launch | Shown |
| Arcana | 5 | 10 |
Official source From the official armory's slot configuration. Korean gear guides that use pendant, brooch or seal slots, or more than 5 Arcana, do not apply on global yet.
Official source Official character armory (skill unlock levels, sampled) · observed October 12, 2026