Character Classes Guide: Warrior, Ninja, Sura, Shaman, Lycan and Artemisia
Warrior, Ninja, Sura, Shaman, Lycan and Artemisia: the weapons, skills and playstyles of the six Ancient Online classes. Pick the one that suits you.
In Ancient Online: Remastered, the most important decision you make when creating a character is your choice of class. Your class determines the weapons you can use, the skills you will learn and the role you take in a fight. This guide covers the six classes (Warrior, Ninja, Sura, Shaman, Lycan and Artemisia), the skills each one has, and the kind of player each one suits.
The game is in development. Balance values and skill details may change before launch, which is why this guide describes playstyles rather than numbers.
The classes at a glance
| Class | Weapons | Skill paths | Playstyle in brief |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Swords, two-handed weapons | Body Force / Mental | Durable melee on the front line |
| Ninja | Daggers, bows | Close Combat / Ranged Combat | Fast strikes, stealth or arrows from a distance |
| Sura | Swords | Magic Weapon / Black Magic | A sword empowered by magic, or dark magic |
| Shaman | Fans, bells | Dragon Force / Healing | Ranged magic, strengthening and healing the team |
| Lycan | Claws | Instinct | Fast, aggressive melee with claws |
| Artemisia | Spear | Spirit | Agile melee built on kicks, leaps and area damage |
What is a skill path, and when do you choose one?
The Warrior, Ninja, Sura and Shaman each have two skill paths. When your character reaches level 5, the game sends you a letter and marks the relevant teachers in the village. You talk to one of the teachers and choose your path; from then on, you develop the skills of that path.
The Lycan and the Artemisia each have one skill path: Instinct for the Lycan and Spirit for the Artemisia. It is assigned automatically at level 5; there is no need to visit a teacher.
Skills improve with the points you earn as you level up. Beyond a certain rank, you need skill books to progress. These books are not sold in the in-game shop; they are earned in the game.
Warrior
The Warrior is the class that stands on the front line, takes the damage and hits hard at close range. Warriors use swords and two-handed weapons.
Body Force path
This path focuses on offence. Among its skills, Aura of the Sword strengthens your weapon strikes, while Charge launches your character forward so you can dive into the middle of your enemies. It suits players who enjoy fighting large groups of monsters and being out in front.
Mental path
This path focuses on durability and control. Skills such as Strong Body raise your defence. It suits players who like to stay standing for a long time, hold the line in front of the team and wear opponents down in PvP.
Who is it for? It is one of the most forgiving classes for anyone playing an MMORPG for the first time: it is durable, and it teaches the fundamentals of melee combat.
Ninja
The Ninja is the class of speed and precision. Ninjas can fight up close with daggers or from a distance with a bow.
Close Combat path
This path relies on rapid dagger strikes and surprise. With the Camouflage skill you can turn invisible for a while and attack your opponent when they least expect it.
Ranged Combat path
This path relies on keeping your distance with a bow. Movement skills such as Light Step make it easier to reposition. It suits players who like to finish an enemy before it can get close.
Who is it for? Players who enjoy staying on the move, good timing and hit-and-run tactics.
Sura
The Sura is a dark warrior who combines the sword with magic, with strong options in both melee and spellcasting.
Magic Weapon path
This path strengthens melee combat with magic. Magic Weapon adds power to your attacks, Enchanted Armour protects you, Fear weakens your opponent, and Dispel removes the buffs on an enemy. It is a versatile path in PvP.
Black Magic path
This path focuses on ranged attack spells. Spells such as Fire Spirit wear the enemy down from a distance, while Dark Protection shields you. It suits players who want to play a spellcaster but are looking for a darker theme.
Who is it for? Players looking for a slightly more complex playstyle, one that calls for using buffs and debuffs at the right moment.
Shaman
The Shaman is the support class that casts magic from a distance and keeps the team on its feet. Shamans use fans and bells.
Dragon Force path
This path offers attack spells and protective buffs. With skills such as Blessing, Reflect and Dragon's Aid, you strengthen both yourself and your group.
Healing path
This path focuses on team support. Cure restores health; Swiftness and Attack+ strengthen your group members. It is one of the most sought-after roles in group play.
Who is it for? Players who love team play and enjoy keeping their friends alive more than charging ahead.
Lycan
The Lycan is a melee class with the spirit of a wolf that fights with its claws. Its single skill path is Instinct, so you can focus on playing straight away without having to worry about choosing one. It appeals to players looking for aggressive, fast-paced melee combat. The Lycan can only be played as a male character.
Artemisia
The Artemisia is an agile melee class that fights with a spear. What sets her apart from the other melee fighters is the way she moves: with kicks, leaps and wide sweeps of the spear, she hits the crowd around her as readily as a single target. The spear is a weapon only the Artemisia can use. The Artemisia can only be played as a female character.
Her single skill path is Spirit, assigned automatically at level 5. Its six skills do two jobs:
Attack skills
- Deadly Kick: A hard spinning kick against a nearby opponent, with a chance to poison the target on hit.
- High Leap: She jumps into the air and strikes every enemy around her as she lands, with a chance to stun those she hits.
- Fierce Leap: She flips through the air and crashes down on the opponent in front of her; it reaches a target further away than her other attacks.
- Spear Spin: She whirls the spear around her body and damages everyone nearby.
These four skills require a spear in hand.
Protection and stealth
- Soul Shield: A buff you switch on and off. While it is on, it raises your attack value and takes part of the damage you receive; it drains SP for as long as it stays on.
- Phantom: You become invisible for a while; use it to enter a fight at the moment you choose, or to slip out of a tight spot.
Who is it for? Players who enjoy melting large groups of monsters with area damage, and who would rather leap around and reposition than stand still. Because you have to manage the SP cost of Soul Shield and the timing of Phantom, she is not as forgiving as the Warrior; in return, she offers a very mobile playstyle.
Skills shared by all classes
Whatever your class, some skills are open to everyone:
- Riding: You can fight on horseback with skills such as an attack, a charge and an escape; the Artemisia keeps using her spear in the saddle. These skills sit in a separate "Riding" section of the skill window.
- Guild skills: When you join a guild, the buffs the guild has developed (such as health, defence or attack speed) support its members. Some guild skills can only be used during a guild war.
Which class should I choose?
- Is this your first MMORPG? Start with the Warrior; it is durable and forgives mistakes.
- Do you want to play from range? A Ninja on the Ranged Combat path or a Sura on the Black Magic path.
- Do you enjoy group play? A Shaman on the Healing path is the player every group is looking for.
- Are you thinking about PvP? A Sura on the Magic Weapon path or a Warrior on the Body Force path are solid starting points.
- Fast, aggressive melee? Lycan.
- Area damage and an acrobatic playstyle? Artemisia.
Common mistakes
- Choosing on looks alone: You can change your appearance later with costumes; changing your playstyle means making a new character.
- Searching for the "strongest class": Balance changes throughout development. Choosing the playstyle you enjoy is more rewarding in the long run.
- Choosing a skill path without reading about it: The decision you make at level 5 is as important as your choice of class.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my skill path later?
There are items in the game that reset your skills. Even so, reading about both paths before you choose will save you time.
Does my choice of gender affect gameplay?
No. You can choose a male or a female character for the Warrior, Ninja, Sura and Shaman; gender only changes your appearance. The Lycan can only be played as a male character, and the Artemisia only as a female one.
Is my class tied to my empire?
No. The villages of every empire have teachers for the skill paths (the Lycan and the Artemisia get their path automatically anyway); you can play any class you like under any banner.
Next step
Your empire shapes your experience of the game as much as your class does: the guide to choosing an empire explains who will be a friend and who will be a rival. Once you have decided on both, you can plan your first hours with the beginner's guide.
