[Translation] Guide to Priests

[Hellrose]

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A long time coming, I know. Changed the format a bit to make use of the OBT infos. It's also less Photochop heavy and easier to update. Enjoy <3
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I. Introduction

The priest classes in Aion are not your typical weakling support classes in cloth armor. They have the option of wearing chain mail, and can be quite effective in dealing damage when needed. You will start the game in the Priest class with a 1-handed mace as your weapon. At level 9 you will be given the Daeva quest, during the course of which you will be able to choose between Cleric and Chanter as your specialization path (this is the same quest that gives you your wings). Upon completing the quest, your level will be set automatically to 10 in your new class.

The Cleric specialization follows a healer path, with the strongest heals in the game along with ranged damage dealing spells.
View Cleric Intro Video (Jeuxonline)

The Chanter focuses on buffing both him/herself and the party, using the staff to deal melee damage in between chants.
View Chanter Intro Video (Jeuxonline)


II. Priest | Base Class

1. Stats
   Strength : 95
   Constitution: 95
   Accuracy: 100
   Agility: 100
   Intellect: 100
   Spirit: 110
   
   What do the stats mean?
   
   
2. Equipment
   Weapon: 1H Mace
   Armour: Cloth / Leather

III. Cleric | Specialized Class
Comparable classes from other games: WAR Warrior Priest?

1. Stats
   Strength : 105
   Constitution: 110
   Accuracy: 90
   Agility: 90
   Intelligence: 105
   Spirit: 110
   
   
2. Equipment
   Weapon: 1H Mace / Staff
   Armour: Cloth / Leather / Mail
   
   
3. Characteristics
   > Various healing skills
   > Debuff/Mes removal skills
   > Ranged magic offensive skills
   
   
4. Builds
   • Soloing Build
     > Weapon: Staff
     > Armour: Mail
     > Enhancements: + Int, + HP, + Magic Spell Damage
     
   • Survivability PvE Build
     > Weapon: 1h Mace + Shield
     > Armour: Mail
     > Enhancements: +HP, + Spirit
     
   • Survivability PvP Build
     > Weapon: 1h Mace + Shield
     > Armour: Mail
     > Enhancements: +HP, + Magic Spell Damage, +Int
     > Key Stigma Skill: Flash of Light (Blinds players for 20 seconds)
     
   • Maximum Mana PvE Build
     > Weapon: 1h Mace + Shield
     > Armour: Cloth
     > Enhancements: + Spirit
     > Key Stigma Skill: Desperate Exchange (Swaps HP out for MP)
   
   
5. Key Skills
   • Earth's Retribution V:
     Deals 534 magic damage (elemental: earth) to a target within 25m. 2 second casting time. 2 second cooldown.
   • Shackle I:
     Disables movement of a target within 25m for 8 seconds. Instant cast. 10 second cooldown.
   • Penance III:
     Recovers 171 mana every 3 seconds for 30 seconds. Drains a certain amount of HP. Instant cast. 180 second cooldown.
   • Thunder Bolt V:
     Deals 233 magic damage (elemental: wind) to a target within 25m. Instant casting. 16 second cooldown.
   • Healing Grace III:
     heals a target within 23m for 2250 HP. 3 second casting time. 6 second cooldown.
   • Electric Discharge II:
     Deals 1416 magic damage (elemental: wind) to a raget within 15m. Instant casting. 16 second cooldown.
   • Resurrecting Grace I: Resurrects all dead party members within 20m. 10 second casting time. 0 cooldown.
   • Summoning Resurrection: Resurrects a dead party member within 30m next to the caster. 6 second casting time. 0 cooldown.
   
   
6. Popular Stigma Skills
   The stigma system allows players to choose and equip up to 4 stigma skills.
   • Flash of Light I:
     Blinds target for 20 seconds. Instant cast. 300 second cooldown.
   • Lord's Grace:
     Allows player to use any skill without mana consumption for 12 seconds. Instant cast. 300 second cooldown.
   • Desperate Exchange:
     Gains MP at the cost of HP. 1 second casting time. 600 second cooldown.
   • Usthiel's Light:
     Heals up to 6 friendly players within 25m for 1154 HP and an additional 231 HP every 2 seconds for 10 seconds. 3 second casting time. 20 second cooldown.
   • Markutan's Light:
     Heals up to 6 friendly players within 25m for 1154 damage and creates a protective shield that absorbs upto 1156 damage for 10 seconds.

IV. Chanter | Specialized Class
Comparable classes from other games: L2 Warcryer, FFXI Bard

1. Stats
   Strength : 110
   Constitution: 105
   Accuracy: 90
   Agility: 90
   Intelligence: 105
   Spirit: 110
   
   
2. Equipment
   Weapon: 1H Mace / Staff
   Armour: Cloth / Leather / Mail
   
   
3. Characteristics
   > Party buffing skills
   > Melee attack skills and combos
   > Healing abilities
   
   
4. Builds
   • Soloing Build
     > Weapon: Staff
     > Armour: Mail
     > Enhancements: + Physical Attack, + HP
     
   • Survivability Build
     > Weapon: 1h Mace + Shield
     > Armour: Mail
     > Enhancements: +HP, + Physical Defense
     
   • Hybrid Healer Build
     > Weapon: 1h Mace + Shield
     > Armour: Cloth
     > Enhancements: + Spirit
     > Key Stigma Skill: Chant of Absorption (See Stigma skills)
   
   
5. Key Skills
   • Chant of Speed I:
     Increases the movement speed of party members within 20m. Instant cast.
   • Chant of Magic:
     Increases the magic damage of party members within 20m. Instant cast.
   • Chant of Regeneration III:
     Heals a target within 23m for 60 HP and additional 60 HP every 2 seconds for 38 seconds.
   • Earth's Retribution V:
     Deals 534 magic damage (elemental: earth) to a target within 25m. 2 second casting time. 2 second cooldown.
   • Sinful Strike IV:
     Deals 205~209 physical damage to target. Instant cast. 8 second cooldown.
   
   
6. Popular Stigma Skills
   The stigma system allows players to choose and equip up to 4 stigma skills.
   • Aether's Promise I:
     Recovers 5% of player's mana with every attack for 1800 seconds. Instant cast. 10 second cooldown.
   • Chant of Restraint I:
     Disables movement of target within 25m for 5 seconds and reduces their movement speed. 2 second casting time. 300 second cooldown.
   • Chant of Inspiration I:
     Increases party members' magic damage, accuracy and physical attack for 15 seconds. Instant cast. 10 second cooldown.
   • Chant of Absorption II:
     Caster and party members are healed by 88HP with every hit taken by the target of this chant. Players must be within 5m of target to get the effect. Instant cast. 180 second cooldown.

V. Current State of Priests : CBT3

Priest classes were generally well received in CBT3 as their heals combined with their damage dealing abilities and mail armour gave them the best of many worlds. Additionally, CBT3 featured stigmas that allowed players to equip any weapon they wished, which gave both Clerics and Chanters some amazing melee damage. Healers were soloing so effectively, in fact, that they rarely felt the need to party. And although Chanters suffered somewhat in PvP due to most of their damage skills being melee attacks (melee classes other than Assassins were generally unhappy in CBT3 PvP), Clerics found themselves head to head against the two strongest PvP classes - Rangers and Sorcerers.

The main complaint from Clerics were, in fact, from the party side of things. They wanted their heals to be more effective and cost less mana, expressing that they would rather sacrifice some solo-ability to get their party roles back. The Chanters were relatively content with the unique buffer role they were given, and simply hoped for small skill improvements.

With all this, Priests are definitely on the nerf radar for OBT -- Clerics especially so. The stigmas that allowed free-range weapon equipment have been removed, and Aion's producer has made promises that more changes are on the way. Still, as both classes will always be needed desperately in parties, it's hard to fear for whatever fate these classes hold in the coming beta.

[lyankyj]

DD You're on a roll Thank you!!!

[ValKrice]

Thanks.

Any plan for the "scout"?

[Riku]

Hahaha I was like wow...white page of info

Originally Posted by ValKrice

Thanks.

Any plan for the "scout"?

That will be last i think

[Haubix]

Interesting Article! Thanks!

[Hellrose]

Originally Posted by Haubix

Interesting Article! Thanks!

ha. ha.

[Keeva]

Ooh, awesome. Thank you!

[Vydos]

Thank you for another good work Hellrose.

[Thilak]

THankz hellrose
Good infos.

How did you manage to get some stigma' datas?

[Hellrose]

Originally Posted by Thilak

THankz hellrose
Good infos.

How did you manage to get some stigma' datas?

All the skills are now listed on the official site's database.

[BekiLL]

> Key Stigma Skill: Chant of Absorption (Buff that heals player when hit)

You list it as a key stigma skill then you don't explain what the skill actually does... help appreciated.

[Hellrose]

Originally Posted by BekiLL

> Key Stigma Skill: Chant of Absorption (Buff that heals player when hit)

You list it as a key stigma skill then you don't explain what the skill actually does... help appreciated.

GOod point!

edit: added!

OMG I have to sleep nau.

[Horus]

can't w8 to try out my Cleric

[Otrera]

Originally Posted by Hellrose

Clerics found themselves head to head against the two strongest PvP classes - Rangers and Sorcerers.

NCsoft making same misstakes as in L2, mages and archers > all. After half of year or so, minimum half population will be rangers and sorcerers if they wont fix it.

[Surial]

Very interesting information.

I'm sure there will be a dozen or more sites after the release arguing about what's a "perfect" build -.-

As always, many thank yous for the translation.