Gladiator Guide & Build (Aion 2)

Your main source of damage. A heavy hit on a knocked-down enemy within 4 m. It has a 7% chance to become usable on an enemy immune to knockdown (e.g. a boss), and after Rage Burst it works for 10 s without a knockdown. 5 s cooldown. Raises Enmity, meaning monsters focus on you.

• 8Absorbs 0.7% HP
• 8Changes to AoE SkillGame8 (build) takes this at 8. FLIXAU only for open-world PvP.
• 8Adds [Upward Strike] Chain SkillA second hit, Upward Strike, follows and hits harder than Overhead Slam itself (Grobs).
• 12Critical Hit on hitAt 12 every hit is a critical, meaning stronger (Grobs, aLuckyRO).
• 16Remove cooldownAt 16 the cooldown disappears. After Rage Burst you can press it nonstop for 10 s. FLIXAU: “a huge difference”.

With 2 slots (12–19) take Upward Strike and Critical Hit (Grobs). At 16 couga54 takes Upward Strike and Remove cooldown, with Critical Hit only in the 3rd slot at 20.

Your second damage skill and the no-cooldown filler (right mouse button). Hits up to 4 enemies within 4 m and raises Enmity. Uses a lot of mana.

• 8-20% MP consumedaLuckyRO takes this when farming mobs and keeps moving-while-casting for bosses.
• 8+200 Block while using skill
• 8Changes to mobile skillWithout it your character stands still during the animation and movement feels clunky. The most important specialization at the start (Grobs, couga54).
• 12Deals up to 12% more damage when less targets are hitMore damage on a boss (Grobs, couga54, KaidGames2).
• 16Restores 50 MP on landing a Critical HitAfter 45 it replaces the mana from Keen Strike (Grobs, couga54, KaidGames2, ExpCarry, Game8, Fextralife).

A leap of up to 7.5 m and a hit on 4 enemies. Grants Prepare for Battle for 20 s: +20% PvE damage, +100 Critical Hit and +15% status effect chance. 45 s cooldown. You learn it at level 14.

• 8+20% Skill SpeedA faster animation, so your whole rotation runs faster (Grobs, FLIXAU, ExpCarry, KaidGames2).
• 8+12.5m Range
• 8+30% Skill Critical Hitcouga54, aLuckyRO and Game8 pick this at 8.
• 12Extra damage on hitAbout +20% damage on this skill (Grobs, couga54, FLIXAU, ExpCarry).
• 16Ignores Block and Evasion and lands as Multi-HitTaken by Game8, ExpCarry and KaidGames2. Grobs: a small gain, because Ruinous Blow is a small part of your damage.

While leveling it matters mainly for the +20% damage, not for its own hit (Grobs).

Your basic attack on the left mouse button. Hits up to 4 enemies, raises Enmity and restores 100 MP on hit, so it's what feeds your mana. No cooldown.

• 8+20% MP restoredMana is very important, because Rending Blow burns through it fast. Everyone takes this (Grobs, aLuckyRO).
• 8Absorbs 1% HPGame8's (build) pick.
• 8+50% Multi-Hit on hitGrobs takes this instead of −1 s Ruinous Blow. So do FLIXAU and KaidGames2.
• 12-1s [Ruinous Blow] cooldown on hitEvery hit shortens Ruinous Blow's cooldown, so you have +20% damage more often (aLuckyRO, couga54, FLIXAU, KaidGames2, Game8, Fextralife).
• 16Adds [Reckless Strike] Chain Skill

After 45, once Overhead Slam and Rending Blow are at 16, you stop holding it, because by then it's a damage loss (Grobs, couga54).

A leap to an enemy from 20 m and a hit. 15 s cooldown.

• 8Prepare for Battle effect on the caster for 3sFor bosses: a short +20% damage after the leap (KaidGames2, couga54, FLIXAU).
• 850% chance to trigger [Ankle Slice] on hit
• 8Resets cooldown on defeating an enemyYou kill a pack and jump straight to the next one (couga54, Grobs, FLIXAU, KaidGames2). aLuckyRO: “8, no more”.
• 12+20% PvE Damage Tolerance and +10 PvP Damage Tolerance for 3s
• 16Changes to AoE skill and pulls in enemiesKaidGames2 at 16, for farming mobs.

A hit all around you (5 m) on 4 enemies. 20 s cooldown. You learn it at level 8.

• 8Absorbs 2% HPHealing at the start, because you barely land critical hits yet, so the reset wouldn't trigger (aLuckyRO, FLIXAU).
• 8Restores 50 MP on landing a Critical Hit
• 8Up to +20% damage when more targets hit
• 12Resets cooldown on landing a Critical Hit
• 1650% chance to pull

More important while leveling: AoE and healing on mob packs. Too slow for bosses (couga54).

A hit on one enemy within 4 m that always knocks it down for 3 s. That opens Overhead Slam. 20 s cooldown.

• 8Absorbs 4% HP, absorbs 15% HP of target with Incapacitated ImmunityAn emergency heal button: from a boss it drains a whole 15% HP (couga54).
• 8Changes to AoE damage on down strike
• 8Adds 2 additional strikes
• 12+1s Knockdown duration
• 16Ignores Block and Evasion and lands as Multi-Hit

aLuckyRO: low priority, only for the healing. FLIXAU: no need to level it, it's there for the knockdown.

After a dodge (Shift) or while flying you dash to an enemy within 10 m. It always knocks down regular monsters, so Overhead Slam works right after. 20 s cooldown. You learn it at level 10.

• 8Restores 300 Stamina on hitcouga54's and KaidGames2's pick.
• 8+10m RangeRange goes up to 20 m, the same as Leaping Slam. Grobs keeps both on one key.
• 8Changes to Charge Skill and deals AoE damage
• 12-10s cooldown
• 16+25% Knockdown Chance

aLuckyRO: low priority, 8 is enough.

Works only on an enemy in Stagger, meaning when the boss's gauge has been knocked to zero. Then you can spam it. You learn it at level 5.

• 8Absorbs 5% HP
• 8Restores 120 MP
• 8Changes to mobile skillcouga54's pick.
• 12Multi-Hit on hitaLuckyRO's pick at 12.
• 16-1s all skill cooldowns on hitAt 16 every hit shortens all cooldowns (Stigmas too) by 1 s (Grobs, couga54).

Outside the Stagger window it's a damage loss. Leave it at 1 while leveling.

A hit on a knocked-down enemy with a chance to launch it into the air. On a boss it has a 5% chance to become usable. 45 s cooldown. You learn it at level 12.

• 8Multi-Hit on hit
• 8+25% [Aerial Snare] Airborne Chance
• 8+100% damage to targets with Incapacitated ImmunityDouble damage on a boss (aLuckyRO, FLIXAU).
• 12Adds [Forced Fall] Chain Skill
• 16-50% [Aerial Snare] cooldown

aLuckyRO: high priority for bosses in Nightmare dungeons. Grobs skips it. If you take it, put it on its own key, not in the macro (couga54).

Breaks stun, knockdown, airborne, grab, freeze and fear, then gives 5 s of immunity to them. 60 s cooldown. You learn it at level 16.

• 8Adds [Wrath Burst] Chain Skill
• 8Restores 1000 Stamina on using [Defiance]
• 8Restores 20% HP on using [Defiance]Restores 20% HP on use. That's why Grobs, aLuckyRO and KaidGames2 put it at 8.
• 12+2s Tenacity duration
• 16+50% PvE Damage Tolerance and +25% PvP Damage Tolerance for Tenacity durationcouga54's and KaidGames2's pick at 16.

For leveling, 1 point is enough (couga54).

A hit on 4 enemies that roots them (regular monsters always). 10 s cooldown. You learn it at level 7.

• 830% chance to inflict Knockdown for 3s on landing [Ankle Slice]
• 8Adds [Ankle Smash] Chain Skill
• 8+16m [Ankle Slice] rangeIf you use it at all, then as a backup gap closer (couga54).
• 12Ignores Block and Evasion and lands as Multi-Hit
• 1625% chance to reset [Ankle Slice] cooldown on Block

aLuckyRO: “a PvP skill”. couga54 puts it at 12 as a backup gap-closer (+16 m range), but without the Ankle Smash chain, which slows down your rotation.

A bit more frontal damage, and every time you block, you and your party get +5.4% PvE damage for 20 s. Doesn't stack with the Templar's Fury. You get it at level 21.

First for Grobs, Sen (“the most important”) and KaidGames2. couga54, aLuckyRO and ExpCarry put it second.

+5.5% PvE damage, +2% Defense and +100 Accuracy.

First for couga54, aLuckyRO (“top priority”) and ExpCarry. Grobs: together with Experienced Counterstrike, “the only two passives that matter while leveling”.

Every 5 hits an AoE burst and +5.5% critical damage for 3 s. The Gladiator hits often, so it's up almost all the time. You get it at level 25.

Taken by Grobs, KaidGames2, ExpCarry, couga54 and Sen. aLuckyRO: medium priority.

+11.2% chance for impact effects (e.g. knockdown) and +0.3% Double Chance.

Taken by Grobs, KaidGames2, ExpCarry, couga54 and Sen. aLuckyRO considers it a passive that's “99% for PvP”.

+100 Critical Hit and +0.5% Perfect chance. You get it at level 11.

aLuckyRO: early on you rarely crit anyway, so save your points. couga54 and KaidGames2 take it after the main ones.

50% chance to heal on attack. When your HP drops to 50%, you instantly restore 26% of your max HP (once per 60 s). You get it at level 9.

Works well already at 1, which is why the Gladiator manages without a healer (couga54, Grobs). Fextralife ranks it first.

Extra damage on enemies in Stagger or under an impact effect (e.g. knocked down). You get it at level 17.

aLuckyRO and Sen: good in the Stagger window together with Sword Aura Rampage.

+200 HP, +7% max HP, faster HP regen and −5.5% PvE damage taken.

aLuckyRO: medium priority, early on you can play offensively.

Status resistance and less damage while stunned or knocked down. Mostly useful in PvP.

couga54: “dead weight in PvE”. Game8 calls it “Revitalization Contract” with a different description, probably from the Korean version.

+200 Block and a little healing on block. You get it at level 6.

aLuckyRO: “completely useless”. couga54: a trap, reroll gear and cards with this bonus.

+20% Combat Speed for 10 s. 60 s cooldown.

• 5+5% Double Chance for the durationunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10Increases Move Speed by 20% for the durationunlocks by itself at level 10couga54 has all four at 20, so this one comes along too.
• 15x1.5 [Identify Weakness] effect for the durationunlocks by itself at level 15
• 2050% chance to reduce all skill cooldowns by 1s on Critical Hit for the durationunlocks by itself at level 20At 20 critical hits shorten all cooldowns, so Overhead Slam, Rage Burst and your buffs are up almost nonstop (couga54, Grobs: “extremely important”).

Grobs takes it as the first Stigma. It's the first Stigma to raise to 20 (couga54, ExpCarry, KaidGames2). Game8 and KaidGames2 also mention −20% mana cost, but the global version's game data has no such effect.

A hit on one enemy. For 10 s the enemy has −10% Attack, you get +10% PvE damage, and Overhead Slam works on it without a knockdown. 45 s cooldown.

• 5-15s [Rage Burst] cooldownunlocks by itself at level 5The cooldown drops from 45 to 30 s. “A huge gain” (Grobs, couga54, ExpCarry).
• 10+10% Attack reductionunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15Critical Hit on hitunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20+10% PvE Damage Boost increase and +5% PvP Damage Boost increaseunlocks by itself at level 20

Top priority in the macro (couga54, Grobs, ExpCarry). FLIXAU leaves it at 1 until other skills are raised.

+20% Attack and +100 Accuracy for 10 s. 120 s cooldown.

• 5+50% Stagger Gauge Damageunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10+10% PvE Damage Boost and +5% PvP Damage Boostunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15+50% Multi-Hit chanceunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20+20% Status Effect Chanceunlocks by itself at level 20

Doesn't depend on the group, so it fits both solo and group play (couga54). aLuckyRO: “crazy, very important”. Also taken by Grobs, FLIXAU, ExpCarry, Game8 and KaidGames2.

For a moment you get a guaranteed Parry and +100% Block Damage Reduction. Restores 110 MP and Stamina once. 20 s cooldown.

• 5+1 consecutive useunlocks by itself at level 5You can use it twice in a row.
• 10Changes to mobile skillunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15+20% Move Speed for 3s on Parryunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20Restores 10% HP once on Parryunlocks by itself at level 20

A block is a party buff through Experienced Counterstrike, so use it to block the boss's first attack (Grobs, couga54, ExpCarry). aLuckyRO: mostly PvP, in PvE only in some dungeons.

A hit on 4 enemies that drains 10% HP. 90 s cooldown.

• 5Up to +20% damage when more targets hitunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10Predation effect on party members for 20sunlocks by itself at level 10At 10 your party gets the HP drain too (couga54).
• 15-30s cooldownunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20+5% HP absorbedunlocks by itself at level 20

Solo it replaces Focused Block if you die a lot (aLuckyRO). FLIXAU raises it first. It goes into the line with Ruinous Blow (couga54, FLIXAU).

A throw from 20 m: the target gets −30% Defense and −50% healing received for 10 s. 20 s cooldown.

• 5+20% [Blade Toss] Incoming Heal reductionunlocks by itself at level 5The specializations are for PvP (couga54). In PvE only the base −30% Defense matters.
• 10[Blade Toss] inflicts Slow for 5sunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15[Blade Toss] breaks Protective Shieldsunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20[Blade Dance] has 30% chance to inflict Knockdown for 3sunlocks by itself at level 20

In a group the whole party kills faster (aLuckyRO). couga54: instead of Zikel's Blessing in a coordinated group. Game8 (build) has it among its 4 Stigmas.

For 10 s it damages up to 4 enemies around you (3 m). 60 s cooldown.

• 5Absorbs 2% HPunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10x1.5 [Experienced Counterstrike] effect for the durationunlocks by itself at level 10A stronger party buff on block. Makes sense when there's no Templar in the group (couga54).
• 15x1.5 [Murderous Burst] effect for the durationunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20Reflects 10% of damage takenunlocks by itself at level 20

Game8 (class guide) counts it among the 3 buffs before a fight.

A hit all around you that knocks down regular monsters. 60 s cooldown.

• 5Up to +20% damage when more targets hitunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10Reduces Attack by 20% for 5sunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15Deals damage 1 additional timeunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20+25% Knockdown Chanceunlocks by itself at level 20

couga54: skip in PvE. Exception: Game8 (build) has it at 20.

3 s of invulnerability. For PvP.

• 5+100% Incoming Healunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10Restores 20% Max HP when the effect endsunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15+20% Attackunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20Trigger [Tenaciousness] when afflicted with Impact-type statusunlocks by itself at level 20

Resistance to knockdown and similar effects for 10 s. For PvP.

• 5+20% Ailment-type and Mental-type Resistunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10x1.5 [Blood Absorption] effect for the durationunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15x1.5 [Protection Armor] effect for the durationunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20+50% Impact-type Resist increaseunlocks by itself at level 20

A hit that applies Seal (the enemy can't use skills). For PvP.

• 550% chance to inflict Root for 5sunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10-1,000 Staminaunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15+2s Seal durationunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20+25% Seal Chanceunlocks by itself at level 20

An AoE hit from 20 m with a chance to knock down. aLuckyRO uses it as a PvP charge.

• 5+20% Attack for 5s on hitunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10500 MP damage on hitunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15+10m Rangeunlocks by itself at level 15
• 20+20% Knockdown Chanceunlocks by itself at level 20

A 10 m charge that roots enemies on the way.

• 5+2 max targets hitunlocks by itself at level 5
• 10Adds [Destructive Rush] Chain Skillunlocks by itself at level 10
• 15+20% Root Chanceunlocks by itself at level 15
• 2050% chance to inflict Airborne for 3sunlocks by itself at level 20

couga54: skip in PvE.