An empty specialization slot gives you nothing. Unlocking it does nothing by itself. The effect only works once you put an option into the slot (Trunx, MistaWigglez, OmniPower). The game tells you about a new slot only once, with a message in the middle of the screen: "A Specialty Skill slot for [skill name] has been unlocked." There is no red dot or exclamation mark on your skills. In a global recording (MistaWigglez, 7 Oct) the menu shows no marker next to "Skills", even though two skills have empty slots.
What is a specialization?
Every active skill (the ones you press on your hotbar) has 5 specializations to choose from. They are extra effects that change how the skill works or how much it does. You can have at most 3 equipped at once, because that is how many slots there are.
In the English client this part of the window is called Specialty. In videos you will also hear specialization, rune or insignia. It's the same thing.
An example from global (Ranger, MistaWigglez recording from 7 Oct): Snipe is level 10 with two empty slots. Only after clicking an option does the skill description change: it restores 144 MP instead of 120.
These have no specializations:
- passive skills — they work on their own and get stronger with level (Grobs, Lipej),
- Stigmas — their extra properties switch on by themselves every 5 Stigma levels (OmniPower, Lipej). More in Aion 2 Stigmas.
When do they unlock?
| Skill level | What opens |
|---|---|
| 8 | 1st slot and 3 options to choose from |
| 12 | 2nd slot and a 4th option |
| 16 | 5th option, but no new slot |
| 20 | 3rd slot |
Grobs, Lipej, OmniPower and gameplay.tips give the same breakpoints. At 16 the new option lights up, but you get no extra slot. To equip it, take out one of the two earlier ones. So between 16 and 19 you have 2 of the 3 recommended: take the one from 16 and one earlier one. Only at 20 do you have all three at once.
Skill level is not character level. It comes from several sources:
- skill points — on their own they only take a skill to 10,
- the Daevanion board — up to +4 (U or the Esc menu), more in the Daevanion guide,
- rings and weapons (soul binding) and Arcana cards — these take you higher, to 16 and 20 (Grobs, Lipej, Fextralife).
In the skill window it looks like "Snipe Lv. 10 (+2)": 10 from points, +2 from Daevanion, gear or Arcana.
How to equip a specialization step by step
- Press K. You can also press Esc and click the Skills tile in the menu.
- The Skill window opens. At the top there are two tabs: Mastery and Stigma. Specializations are under Mastery.
- On the right there are two lists: Active and Passive. Click a skill in the Active list.
- The skill description appears on the left, with the Specialty section below it: a row of 3 slots and a list of 5 options.
- Click an option in the list. It jumps into the first free slot and the skill description changes right away. There is no "Confirm" button and it costs nothing (MistaWigglez).
- Repeat for every skill that has a free slot.
How do you spot a free slot?
| What you see in the Specialty section | What it means |
|---|---|
| a padlock on a chain | slot still locked, the skill level is too low |
| an empty square with a small star | free slot — put an option here |
| an option icon | slot in use |
Options in the list: teal text = you can pick it, grey text with a number (8, 12 or 16) and a padlock = not available yet, bright highlight = already equipped (MistaWigglez, OmniPower).
The green up arrow on a skill icon has nothing to do with specializations. It only means the skill can be raised with a point (MistaWigglez).
How do you swap a specialization?
Click the equipped option or its slot, then the option you want instead (xMiMiCx, KR/TW recording). The global recordings don't show exactly how an option is removed, so we can't describe that step with more certainty. Swapping is free and you can do it as often as you like (couga54, xMiMiCx). Whether you can do it in combat or inside a dungeon — no source says.
Skill presets (1, 2, 3)
Above the skill list, next to the Macro button, there are three numbers: 1 2 3. These are skill presets. Each preset has its own skill points, its own specializations and its own Stigmas (OmniPower, allthings.how). That lets you switch quickly, for example between a dungeon and PvP.
The trap: a new preset starts from zero. In OmniPower's recording the same skill has an empty slot and different levels in preset 2 than in preset 1.
- Check which number is selected. That is the preset you are playing with, and that's where you equip specializations.
- Set up presets 2 and 3 separately, only if you need them.
- According to allthings.how, presets can also be switched with Alt+Num4, Num5 and Num6 (changeable in Key Settings). They are easy to press by accident. After a switch the game says e.g. "Skills changed to Preset 2."
A skill reset removes your specializations
At the bottom of the window, next to the point counter and the Level Up button, there is a round arrow button. That's the skill point reset. It is free and unlimited (Game8, allthings.how, Trunx, Grogn, OmniPower).
The catch: a reset removes all specializations. The game says so in the confirmation dialog: "Would you like to reset all skills? (All Skill Specialty effects will be deactivated upon reset.) (Current preset's skills will be reset.)"
After a reset:
- Spend your points again.
- Go back to every skill and equip the specializations again.
A reset only affects the preset that is currently selected. It only gives back skill points. Levels from Daevanion, gear and Arcana stay (Game8, allthings.how).
Most common mistakes
- Never equipping specializations at all. The slot opens but does nothing. Cashgctv only noticed at character level 36, and OmniPower calls it a detail people often overlook.
- The level 16 option "won't go in". There is no free slot for it. Take out one of the two earlier ones (Lipej, Grobs, OmniPower).
- Resetting and not equipping them again. After a reset every slot is empty.
- Switching presets by accident (e.g. Alt+Num5). Suddenly you have different points and empty slots. Switch back to your number.
- A high level with no option chosen. Grogn: a high level doesn't automatically make a skill good. Open it and check the Specialty section.
- Points spread across every skill. It's better to push your key skills to 8 and 12, then 16 and 20 (Lipej, Grobs, xMiMiCx). If a skill is one level short of a breakpoint, get that level from a Daevanion node (MistaWigglez).
Which specializations should you pick?
The recommended specializations for every skill are on your class page, in the Skills tab:
The Check your character tool (in the top menu) shows which of your skills have reached 8, 12 or 20 and reminds you what should be equipped at that level. The official character data does not include specializations, so the tool can't see whether you have equipped them. You can only check that in the skill window in game.
More for your first days: things the game doesn't tell you and macros.
