How to start playing Lineage 2 Essence — a beginner's guide
Lineage 2 Essence is the same Lineage 2, but without long class transfer quests, with auto-hunting and a fast start: in your first evening you can reach Lv. 40 and the second class transfer. Below is what to do in the first hours so you don't waste time.
First steps
- Choose a class by role, not by its picture. In Essence, each race starts with its own starting class and changes class at Lv. 20 and Lv. 40 right in the character window, without quests; the third class transfer is at Lv. 76. To see what each path leads to, check the guide which class to choose and the classes section.
- Turn on auto-hunting right away. The auto-battle button (the icon next to the skill bar) makes the character pick targets, attack, and use skills and potions from the configured slots on its own. Set up auto-attack, 2–3 skills, HP potions and soulshots, and your character levels up while you read the guide.
- Get buffs from the Adventurers' Guide. Every town has an NPC who buffs characters for free up to a certain level; early on, this doubles your leveling speed. Check your buffs every 20 minutes or set them to auto-repeat.
- Complete the starting quests and missions. Quests in the starting zones give your first levels, soulshots, potions and equipment. Daily missions (the mission window) are the main source of rewards after Lv. 20.
- Don't hoard junk. You need Adena for soulshots, potions and your first equipment; sell everything you don't wear to NPC or via the store.
Where to level in the first hours
Starting zones of all races and the first Lv. 1–19 locations (the recommended level is shown by the game itself):
- Basic Training Zone — Lv. 2–15
- Lands of Light — Lv. 2–20
- Forgotten Snowlands — Lv. 2–20
- Hill of Hope — Lv. 2–15
- 1st Training Grounds — Lv. 2–15
- Quiet Plain — Lv. 2–15
- Valley of Heroes — Lv. 5–10. The area between Pa'agrio Temple and the Orc Village. It also serves as a place of spirit worship.
- Talking Island (west) — Lv. 8–19. The western side of Talking Island. This is its mountainous, wooded part, where the Elven Ruins are located.
Next — follow the plan leveling in Essence by level: zones, quests and class transfer at every stage.
What's important to know in Essence
- No class transfer quests. Class transfers at 20, 40 and 76 are done through the character window. The time saved goes into leveling.
- Equipment by grade. Weapons and armor are divided into grades D, C, B, A, S and higher; each grade has sets with bonuses. It's worth moving to a new grade once you can equip the full set.
- Zones with a recommended level. Each hunting zone has a level range: within it, monsters give normal XP and aren't too dangerous. Full list: Essence hunting zones.
- Raid bosses by level. The first bosses are available as early as Lv. 20–30 in a party; the list with levels and zones is in the raid bosses section.
- Check drops on the site. Each monster's page shows what it drops, and each item's page shows who drops it. Handy when you need a specific crafting resource.
