Aion Classic EU Update 4.5 "Ignite" arrives in early 2026

Gameforge has announced that the first major update for Aion Classic EU in 2026 will launch early this year with Update 4.5 "Ignite". 

This update brings in the new Phoenix class, streamlined onboarding for players, the new open-world progression zone Teva, and more. The announcement and a trailer for the update can be found below. You can find the official website here. The update will be available via the Gameforge client. 

Gameforge today announced Update 4.5 ‘Ignite’, the first major update of 2026 for Aion Classic EU. Planned to arrive in early 2026, Update 4.5 delivers a broad range of new content, gameplay systems, and refinements—headlined by the introduction of the all-new Phoenix class—while offering European players a fully optimized version of the update from day one.

Rather than releasing Update 4.5 in stages, Gameforge will deploy the update as a single, consolidated patch, incorporating balance improvements, system refinements, and usability updates informed by player feedback from other regions. This approach ensures a smoother launch experience and a more cohesive progression path for both new and returning players.

New Class Spotlight: Phoenix

Leading Update 4.5 is the arrival of Phoenix, a fast-paced, mid-range magical damage dealer wielding Flame Revolvers and wearing Flame Leather equipment. Designed for dynamic combat, Phoenix excels at rapid-fire combos, area control, and explosive burst windows in both PvE and PvP encounters.

Phoenix’s signature mechanic, Overcharge Energy, builds with every critical hit. Once fully charged, Phoenix enters a heightened combat state that dramatically enhances magical skill output for a short duration. With access to airborne binds, black hole-style pulls, auto-cannons, and skill-reset abilities, the class delivers a highly mobile and expressive playstyle that rewards precision and timing.

Streamlined Onboarding for New and Returning Players

Update 4.5 modernizes the early Aion Classic experience by removing the legacy base class system. New characters now begin directly as their chosen advanced class, allowing players to immediately engage with their preferred playstyle.

Additionally, players now start in their faction’s main city rather than a low-level starter zone, providing faster access to core services, clearer progression guidance, and a more efficient introduction to the game’s systems. These improvements significantly reduce early friction and help players reach meaningful content more quickly.

Teva: A New Open-World Progression Zone

Teva is a large-scale open-world field zone designed as a central progression hub for Update 4.5. It features rotating anomalies, field missions, rare monster encounters, hidden islands accessed through special portals, and a new weekly-reset currency used to obtain valuable rewards.

Teva also introduces monster taming, allowing players to capture rare creatures using Prism Cores, alongside challenging solo and group content that feeds directly into the update’s new gear and progression systems.

Expanded Endgame Progression

Update 4.5 significantly deepens long-term character growth with several new systems:

• Battle Armour Gear Line – A new endgame equipment path that evolves into higher-tier Battle-Hardened and Battle-Seasoned Armour, offering powerful stat upgrades and a new combined defensive attribute.
   
• Arcamant – Equipable progression items that introduce new combat-enhancing stats, including Critical Damage Increase, with multiple variants for PvE and PvP builds.
   
• New High-Tier Manastones – Expanded build customization through stronger Fabled-grade stones tied to open-world and endgame activities.

Skill Reboot, RvR Enhancements, and QoL Improvements

Update 4.5 delivers one of the largest skill overhauls in Aion Classic EU to date, featuring class-wide Skill Reboots, new Advanced Skills and Stigmas, and extensive balance adjustments. These changes improve combat clarity, build diversity, and performance across both PvE and PvP.

RvR (Realm vs Realm) gameplay also receives major refinements, including improved raid structures, clearer scheduling, enhanced rewards, and expanded progression systems. Alongside these updates, a wide range of quality-of-life improvements streamline crafting, enhancement, inventory management, and general navigation throughout the game.

Quote from Gameforge

“Update 4.5 represents an important step for Aion Classic EU as we move into 2026,” said Syd, Product Manager for Aion EU at Gameforge. “Our goal with this update is to deliver meaningful new gameplay—like the Phoenix class and Teva—while also refining the core experience based on what we’ve learned so far. We want players to feel that Aion Classic continues to evolve in a thoughtful and sustainable way.”

Coming Early 2026

Aion Classic EU Update 4.5 ‘Ignite’ is currently planned to launch in early 2026 and will be available as a free update for all players via the Gameforge client.