Does Ashes of Creation have traditional quests?

Ashes of Creation minimizes traditional '!' style fetch or kill quests, focusing instead on a dynamic questing system driven by the Node development lifecycle and global events.

How does the Node system generate content without quests?

As Nodes level up, they spawn reactive, local events, tasks, and conflicts that serve as organic, shared objectives for players, driving both experience and world progression.

Are there any narrative story quests?

Yes, there will be a main story narrative and personal quest lines, but they are designed to be interwoven with the world's dynamic events rather than being the primary source of daily content.

Ashes of Creation New Player Guide

Starting out in Ashes of Creation can feel overwhelming, but once you know the basics, the early game becomes way more fun. This guide breaks down how to get started, level up, and actually enjoy your first hours without getting lost or broke.

How to Begin in Ashes of Creation

You’ll start by picking a race, class, and divine gateway. Each gateway sends you to a different starting zone. Right now, the two main ones are the Riverlands and The Anvils. The Riverlands are easier for solo players, while The Anvils have tougher mobs but better group questing. Both areas offer full quest chains, Ember Springs, and Market Managers to introduce basic systems.

Your starting gear is crude quality, and you’ll replace it fast. Don’t waste time crafting tools early. The quest line gives uncommon gear and tools by the time you reach level 5.

Early Progression When Starting Out

Leveling happens through combat, quests, and the Destiny system. The first few levels are easy if you follow your main quest and complete Destiny objectives like dodging, blocking, and using abilities. These small achievements give experience and glint.

Stick to these goals:

Follow every quest from your starter node to unlock gear upgrades
Complete both the Starter and Combat Destiny paths for bonus XP
Equip a melee and ranged weapon to progress two weapon skill trees
Unlock your Wanderer weapon at level 5 and keep it upgraded

When you reach your first Ember Spring, attune to it. It acts as a respawn and fast travel point. You’ll find several across the world, and they’re crucial when dying or exploring far away from towns.

Nodes and Trading

Nodes are the foundation of the world. As players complete activities nearby, nodes level up, turning camps into villages and towns. These towns unlock Marketplaces, storage chests, and crafting stations.

Selling items happens through Market Managers, not a global auction. Each node’s economy is local, meaning prices can vary a lot. For quick cash, sell junk and glint to NPC vendors. Save rare drops for the marketplace once you reach level 10 and can post items.

Mounts and Travel

You’ll get your first mount through a stable quest in your starting settlement. Follow that chain, and you’ll earn a basic horse. Keep a second mount later for backup, since mounts have cooldowns when defeated. Some rare mounts can swim or breathe underwater, but most can’t.

Ember Springs act as checkpoints, so discover as many as possible. If you get stuck or lost, the unstuck command teleports you to the nearest one you’ve unlocked.

Combat and PvP Basics

After level 10, PvP becomes active anywhere. That doesn’t mean you’ll constantly be attacked, but it’s possible. The corruption system punishes players who kill others who don’t fight back, so griefing is rare. Still, avoid carrying tons of crafting materials while traveling through open fields.

You can flag yourself for PvP voluntarily to fight others who are also flagged. Large-scale PvP like sieges and caravans will come later in development.

Tips for New Players

Pick the Riverlands if you want slower but easier solo leveling
Focus on quests until level 10 before farming mobs
Repair your gear often, since durability drops fast in early zones
Store excess items at your node’s chest to avoid losing them when killed
Use the unstuck option if you get trapped during terrain glitches
Join a guild early to find party members and share crafting materials

Final Blurb

Ashes of Creation takes time to learn, but once you get through the first few levels, the systems click. Follow your node’s quests, stay near Ember Springs, and use your destinies for easy XP. The game rewards exploration, teamwork, and patience, and every small upgrade feels earned.