Ashes Of Creation Node And PvP Guide: How Do Players Drive Change In The World?

Ashes of Creation, a project launched in 2016, is arguably the most ambitious MMORPG currently available. Player actions profoundly influence the evolution of the game world. The game has garnered significant community response and raised over $3.27 million in crowdfunding in 2018.

In 2022, it announced an upgrade from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5. The game has maintained community interest through monthly live updates showcasing progress. The third phase of Alpha Two was released on August 26, 2025, but its official release date is still unclear.

While MMOs like Final Fantasy XIV and WoW are currently struggling, Ashes of Creation has managed to attract a significant number of players because of its ambitious gameplay.

Node System

AoC's biggest selling point is that player actions will drive changes in the game's terrain, primarily through its "node" system.

The world is scattered across regions called "nodes", each with a zone of influence. As players engage in various activities within the area surrounding a node, the node gains experience and slowly develops. Starting as a small NPC tribe, it might grow into a metropolis over time. Nodes also unlock various new features within the regional environment, such as trade routes and even world bosses.

Killing rare monsters and world bosses yields valuable items and equipment, essential for upgrading gear and showing off. For example, an egg dropped by a world boss might transform into a dragon over time, becoming your mount.

Nodes are therefore crucial for players. Each node is a major resource generator, and guilds must engage in PvP around these nodes to earn Ashes of Creation gold.

Classes

Ashes of Creation offers eight classes, plus a choice of subclasses. These classes can be combined, with subclasses providing special buffs to the main class's skills. For example, combining a Fighter with a Mage will transform their sprint skill into a flash sprint.

The eight basic classes can be combined in pairs, creating a total of 64 classes. When a primary and secondary class are paired, the secondary class will provide stat bonuses to the primary class's skills. You can choose the same class for your secondary class. For example, if both your primary and secondary classes are Tank, your actual class will be Guardian.

Classes have no gender or race requirements, and weapons and armor are not class-specific. However, certain classes will benefit from using specific armor and weapons.

The eight basic classes are as follows:

• Bard
• Cleric
• Fighter
• Mage
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Summoner
• Tank

PVP

The game's PVP combat system covers a wide range of areas. From large-scale castle-based realm battles to open-world guild clashes to open-world PVP, players can choose to participate in the world's war by swaying the tide of battle with their combat power. The PvP mechanics follow a tag system, providing players with a balanced and fair world.

According to official information and videos, Ashes of Creation's combat modes are currently divided into: Field, Arena, Siege, Naval, Battlefield, and Guild War.

Field (Character Marking)

In Ashes of Creation's field scenes and unsafe areas, you can become red-named, forcing a PK. Once combat begins, your character will be marked. Everyone in the game is a non-combatant.

Combat Players (Purple)

• 1. If a player attacks another player, they become a combat player.
• 2. They can fight back and become combat players themselves.
• 3. Their death penalty is reduced.
• 4. Healers who buff or heal combat players become combat players.

Corrupted Status (Red)

• 1. If a player kills another player, and that player doesn't resist, the killer will become Corrupted. (Corrupted points are awarded based on the level difference.)
• 2. After Corrupted Status is achieved, the durability of all equipment (worn equipment, bags, and inventory) decreases.
• 3. As a player's Corruption level increases, their combat effectiveness decreases (skills and character attributes).
• 4. There are two ways to overcome Corruption: death and regaining the world's recognition through religious quests.
• 5. While Corrupted, your location will be revealed to Bounty Hunters.

Bounty Hunters

Bounty hunters have a special Bounty Hunter Map, where corrupted players will be displayed. Corrupted players will be marked by NPC notices in Military Nodes of at least Stage 4 (Town). The accuracy of the Bounty Hunter Map depends on the Bounty Hunter class's level. Bounties are posted at the tavern.

• 1. Bounty Hunters must be obtained from a Stage 4 Node.
• 2. If you hold the Bounty Hunter title, the location of Corrupted players will be displayed on the map.
• 3. The Bounty Hunter function can be toggled back and forth, with a cooldown of several minutes.

Death Penalty

• 1. Experience loss.
• 2. A temporary reduction in HP and MP.
• 3. Combat players receive greater penalties than non-combatants.
• 4. Corrupted players receive triple or quadruple penalties upon death and will drop equipment, but no Ashes of Creation gold.

Siege

This brings us to the core of this content: the siege system. This is also the core PvP aspect of Ashes of Creation and the most exciting aspect of PvP, offering a combat experience unlike any other MMORPG. There are two types of sieges: attacking NPC cities (the six public castles in the world) and attacking other players' cities.

Castle sieges (there are six public castles in the world) occur monthly. During the siege, players must first attack three defensive nodes surrounding the castle to weaken its defenses. NPCs within the castle will assist in the defense, and all buildings within the castle are destructible.

To attack a node, players must complete a series of quests to qualify. After completing these quests, they can attack the castle at any time within a limited timeframe, but only once. There is no marking system during sieges.

Arena

Ashes of Creation's Arena modes include 1v1, 3v3, 5v5, and 20v20. Rewards are awarded for topping the Arena leaderboard. Those at the top of the Arena leaderboard can run for node leader. Becoming a leader allows you to dominate the current node and is one of the major ways for guilds to earn Ashes of Creation gold.

Battlegrounds

Special locations in the open world, such as Castle Watch and Caravan, with more battlefields to be added soon.

Guild Wars

Guilds can battle against other guilds or alliances, with rewards and penalties for victory and defeat. Both sides in a war are marked, and there are no penalties for defeating them. Guilds are not limited to battle one guild at a time; a guild can declare war on multiple guilds simultaneously.

Naval Battles

Naval battles feature different types of ships and warships, each with distinct abilities and weaponry. Naval battles are fought between ships, primarily on the high seas. Players can also pilot ships in high-seas group battles and fight ocean bosses.

Ashes of Creation has hugely ambitious gameplay, but also places high demands on servers and developers. If it truly delivers on all the gameplay it promises, it might even surpass WoW.