Ashes of Creation Beginner’s Guide
Jumping into a new MMORPG can feel a bit crazy at first, especially when the world isn’t set in stone. In Ashes of Creation, players like you actually shape the game world, cities can rise, wars can start, and whole regions can change just because of what players do.
If you’re just starting out or want a chill, smart way to get into it, this Ashes of Creation Beginner’s Guide will have your back. We’ll break down the basics so you don’t mess up early and can enjoy the ride.
Where to Start in Ashes of Creation
Ashes of Creation is ambitious, deep, and constantly changing based on what players do. So the first step is to understand the basics, and take it one system at a time. Here’s how to start:
Server
Choose a server that is geographically close to you (NA, EU, etc.) to reduce lag. Also, if you plan to play with friends, make sure you all choose the same server. Lower population servers usually mean less queue time at launch.
Character
Character creation involves two main choices:
- Race: Affects your look, starting lore, and small flavor bonuses. Pick what feels right to you.
- Class (Archetype): At the start, you pick a Primary Archetype (like Fighter, Mage, Cleric, etc.). Around level 25, you’ll choose a Secondary Archetype that adds extra effects to your skills.
Settings
Before jumping into the action:
- Enable auto-attack (especially for ranged abilities).
- Tweak graphics and UI to ensure you have smooth gameplay.
- Review keybinds, moving and attacking should feel natural.
Small changes early will make the game much more comfortable to play.
Understanding the Ashes of Creation Node System
If you understand how Nodes work, you’ll understand how the entire world of Verra evolves around you. Let’s break it down step-by-step in a clear, beginner-friendly way.
What Exactly Is a Node?
At its simplest, a Node is a specific area of land on the map that can grow and evolve.
- At first, a Node is just part of the wilderness.
- As players quest, gather resources, kill enemies, and explore nearby, the Node gains "experience points" (Node XP).
- When enough XP is gathered, the Node "levels up," physically changing and becoming a settlement: first a camp, then a village, then a town, and even a city.
- Each Node has its own "Zone of Influence" (ZOI) — a circular region around it where player activity counts toward that Node’s progress.
In short: Nodes "level up" because of players, not NPCs or the developers setting a script. Your actions truly matter.
Stages of Node Development
Nodes don’t just appear fully built. They grow step-by-step:
At Stage 3 (Village) and beyond, the Node starts feeling alive, with shops, missions, elections for leaders, and even specific themes based on how it developed.
Different Node Types
Every Node eventually specializes into one of four types, depending on what kind of activity players do most in its area. The four types are:
- Military Node: Grows through combat and PvP. Focuses on fighting arenas, buffs for soldiers, training grounds.
- Divine Node: Grows through healing, support, religious or benevolent quests. Focuses on blessings, defensive powers.
- (Economic and Scientific Nodes will come later: these focus on trade and technology, respectively.)
The type affects what bonuses, quests, and buildings are available. A Military Node feels totally different from a Divine Node!
How Nodes Compete and Clash
Nodes aren’t isolated. They compete with each other for territory.
- When one Node levels up, it can "lock out" nearby Nodes. That means if your nearby Node becomes a thriving village, the one 5 minutes away might stay stuck as a camp forever.
- Vassal Nodes appear: when a Node becomes strong, it can absorb smaller nearby Nodes and control them.
- Sieges happen: Other players can eventually attack and destroy Nodes. Victory can completely wipe a city off the map, forcing rebuilding elsewhere.
Player choices shape geography and politics permanently. No two servers will ever look the same.
First Steps in Ashes of Creation Gameplay
Every great adventure starts with small, simple actions. Here's exactly what to expect and what you should do early on to get a strong, smooth beginning.
Exploring Your Starting Area
After you finish creating your character, you’ll appear near one of the Divine Gates, the magical entry points into Verra.
- Look around first. Take a moment to get familiar with your surroundings. You'll usually see a few basic NPCs (non-player characters) nearby — they’re important for your early quests.
- Talk to your first quest giver. Typically, an NPC right in front of you will offer a quest. This first quest introduces basic combat, movement, and interaction.
- Pick up starter equipment. You might find simple weapons lying around: like a sword, a staff, or a bow. Check their stats and choose the one that matches your starting Archetype (class).
Tip: Don’t rush forward! Spend a few minutes walking around. Some starting areas have hidden resources, lore items, or better beginner weapons tucked nearby.
Early Combat: Getting Comfortable with Fights
Combat in Ashes of Creation is active and timing-based.
- Auto-attack Settings: Open your settings menu (gear icon), go to Gameplay → Combat, and toggle on Auto Attack after Ability if you want smoother fighting.
- Attack and Ability Basics: Early on, you’ll mostly use basic attacks. Your first ability (like a quick strike or magic spell) unlocks very soon after your first few kills.
- Movement Matters: Always move in fights. Enemies have telegraphed attacks (you’ll see a warning animation). Step out of danger zones!
Practice dodging, timing your attacks, and using your first abilities together. This will make tougher fights later much easier.
Early Quests
The early quests are designed as your real tutorial, they teach you through doing.
Your first tasks usually involve: killing a few nearby monsters (like goblins), picking up materials, or speaking to different NPCs. Quest rewards include basic gear upgrades, some money, and early XP toward your first levels. Always read quest text carefully, Ashes often gives subtle hints about important mechanics (like how Nodes grow or how to find gathering spots).
Unlocking Skills
Leveling up unlocks Skill Points, which you can spend to improve your abilities.
- Visit your Skills panel whenever you level up.
- Spend points smartly: early damage boosts, movement skills, or healing abilities are strong choices.
- Experiment: You can rework your build later, so don’t be afraid to test different skills that fit your playstyle.
Ashes encourages personalization. There’s no strict “best” skill, so think about what feels right for you.
Crafting and Professions Basics in Ashes of Creation
Crafting and professions (also called the Artisan System) are a huge part of your long-term progress.
How the Artisan System Works
In Ashes of Creation, every item in the world from basic potions to endgame armor can be crafted by players. The system is divided into three stages:
Each stage is its own full profession, and you can specialize deeply into one path.
Gathering Basics
Gathering is your first entry point into the crafting world. From your earliest moments exploring, you can interact with gathering nodes like:
- Trees for wood
- Ore veins for metals
- Herb bushes for alchemy ingredients
- Animal hides from defeated wildlife
Important: You’ll need gathering tools like axes or sickles. Basic tools are usually easy to find early in the game (vendors sometimes sell them, or you can craft one).
As you gather, you level up your gathering skill, this lets you harvest rarer materials later on.
Processing Basics
Once you have raw resources, you need to process them to make them usable for crafting.
- Visit a Processing Station in a town or Node (like a lumber mill or smelter).
- Turn raw materials into refined goods, such as:
- Logs → Planks
- Ore → Ingots
- Hides → Leather
Tip: Nodes that specialize in certain types (like Economic or Military Nodes) may have better processing facilities or bonuses.
Processing also gives its own XP and progression path, separate from gathering and crafting.
Crafting Basics
Finally, crafting is where you combine processed goods into finished products. At crafting stations, you can create:
- Weapons and armor
- Potions and food
- Bags and tools
- Housing furniture
- Siege equipment (later in the game)
Crafting recipes often require multiple components like combining ingots, leather, and wood for a single sword. The better the materials you use, the better your final item will be.
Tips for New Players in Ashes of Creation
To help you settle in faster, here’s a list of essential beginner tips, explained clearly and practically.
Explore Before You Commit
Spend your first few hours just exploring. The world is dynamic, some quests and events only appear if enough players are active nearby. Don't rush straight into leveling or grinding. Walk around, gather resources, meet NPCs, and feel how the world breathes.
Example: You might find a gathering node or rare event that leads to better loot just by wandering off the main road.
Focus on One Artisan Path Early
Try a bit of gathering, processing, and crafting, but choose one to specialize in by Level 10–15. Why?
- Mastering a profession opens powerful rewards (rare items, better gear, money).
- High-level crafters are always valuable in guilds and for Node development.
- Progression gets slower if you spread yourself too thin.
Starter tip: Gathering (like mining or herbalism) is the easiest profession to begin with if you’re unsure.
Choose Your Node Wisely
When Nodes start growing near you, watch what type they become.
- Military Nodes: Good for PvP players and combat buffs.
- Economic Nodes: Best for traders, crafters, and marketplace players.
- Divine Nodes: Focused on healers, buffs, and faith-related content.
- Scientific Nodes: (coming later) For access to unique travel systems and gear upgrades.
Once you become a citizen of a Node, you're locked to it unless you move, so pick a place that matches your long-term goals.
Join a Guild Early
Don’t try to solo everything. Join a guild even if you’re casual.
- Guilds often control important events like sieges and caravans.
- They offer protection (and revenge) against PvP threats.
- Many guilds help with gear, dungeon runs, and crafting support.
- Some Nodes literally require organized groups to control elections and territory.
Tip: Find friendly guilds that match your timezone, playstyle (PvE, PvP, crafting), and goals.
Caravans
When trading resources between Nodes, use caravans carefully.
- Launching a caravan makes you a moving PvP target.
- Always bring friends or join a trade convoy if possible.
- Scout the route beforehand — some areas are hot zones for ambushes.
- Caravans are high-risk, high-reward, plan them like you would a dungeon run.
Final Thoughts
Every quest you complete, every battle you fight, and every resource you gather helps to literally shape the game world around you. That’s what makes it so unique, and why learning the basics early really pays off. Ashes rewards players who are curious, adaptable, and community-driven.
FAQ
Primary Archetype: Once you pick it at character creation, it’s locked forever.
Secondary Archetype: You can change it later at a special trainer.
So, choose your main class carefully, but know you’ll have flexibility to tweak your style through the secondary choice.
If you’re not flagged for PvP: you only suffer minor penalties, like durability loss.
If you’re Corrupt (red player): you can drop equipped gear and suffer bigger stat penalties.
Always pay attention to your PvP status to avoid expensive mistakes!
Mounts can be earned very early through quests.
Your first mount (usually a horse) is unlocked by completing a beginner questline offered by local NPCs in the starting zones.
Later, you can also buy, breed, or even summon rare mounts.
Nodes are player-built cities.
As you quest and gather in an area, the nearby Node grows — unlocking vendors, housing, services, and even player governments.
Your Node choice affects your entire game world: politics, economy, and even dungeon access.
No, but it’s highly recommended.
Guilds open up a lot of content: sieges, caravans, guild wars, bigger rewards.
If you stay solo, expect some challenges in accessing late-game features.
Change Log
- 24.05.2025 - Ashes of Creation Beginner’s Guide published.