Key facts at a glance
- Levels: most EXP comes from quests, discoveries and points of interest rather than monsters. Every level grants stat points you assign freely.
- Trait points no longer come from levels: they come from Raeven's Coilstones, each guarded by a powerful boss.
- Every weapon has its own trait tree with new skills and altered versions of existing ones.
- Exploration makes you stronger: Nui Tears raise max HP at Nui Statues, while chests and field bosses drop gear.
- Hersander's Tower: a riddle in every zone, capped off by the timed Hereafter Challenge with a leaderboard.
Levels, EXP and six stats
In a developer post on October 15, 2026, Global Project Manager Don of XLGAMES explained how characters grow stronger in ArcheAge Chronicles. Your level starts at 1 and rises with EXP. Monsters give some, but most comes from questing, finding things in the open world and completing points of interest, so exploring a section of the world levels you at a fairly predictable pace.
Every level grants stat points across six primary stats:
- Strength: physical attack
- Intelligence: magic attack
- Agility: critical hit chance plus some physical attack
- Constitution: HP and resistance to critical hits
- Endurance: stamina and defense
- Talent: supports magic attack and lets you use better equipment without penalties
One point always buys one stat, however high it already is. Before you commit, the character screen previews how attack power, crit and the rest will change.
Weapon trait trees instead of level-based talents
Early in development everything hung off your character level. XLGAMES split trait points off, because it did not want "go level up" to be the answer to every tough fight. Each weapon type has its own trait tree. For the Warrior, the longsword and greatsword trees are completely separate. Most nodes are stat boosts, some unlock new skills, and others change how an existing skill plays.
The post's example: one greatsword player takes the damage branch, unlocking Armor Break and turning Sunder into Sweeping Slash, which hits twice with a broader cleave arc. Another picks the defensive branch for Pummel Strike, an attack usable while guarding that grants a damage-absorbing shield. Both builds are viable; it comes down to playstyle.
Where trait points, health and gear come from
- Raeven's Coilstones: grant trait points. Each sits next to a powerful boss, whether out in the open, hidden away or reached only through certain quests.
- Nui Tears: scattered across the world. Brought to a Nui Statue, they raise your maximum HP, and each increase costs a few more tears than the last.
- Treasure chests: hold gear, rare recipes and more. Each opens once per character, so there is no racing other players.
- Field bosses: roam the open world and drop gear including accessories, plus crafting materials found nowhere else.
- Dungeons: instanced for up to four players with shared quest progress, and playable solo.
Every zone hides towers of Hersander, the god of gambling, each asking for a specific item via a riddle. Satisfy them all and you receive a unique accessory and unlock the Hereafter Challenge: a souped-up version of a random zone boss, against the clock and ranked on a leaderboard. More on the world: World & Systems.
You can try this soon. The Steam Next Fest demo adds the new high-level dungeon Throne of Hinnon, which XLGAMES warns won't be an easy clear with the progression available in the demo. PvP channels are open from the start. Point costs, tree layouts and alternate skills may still evolve during Early Access based on player feedback.
FAQ
How do you get trait points in ArcheAge Chronicles?
From Raeven's Coilstones in the world. Each is guarded by a powerful boss; your character level does not grant trait points.
What stats are there?
Six: Strength, Agility, Constitution, Intelligence, Talent and Endurance. Every level grants points you assign freely.
How do you raise maximum HP?
Collect Nui Tears in the open world and bring them to a Nui Statue. Each further increase costs a few more tears.
What is the Hereafter Challenge?
After satisfying every Hersander's Tower in a zone, you fight a souped-up version of a random zone boss against the clock, with times on a leaderboard.
Can you play dungeons solo?
Yes. Dungeons are instanced for up to four players and can also be run alone.
Sources: Steam announcement "How Progression Works in ArcheAge Chronicles" (October 15, 2026). As of October 17, 2026.
