Content:
Key Takeaways
Short on time? Here is what to remember about Combat Power before you read the details.
- What it is: Combat Power (CP) is the single number AION 2 uses to sum up how developed your whole character is, not just your equipment.
- Not gear score: gear score mostly tracks your equipment and gear-related progression, while CP also counts Skills, Stigmas, Arcana, Wings, Pets, Titles and more.
- Not DPS either: a higher CP does not automatically mean higher damage, because stat distribution, Accuracy, rotation and encounter mechanics still decide real output.
- How it grows: you cannot grind CP directly; it rises whenever you improve any system that feeds your combat stats.
- Best approach: keep several permanent systems moving together and leave the most expensive gear upgrades for last.
- Where it matters: CP is used for content requirements and group recruitment, so a sensible number opens doors, but chasing the number blindly wastes materials.
Combat Power Explained
Combat Power is the number AION 2 uses to summarize how far your character has come in combat terms. It is the figure you see on your character screen, it is what other players glance at when they decide whether to invite you, and it is also what a lot of content uses as an entry requirement. In other words, it is a shortcut for the question “is this character ready?”
The key point is how wide that number is. Gear score is a value for the potency of your equipment plus certain gear-related progression. Combat Power is built from a much larger collection of stats and systems across the whole character. The main contributors are:
- Gear
- Skills
- Stigmas
- Arcana
- Daevanion
For the exact thresholds, see the AION 2 Gear Score guide.
A simple way to remember it: gear score answers “how developed is my equipment?”, while Combat Power answers “how developed is my whole character?” If you have ever stared at a freshly upgraded weapon and wondered why the number barely moved, or why it jumped after you touched something that has nothing to do with gear, that is the reason.
Four ratings, four different jobs
AION 2 gives you several ways to look at how strong a character is, and they are easy to mix up. Here is how they differ.
| Rating | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Gear Score | Primarily gear and gear-related progression |
| Combat Power | Overall character stats and progression |
| DPS | Your actual damage output in combat |
| Build Quality | How well your stats, Skills and systems work together |
Four measurements may sound like plenty, and yet none of them tells the full story alone. Despite the name, Combat Power is not DPS wearing a different hat, in the same way that gear score is not a verdict on your build. CP is an approximate figure for your character’s potency. It cannot show you where that strength comes from, or whether the pieces fit together well.
Note: Think of CP as a quick scoreboard, not a diagnosis. Two characters with the same number can be very different in practice, and the number will not tell you which one is better built.
Combat Power vs Gear Score in AION 2
Gear score and Combat Power look alike because both climb as your character improves, and that is exactly why so many players treat them as the same thing. They are not. Gear score is tied closely to your equipment progression. Combat Power collects the stats gained from almost every important part of your progression. Item level is the same idea as gear score here: it reflects your equipment, not your whole character.
To see every way to upgrade a piece, read the AION 2 gearing guide.
The practical result is that two players with a similar item level can show very different Combat Power. One of them may have put effort into Skills, Stigmas and Arcana, while the other has only polished their gear. The first player’s CP will be noticeably higher even though the equipment looks identical on paper.
Which system raises which number
The table below lists the systems that change CP and shows whether each one also moves gear score.
| System | Raises Gear Score | Raises Combat Power |
|---|---|---|
| Gear quality | Yes | Yes |
| Gear Enhancement | Yes | Yes |
| Daevanion | Yes | Yes |
| Active/Passive Skills | No | Yes |
| Stigma Skills | No | Yes |
| Arcana | No | Yes |
| Soul Bindings | Gear-dependent | Yes |
| Manastones | Gear-dependent | Yes |
| Wings/Pets/Titles | No | Yes |
Look at the “Raises Combat Power” column: every single row says Yes. The “Raises Gear Score” column is much more selective, and several rows depend on whether the bonus is attached to a piece of gear. That is the whole difference in one glance. Even something as cosmetic-sounding as Wings feeds into Combat Power, which surprises a lot of new players.
The list is based on what is currently known and may not be perfectly complete, and the numbers and rules may shift with patches. If a system you rely on is missing from the table, test it yourself by checking your CP before and after the change.
Tip: When you want to know whether an upgrade is worth it, compare the number on your character screen before and after. It is the fastest way to see how much a given system really adds for your character.
How to Increase Combat Power in AION 2
Here is the catch with Combat Power: you cannot simply grind it. There is no CP bar to fill. The number rises whenever you improve one of the systems that feeds your combat stats, so progress comes from stacking upgrades across several places. In the early game, gear has the biggest influence on how strong your character is. Later on, progression spreads out among Skills, Arcana and Stigmas. That is why a player who only farms new equipment eventually falls behind players who keep all of these systems moving together.
These are the main Combat Power sources in AION 2:
- Gear quality and upgrades
- Gear Enhancement and Breakthrough
- Active and Passive Skill levels
- Stigma Skills
- Daevanion Boards
- Arcana
- Soul Bindings
- Manastones
- Wings
- Pets and Genus
- Titles
- Pantheon
- Amulet and Belt
Upgrading any of these raises your CP automatically. It is a handy way to compare your character with others, but do not make the number your goal. If you pour everything into gear just to watch the figure grow, it means little while your Skills are undeveloped. On paper you may look stronger than an enemy you meet in the Abyss, yet in the actual fight the underdeveloped build is what shows. If you ever want to skip part of the grind, the Aion 2 store has services that can take over some of the repetitive work.
Increase Combat Power Through Gear
Gear is the obvious source because stronger equipment brings more base stats and more room for extra growth. Weapon upgrades are especially noticeable for DPS classes, while defensive pieces matter more for tanks. AION 2 also stacks several upgrade systems on top of the base item, so landing a good drop is only the start of its progression. Gear progression includes:
- Higher equipment grade
- Enhancement
- Breakthrough/amplification
- Set bonuses
- Manastones
- Theostones
- Potential
- Soul Bindings
Do not throw your materials at every new item just to see the number tick up. Before level 45, upgrade gear only when it is truly needed at that moment, for example when your damage against a dungeon boss is too low. From level 45 onward the picture changes: pick a piece of equipment you actually like and start investing in it seriously. The logic is simple, since early items get replaced quickly and materials spent on them are mostly lost.
Warning: Heavy enhancement on a temporary item is the classic CP trap. The number rises today and disappears the moment you swap the piece out.
Upgrading gear takes a lot of time and materials. If you would rather not spend that time yourself, you can look at a Transcendence boost as one way to push your equipment progression forward.
Increase Combat Power Through Skills
Skills feed directly into Combat Power, which is why skill progression and this topic are so closely connected. There is no need to retell the whole skill system here, but the broad order is: you begin with skill points, then move on to Daevanion, and after that to the other systems such as Arcana and gear. Stigmas run on their own progression, yet their levels also add to your overall strength. In rough terms, skill growth looks like this:
| Source | What it does |
|---|---|
| Skill Points | Main skill growth until level 10 |
| Daevanion | Takes over until level 14 |
| Arcana | Targeted skill bonuses |
| Soul Bindings | Additional skill bonuses found on gear |
| Stigma Shards | Separate progression |
To see how skills reach level 20, read the AION 2 skill progression guide.
The level ranges here are approximate and the exact handover points may differ in practice, so check the in-game screens as you level. What matters is the principle: do not level skills your build does not use just to push CP. That is a quick way to waste your potential. The better target is your main Active Skills, especially when they reach an important Specialty breakpoint. That improves the number and your real combat performance at the same time.
Increase Combat Power Through Daevanion
Daevanion Boards are one of the biggest permanent progression systems in AION 2. Their nodes provide stats, skill levels and other combat bonuses. Unlike an upgrade on a temporary piece of gear, Daevanion progress stays with your character, so every useful node remains relevant while your equipment changes around it. The boards also cover different stat categories, which lets you work toward offensive, defensive, PvE, PvP and Skill-related bonuses.
Because the progress is permanent, Daevanion is a safe place to put effort when you are unsure what to improve next. Nothing you earn there is lost when you replace a weapon or an armor piece, and the nodes that match your build keep paying off. This is also why a character whose gear is already strong but whose Daevanion is untouched usually has easy gains waiting.
Increase Combat Power Through Arcana
Arcana is another major source of stats and Skill levels. Each card works almost like an extra gear slot: it gives combat bonuses, and some cards also add levels to Active or Passive Skills. Set bonuses add another layer on top of an already heavy progression system. When you improve Arcana, look at these elements to raise your Combat Power:
- Card quality
- Card level
- Relevant combat stats
- Active/Passive Skill bonuses
- Set bonuses
- Whether the bonuses actually fit your class
The same rule as with gear applies: do not chase the Arcana that gives the highest Combat Power on paper. Ask first how it improves your skills. A card with a big number but bonuses that do not suit your class is worth less than a modest one that boosts the abilities you use every fight.
Increase Combat Power Through Stigma Skills
Stigmas are a separate skill system and one of the stronger long-term CP sources. Each class has several Stigma abilities, and you upgrade them with Stigma Shards instead of Skill Points. Higher Stigma levels improve the skill and unlock additional effects, so investing in Stigmas raises Combat Power while also giving you real combat upgrades. This is the order to prioritize them in:
- Stigmas used in your main build
- Build-defining damage or healing Stigmas
- Defensive or support Stigmas
- Secondary PvE/PvP options
Stigmas are among the biggest sources of Combat Power, so choose them wisely. Spreading Shards thinly over every option is a poor use of a limited resource; start at the top of the list and work down.
Other Ways to Increase Combat Power
Beyond the obvious routes, AION 2 has a long list of smaller ways to gain CP. Wings, Pets, Titles, Pantheon bonuses, Monolith progression, Amulets, Belts and similar systems can all add permanent or semi-permanent stats. None of them will have as large an impact as boosting your gear, but they add up quickly:
| System | What it gives to CP |
|---|---|
| Wings | Combat stats and additional progression |
| Pets | Genus/collection stat bonuses |
| Titles | Extra character stats |
| Pantheon | Permanent stat progression |
| Amulet | Separate enhancements |
| Belt | Separate upgrades |
| Monoliths/collections | Additional permanent bonuses |
If you are a completionist, the game rewards that: you can pick up a chunk of CP from collectibles alone, and everybody who inspects you sees how much time you have put in. A lot of your long-term strength comes from progressing the entire account and character, not from farming the same boss over and over. You can browse the collections services if you want help with that side of the game.
Best Way to Increase Combat Power Fast
The fastest CP progression is not about dumping everything into gear. Permanent systems are the better long-term investment, because you keep their bonuses even after an equipment piece gets replaced. Instead of spending your whole budget trying to force one system ahead, keep several reliable progression tracks moving at the same time. Here is the order that works best for raising Combat Power in AION 2:
- Equip meaningful Gear upgrades
- Level your main Active and Passive Skills
- Upgrade important Stigmas
- Progress Daevanion Skill and stat nodes
- Use proper Arcanas
- Improve long-term gear with enhancement
- Get Wings, Pets and Pantheon
- Progress the Monolith
- Leave the expensive upgrades for last
Of course, the exact order depends on what your character is missing right now. This is not a rule against upgrading a weapon: if yours is truly bad, replace and improve it. If your Skills are stuck several levels behind, fix those first. If your gear is already strong but Daevanion has not been touched, one more tiny enhancement level is not what you should focus on. It is simple stuff, really: find the weakest system and raise it.
A simple routine to follow
If you want a practical way to apply this, run a quick check every time you log in with new materials. First, look at your main Active Skills and Stigmas and ask whether any of them lag behind the rest. Second, look at Daevanion and Arcana for free gains. Third, only then decide whether a gear upgrade is worth the cost. Following that order keeps your spending on things that stay with you instead of on items you will replace soon.
Tip: Whenever two upgrades cost about the same, pick the one in the system you have touched least. Neglected systems almost always give the biggest return for the least effort.
Everything in AION 2 costs resources to make, and Kinah goes quickly when you are upgrading several systems at once. If you are running low, you can check the Kinah offers and keep your progression moving instead of stalling. Players who prefer to speed up gear progress can also look at Ascension Trials boosts to save time on that part of the climb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Combat Power in AION 2?
Combat Power is an overall rating based on your character’s combat stats and progression systems. It includes far more than gear, so Skills, Stigmas, Arcana, Daevanion and other permanent bonuses can all raise the number. It is also used for content requirements and group recruitment.
What is the difference between Combat Power and Item Level in AION 2?
Item level, like gear score, mainly represents your equipment progression, while Combat Power measures your character more broadly. Two players can therefore have a similar item level but very different CP, depending on their Skills, Stigmas, Arcana, Daevanion and other upgrades.
How do you increase Combat Power fast in AION 2?
Keep several progression systems moving instead of putting every resource into gear. Upgrading important Skills, Stigmas, Daevanion nodes, Arcana and long-term equipment raises your CP while also improving your real character. Save the most expensive upgrades for last.
Does higher Combat Power mean more DPS in AION 2?
Not always. Combat Power measures overall stat strength, while actual DPS also depends on stat distribution, Accuracy, Skill Specialties, rotation, uptime and encounter mechanics. A lower-CP build with the right stats can outperform a badly optimized build with a higher number.
Should you always equip the item with more Combat Power in AION 2?
No. Check the actual stats before replacing a piece, especially Accuracy, class-specific offensive stats, Skill bonuses and set effects. The better build is the one that performs better in the content you are doing, not necessarily the one with the biggest number on the character screen.
Is it worth upgrading gear before level 45?
Only when you need it at that moment, for example if your damage against a dungeon boss is too low. Before level 45 items get replaced quickly, so heavy investment is mostly wasted. After that, choose a piece you like and upgrade it seriously.
Which systems are the best long-term sources of Combat Power?
Permanent progression systems such as Daevanion Boards and Stigma Skills are the strongest long-term picks, because their bonuses stay with your character when gear changes. Arcana is also a major source of stats and Skill levels. Wings, Pets, Titles, Pantheon and collections add smaller permanent bonuses on top.
Should I level every skill to raise my Combat Power?
No. Level only the skills your build actually uses, especially main Active Skills that reach important Specialty breakpoints. Raising skills you never use inflates the number without making you stronger in a fight.