AION 2
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AION 2 Ludra release date: Nov. 4, with normal and hard modes, first-clear titles and Twitch Drops
Ludra, the first major challenge in AION 2, opens on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, NC announced on Oct. 23, with normal mode for players at item level 2,800 and hard mode at 3,000, both available at once. Ludra arrives with the weekly maintenance, and NC's Oct. 20 maintenance began at 11:30 p.m. PT and ran 5.5 hours, which puts the opening at about 8 a.m. ET on Nov. 4. The Ludra login rewards, Twitch Drops and community events start at 9 a.m. ET the same day, and the first 20 parties to clear hard mode in each region earn exclusive titles. AION 2, NC's free-to-play MMORPG for PC, launched worldwide on Oct. 5 and peaked at 243,854 players on Steam on Oct. 23, No. 10 on Valve's most played chart.
- PC
AION 2 gets its first big boss race a month after launch. Here’s when Ludra opens, what you need to enter and what NC hands out to the fastest parties.
When does Ludra open in AION 2?
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, with the weekly maintenance. NC hasn’t posted the times for that maintenance. On Oct. 20, it started at 11:30 p.m. PT and ran 5.5 hours, and on the same schedule Ludra opens at about 8 a.m. ET on Nov. 4. The login rewards, Twitch Drops and community events start an hour later.
| Time zone | Ludra opens, estimate | Ludra events start |
|---|---|---|
| ET | 8 a.m., Nov. 4 | 9 a.m., Nov. 4 |
| PT | 5 a.m., Nov. 4 | 6 a.m., Nov. 4 |
| GMT | 1 p.m., Nov. 4 | 2 p.m., Nov. 4 |
| CET | 2 p.m., Nov. 4 | 3 p.m., Nov. 4 |
What you need for Ludra
| Mode | Item level | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 2,800 | Nov. 4 |
| Hard | 3,000 | Nov. 4 |
NC calls Ludra the first major challenge in AION 2 and promises new mechanics. Both modes open at once, so the strongest parties go straight for hard mode.
The Ludra Hunt titles. The race runs from the Nov. 4 maintenance to the Nov. 24 maintenance, separately in Europe, NA East, NA West, South America and Asia. First clears also go into the in-game Hall of Fame.
| Title | Who gets it, per region |
|---|---|
| Conqueror of Ludra | First party to clear hard mode, 10 players |
| Champion of Ludra | Parties two to five, 40 players |
| Challenger of Ludra | Parties six to 20, 150 players |
| Ludra Hunter | Everyone else who clears normal or hard mode |
The top three titles carry a purple effect, and NC sends all titles by Dec. 2.
Login rewards and Twitch Drops. The Ludra Conquest Check-In runs from Nov. 4 to Nov. 17, PT, with seven rewards over 14 days, so players can skip up to seven days and still finish.
| Day | Reward |
|---|---|
| 1 | 500,000 Bound Kina |
| 2 | 2,000 Centuryroot Tokens |
| 3 | 3,000 Phantasmal Fragments |
| 4 | 30,000 Abyss Points |
| 5 | 3,000 Soul Crystals |
| 6 | 1,000,000 Bound Kina |
| 7 | Lush Leaf Tiara helm |
Twitch Drops run over the same dates, with 14 rewards for one to 14 hours of watch time, including Dotted Glasses at 12 hours and the Black Conical Hat at 14. NC also runs a Ludra Outfit Contest on Discord, with 6,000 Quna for first place, and Daeva Bootcamp, which mails rewards to every player as global dungeon clears pass milestones from 500,000 to 7 million.
How to get ready before Nov. 4
- Expedition Hard modeAdded to Krao Cave and Draupnir with the Oct. 21 patch, at item level 2,600, with a four-minute boss frenzy timer, three revives per player and Ariel Fragments for the new Ariel Daevanion Board.
- Odyle Energy BoostLog in from Oct. 28 to Nov. 10 for two Odyle Energy a day by mail, for more Expeditions and Transcendence Dungeons.
AION 2 launched worldwide on Oct. 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET, on Steam and NC’s PURPLE launcher. NC counted 400,000 active users on launch day. On Steam, AION 2 peaked at 243,854 players on Oct. 23, No. 10 on Valve’s chart, and 164,840 were playing at 3:34 a.m. ET on Oct. 24, down from a launch record of 397,905, as our AION 2 player count page shows. Cyberpunk 2077 is the only game in that top 10 without multiplayer. MMO players waiting on Square Enix have our FFXIV Evercold release date page.
This page is updated as soon as NC posts the Nov. 4 maintenance times or the Ludra patch notes.
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FAQ
When does Ludra come out in AION 2?
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, with the weekly maintenance, NC announced on Oct. 23. Normal and hard modes open at the same time.
What time does Ludra open in AION 2?
NC hasn’t posted the Nov. 4 maintenance times. Its Oct. 20 maintenance started at 11:30 p.m. PT and lasted 5.5 hours, so on the same schedule Ludra opens at about 8 a.m. ET, 5 a.m. PT and 2 p.m. CET. The Ludra events start at 9 a.m. ET.
What item level do you need for Ludra?
Item level 2,800 for normal mode and 3,000 for hard mode, according to NC.
What do you get for killing Ludra first?
The first party to clear hard mode in each region gets the Conqueror of Ludra title, parties two to five get Champion of Ludra and parties six to 20 get Challenger of Ludra. Everyone else who clears normal or hard mode during the event gets Ludra Hunter.
Which regions compete in the Ludra Hunt?
Europe, NA East, NA West, South America and Asia, each with its own first-clear race.
What are the AION 2 Ludra login rewards?
Seven rewards over a 14-day check-in from Nov. 4 to Nov. 17, PT, led by 1,000,000 Bound Kina on day six and a Lush Leaf Tiara helm on day seven.
Are there AION 2 Twitch Drops for Ludra?
Yes. From 9 a.m. ET on Nov. 4 to 2:59 a.m. ET on Nov. 18, watching AION 2 streams earns 14 rewards, one per hour of watch time, ending with the Black Conical Hat at 14 hours.
How do I get ready for Ludra?
Run Expedition Hard mode in Krao Cave and Draupnir, open since the Oct. 21 patch at item level 2,600, and log in from Oct. 28 to Nov. 10 for two Odyle Energy a day by mail.
Is AION 2 free to play?
Yes. AION 2 is free on Steam and NC’s PURPLE launcher for Windows PC, with an optional monthly membership, a Battle Pass and paid cosmetics.
How many people play AION 2?
AION 2 peaked at 243,854 players on Steam on Oct. 23, 2026, and 164,840 were playing at 3:34 a.m. ET on Oct. 24. NC counted 400,000 active users on launch day, Oct. 5, across Steam and PURPLE.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
What item level does AION 2’s Ludra hard mode require?
Ludra’s hard mode needs item level 3,000, normal mode needs 2,800 and Expedition Hard mode needs 2,600.
Your call
Will you be in the Ludra race on Nov. 4?
