Ranger Stigmas: Levels 20-25

Stigma Primer

Stigmas give players in Aion a way to customize their characters by equipping stigma stones found throughout the world. The stigma panel reveals 5 slots that are unavailable until level 20, when 2 slots become available. The additional 3 slots become available for use at levels 30, 40 and 50.

Every class receives a solo-able chain quest at level 20 and upon completion receives a pile of stigma shards and one stigma stone. The Ranger receives Arrow Deluge I for completing their quest chain.

Equipping a Stigma stone requires a Stigma Master, located in major cities, and a predetermined amount of stigma shards that are consumed when the stone is placed (higher level stones require more shards). Additional stigma shards are acquired through PvP in the abyss. The initial amount of stigma shards given to you are enough for the first 2 stones you acquire.

Stigma stones can be replaced but are destroyed when overridden.

Ranger Stigmas

Levels 20-25 give the ranger 5 stigma options: Arrow Deluge (1 and 2), Sleep Arrow, Retreating Slash, and Silence Arrow. Let's briefly go over these in order of appearance.

Arrow Deluge I ⎮ Arrow Deluge II (level 20 and 25)
We get Arrow Deluge for free upon completing the Stigma chain quest at level 20. This ability is nothing too special because it only is effective when firing upon a group of mobs because of it's AOE effect. This could be useful in mass PvP or in group PvE to supplement damage but I feel as if other stigmas will prove more useful in the end. It can be used to add a little additional damage into rotations when soloing until getting your hands on a better second stone.


Sleep Arrow I (level 20)
This stone is indispensable and will probably be with you (upgraded versions later on of coarse) for your entire Ranger career. It is great for group play, being able to temporarily sleep targets during those "oh crap" moments like pulling additional ads.

Sleep Arrow is also very powerful in PvP for many reasons. It is effectively an interrupt and a root all rolled up into one. Being able to sleep the target in a 1v1 situation, increase distance, and give some burst damage skills time to finish their cool downs will be a huge part of our strategy in end game PvP. It could also give you time to throw in a Herbal Treatment if your health is getting low.


Retreating Slash I (level 22)
Rangers are all about keeping distance from their target so this stone is also a great addition to any Ranger arsenal. It effectively pushes you away from the target 25m. Once Silence Arrow becomes available at level 25, this stone may fall to the wayside for most rangers, but it is definitely more useful than Arrow Deluge. 

Correction: Retreating slash does not require melee weapons as I stated in the original post. Thanks to Setis on the Aionsource Ranger forums for pointing out that error! You must be facing the target in melee range, but having a "physical" weapon equipped is the only other requirement. My preference still leads to taking up Silence Arrow (read below) over Retreating Slash but these are ultimately very equally matched in use and the argument could be made for either. Play style, play style, play style!


Silence Arrow I (level 25)

Silence Arrow does just what it sounds like. It silences the enemy, stopping them from casting for 2-6 seconds. This should be used on an enemy mid-cast for the most effectiveness. I personally opt to replace Retreating Slash with this stone but I feel this will come down to personal play style. Either one will be effective and useful but don't replace Sleep Arrow.

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