Lost Ark Full Handbook

This guide is designed for everyone — from brand-new players to hardcore endgame raiders. It covers everything you need to know: classes, builds, raid mechanics, economy tips, and progression advice.

Lost Ark Full Handbook
Lost Ark Aug 6, 2025 3 min read

1. Getting Started

Choosing Your Class

Lost Ark offers 5 main archetypes with several subclasses:

  • Warrior – Tank/DPS: Berserker, Paladin, Gunlancer
  • Martial Artist – Agile Melee DPS: Wardancer, Scrapper, Striker, Glaivier, Soulfist
  • Gunner – Ranged DPS: Gunslinger, Deadeye, Artillerist, Sharpshooter, Machinist
  • Mage – Support/DPS: Bard, Sorceress, Arcanist, Summoner
  • Assassin – High DPS: Deathblade, Shadowhunter, Reaper
  • Specialist – Newest class family: Artist, Aeromancer

Recommendation for New Players:

Paladin (support), Berserker (easy DPS), Gunslinger (safe ranged DPS), Bard (team support)

2. Leveling & Progression

  • Follow the Main Story Quests until level 50.
  • Complete side quests that grant Skill Points (Tortoyk, Shushire, Rohendel, etc.).
  • Learn the Tripod System early to boost your skill damage.
  • Increase Roster Level to gain shared stat bonuses for all your characters.

3. Recommended Class Builds (Quick Overview)

Class

Core Engravings

Preferred Stats

Notes

Berserker

Mayhem + Master’s Tenacity

Crit + Swiftness

Fast-paced, burst DPS

Paladin

Blessed Aura

Swiftness + Domination

Primary role: buffs & shields

Gunslinger

Peacemaker or Time to Hunt

Crit + Swiftness

High mobility and damage

Sorceress

Igniter or Reflux

Crit + Swiftness

High AoE & burst potential

Deathblade

Remaining Energy

Swiftness + Crit

Sustained DPS & mobility

💡Tip: Always prioritize getting your main engraving to level +3, then invest in DPS engravings like Adrenaline, Grudge, or Cursed Doll.

4. Endgame Content Roadmap

  1. Chaos Dungeons – 2 daily entries, farming gear and honing materials.
  2. Guardian Raids – Boss hunts that require learning fight mechanics.
  3. Abyss Dungeons – Weekly group content with valuable rewards.
  4. Legion Raids – The pinnacle of PvE content, each with unique mechanics and patterns.

5. Legion Raid Mechanics (Summary)

Raid

Boss

Key Mechanics

Valtan

Wolf Commander

Counter windows, Orb collection, Armor Destruction phase

Vykas

Succubus Commander

Charm mechanic (don’t hit teammates), orb explosions, safe spots

Kakul-Saydon

Mad Clown

Bingo board mechanic, pizza safe spot, cage rescue

Brelshaza

Legion Commander

Portal phases, clone mechanics, safe spot puzzles

Akkan

Plague Legion

Disease mechanic, mandatory cleanse skills, timed mechanics

Thaemine (Upcoming)

Dark Commander

Very fast phase transitions, high DPS checks

Recommendation: Watch video guides (YouTube, Maxroll.gg) before attempting Legion Raids.
Going in blind may result in repeated wipes and wasted resources.

6. Economy & Gold Management

  • Monitor the Market: Buy materials when prices are low, sell when high.
  • Alt Characters: Run Chaos Dungeons & Guardian Raids on alts for extra gold and mats.
  • Una’s Task Tokens: Weekly Gold Chests are one of the most reliable income sources.
  • Events: Participate in events regularly to stockpile honing materials.

7. Daily / Weekly Checklist

Chaos Dungeon (2 runs)
Guardian Raid (2 runs)
Una’s Task (3 dailies)
Guild Donations & Research
Rapport interactions
Weekly Abyss Dungeons & Legion Raids

8. Common Mistakes

  • Wasting Materials: Don’t spam honing without reaching near-guaranteed success rates.
  • Ignoring Alt Characters: Slows your overall progression significantly.
  • Entering Raids Blind: Learn mechanics beforehand to avoid party wipes.
  • Not Checking Market Prices: Can result in major gold loss.

🏆 Conclusion

This handbook will help you progress efficiently and prepare for the most challenging content in Lost Ark.
Master your class build, learn raid mechanics, and optimize your resources to become a valuable teammate in both casual and hardcore endgame content.