Getting Started in Ether Online

Welcome, Traveler

Stepping into Ether Online for the first time can feel like a lot. There's a world to explore, a class to pick, and a whole companion system to learn before you've even left the starting village. This guide covers the essentials: creating your character, bonding with your first Pioh, and getting through the early levels without wasting time.

1. Choose Your Path

Every class handles differently once you're actually fighting, not just on paper. Before you commit, spend a few minutes in the character creator trying out different builds. There's no wrong choice here. You're not locked into a playstyle forever, so pick whatever feels good and adjust as you go.

2. Bond Your First Pioh

Soul creatures, or Piohs, are your constant companions once you unlock them. They fight beside you in every encounter, not just story bosses. You'll get your starter Pioh naturally through the early questline. Talk to the NPCs in your starting village, work through their quests, and keep an eye out for anything involving "Recovery of Pioh."

Once you've got your first Pioh, don't just leave it in your inventory. Head into your Pet Inventory, drag it into your Pioh slot, and start feeding and using it regularly. Piohs that are bonded early tend to grow alongside you, so the sooner you start, the stronger that companion will be down the line.

3. Follow the Main Story

Keep an eye out for the golden quest markers floating above NPCs. These are your main story quests, and they're the fastest way to learn the game's systems while getting rewarded for it. They walk you through core mechanics, like unlocking your Soul Card and Pioh slots, at the pace you're meant to learn them, and the XP rewards are generous. Side content is worth dipping into once you're settled, but if you're ever unsure what to do next, the golden marker is almost always the answer.