Beginner's Guide

To play the international version you need an Arc account and the Arc client, which installs the game. On first launch the patcher updates the game to the current version; because the installer holds an old build, this can take a long time, often around 4 to 12 hours. It is also wise to read the rules first, especially about third-party programs and sharing accounts.

There are four servers (see What Is Perfect World). Pick the one with the lowest ping and a time zone that suits you: US West, US East or Europe. According to the Beginner's Guide, Dawnglory (Europe) and Etherblade (North America) are currently the busiest.

There are six races and 17 classes. Every class can handle solo content, but they do different jobs in groups: classes with buffs, debuffs, healing or tanking help a squad even before their gear is strong, while damage classes depend more on good equipment. All classes are viable, so pick the look, playstyle and role you like. Character creation also offers wide appearance options. See Races and Classes.

Every new character starts in Celestial Vale, a beginner area where you learn the basics and where the red Basics quest chain begins.

• Follow the red Basics quest chain. It walks you through most of the game's systems and hands out equipment and resources along the way.
• Turn on the EXP bonus from the Beginner Event as soon as you can: it is only available for 30 days after the character is created.
• Do the orange cultivation quests next to the Basics chain. They unlock new skills and give a lot of EXP (see Spiritual Cultivation).
• Keep the level 85 (Quicksand Maze) gear from the Basics chain. It helps you pass the quest that checks your Slaying and Warding levels, and it is cheap to repair when farming monsters.
• Join a faction squad: eight members of the same faction in one squad each get 20% more experience and spirit, and 10% more Vitae.

You earn experience (EXP) mainly from quests and activities and also from killing monsters. Each level unlocks new quests, skills and equipment and gives 5 attribute points for Vitality, Strength, Magic or Dexterity; spend them on what your gear needs first (see Stats and Attributes). Points can be reset for free before level 100. The cap is level 105, but you can go through Reawakening twice, which sends you back to a lower level to climb again.

Each new level needs more EXP than the last. The table below is shortened to a few rows from the wiki's full EXP table.

When a squad kills a monster, its EXP is split among the members in three steps. First it is scaled by the level gap between the monster and the highest-level member: far weaker monsters give very little, while stronger ones give a bonus. Then a squad-size bonus is added, but only if the highest and lowest members are less than 20 levels apart. Finally each member receives a share in proportion to their level (levels under 20 count as 20). Spirit points are shared the same way.

Skills are learned and viewed in the Skills window. Most class skills go up to level 10 once you meet their level and cultivation requirements, paid for with spirit you earn as you play; higher levels may also cost silver coins or skill books. Around level 89 you choose between the Sage and Demon paths, which changes several skills; you can switch sides later.

• Clicking an NPC, monster or coordinate in the quest tracker or quest log usually walks your character there automatically.
• Winged Elves can fly from level 1; see Mounts and Aerogear for flying gear. Press space to jump and again in mid-air to double-jump.
• Fighting a target on different terrain (air, land or water) can cut your damage a lot. If a monster seems unusually hard to kill, fight it on the same terrain.
• Monsters may carry a status under their name, such as Increased Life (double health) or Weak (less health and defence, but less EXP). Most of these statuses make the monster worth extra EXP and spirit.

Many systems add to your strength over time, and the Basics chain introduces most of them. A few you will meet early:

• Genies: a companion you get early that adds extra skills such as speed, damage or protection.
• Meridians: from level 40, opening gates gives permanent attack, defence and HP. Attempts are limited per day, so start early.
• Titles: shown next to your name; collecting them can give permanent stat bonuses.
• Homestead: from level 70, a personal area that is also used to get skills, gear and crafting resources.