Lost Ark Beginner and Returning Player Guide: What to Do First

Whether you're starting Lost Ark for the first time or returning after a break, it can be tough to know where to begin. This guide walks through class selection, progression goals, settings to enable, how to reach 1580 item level, and what to do while waiting for major honing events.

Lost Ark at a Glance 🎯

• All classes are viable for endgame

• Support classes are in high demand for parties

• Complete the main story to reach North Vern

• Use Knowledge Transfer to boost alts to level 50

• Do daily Chaos Dungeons, Guardian Raids, and Una Tasks

• 1580+ item level is the first major progression wall

• Gold becomes required for honing after 1580

Best Classes for New Players

Every class in Lost Ark can clear endgame content. If you like how a class looks and plays, it is absolutely viable. However, some options make party finding and learning content easier.

Support classes (easiest party invites) ⚔️

• Bard

• Artist

• Paladin (and Female Paladin when available)

Supports are highly sought after. If you want near-instant party invites for raids, support is the simplest path.

Recommended beginner DPS options

• War Dancer – party buffs, crit rate, and mobility

• Classes with strong party synergy like movement speed and attack speed

• Berserker – straightforward gameplay and forgiving for learners

Other strong party-synergy options include Gunlancer and Arcana, though they are less common first characters.

Essential Settings New Players Should Change ⚙️

Before diving into content, adjust these settings to improve combat clarity and gameplay comfort:

• Turn off skill screen shake

• Enable instant skill cast

• Enable photosensitivity mode to reduce visual clutter

• Hide unnecessary party visual effects

• Enable your own HP bar above your character

These changes make boss mechanics easier to see and reduce unnecessary visual noise during raids.

Early Game Progression: What to Do First

Complete the Main Story Questline

Follow the blue questline until you unlock North Vern. This naturally brings you through early continents and teaches core systems.

Do the Arkesia (Arcasia) Tour 💰

This progression checklist gives:

• extra skill points

• card packs and collectibles

• runes

• useful account-wide rewards

Finishing it early speeds up the rest of your journey dramatically.

Fast Track Option: Knowledge Transfer

If you already have a level 50 character, you can use Knowledge Transfer to boost new characters:

• skip the main story

• arrive at level 50

• start at early endgame content

There is a gold cost, but this is the fastest way to build an alt roster.

Reaching Endgame and Item Level Progression

Once you unlock endgame activities, prioritize:

• Chaos Dungeons

• Guardian Raids

• Event shops when active

• Abyss Raids and Legion Raids when unlocked

Important milestone raids

• Valtan – 1415

• Vykas – 1430+

• Kakul-Saydon – 1475

• Brelshaza – 1490+

• Akan – 1580

At item level 1580, honing begins to cost gold instead of only silver. This is where many players slow down.

Daily & Weekly Routine for Efficient Progression

Do these every day 📆

• Chaos Dungeons

• Guardian Raids

• Una Tasks

Missing activities builds rested bonuses, so you can play 3–4 days per week efficiently.

Do these every week

• three gold-earning raids

• event shop purchases

• solo mode raid shop (great mats value)

What to Do While Waiting for Honing Events

If you're stuck at 1580 and don’t want to spend gold, focus on permanent progression:

• collect Skill Point Potions

• unlock Ark Passives via Enlightenment Potions

• finish collectibles like Giant’s Hearts

• farm key runes (Wealth, Gale Wind, Conviction, Judgment, Bleed)

These upgrades boost damage and survivability more than raw item level and pay off long-term.

Building an Alt Roster for More Gold 💰

Having multiple characters allows you to earn more raid gold per week.

• each character can earn gold from 3 raids weekly

• aim for 4 characters at 1580 without heavy gold spending

• save slots for future free powerpasses

Common Mistakes to Avoid 🚫

• forcing one class you dislike “because meta”

• ignoring Arkesia Tour rewards

• honing past 1580 without a plan for gold

• neglecting runes and skill point potions

• not using rested bonus

• forgetting to buy weekly solo-mode shop items

Step-by-Step Beginner Progression Path

• Create a class you enjoy

• Adjust recommended settings

• Complete main story to North Vern

• Finish the Arkesia Tour

• Unlock Chaos Dungeons and Guardian Raids

• Progress item level gradually

• Reach 1580+

• Start Legion Raids

• Build an alt roster

Efficiency Tip

If time is limited, many players choose convenience services such as ArgenGaming for help with progression systems. It isn’t a marketplace; it focuses on safety, speed, and support when players want assistance rather than grinding everything themselves.

FAQ

What class should I start with in Lost Ark?

All classes can clear endgame, but supports get the fastest party invites. Berserker and War Dancer are strong beginner-friendly DPS picks.

How do I get to level 50 fast?

Follow the main story or use Knowledge Transfer if you already have a level 50 character.

What should I do at item level 1580?

Gold costs begin at this bracket. Focus on dailies, raids, collectibles, and events before pushing higher.

How do I earn gold in Lost Ark?

Legion Raids, Guardian Raids, Una Tokens, and trade skills are core gold sources. Only three raids per character grant gold weekly.

What should I do after finishing dailies?

Work on runes, skill point potions, collectibles, and alt roster expansion.