Lost Ark in 2025: First Impressions, Player Decline, and Honest Review

Lost Ark, a name that shook the entire MMORPG world upon its launch, broke records with over 1 million concurrent players. But over the years, that number has dropped significantly. So, what really happened? Despite the decline, it’s still considered one of the biggest MMORPGs out there. The question is: how does Lost Ark hold up today in 2025? Have the developers addressed the issues that caused so many players to leave? Did they make improvements that could bring players back? In this article, I’ll answer these questions through my first impressions after returning to the game after almost two years, with nearly 3,000 hours of playtime under my belt. I’m super curious to see how much has changed! I created a fresh character, geared them up as much as possible, and dove into new content like raids and Abyss Dungeons. I’m also excited about the solo raid content. In the end, I’ll share my findings and give an honest breakdown of the game’s pros and cons. Whether you’re a new player wondering if Lost Ark is worth trying or a veteran considering a return, this is the only first-impression guide you’ll need for 2025. So, without further ado, let’s jump in and explore the world of Lost Ark!

Getting Started: Power Pass and Character Creation

After a long time away, I jumped back into Lost Ark during a Power Pass event, which gave my new character 1540 item level gear right away. These Power Passes are frequent—every two to three months—so new players can catch up to endgame content easily. I chose a male Warrior, aiming for a giga-chad Berserker spec. The class options include Berserker, Destroyer, Gunlancer, Paladin, and more, alongside Mages, Martial Artists, Gunners, and Assassins. I tweaked the character’s look, ditched the pubes on his face, and went for an Omni-Man vibe with black hair. The character creator is solid, though some hairstyles could use work.

Using the Power Pass, I equipped Nightmare gear and followed a build from LostArkNexus.com, a great resource for finding builds that suit your playstyle. I got free level 5 gems, which boost skills like Wind Blade by 15% damage, and skill runes to make specific skills stronger. Engravings are now free and permanent, so I set up 5x3 Engravings for my Mayhem Berserker build, focusing on 1600 Crit and 800 Swiftness. The game also gave me 117k gold, which was a nice surprise. Cards, once a massive grind, are now easier to collect with vendors, selection packs, and events. My LOS30 card set took thousands of hours back in the day, but now it’s more accessible, giving 30% dark damage reduction, Holy damage type, and 15% more damage. With my pet, skills, and gear set up, I was ready to dive in!

Honing and Gear Upgrades: The Grind Continues

Honing gear is one of the most fun parts of Lost Ark, aside from raids, but it’s still a grind. I started at 1540 item level and aimed for 1600 to unlock more content. The Road to Hyper Awakening event offered rewards for reaching 1600, so I pushed hard. Upgrading gear has a low success rate—8% to 10%—and I hit pity multiple times, burning through materials. “Please, please, please!” I shouted as I failed repeatedly, running out of mats. Finally, I one-tapped a weapon to 1550, then hit 1560 and opened chests for more XP, reaching level 55. The weapon upgrades were brutal, but I got a 95-quality weapon, which is insane—people spend millions of gold for that!

To hit 1600, I needed more honor shards, so I bought selection packs from the shop. I also used the Auction House to buy a Crit/Swiftness bracelet, a 97-quality Crit ring, a 99-quality Swiftness ring, and a 95-quality necklace for 5.99k gold. My stats hit 1600 Crit and 800 Swiftness, perfect for my build. The grind was intense, but the clutch moment of reaching 1600 item level was so satisfying—what an ending!

Daily Content: Chaos Dungeons and Guardian Raids

With my gear ready, I jumped into daily content: Chaos Dungeons and Guardian Raids. Chaos Dungeons are a horde-mode daily activity where you mow down waves of enemies. My Berserker’s ultimate was a blast, and the content felt rewarding. Next, I tried a Guardian Raid against Sonavel via matchmaking. It was my first time, and I didn’t know the tactics. We had no support, and it was rough—everyone sucked except one guy who dealt 26% of the damage. I was an Upright Fighter, but the lack of a healer made it tough. Guardian Raids without support suck, but they’re a fun daily challenge if you’re prepared.

Solo Raids: A Game-Changer

The biggest change in Lost Ark is the introduction of solo raids, a dream come true for players who prefer tackling content alone. I tried solo raids like Brelshaza, Kayangel, and Akkan, which are available at 1600 item level. Brelshaza was a blast—I dodged lasers, countered attacks, and used my ultimate, shouting, “Big damage, bro!” The mechanics were familiar, like collecting orbs and staggering the boss. I cleared it first try, feeling unstoppable. Kayangel and Akkan were tougher. In Akkan, I struggled with phases like ringing the bell and surviving blood water, saying, “Gods above, please protect us!” I survived the last phase, where the boss went “full Goku mode,” and clutched the win. Solo raids are so much fun and perfectly doable with the right item level.

I also tried a higher-level raid at 1610 item level minimum, honing to 1613. The boss had vines and required back attacks, which my Berserker excelled at. I dealt massive damage, destroying plants and auto-attacking orbs to hurt the boss. Despite getting caught once, I cleared it, yelling, “I’ll destroy your anus, bro!” The solo raid mechanics were engaging, and the red dust phases made it feel epic.

Pros: What Makes Lost Ark Shine

• Faster Endgame Access: Catching up to endgame is much faster now. Back in the day, it took years of grinding, but with events and Power Passes, you can hit 1600 item level in days.
• Solo Raids: Introducing solo raids was a game-changer. They’re perfect for players who enjoy solo challenges, and the available ones are fantastic, with more coming.
• Event Rewards: Events offer amazing rewards, like free 5x3 Engraving support, making it easier to gear up with powerful accessories. You only need to focus on stats now.
• Easier Card Sets: Card sets are more accessible with vendors, selection packs, and events, unlike the thousands of hours I spent grinding for LOS30.
• Less Demanding Dailies: Daily chores are less demanding. You only need one Guardian Raid daily, and the purification system lets you save Chaos Dungeons for six rested kills weekly.
• Tier 4 Content: Tier 4 brings super endgame content at 1640 item level. It’s chill, and all class specs perform well, making it a great goal for later.
• Combat and Raids: The combat system is one of the best in any MMORPG—fluid, satisfying, and fun. Raids are super fun and complement the combat perfectly.

Cons: Challenges That Remain

• Gatekeeping: Gatekeeping is a big problem on NA servers. Players are excluded for low roster levels or non-meta specs, making it tough for new and casual players to join groups.
• Finding Supports: Finding support players for raids is frustrating. You can wait hours to form a group, and if it disbands after one or two gates, you’re jailed, repeating the cycle.
• Toxicity: Toxicity in raid groups stresses newcomers and casual players, discouraging them from joining group content.
• Honing Grind: Constant gear upgrading and honing feel grindy. Even with enough time to progress, players impose unrealistic expectations, like demanding multiple raid clears days after a new tier launches.
• Unrealistic Expectations: Raids are tough, like Thaemine, and some gatekeeping is valid due to their difficulty. But players demanding day-one clears from others create a toxic cycle, forcing the player base to behave this way.

Verdict: Is Lost Ark Worth Playing in 2025?

After honing to 1613 item level, doing Chaos Dungeons, Guardian Raids, and solo raids like Brelshaza, Kayangel, and Akkan, here’s my take. Lost Ark remains an amazing MMORPG. Its classes, combat system, and raids are its biggest strengths. Catching up is faster, solo raids are a game-changer, and events make gearing up easier. You log in, do dailies, and tackle weekly raids—solo or with groups when you’re confident. Developers Amazon Games and Smilegate are working hard to address issues like gatekeeping and grinding fatigue with more solo content, improved rewards, and engaging updates. However, gatekeeping, toxicity, and the honing grind remain challenges, contributing to the player decline from its 1 million concurrent peak.

Power Passes and events bring new and returning players, keeping the game alive, but it needs more players to thrive. If you love fluid combat, epic raids, and don’t mind some grind, Lost Ark is worth trying. New players can jump in with Power Passes, and veterans can enjoy solo raids and Tier 4 content. I believe the game can make a strong comeback with these improvements. Thanks for reading! Drop your thoughts on Lost Ark in the comments, hit the like button, and I’ll see you in the next one. Till then, goodbye!