Applies only to the Korean AION 2 service. The changes below are from the October 7, 2026 Korean patch, not an announcement for Steam/PURPLE Global or Taiwan.
A materials-focused part of the Korean update improves players’ chances of obtaining higher-grade Refining Stones (제련석) in selected instances. It also adds a new purchase option to the Expedition Exchange Shop. Both measures provide upgrade-material avenues, but they operate differently.
The specific difficulty modes affected
The increase targets Chalice of Muspel (무스펠의 성배) at Normal and Hard difficulties, and Snowfield of Sorrow (비탄의 설원) at Easy, Normal and Hard.
These are identified modes, not a blanket buff to every dungeon. Crucially, the notice does not disclose revised numerical drop percentages. A higher chance should not be advertised as a guaranteed higher-grade material from a single clear.
A separate Expedition Shop option
The patch also lists Master’s Highest-grade Refining Stone (Bound) (달인의 최상급 제련석 (각인)) as newly purchasable from Expedition → Exchange Shop.
Players should check the live Korean shop for its cost and any purchase constraints. The announcement confirms the item listing, but does not provide enough information to claim that exchanging currency always beats dungeon farming.
What changes for progression planning?
For Korean players pursuing upgrades, it now makes sense to compare the particular eligible instance difficulties with the Expedition shop route. Efficient choices still depend on character strength, available currencies, clear speed and current inventory.
Global-service distinction: Korean drop-rate adjustments are useful to observe but are not evidence that the same rates or exchange goods are already available—or scheduled—to launch on Global. Read Global patch notes independently before reallocating resources there.
Sources: PLAYNC Korean October 7 update; Korean patch reproduction on Inven.
Independent coverage, not an NCSOFT official notice.