Blade and Soul Is One of the Top Most MMORPGs Worth Playing in 2016

Blade and Soul emerged as a groundbreaking MMORPG in 2016, rapidly climbing to the top of virtual currency transaction rankings within just two months of release. The game’s commercial success surpassed even World of Warcraft in specific market metrics, securing the number one position in the Top 10 MMORPGs in Game Virtual Currency Market 2016. What sets this title apart are its innovative gameplay systems, including the strategic ‘downed’ state mechanics, exceptionally fluid action-based combat, and the revolutionary ‘soul shield’ progression system. Combined with cinematic-quality animations, deeply engaging narrative arcs, extensive character personalization options, and visually stunning environments, Blade & Soul delivers an unparalleled martial arts fantasy experience. Let’s explore the key elements that propelled this MMORPG to such widespread popularity and critical acclaim.

Your journey begins with one of the most sophisticated character creation systems in modern MMORPGs. Players select from four distinct races: the balanced and versatile Jins, the physically imposing Gons, the diminutive but powerful Lyns, and the elegant female-exclusive Yuns. Each race carries unique cultural backgrounds and aesthetic preferences that influence your gameplay experience. The class system offers eight specialized combat roles, ranging from close-quarters specialists like the Blade Master and Destroyer to ranged experts including the Force Master and Summoner. The Warlock class represents the newest addition, bringing dark magic and summoning capabilities to the battlefield. Race-class compatibility follows specific restrictions, with each race having access to approximately three of the available eight classes, encouraging strategic planning during character conception.

The customization depth extends far beyond typical facial and body sliders found in other games. Advanced options allow you to manipulate character posing, environmental lighting conditions, and background settings for perfect screenshot opportunities. Voice customization provides distinct options for both conversational speech and combat vocalizations, allowing players to tailor their character’s auditory presence. For those preferring immediate gameplay access, thoughtfully designed preset configurations offer balanced starting points without compromising visual appeal. Pro tip: Spend extra time in character creation as your initial choices significantly impact your long-term gameplay satisfaction and identity within the game world.

Blade & Soul distinguishes itself from conventional MMOs through its deeply integrated narrative approach. The game immediately immerses players in a tragic backstory involving the complete destruction of their martial arts school—a catastrophic event that leaves your character as one of the few survivors. This personal vendetta against those who destroyed your found family serves as the primary motivation driving your character’s development and progression. Cinematic cutscenes and fully voiced dialogue sequences enhance emotional engagement while establishing the game’s rich lore foundation. What makes this introduction particularly effective is how the game seamlessly weaves tutorial elements into the narrative flow. Common mistake: Many players rush through these early story segments, missing crucial world-building context and mechanical introductions that become essential for advanced gameplay.

The integrated tutorial methodology represents a significant advancement in MMO design philosophy. Rather than separating learning mechanics from narrative engagement, Blade & Soul teaches core gameplay concepts through contextually appropriate story moments. This approach reduces the cognitive disconnect many players experience when transitioning between tutorial and main gameplay phases. The narrative maintains consistent pacing while ensuring players acquire fundamental skills organically through plot progression rather than artificial training scenarios.

The tutorial systematically introduces players to Blade & Soul’s comprehensive combat and mobility systems. Movement transcends basic navigation with specialized techniques including windwalking for rapid traversal, extraordinary vertical jumping capabilities, and graceful gliding across expansive landscapes. The true innovation lies in how movement integrates with the fluid, action-oriented combat system. Advanced players can combine sprinting with initiating attacks to catch opponents off-guard, creating dynamic engagement opportunities. Different combat situations—such as knockdown states, aerial maneuvers, or various attack initiations—unlock context-specific skill sets that dramatically expand tactical options. Optimization tip: Master movement-combat integration early, as this skill separates novice players from experienced combatants in both PvE and PvP scenarios.

The downed state mechanic introduces strategic depth to survival gameplay. When health reaches zero, players enter a vulnerable crawling state with an 80-second window to escape immediate danger. Successful evasion triggers the Chi Restoration state, enabling gradual health recovery. Strategic consideration: Always be aware of your positioning relative to safe zones when engaging challenging content, as the downed state provides meaningful recovery opportunities when utilized strategically. Time estimate: Mastering advanced movement and combat integration typically requires 10-15 hours of focused practice across different combat scenarios.

Blade & Soul delivers exceptional player-versus-environment and player-versus-player experiences. While some criticism exists regarding the traditional quest structure, the game compensates with an extensive dungeon system featuring innovative cross-server matchmaking. This queuing technology ensures minimal wait times while maintaining competitive integrity across server populations. PvP enthusiasts can choose between open-world territorial conflicts and structured arena competitions. Essential preparation: BNS Gold becomes crucial for weapon enhancement and gear optimization as you progress into challenging endgame content. For those interested in similar strategic gameplay, our Class Guide offers valuable insights into character role optimization.

Success in both PvE raids and competitive PvP requires strategic gear acquisition and enhancement. Surprisingly, the game foregoes traditional armor systems in favor of the innovative Soul Shield mechanic. This design choice emphasizes active combat positioning and skill execution over passive damage reduction through equipment. The cross-server functionality particularly benefits players during off-peak hours, maintaining vibrant community engagement regardless of time zone differences.

Victory in Blade & Soul’s challenging content demands optimized equipment, yet the game revolutionizes traditional MMORPG gear systems. Characters don’t wear conventional armor—instead, they utilize the unique Soul Shield system. A Soul Shield comprises eight individual fragments that collectively provide statistical bonuses and special abilities. The specific fragments equipped and their completion percentage determine the magnitude of benefits received. Players can enhance both shields and weapons through multiple augmentation methods, including infusion, gem socketing, and enchantment processes. This fragment-based approach allows for granular customization and incremental progression, rewarding players who strategically collect and combine complementary shield pieces.

Beyond functional equipment, the wardrobe system offers extensive cosmetic customization through faction-aligned and neutral costumes. Faction-specific attire can trigger different NPC interactions and automatically flag players for PvP in contested zones. Neutral costumes provide purely aesthetic benefits without affecting gameplay systems. Strategic consideration: Always maintain both functional and cosmetic gear sets to adapt to different gameplay situations and social contexts.

Professions represent a vital component of Blade & Soul’s gameplay ecosystem. The game offers seven distinct crafting professions and seven complementary gathering professions. Each player can select two professions from each category, enabling specialized economic roles within the game’s player-driven market. Certain gathering specialties naturally complement specific crafting disciplines, though players retain complete freedom in determining their professional specialization path. Economic optimization: Strategic profession selection can significantly impact your BNS Gold acquisition rate and self-sufficiency for gear enhancement materials. For comprehensive gameplay guidance, our Complete Guide provides additional strategic frameworks for progression planning.

The profession system encourages player interdependence while allowing for individual specialization. Gathering professions provide raw materials that crafting professions transform into valuable equipment, consumables, and enhancement items. Advanced players often coordinate profession selections with guildmates to establish efficient production chains. Like optimizing loadouts in other games, our Weapons Unlock guide demonstrates similar strategic planning principles for character development.

No reproduction without permission：OnLineGames Guides » Blade and Soul Is One of the Top Most MMORPGs Worth Playing in 2016 Master Blade & Soul's unique combat, character customization, and progression systems for optimal gameplay