Introduction
Class guides are a rough explanation of the class, designed to give you an idea of the class and what you should be aiming for. You should really adapt the guide and follow your own instincts to match your play style!
I highly recommend looking at as many different sources as possible. The class discords are a great place to start, most have their own guides and resources as well as plenty of skilled players willing to help with questions.
The Lahn class is a martial artist who comes from Eastern Valencia. She uses a Crescent Pendulum as their primary weapon and a Noble Sword as her secondary weapon. At level 56, the Lahn unlocks their awakening weapon which is the Crimson Glaives, duel wield blades attatched with a chain. The Lahn class uses melee to mid range to slash at their enemies and quickly burst them down. She is a high damaging duelist with lots of protection skills, mobility and CC, as well as a long range grab in Awakening.
Lahn excells in 1v1 situations but when in mass PVP it is much harder to stay protected and do high damage at the same time. Lahn is one of the squisher classes in the game and during large fights, should look for smaller skirmishes, attack backlines, and pick off targets who are out of place. Lahn is also especially good in cannon teams or as a flex member. In PVE, Lahn is a fast grinder and can perform well in the mid-tier spots.
Awakening VS Succession
Lahn Succession and Awakening can be unlocked after level 56 after speaking to the Black Spirit and completing the Awakening and Succession quests under the suggestions tab.
- The Awakening will unlock a completely new skill tree, which will be your primary skills from now on. The skills in the pre-awakening are mostly utility skills, and your main damage dealers will be your Awakening skills.
- The Succession skill kit enhances your Crescent Pendulum skills instead and only has a few awakening skills.
Your awakening weapon still affects your succession damage and vice versa. For example, if you are using the Succession kit, then 30% of your Awakening AP is still applied to the damage of Succession skills, as well as the additional item stats on the awakening weapon, such as Human/Species Damage and Accuracy.
Awakening and Succession are both viable and both have different pros and cons. Most players choose between the two based on their own experience and preference. Succession is considered better for PVE in most spots but is weaker in 1v1 PVP situations. Succession also loses the ranged grab and HP sustain from awakening but has larger AOEs and many protected skills.
Skill Builds
Since the skill point update in late 2022, you can obtain all skills for approximately 1,000 skill points. Focus on your main skills first, then level the passives. The Weight Training skill should be leveled last since it only gives you weight limit increase.
Protected Skills
It is important to read through your skills to understand which skills have protection and crowd control effects. Read through your skills carefully to get familiar with what each skill does. You can also filter the different effects in the Skill Window (K).
Super armor (SA)
- This means you cannot be crowd controlled while this effect is active (except grab/grapple), but you will still take damage from any attacks
Forward guard (FG)
- This means you will block damage and crowd control effects coming from the front direction of your character. The block can be broken if you take enough damage and you will see a blue shield with a number, indicating the % left of the block.
- Some classes have an “S block”. This means you will automatically use Forward Guard when moving backward with “S”.
Invincible (I-frame)
- This means that you will not take damage and cannot be crowd controlled from any direction for the duration of the effect
PVE Iframe
Evasion and 
Phantom Dance are also “PVE Iframes”, which means these skills have a 1-second invincibility effect against monsters only, even if you spam the skill repeatedly.
Locked Skills
To lock a skill, press the lock icon on the top of each skill icon in the skill window (K).
The reason you want to lock the Rage Absorption (Common) skill is that you want to use the Rage Absorption (Innate) version instead for Critical Hit Rate.
These are the Awakening skills I recommend locking to help prevent messing up combos during PVP.
Evasion
Blade of Blood
Berated Ghost
Sring Breeze
Soul Ascent
Wind Orchid
Rage Absorption (Common)
These are the Succession skills I recommend locking to help prevent messing up combos during PVP.
- Evasion
- Blade of Blood
- Berated Ghost
- Rage Absorption (Common)
Hotbar Skills
These are the minimum skills I recommend putting on your hotbar.
You may also want to put more skills on your hotbar and cooldown slots to keep track of them. For more information about how to do this, check out our Edit UI and Settings Guide.
Awakening:
Blade of Blood, Blood Moon Twist, White Heron, Spring Breeze, Eyes of Blood/Phoenix Chase, Salp’uri Purge, Flow: Vice, Flow: Sacred Dance
Succession:
Blade of Blood, White Heron, Eyes of Blood/Phoenix Chase, Salp’uri Purge, Flow: Sacred Dance
Core Skills
Core skills are a way of upgrading 1 skill from your awakening skill kit.
Core skills are usually down to preference but most players choose the Deadly Dance skill for PVX or Eradication for PVP.
Core: Eradication: Forward Guard while using skill.
Core: Bridled Despair: Stun on good hits.
Core: Taunting Death: Super Armor while using skill.
Core: Deadly Dance: Forward Guard while using skill.
Core: Furor: Forward Guard while using skill.
Core: Tailspin: Floating on good 2nd hit.
Skill Enhancement (Rabam) Skills
Skill Enhancement skills can be obtained in the Skill Window (K) under the “Skill Enhancement” tab at the top. At levels 56, 57, and 58, you will have 2 different options to choose between. These skills have no skill points cost, but you have to have other skills leveled up to be able to take them.
Level 56 [Shift + X]
- Phoenix Chase – Requires [Eye of the Phoenix III] and [Furious Chase III]
- Eyes of Blood – Requires [Eye of the Phoenix III] and [Blade of Blood]
I would recommend trying out both of these skills and testing which you prefer. It really comes down to personal preference. Phoenix Chase has a stun, while Eyes of Blood has a bound and lower cooldown. Using either of these skills from your hotbar will switch you from awakening to pre-awakening instantly.
Level 57 – [Shift + Z]
- White Heron – Requires [Cymbidium III] and [Morning Dew III]
- (Preferred Choice)
Cymbidium Trial – Requires [Cymbidium III] and [Fragrant Stigma IV]
I would personally recommend White Heron but both options are viable. White Heron has a DP debuff and Forward Guard, while Cymbidium Trial has Super Armor. Using White Heron from your hotbar will switch you from awakening to pre-awakening instantly as well.
Level 58 – [Quickslot only]
Blade of Souls – Requires [Soul Ascent IV] and [Blade of Blood]
Sacred Dance of Souls – Requires [Soul Ascent IV] and [Flow: Sacred Dance III]
- (Preferred Choice)
I would recommend Sacred Dance of Souls. This is the preferred option out of the two because it has super armor as well as a -20 DP debuff, while Blade of Souls does not have protection on the skill and instead has a stiffen and knockdown. You can also cancel the animation of Sacred Dance of Souls.
Skill Add-ons
Below are some examples of PVE skill add-ons you can take.
If you would like example skill add-ons for other scenarios, please refer to the Class Discord and its resources.
I recommend experimenting with your add-ons and figuring out what is best for you because it really depends on your personal preference and how you play your class. If you’re simply not sure what to take then you can blindly follow the examples below and they will still be effective.
You can also check our Skill Add-on guide for a complete list of Skill Add-ons.
| Awakening PVE Add-ons: | |
|---|---|
| Extra AP Against Monsters +20 for 7 sec | |
| Succession PVE Add-ons: | |
|---|---|
|
Extra AP Against Monsters +20 for 7 sec
|
|
Example Skill Combos
(Credit for these combos: SnakeChomp – Lahn Class Discord)
(AWAKENING COMBO)
[SHIFT] + [F] (1 hit) > [W] + [F] > [LMB] + [RMB] > [W] + [RMB] > [S] + [RMB] > [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [LMB]
This is an example of a beginner PVE rotation. Do the first hit of Eradiction only and use Flailing Blades (SHIFT + F) at the start of any PVE combo to prebuff for the Attack Speed. You can cancel Flailing Blades with a dash to the side.
(AWAKENING COMBO)
[S] + [LMB] (1 hit) > [W] + [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [A/D] > [SHIFT] + [RMB] > [RMB] > [S] + [RMB] > [RMB] > [W] + [F] > [LMB] + [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [LMB] > [LMB]
This is another example of a beginner PVE rotation. Do the first hit of Earthly Pain only and don’t fully cast Taunting Death.
You should also use Flailing Blades (SHIFT + F) at the start of any PVE combo to prebuff for the Attack Speed. You can cancel Flailing Blades with a dash to the side.
(AWAKENING COMBO)
[E] > [LMB] + [RMB] > [W] + [RMB] > [W] + [F] > [SHIFT] + [RMB] > [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [Q] > [SHIFT] + [LMB]
This is an example starter PVP combo that begins with your grab. For more advanced PVP combos please check your Class Discord.
(AWAKENING COMBO)
[E] > [S] + [LMB] (1 hit) > [SHIFT] + [RMB] > [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [Q] > [W] + [F] > [LMB] + [RMB] > [LMB] + [RMB]
This is another example starter PVP combo that begins with your grab. Do the first hit of Earthly Pain only. For more advanced PVP combos please check your Class Discord.
(SUCCESSION COMBO)
[A/D] + [LMB] > [A/D] + [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [Q] > [F] > [S] + [F] > [LMB] + [RMB] > [RMB]
This is a starter PVE combo. You use Pendulum Cleaver and Dismemberment to prebuff, then Salpuri Purge to DP debuff, and finally 1 kick of Pendulum Kick for your Skill Addons. Make sure to also hold to input on Cymbidium for 2 slashes, and hold LMB for Blooming Nether Flower to move through the mobs with no collision and get back attacks on them.
(SUCCESSION COMBO)
[A/D] + [LMB] > [A/D] + [RMB] > [S] + [LMB] + [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [A/D] > [F] > [S] + [F] > [LMB] + [RMB] > [RMB]
This is an alternative version of the PVE combo above, which you can use if Salpuri Purge is on cooldown.
/
(SUCCESSION COMBO)
(Quickslot: Eyes of Blood) OR [F] > [SHIFT] + [A/D] > [RMB] > [SHIFT] + [Q] > [S] + [F]
This is an example starter PVP combo starting with a knockdown from either Pendulum Kick or Eyes of Blood. You can use these two skills to try and get the knockdown CC, then cancel them with Phantom Dance and only continue the combo if the CC was successful. For more advanced combos please check your Class Discord.
/
(SUCCESSION COMBO)
[SHIFT] + [SPACE] > [RMB] > [RMB] OR [F] > [LMB] + [RMB] > [Shift] + [Q] > [S] + [F]
This is an example starter PVP combo where you engage using Nimbus Stride to try and catch your opponent out. You can use Pendulum Kick if you are close enough, or Wind Orchid if you are a little further away. For more advanced combos please check your Class Discord.
Weapons
Armor
For your armor, you will make a choice between Damage Reduction or Evasion gear. I recommend reading our guide about the two different DP stats if you want to learn what the two different stats do.
Generally, you are recommended to build Damage Reduction on Lahn, but Evasion gear is considered viable if you are at high gearscore.
Accessories
There are various different accessories in the game. At first, just focus on using the accessories that give you the highest AP in each slot.
There are also “free” accessories that all new players should get:
Tuvala Accessories
Common Starter PVX accessories:
- TET Black Distortion Earrings
- TET Basilisk’s Belt (or PEN Capotia Belt)
- TET Ring of Crescent Guardian
- TET Ogre Ring/Laytenn’s Necklace (or PEN Capotia Necklace).
PEN Tuvala Necklace
PEN Capotia Necklace
PEN Tungrad Necklace
PEN Ogre Ring
PEN Laytenn’s Necklace
PEN Capotia Ring
PEN Ring of Crescent Guardian
PEN Tungrad Ring
PEN Eye of the Ruins Ring
PEN Tuvala Belt
PEN Capotia Belt
PEN Basilisk Belt
PEN Valtarra Eclipsed Belt
PEN Tungrad Belt
PEN Tuvala Earring
PEN Capotia Earring
TET Black Distortion EarringCrystals
Below is an example starter Crystal build for PVE. Some of the crystals are expensive. You can obtain the Rebellious Crystal by completing the main story questline. For more example crystal builds, including an end-game PVE crystal build, and other PVP Crystal builds, check our Crystal Preset Guide.
Ah’krad Crystal x2
Rebellious Spirit Crystal x2
Red Battlefield Crystal: Adamantine x2
Ancient Magic Crystal of Crimson Flame – Power x2
Dark Red Fang Crystal – Valor x2
Corrupted Magic Crystal x2
- Max HP +350
- All AP +34
- All Accuracy +6
- Extra Damage to Monsters +20
- Hidden Damage Reduction -4
- Knockdown/Bound Resistance +50%
- Stun/Stiffness/Freezing Resistance +10%
- Critical Hit Level +4
- Critical Hit Damage +22%
- Skill EXP +10%
Below is an example build that focuses on human damage to maximize damage in PVP. This is a good crystal build if you are using Damage Reduction armors. If you are using Evasion armors, use the balanced Evasion crystals in our Crystal Preset guide.
Glorious Crystal of Gallantry – Olucas x2
Red Spirit Crystal x2
Crystal of Elkarr x2- Corrupted Magic Crystal x2
JIN: Magic Crystal – Viper x2
Red Battlefield Crystal: Viper x2
Red Battlefield Crystal: Carmae x2
Ancient Spirit’s Crystal – Swiftness x1
- All accuracy +70
- Ignore All Resistance +20%
- Max HP +200
- All AP +14
- Extra Damage to Humans +56
- All Damage Reduction -4
- Critical Hit Damage +22%
- Attack, Casting Speed +2%
- Attack Speed +6
- Casting Speed +4
- Critical Hit +2
- Movement Speed +2
Artifacts and Lightstones
There are a few different viable choices for both Artifacts and Lightstone combos. Lahn is the “Melee Damage” type so you want to go for Melee Accuracy and Melee Damage for offensive artifacts.
For PVE Lighstones there are a few different options to min-max. For certain spots, you may want to use Species damage combos (eg. The Wild: Demihumans, The Wild: Kamaslyvia, The Wild: Humans). Species damage combos perform better if you are reaching the monster AP caps at a certain zone.
A more generic PVE combo is listed below that is recommended for your class and will work at any spot.
You can also find more information about Artifacts and Lightstones, and how to obtain them, in our guide. We also have a list of Best in slot Artifacts and Lightstones.
Artifacts for PVE:
Marsh’s Artifact – Extra AP Against Monsters
- (Extra Damage to Monsters +6)
Lesha’s Artifact – Monster Damage Reduction
- (Monster Damage Reduction +9)
Artifacts for PVP:
Marsh’s Artifact – Melee AP
- (Melee AP +4)
Marsh’s Artifact – Melee Accuracy
- (Melee Accuracy +8)
| PVE Lightstone Combo | |
|---|---|
[Deathblow] Fire: PredationFire: PredationFire: Blade Fire: Blade |
Total Combo Effects: Monster AP +16 Critical Hit Chance +14% |
| PVP Lightstone Combo | |
|---|---|
[Target Openings]Fire: RageFire: Marked Wind: Lungs Fire: Strike |
Total Combo Effects: All AP +10 All Accuracy +16 Maximum Stamina +100 Critical Damage +6% |
Useful Links/Credits
I highly recommend checking out the Lahn Class Discord for resources about your class. The class discords always have the most up-to-date information and tons of experienced players that can help with questions or gearing advice. I would like to give a shoutout to the Moderators and Experienced Roles in the Lahn discord for all their hard work gathering resources, particularly SnakeChomp, Faded Soul, Jacked Gandalf, Jinyosun, Spaghet, Spartkle, Cupcakee, Sidina and Revive. You can find some of their own guides below. I honestly cannot recommend enough to join the discord.
Useful links to check out:
- Official Lahn Forums
- Lahn Text Guide by the Lahn Discord
- Succession Lahn PVE Guide by Vyus
- Awakening Lahn PVE Guide by JakeBersker
PVP Montage Videos:
Credits Disclaimer: Since there are now 26 BDO classes, it is impossible for me to keep class guides fully maintained. My main class is Ranger and I don’t claim to be the best in any class. Therefore, I use resources and recommendations from the Class discords since (as all other players would agree) this is the best source. I also ask for advice from friends who are more experienced in the class. Where possible, I credit specific players for information such as Add-ons, and combos. However, sometimes there is no player mentioned as the original sharer. If there are any issues with credit or you would like certain information removed/changed, please reach out to me!
