Awakening questions

[Suzaku]

I've been reading a lot about this game, and I'm about to dive in, but I'm still uncertain about a couple things regarding awakening.

1. When does this happen?
   
2. Is this something that happens automatically?
   
3. If not, will I be worse off for refusing to do it?
   
4. I hear it can change combat styles dramatically. Specifically, I saw a video that looked like the Ranger goes full melee-style. What if I enjoy bow-based gameplay?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

[Ex Azaleane]

1) You need to reach level 56 to get the Awakening Questline
2) You will need to complete a series of quests
3) Yes, awakening your class will give you a HUGE boost
4) When awakened, you can still use your old playstyle/abilities. You will be able to equip your usual Bow as well as your awakened weapon and you'll get an ability to switch between the two weapon sets at will.

[Vamathi]

Originally posted by Suzaku:

I've been reading a lot about this game, and I'm about to dive in, but I'm still uncertain about a couple things regarding awakening.

1. When does this happen?
   
2. Is this something that happens automatically?
   
3. If not, will I be worse off for refusing to do it?
   
4. I hear it can change combat styles dramatically. Specifically, I saw a video that looked like the Ranger goes full melee-style. What if I enjoy bow-based gameplay?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

1. Lvl 56
2. No, you need to do a chain of quests and than you can equip awakening weapon, there will be an extra slot for it and you dont need to use it - you basically just change your stance
3. Yes, at the moment all the awakening skills are much stronger than non-awaken
4. Unfortunately there is not much you can do at the moment other than wait for them to FINALLY finish "second awakening" - the revamp of the old skills.

[Lighthalzen]

1. At Level 56. You will get a quest from your Black Spirit to begin the awakening process.

2. No, you will need to do the awakening quest chain.

3. Yes. your class will be substantially stronger after awakening.

4. Yes it does change combat style dramaticallly. Its unfortunate a lot of classes are affected in a way by their own awakenings. Except for witch. she still range-magic-ish.

[Suzaku]

Thank you for your responses. My largest concern was not being able to continue the playstyle I enjoyed if the awakening style didn't fit me, but it sounds like the "second awakening" might solve that.

All of that is far away, though. I've yet to even make a character. I just want to make sure my archer isn't suddenly forced into a rogue, or my sword-n-board tank suddenly becomes a claymore-wielding dps.

[Ex Azaleane]

Originally posted by Suzaku:

Thank you for your responses. My largest concern was not being able to continue the playstyle I enjoyed if the awakening style didn't fit me, but it sounds like the "second awakening" might solve that.

All of that is far away, though. I've yet to even make a character. I just want to make sure my archer isn't suddenly forced into a rogue, or my sword-n-board tank suddenly becomes a claymore-wielding dps.

If you're new to Black Desert Online, reaching level 56 might take you quite a while though, regardless of how fast you'll expect it to go while leveling to 50.
At some points the XP needed to level up will change DRASTICALLY.
From personal experience this was on level 52'ish and once you hit level 56 it will really take a while to level up.

[Suzaku]

Yeah, I figured it would take a while. I just wanted to be certain that my class choice wouldn't end up a mistake dozens or hundreds of hours down the road.

Whatever countless short-term goals I'll achieve along the way will be found and met as the hours pass, but it never hurts to have a clear view of an end goal.

[6footgeek]

everyone has more or less adressed it, ill just advise that when you look into the class, look into its awakening as thats the one you will use most.

[Suzaku]

I'm planning for Valkyrie and Witch as my first two characters. They seem to change the least from what I've seen, and I always enjoy a tanky-tank and priest-ish characters.

[Ex Azaleane]

Originally posted by Suzaku:

I'm planning for Valkyrie and Witch as my first two characters. They seem to change the least from what I've seen, and I always enjoy a tanky-tank and priest-ish characters.

Witch was my first class on the non-steam version and I can tell you it's a great one to start with.
You will blast through the PVE content like it's nothing due to your high AOE damage and your awakening is hella strong.

The Valkyrie never really got me hooked on it though.

[muprocalle]

Quest is found on black spirit after getting to 56 under "suggestions".
Reach lv 56,
summon black spirit,
choose quests, tab "suggestions" and there IT is Sorceress awakening:Great sorceress.