Century: Age of Ashes: Complete Guide

A player's guide to Century: Age of Ashes, the free-to-play dragon combat game: how flying and fighting work, every rider class, the game modes and current rotating events, the maps, and how to climb from rookie to legendary Dragoneer.

Researched September 2026. Current as of the Infernal Chase event (24 September to 4 October 2026). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

1. It's free, and purchases are cosmetic only. Skins and packs don't change stats. Wins come from skill and teamwork.
2. Your two core attacks are fireballs and fire breath. Fireballs are your ranged projectile. Fire breath (the flamethrower) is a short-range stream for finishing fights. Learn to lead your fireballs.
3. Pick a class that matches your role. Windguard supports and shields, Marauder tracks and destroys, Phantom stealths and traps, Stormraiser rushes with thunder, Thornweaver traps with vines, and Rimeblood (added in Season 3) controls with ice.
4. Every class has a kit of Passive, Power, Ability and Rage. Rage is the big one. Build it up and pop it at a decisive moment.
5. Grab pickups. Wind Blessings and Shields are scattered around maps and win fights.
6. Never fly in a straight line under fire. Dodge, turn and use terrain. Canyons, arches and ruins block shots.
7. Stick with your team. 6v6 and 3v3 modes reward focus fire. Lone dragons get hunted.
8. Play the current event. Playwing rotates limited-time modes almost every few weeks, often with exclusive rewards.
9. Try Outbreak (PvE) to learn. It's a low-pressure way to practise aiming and abilities.

Platforms and Business Model

• Released in Early Access on PC on 2 December 2021, then on Xbox Series X/S (March 2022), Xbox One (July 2022), PlayStation (September 2022), and iOS and Android (June 2023).
• Crossplay is supported.
• Free-to-play with cosmetic-only purchases. Steam lists 17 cosmetic DLC packs.
• There's a premium currency bought with real money plus soft currencies earned by playing (check the in-game Shop for current names and rates). Spend premium currency only on cosmetics you actually want.
• Progression: a seasonal Dragon Pass, plus the free Dragoneer's Advent track (launched 15 April 2025, with 50 levels of free rewards).

Combat Fundamentals

Attacks

Movement

• Speed boosts (and pickups like Wind Blessings) let you engage or escape.
• Evasive manoeuvres make you harder to hit. Use them when you see a fireball incoming or when you're being chased.
• Altitude is a tactical choice. Diving gains speed. Terrain breaks line of sight.
• Tight turns at speed let you swing around behind a chaser.

Controls differ between keyboard and mouse, controller and mobile, so check the in-game controls menu to see which button does what on your platform. Rebind evasive moves to something you can hit instantly.

Pickups

• Wind Blessings: speed and movement boosts.
• Shields: absorb damage.
• In some event modes (for example Kingslayer), the King can't use pickups.

Rider Classes

Choosing a class

• New players: Marauder is straightforward damage. Windguard teaches team play.
• Objective modes: Phantom for Gates of Fire flag carries. Thornweaver or Rimeblood to slow carriers.
• Deathmatch (Carnage): Marauder and Stormraiser for picks. Windguard to keep teammates alive.
• Survival (FFA): Classes with escape tools and self-sustain.

Game Modes

2026 event calendar so far

Events usually come with exclusive cosmetics and rewards, so check the in-game event tab.

Maps

Maps referenced in official posts include Hunavatn Lake, Aldrün Sanctuary, Sarghildian Creek, Valkürian Sanctuary (and its Lunar variant Thousand Lights Sanctuary), Eilean Càirn, SnaerFell Rift, Morag Marshlands and Titan's Alley.

Map tips:

• Learn pickup locations. Shields and Wind Blessings respawn.
• Use canyons and ruins to break line of sight.
• Know the gate routes in Gates of Fire and the nest approaches in Spoils of War.

Mode Strategy

Gates of Fire (and the Infernal Chase event)

• The flag carrier is the win condition. Protect yours and hunt theirs.
• Phantoms and fast classes make good carriers.
• Slow the enemy carrier with Thornweaver or Rimeblood.
• Chain gates to rack up points before escorts arrive.

Spoils of War

• Kill the gold carriers (NPCs), then bank the gold at your nest.
• Guard your nest. Losing gold to raids swings games.
• In Plunder, carriers don't respawn, so the game becomes raiding the enemy.

Carnage

• Focus fire. Two dragons on one target wins trades.
• Grab power-ups and deny them to enemies.

Outbreak

• Defend towers together. Split only when waves split.
• Save Rage for big waves or bosses like the Parasite Queen in The Last Bastion.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Flying straight. You're an easy target.
• Ignoring pickups. Shields and Wind Blessings win trades.
• Solo diving into multiple enemies.
• Using Rage too early. Save it for team fights.
• Picking the wrong class for the mode.
• Buying cosmetics expecting power. They're purely cosmetic.
• Skipping events. They give free rewards.

Advanced Tips

• Lead fireballs. Aim where the dragon will be.
• Bait with terrain. Chasers crash into obstacles or lose line of sight.
• Coordinate Rage. Two Rages at once wins fights.
• Use fire breath to finish. It's strong up close.
• Watch the kill feed and scoreboard for who's fed and needs focus.
• Communicate with your team via pings and chat.
• Practise in Outbreak and custom games.

FAQ

Is Century: Age of Ashes free? Yes. It's free-to-play with cosmetic-only purchases.

Is it crossplay? Yes, across supported platforms.

What's the best class? It depends on the mode and team. Marauder for damage, Windguard for support, Phantom for objectives, Thornweaver or Rimeblood for control.

What's the current event? Infernal Chase (24 September to 4 October 2026): Gates of Fire in 4v4 battles.

Is there PvE? Yes. Outbreak, and The Last Bastion as an event variant.

Does it have a battle pass? Yes, seasonal Dragon Passes, plus the free Dragoneer's Advent track.

Is Century on mobile? Yes. iOS and Android versions launched in June 2023.

Sources

• Century: Age of Ashes on Steam
• Century: Age of Ashes Steam news (events, patch notes, class changes)
• Century: Age of Ashes on Wikipedia