Lineage 2M has dropped another major update, and it's already shaking up the meta. Each class now gets two brand-new epic (red) skillbooks-one passive skill sold through merchants, and one active skill obtained as rare boss drops. This addition not only increases build variety but also enhances the endgame progression for every class.

In this article, we'll break down the new skills for all six core classes: L2M Diamonds

Warrior (Sword), Dual Blade, Assassin, Archer, Orb, and Mage. We'll look at what each new passive and active does, where you can obtain them, and how they might impact PvE and PvP balance moving forward.

Understanding the Epic Skillbook System

Epic (red) skills are some of the most valuable tools in Lineage 2M. Unlike regular skills, these books permanently unlock abilities that can drastically improve your class performance.

 Passive Skillbook: Purchased from the NPC merchant in Orange City. These cost a hefty amount of Adena (around 54 million in-game currency) but offer permanent buffs.

 Active Skillbook: Obtained as rare drops from world bosses, raid bosses, or high-floor dungeon bosses. These skills often redefine class roles and add powerful mechanics for PvE and PvP.

Because these books are so expensive or rare, making the right choice is critical. Let's explore what each class gets.

Warrior (Sword Class)

Passive Skill-Grand Sword Mastery

 Increases Double Chance by +10%

 Boosts all damage by +5%

This is a solid buff for a class that historically hasn't received many damage-enhancing passives. The added Double Chance gives Sword users more reliable burst potential, while the universal damage increase scales well in both PvE grinding and PvP duels.

Active Skill-Retribution

 Swings the shield to deal AoE damage

 Reduces enemy stone resistance and evasion

 Affects up to 5 targets

Obtained from Boss Katan (Tower 6F), Retribution turns Sword Warriors into reliable area disablers. It's especially strong in PvP group fights, where reducing evasion makes targets vulnerable to follow-up attacks.

Verdict: Warrior players finally get meaningful upgrades. Retribution in particular gives Sword builds a crowd-control edge in mass PvP.

Dual Blade

Passive Skill-Grand Dual Mastery

 On critical hits, recover 1 MP (fixed chance)

 Increases melee accuracy by +5

Final Thoughts: Meta Impact of Orange Patch

The Orange Patch reshapes Lineage 2M in significant ways:

 Mages rise to the top, thanks to range buffs and self-sustain skills.

 Assassins and Dual Blades gain powerful offensive tools, cementing their role as burst DPS classes.

 Warriors finally get meaningful AoE and damage upgrades, making them less reliant on support.

 Archers feel slightly underwhelming in passives but benefit from Multi-Shot's PvP utility Lineage 2M Diamonds.

 Orbs gain more survivability and surprising damage potential, giving them hybrid roles in PvP.

If you're deciding where to invest next, Mage and Assassin stand out as the strongest classes in this patch. However, every class benefits from the epic skillbooks, making this one of the most balanced and exciting updates yet.