Last updated: 2026-07-10.

This Echoes of Aincrad walkthrough covers the known main story quest order for the first two tower floors, plus the key systems you should understand before progressing: difficulty settings, quest rewards, Cardinal Rank increases, Death Game mode, and when character customization unlocks.

Quick answer

Echoes of Aincrad is an action RPG set in the world of Sword Art Online. The main story begins in a closed beta phase, sends you through the First Floor questline, and then continues into the Second Floor. Most main quests reward a small amount of experience and money, with Normal difficulty commonly giving 100 Exp, though exact rewards can vary slightly by difficulty.

Some quests also increase your Cardinal Rank, which affects the world by scaling enemy levels, changing loot drops, and more.

Echoes of Aincrad walkthrough quest order

The known main story quests are split between the First Floor and Second Floor. Rewards for individual quests are not fully listed here because the available reference only confirms that most quests give small amounts of experience and money, and that some quests raise Cardinal Rank.

First Floor main quests

Second Floor main quests

More quests may be added later. As of the latest available walkthrough information, the list ends at The Diva I with more content noted as coming soon.

How quest rewards work

Most Echoes of Aincrad main quests appear to reward:

• A small amount of experience
• A small amount of money
• Occasionally, a Cardinal Rank increase

The experience reward changes slightly depending on your difficulty. On Normal difficulty, most quests commonly give 100 Exp, but exact rewards are not fully listed for every quest.

What Cardinal Rank does

Some main story quests increase your Cardinal Rank. When that happens, it changes the world in several ways, including:

• Scaling enemy levels upward
• Changing loot drops
• Affecting other world behavior

Because Cardinal Rank can make enemies stronger, it is worth checking your gear, difficulty, and comfort level after major story milestones.

Understanding the difficulty options

Echoes of Aincrad has four standard difficulty options. Your choice affects combat challenge, loot, and experience, although the increase in quest experience is described as minor.

After reaching the Town of Beginnings, you can change your difficulty whenever you are inside a town.

Standard mode vs. Death Game mode

Death Game mode is a separate setting that works on top of your selected difficulty, but it has special conditions.

You can choose Death Game mode after either:

• Beating Echoes of Aincrad, or
• Buying a special edition that unlocks it earlier

The Digital Edition and Ultimate Edition allow Death Game mode shortly after finishing the Prologue. However, choosing it requires starting a new save. The game lets you skip the tutorial so you can return to where you were more quickly.

Important: You can change standard difficulty in town after reaching the Town of Beginnings, but you cannot freely swap between Standard mode and Death Game mode. That choice is locked once selected.

When character customization unlocks

Echoes of Aincrad starts you with a default character. You must use this character during the closed beta phase.

Character customization becomes available after you complete:

• The Violet Fencer II

After that quest, you can create and customize your own character for the official in-game launch. The game still keeps you on the default character for a little while after customization, but that is part of the story.

Suggested progression tips

Because the available quest details are still limited, the safest way to progress is to treat the main quest list as your route and use each town visit as a reset point.

Before moving deeper into the story:

• Check whether your difficulty still feels right.
• Remember that harder difficulties offer tougher enemies, better loot drops, and more experience.
• Watch for Cardinal Rank increases, because they can scale enemy levels.
• Do not worry if you are still using the default character before The Violet Fencer II.
• Expect most main quest rewards to be modest unless a quest specifically increases Cardinal Rank.

FAQ

What is the main Echoes of Aincrad walkthrough order?

The known order starts with Prologue, then Iori's Request, Within the Shadows, The Violet Fencer I, The Violet Fencer II, and continues through the First Floor into the Second Floor. The current known Second Floor list ends with The Diva I.

How many floors does the walkthrough cover?

The available walkthrough information covers main story quests for the first two tower floors.

Can I change difficulty later?

Yes. After reaching the Town of Beginnings, you can change difficulty whenever you are inside a town.

Which difficulty should I choose?

Choose Story if you mainly want the narrative, Normal for a balanced experience, Hard for more challenge, and Very Hard if you are confident in combat. Harder settings provide tougher enemies, better loot drops, and more experience, though the quest experience increase is minor.

When do I unlock character creation?

Character customization unlocks after completing The Violet Fencer II. You will still use the default character for a little while afterward due to the story.

What does Cardinal Rank affect?

Cardinal Rank affects the world by scaling enemy levels, changing loot drops, and more.

Is Death Game mode available from the start?

Not normally. Death Game mode unlocks after beating Echoes of Aincrad, or earlier if you have a special edition. The Digital Edition and Ultimate Edition allow it shortly after the Prologue, but starting Death Game mode requires a new save.

Update note

Details can change after updates. If a code, price, event, stock item, ability, schedule, or feature behaves differently, treat the newest official or in-context source as the current version.