Lost Ark: Channels - what are they? Lost Ark guide, walkthrough
The following guide page describes the Channels in Lost Ark, their structure and usage.
Last update: 16 February 2022
On this page of the guide to Lost Ark you'll learn about Channels - what are they used for, how to change them and why do they matter during boss fights.
What are channels?
Channels [referred to in chat with the "ch" abbreviation, like ch19] serve as "rooms" in Lost Ark. Each server features many channels, each holding a specific number of players. You can freely switch between them, as long as they're not full (red dot by the channel name). The more the players, the more the channels.
How do I change channels?
To change your channel you must select it from the drop-down list above the minimap, in the upper-right corner of the screen. You can only join channels marked in yellow or green, and you can only switch after spending at least 30 seconds in your current channel.
Why should I change channels?
You change channels to play with different people (for example to find your friends / guild members), if the members of the current in-game chat annoy you. Most importantly, however, each channel saves the progress of the players' interactions with the world. What does that mean? This means that if you can't find a boss or a mini-boss on your channel because they were defeated recently and are therefore respawning, on other channels this boss could've been defeated a long time ago, which means they'll respawn very soon. Your character stays in the same place after changing channels. It doesn't cost you anything either.
Players often inform each other in chat when a boss appears in a specific channel - if the channel's not full and you're up to the challenge, it's a good idea to switch to it.