Guild Wars 2’s latest update, “The Realm of Dreams,” is now available, marking the second major update in the Secrets of the Obscure series. This update introduces players to new storylines, challenges, and a broad array of content, enriching the game’s expansive world.

Update Highlights:

• Narrative Expansion: The update continues the game’s narrative with three new story chapters, following the fall of Heitor’s barrier. Players will navigate new developments as Peitha’s forces venture into Nayos, facing unforeseen dangers and forging critical alliances.
• New Features and Rewards: Players can explore a variety of new content including a new weapon proficiency for each profession, Tier one Obsidian legendary armor (with an upgrade path available in the upcoming update), and the Wizard’s Vault seasonal refresh offering new cosmetic items.
• Enhanced Gameplay Areas: The Inner Nayos zone has been expanded, alongside the addition of the Temple of Febe Strike Mission and two new legendary Convergences bosses, providing new challenges and exploration opportunities.
• Companion and Achievements: A new ranger pet, the Sky-Chak Striker, is introduced, along with numerous achievements and rewards, encouraging players to delve deeper into the game.

“The Realm of Dreams” is included for all players who own the Secrets of the Obscure expansion, ensuring that the new content is accessible to the game’s broad player base. The Guild Wars 2 Team has also released key art wallpaper for “The Realm of Dreams,”

The Guild Wars 2 team has announced a new update titled “The Realm of Dreams,” scheduled for release on February 27, 2024. This update is part of the “Secrets of the Obscure” expansion, representing the second installment in a series of three updates aimed at delivering the expansion’s full narrative.

Expansion of the Narrative in Nayos

With “The Realm of Dreams,” players will explore further into the story set within the world of Nayos and its Kryptis society. This continues the narrative from “Through the Veil,” offering three new story chapters that delve deeper into the game’s lore and environment.

Features and Additions

The upcoming update introduces several new features and additions for players, including:

• New weapon proficiencies across all nine professions
• The introduction of the tier-one Obsidian legendary armor set and legendary relic
• A new challenge mode in the Temple of Febe Strike Mission
• Expansion of Astral Ward Masteries
• The addition of two new Convergences bosses and the sky-chak striker ranger pet

The update also plans to refresh the Wizard’s Vault rewards and adjust daily and weekly objectives based on player feedback, aiming to enhance the gaming experience.

Future Updates

Further updates are scheduled, including a Systems Update on March 19, offering enhanced postprocessing graphics options and a Skills and Balance Update to refine gameplay for various builds. Additional expansions to Player vs. Player and World vs. World achievements will introduce new titles and rewards for high-level accomplishments.

The update will also see adjustments in World vs. World mode, particularly in the strategy and engagement with castle, keep, and tower lords, enhancing the tactical depth of sieges.

Return of the Super Adventure Box

On April 16, the Super Adventure Box event will return, bringing with it updated rewards and new content for players to explore, continuing the tradition of retro-inspired gaming within Guild Wars 2.

The final quarterly update for the “Secrets of the Obscure” is anticipated in the coming months, promising the conclusion of the current story arc, new challenges, and additional content. This sets the stage for the announcement and launch of the next expansion, indicating a year full of developments and new content for Guild Wars 2.

In a recent update from ArenaNet, Taylor Brooks, a combat designer for Guild Wars 2, shared insights and upcoming changes to the game’s new weapon proficiencies introduced in the “Secrets of the Obscure” expansion. The feedback, gathered from a beta event held in November, has been instrumental in refining the weapons before their official launch.

Ranger, Thief, and Warrior Adjustments

Rangers found the mace to be a versatile addition, leading to enhancements such as a heal-over-time effect for pets and improved skills for supportive play. Thieves with axes will see improved projectile logic and velocity, enhancing their effectiveness in both PvE and competitive modes. Warriors wielding staves will benefit from changes making skills more intuitive and boosting adrenaline gain for support-focused playstyles.

Revenant, Mesmer, and Elementalist Enhancements

Revenants will see the scepter becoming more user-friendly, with a shift away from charging skills through autoattacks to a more straightforward approach. Mesmers’ rifles will receive tweaks to reduce casting times and enhance the utility of Phantasmal Sharpshooters. Elementalists wielding pistols will enjoy more varied animations and faster casting times, with an emphasis on fluid gameplay.

Guardian, Necromancer, and Engineer Weapon Revisions

Guardians with dual pistols will notice faster charging and detonation times for Jurisdiction, aiming for smoother gameplay. Necromancers will benefit from increased power coefficients and refined skill animations for swords. Engineers, however, faced the most significant feedback for the short bow, prompting a comprehensive overhaul to improve support capabilities and introduce new mechanics for skill augmentation.

Community Engagement and Future Plans

The Guild Wars 2 team is committed to engaging with the community, as evidenced by the detailed feedback and subsequent adjustments. The upcoming livestream on February 16 will provide a deeper dive into these changes and a preview of the March balance update.

As “Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure” prepares to expand the arsenal for its nine professions, the adjustments based on player feedback highlight ArenaNet’s dedication to a balanced and enjoyable gameplay experience. Players are encouraged to tune into the livestream for full details and to prepare for the new challenges and strategies these weapon changes will introduce.

The Guild Wars 2 Team has officially launched their annual Wintersday festival, bringing joy and festivity to the world of Tyria. The event, live until January 2, invites players of all levels to partake in a variety of winter-themed activities and earn seasonal rewards.

Wintersday Rewards and Activities

The event is rich with opportunities for players to earn unique Wintersday Gifts, containing holiday treats and surprises. The festival currency includes snowflakes, snow diamonds, and karma, which can be exchanged for minis, Wintersday-themed guild hall decorations, recipes, tonics, and more. A highlight is the adorable new Mini Plush Cuckoo.

Players completing Wintersday achievements will be rewarded with weapons from the Sacred Solstice collection and a Winter Fur Shoulders skin. Additionally, Ornamented weapons (staff, shield, and focus) are available either by opening Wintersday gifts or purchasing from a vendor. More details on these achievements and rewards can be found in the Hero panel under the Daily and Festivals categories.

Where to Join the Festivities

The hub for all Wintersday festivities is Divinity’s Reach. Players can use an Invitation to Wintersday from Tixx to instantly travel to the hub, with portals also available in Lion’s Arch, the Black Citadel, Hoelbrak, Rata Sum, and the Grove.

Engaging Activities for All

• Bell Choir Ensemble: Join the Bell Maestro in Divinity’s Reach to play a rhythm game within the Enchanted Snow Globe, earning karma and Wintersday Gifts.
• Donation Drive: Purchase Rolls of Wrapping Paper, create Wrapped Gifts, and distribute them to orphans throughout Divinity’s Reach for karma.
• Mount Racing: Race around Divinity’s Reach using rented raptors.
• Snowball Mayhem: Engage in a capture-the-flag-style game with snow-themed skills.
• Strike Mission: Secret Lair of the Snowmen: Available to level 80 players, this mission challenges players to mend Freezie’s frozen heart.
• Tixx’s Infinirarium: Help Toymaker Tixx in his airship workshop, accessible to players of any level.
• Toypocalypse: Defend gift dolyaks in a tower-defense-style game, suitable for all levels.
• Winter Wonderland: A holiday-themed jumping puzzle available for players of any level.

Scavenger Hunt and Mysterious Presents

Orphan Laine has sent out a letter inviting players to participate in a scavenger hunt. Additionally, massive Mysterious Presents will appear in Central Tyria maps, exploding when unwrapped to reveal Wintersday Gifts.

Guild Wars 2 fans have an exciting opportunity to preview an expanded weapon proficiency feature, scheduled for release early next year. The beta event, which began today, introduces new weapons and skills for each of the nine professions in the game. This update is a part of the forthcoming “Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure” expansion.

Players can participate in the beta by using any of the nine professions to explore the open world or join group play modes. Notably, beta characters and progress will not be preserved post-event. The game’s creators encourage feedback on the beta experience through profession-specific forum threads.

The beta features a variety of new weapons for the professions. Guardians can now wield pistols, Revenants have access to scepters, Warriors can use staffs, Engineers get short bows, Rangers can handle maces, Thieves are equipped with axes, Elementalists have pistols, Mesmers can use rifles, and Necromancers can brandish swords. This broadens the combat strategies and gameplay dynamics, offering players a fresh experience.

This beta event runs until December 3, promising to be an essential testing ground for balancing and fine-tuning the game ahead of next year’s major update​.

Guild Wars 2 is set to revolutionize gameplay for necromancer characters with the introduction of sword proficiency, as announced by Taylor Brooks, a designer on the Skills and Balance Team at ArenaNet. This exciting development is part of the 2024 update for “Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure™,” which will bring new weapons and skills for each profession.

Necromancers to Embrace the Sword

The update will allow necromancers to harness the power of the sword, focusing on dealing potent strike damage and absorbing vital energy from enemies. Key abilities include:

• Path of Gluttony: A main-hand sword skill enabling necromancers to leap to their enemies, healing for each one hit.
• Hungering Maelstrom: An off-hand sword skill that damages and steals health from enemies in a targeted area.

These skills come with a twist: each has a secondary ability activated by sacrificing health. This feature reinforces the necromancers’ thematic connection to life and death, offering a tantalizing risk-reward balance for players.

Beta Event and Live Stream Preview

Players will get a firsthand look at these changes during the Expanded Weapon Proficiency beta event, beginning November 28 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC-8) and concluding on December 3. This beta event is not just limited to necromancers but will include new weapon and skill combinations for all professions.

Guild Wars 2 fans are also invited to the Expanded Weapon Proficiency preview livestream on November 27 at noon Pacific Time (UTC-8) for a more detailed exploration of these upcoming features. The beta test will include placeholder UI, art, and audio assets for some weapon skills, giving players a sneak peek into the development process.

As Guild Wars 2 continues to evolve, this update promises to offer a fresh and dynamic experience for necromancer players, blending traditional magic with the new art of swordplay. The question remains: will players master the delicate balance of power and self-preservation? The adventure into the unknown begins soon in “Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure™.”

Today marks a momentous occasion for the Guild Wars 2 community, as ArenaNet officially releases its latest expansion, Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure. Originally announced at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7), this eagerly awaited chapter introduces fans to a Tyria free from the looming threat of the Elder Dragons.

The new expansion promises a rich tapestry of experiences. Players will reunite with old allies and forge new friendships while fending off the enigmatic Kryptis forces from the Mists. Notably, Secrets of the Obscure unveils an innovative Weaponmaster Training, alongside a relic system, enhancing build combinations for players. Adventurers can expect to navigate the skies of Tyria with an emphasis on aerial exploration across two fresh zones. The process of obtaining the skyscale mount has also been refined, complemented by the addition of Flight Training Masteries. On the combat front, the expansion offers two novel Strike Missions for players to engage in heart-pounding battles.

ArenaNet conveys palpable excitement about the expansion, especially as it heralds a novel approach to content delivery. Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure is structured to unfold over the next three major releases, approximately one each quarter. This roadmap includes system updates, further rewards, new weapon capabilities, and additional instanced combat encounters. ArenaNet’s ambition is clear: to maintain a steady flow of compelling content, ensuring players always have something to look forward to. This model has already influenced the development strategy for their fifth expansion, slated for a release next year.

A snapshot of the expansion’s rollout includes:

• Story: Beginning with the launch story arc, and progressing through three updates culminating in the story’s conclusion.
• Maps: Introducing Skywatch Archipelago, Amnytas, and Outpost: Wizard’s Tower, with further map expansions and completions in subsequent updates.
• Combat: The debut of Strike: Cosmic Observatory and Strike: Temple of Febe, with more instanced combats on the horizon.
• Masteries and More: Weaponmaster Training, a range of new armor sets, relics, and the innovative Wizard’s Vault are among the many features players can dive into.

As the game approaches its 11th anniversary on August 28th, the team expresses heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated Guild Wars 2 community. In-game commemorations include character-specific birthday presents and exclusive sales from the Black Lion Trading Company. Moreover, fans are invited to join a grand celebration at the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, WA, on September 1st.

Adding to the festivities, ArenaNet recently showcased their new Guild Wars 2 merchandise line. The standout is the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure Collectible Bundle, highlighted by the Shadow of Nayos Statue – an exquisite representation of the Kryptis royalty central to the expansion’s narrative.

Wrapping up the Summer/Fall roadmap, players can anticipate a skills and balance overhaul, the fan-favorite Halloween festival, updates to the World vs. World gameplay, and a series of bonus events reminiscent of those introduced post-Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons. The year promises to end with a bang as more content from Secrets of the Obscure is scheduled to drop, accompanied by a weapon proficiency beta-event.

Guild Wars 2 is gearing up to introduce the mystical “Wizard’s Vault”, a novel reward system set to be a part of the forthcoming expansion, “Secrets of the Obscure”. Launching on August 22, this addition aims to guide players towards various in-game content while bestowing upon them unique rewards.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Wizards

The wizards, enigmatic entities in the land of Tyria, will soon beckon players on an exhilarating adventure. These arcane experts have accumulated a vast collection of treasures over the years. Adventurous players can now earn “astral acclaim” by undertaking certain tasks, which can then be exchanged for rewards from the Wizards’ vault, regardless of their physical proximity to the wizards’ celestial abodes.

The Mechanics of the Wizard’s Vault

Designed to be player-centric, the Wizard’s Vault offers:

• Reward Choice: Instead of predetermined items tied to specific progression tiers, players can select their desired rewards using the astral acclaim they earn.
• Reward Longevity: While rewards rotate every few months, cosmetic items remain available for purchase even after they’re no longer featured, providing flexibility for players to acquire them later, albeit at a higher cost.
• No Premium Tiers: Astral acclaim cannot be purchased with gems or real money, ensuring a level playing field for all.

Enchanting Cosmetic Rewards

Among the first batch of exclusive rewards is the majestic “Enchanted Owl Griffon Skin”. Players can also look forward to a new weapon skin collection, three distinctive armor pieces, in-game currencies, and crafting elements. Notably, legendary starter kits are making their debut, offering players a streamlined entry point into the legendary crafting system.

Guided Gameplay

The Wizard’s Vault, beyond its rewarding nature, is crafted to provide players with gameplay direction. With daily, weekly, and special objectives spanning PvE, WvW, and PvP modes, players are presented with a rich array of challenges. The system replaces existing daily login rewards and specific daily achievements but maintains other achievement categories.

Universal Access with a Catch

The Wizard’s Vault interface will be accessible to all players’ characters once one character reaches level 80. However, for those without the “Secrets of the Obscure” expansion, certain rewards will remain locked, and access to the in-game location of the Wizard’s Vault will be restricted.

Guild Wars 2 continues its tradition of evolving gameplay and enriching content with the impending “Secrets of the Obscure” expansion. Players are encouraged to prepurchase the expansion, ensuring they’re primed to dive into the new content upon its release.

The Guild Wars 2 development team has just unveiled some exciting details about an upcoming feature in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure. This new feature, known as ‘relics’, is set to provide players with enhanced opportunities to customize their characters’ combat abilities.

Rethinking the Rune System

The Guild Wars 2 team had earlier this year outlined its intention to revamp and improve the game’s core systems. Among the identified areas for improvement was the rune system, which was seen as needing a refresh. In the game’s current state, rune sets offer attribute increases and a special bonus effect for a complete set of six. Some runes were rarely selected due to the stats they provided, causing some intriguing bonus effects to be underutilized.

In the upcoming expansion, set for release on August 22, rune sets will continue to provide the same attribute bonuses. However, players will be able to choose a special combat effect by adding a new equipment type, a relic, to its dedicated slot. This change will separate the attribute choices from the bonus effects, resulting in greater flexibility and control in build customization.

Introducing Core and Expansion Relics

Upon the release of Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, the game will feature forty core relics and twelve expansion relics. The core relics, inspired by the current rune sets, will be available to all players, irrespective of expansion ownership. More core relics will be added over time as part of the team’s ongoing commitment to improving the game’s core features.

Characters of level 60 or above will receive a relic chest at the expansion launch, providing a choice of three core relics. These additional core relics can be crafted and shared between players.

Expansion relics, on the other hand, will be available only to those with the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure expansion. While they are not more powerful than core relics, expansion relics will offer more complex and thrilling effects, which will be tied closely to the expansion’s narrative. Players can obtain these through collections, achievements, or story progression.

Future Enhancements: Legendary Runes and Relics

The upcoming changes will impact the functionality of legendary runes, with some of their functionality moving to the new relic slot. While these runes will no longer feature six-tier bonus effects, they will retain their attribute-swapping flexibility.

The developers also plan to introduce legendary relics during one of the 2024 quarterly releases. These will offer the convenience of freely swapping between various relic effects. For players who have already crafted legendary runes, they will be given substantial progress towards unlocking these legendary relics.

A New Era of Customization

The introduction of relics to Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will add virtually endless possibilities for character build customization. As the launch date of August 22 draws closer, players will be eagerly awaiting the opportunity to explore this new feature, along with other updates promised in this expansion. With each profession gaining access to additional weapon combinations and the new relic system, the game’s combat dynamics are poised for a thrilling transformation.

Following yesterday’s reveal of the upcoming expansion, Guild Wars 2: Secret of the Obscure™, the team has shared detailed information about the Weaponmaster Training beta event. The beta will run from Thursday, June 29, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 2. The event is open to everyone, including Play-for-Free accounts, with no prepurchase necessary.

Weaponmaster Training is a unique feature in the Secret of the Obscure expansion that enhances combat options for each profession by granting elite specialization weapon proficiency. This feature provides players access to each elite specialization weapon, regardless of whether the corresponding elite specialization is equipped or even trained. The team aims to lift constraints and provide an array of playstyle customization options while maintaining the distinctive Guild Wars 2 combat experience.

Beta participants will enjoy automatic access to each elite specialization weapon for their profession, providing opportunities for innovative gameplay. Players are encouraged to experiment with different weapons, such as using a sword as a catalyst or playing a dagger-wielding mirage.

Every Guild Wars 2 account in good standing will automatically receive character slots marked “Beta” at the start of the event. These slots allow players to create a character from any of the nine Guild Wars 2 professions, unlocking the world of Weaponmaster Training. Players can delve into the open world or try a game mode dedicated to group play.

Participants are asked to note that the beta characters will disappear at the end of the event, and any progress earned on them will not be saved. However, the team has created threads in each profession’s subforum to gather feedback from the beta, providing a platform for players to share their thoughts on the event.

In the coming weeks, the team will share more about the next WvW World Restructuring beta and further deep dives into Guild Wars 2: Secret of the Obscure features. The much-anticipated expansion is set to launch on August 22, introducing weaponmaster training, streamlined runes, a new relic system, a brand-new story, and much more.

Those who have not yet locked in their prepurchase rewards are encouraged to visit the Guild Wars 2 store page to purchase a copy of the expansion and claim their exclusive Demon Hunter title for use during the upcoming beta event.

The Guild Wars 2 Team has announced a new expansion, “Secrets of the Obscure,” which is set to launch on August 22, 2023, inviting players to a whole new chapter in the world of Tyria.

Promising to take players to new heights, the expansion will feature maps in the skies above Tyria and offer challenging combat scenarios against invaders from the Mists. Alongside this, new combat options will also be available for players to master, further enhancing the gaming experience. The team also revealed plans for major releases every few months following the launch, expanding the story, features, and introducing new rewards.

Prepurchase for “Secrets of the Obscure” is already available via the official Guild Wars 2 web store, in-game store, Steam, and other official retailers. Pre-purchasers will receive three exclusive rewards: the Demon Hunter title, the Arcane Spellweaver’s Hat Skin, and an Eagle Eye weapon skin of their choice. These will be available in the game as soon as players apply the “Secrets of the Obscure” registration code to their account.

To give fans a glimpse of what’s to come, Guild Wars 2 will host a combat beta weekend from June 29 to July 2, where players can sample some of the new gameplay features. The launch of the expansion on August 22, at approximately 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, will open up the first arc of the new epic story and two new maps. The game’s developers also indicated that additional content will be released roughly every quarter following the expansion, offering more chapters to the story, new maps, and additional features.

Fans and players eager to delve into the details of the “Secrets of the Obscure” can visit the official Guild Wars 2 website where additional information about the expansion’s combat systems, storyline, and rewards is provided. To keep up with the latest news and announcements, players are also encouraged to subscribe to the Guild Wars 2 newsletter and official blog.

The upcoming “Secrets of the Obscure” expansion marks another exciting chapter in the Guild Wars 2 universe, giving fans and players even more content and thrilling experiences to look forward to in the world of Tyria.

In a recent update from the Guild Wars 2 Team, exciting new changes are coming for players in the World vs. World (WvW) game mode, including rewards updates, enhanced kill credit for those in support roles, and a new beta event focused on world restructuring. The announcement also brought news about the new Mistwalker Infusion and the Officer’s Remnant weapons.

Starting on June 9, Guild Wars 2 will launch the next beta event of its world restructuring initiative aimed at improving player population balance and fostering engaging, shifting match-ups each week. The restructuring will determine teams based on players’ chosen WvW guild, rather than relying on the existing server structure.

During this beta event, running until June 23, players can be matched with a guild of their choosing, provided they select a guild prior to the event. Players who do not align with a guild before the event may find themselves matchmade as individuals. The success of this beta test will pave the way for the introduction of the highly anticipated Alliances system later this summer.

Participants in the beta event can look forward to unique rewards. The completion of the WvW World Restructuring Beta Veteran achievement— achieved by successfully capturing or defending five objectives during the beta period— unlocks a skin from the exclusive WvW War Machine weapon set. Additionally, a WvW bonus experience event will run concurrently, providing generous bonuses to world experience, reward-track progress, and magic find.

The update also introduced a new vendor named Dugan in the WvW game mode. This NPC offers a variety of items in exchange for WvW currencies, ranging from ascended feasts to WXP Boosters. Players can find Dugan in the bases in Eternal Battlegrounds, Alpine Borderlands, and Desert Borderlands, as well as inside the Armistice Bastion lobby.

A fresh reward lockbox called the Mist-Hardened Lockbox is now available, providing a chance to receive a variety of rewards, including the new Officer’s Remnant weapons, crafting materials, and a new WvW-exclusive infusion. Keys to unlock these boxes can be obtained from individual WvW weekly achievements or purchased from the new vendor, Dugan.

Finally, support-role players in WvW are getting a well-deserved upgrade. Kill participation credit for support players has been revised, promising them rewards more on par with their damage-role counterparts.