In Secrets and techniques of the Obscure, gamers will encounter a brand new demonic risk referred to as the Kryptis. We’ll should climb via the Skywatch Archipelago to take the battle to the Demon Realm. I’m so freaking excited for this! The trailer appears dope and all of the modifications (mentioned under) have me so freaking excited!
The all-new story places gamers into the sneakers of each erstwhile defender and explorer of the unknown as they race to defend the world from a heretofore unseen risk. The journey will start with a climb via the Skywatch Archipelago, the primary of two new maps being added to the sport on launch day. Hanging excessive within the sky above Tyria, these floating islands are beneath assault from the Kryptis, a demonic race of malevolent beings streaming via instabilities within the Mists and threatening the delicate peace of the world within the wake of the defeat of the elder dragons. What follows is an epic battle into the Demon Realm, the place the destiny of the world rests within the arms of the participant and their secretive new allies.
Speaking about Secrets and techniques of the Obscure, Sport Director Josh Davis mentioned:
Lastly revealing the secrets and techniques of the Wizard’s Tower has been an thought floating across the studio (pun meant) for a few years. With Secrets and techniques of the Obscure, we’re getting an opportunity to discover Tyria’s lore in a manner we by no means have been capable of earlier than. New areas of the world, new characters and enemies, and new twists to the core fight gameplay ought to excite followers with how they’ll add to the sport’s already legendary quantity of content material.
At launch, Guild Wars 2 gamers will discover 2 new explorable maps (Skywatch Archipelago and Amnytas), a brand new hub space on the Wizard’s Tower, the introduction of the Astral Ward, a extra streamlined method to unlock the Skyscale mount, 2 new Strike Missions, the introduction of Relics, Weaponmaster Coaching, and way more. In later releases, every class will get entry to new weapons, problem mode for the aforementioned Strike Missions, legendary armor obtainable via open world content material, and extra.
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New maps: Two new explorable maps can be accessible on August 22, the Skywatch Archipelago and Amnytas, with a 3rd to observe in a future replace.
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New hub space: The enigmatic Wizard’s Tower will function the jumping-off level for gamers to discover Secrets and techniques of the Obscure, and be the central location that ties the participant to the primary characters and occasions of the growth
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Astral Ward: Because the Kryptis invade Tyria, gamers will be capable of be a part of a band of treasure hunters and adventurers generally known as the Astral Ward to assist defend the world, enterprise monster hunts and bounty contracts all through the sport to rank up and earn new rewards and skills.
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The Coronary heart of the Obscure: this vital software will function the participant’s grasp key to discover the brand new growth; as they make progress in upgrading this mystical stone, they’ll earn the flexibility to open particular doorways and reward chests, create assist objects like leyline and updraft turbines, and open and seal the rifts for the Astral Ward.
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Superior Flight Masteries: Buying the fan favourite Skyscale mount can be simpler in Secrets and techniques of the Obscure, however for these gamers who prepare their Skyscale in each the brand new observe from this growth and the beforehand launched Path of Hearth will earn extra performance for his or her skyscale. Two of the Secrets and techniques of the Obscure skyscale masteries – in-combat mounting and updraft use – may also apply to the griffon mount.
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New Strike Missions: Two new difficult 10-player instanced encounters arrive with Secrets and techniques of the Obscure: the Cosmic Observatory, and the Temple of Febe. Their Problem Modes are deliberate to turn out to be accessible in later releases.
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Wizard’s Vault: The Wizard’s Vault awards Astral Popularity of finishing each day, weekly, and seasonal achievements throughout the sport. Gamers can commerce Astral Popularity of distinctive objects like armor items, weapon and mount skins, gold, legendary crafting supplies, and extra.
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Relics: unlocked at stage 60, this new gear slot will now be the house of the big variety of rune set bonuses beforehand discovered on completely different rune varieties, permitting for extra customization of particular results and extra freedom to decide on the stat bonuses gamers wish to use on their characters.
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Weaponmaster Coaching: every of the sport’s 9 professions will now achieve the flexibility to equip the weapons beforehand reserved for his or her elite specialization, unlocking new gameplay and construct choices for gamers.
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New Rewards: A deluge of recent earnable rewards await gamers, together with the sport’s first set of legendary armor earned via open world PvE actions.
So, with Weaponmaster Coaching, you’ll be capable of use weapons beforehand reserved for elite specializations with out being locked into mentioned elite specialization. For instance, a Soulbeast may use a employees or a core Necromancer can now use a greatsword. That is very thrilling because it opens up a staggering variety of gameplay choices for gamers. It’s additionally vital to notice that after you unlock Weaponmaster Coaching, you don’t even must unlock an elite specialization to achieve entry to its weapon nor personal the growth that the elite specialization is part of. Theorycrafters are going to go insane! Right here’s a fast checklist of what this unlocks for every class:
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Guardian: Axe (primary hand), sword (off hand), longbow
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Revenant: Protect (off hand), greatsword, quick bow
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Warrior: Dagger (primary and off hand), pistol (off hand), torch (off hand)
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Engineer: Mace (primary hand), sword (primary hand), hammer
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Ranger: Dagger (primary hand), hammer, employees
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Thief: Scepter (primary hand), rifle, employees
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Elementalist: Sword (primary hand), warhorn (off hand), hammer
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Mesmer: Axe (primary hand), dagger (primary hand), protect (off hand)
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Necromancer: Pistol (primary hand), torch (off hand), greatsword
Whereas the brand new weapons are a methods out, ArenaNet has introduced what they are going to be. Extra particulars are on the best way, however right here’s the checklist of recent weapons coming to every class in Secrets and techniques of the Obscure:
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Guardian: Pistol (primary and off hand)
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Revenant: Scepter (primary hand)
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Warrior: Workers
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Engineer: Brief bow
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Ranger: Mace (primary and off hand)
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Thief: Axe (primary hand)
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Elementalist: Pistol (primary hand)
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Mesmer: Rifle
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Necromancer: Sword (primary and off hand)
The ultimate in-depth merchandise that I needed to cowl is the introduction of Relics. Runes can be altering to not present a particular skill/impact with the total set of 6. As a substitute, runes will solely present the stat bonuses whereas the skills will turn out to be a brand new gear merchandise referred to as Relics. The instance supplied by the crew is that the Relic of the Trooper could have the impact for eradicating situations as an alternative of the Trooper rune set offering that bonus. Relics will sometimes be obtainable by way of crafting, instanced content material (Fractals, Strike Missions), reward tracks, achievements, and extra. All Guild Wars 2 gamers will get a free Relic when Secrets and techniques of the Obscure launches this August.
There are such a lot of updates that it’s a bit of arduous to cowl all of it. I like to recommend testing the articles on the official Guild Wars 2 web site if you’d like extra particulars on the story, fight, and rewards/system modifications. I might additionally advocate testing Mukluk’s breakdown video as he goes over all the things! I can not look forward to August 22!
