Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds’ Repentance – A Return to Mursaat Roots

by

In the initial version of Guild Wars, the White Mantle served as a significant antagonistic force for the heroes of Tyria. Following the Ascension ritual and acquiring True Sight, they discovered the Mursaat as the real masters of the cult. Known as “The Unseen Ones,” these entities concealed unimaginable cruelty beneath polished armor and divine facades. Surviving their Spectral Agony magic required empowering one’s armor. Although their numbers are diminished in Guild Wars 2, traces of the Mursaat can still be detected throughout Tyria.

Currently, the narrative of the “Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds” expansion is deeply immersing itself in its history with the Repentance update. Game Rant recently embarked on an escorted tour guided by ArenaNet, exploring the gloomy recesses of the Mistburned Barrens – a new area introduced in the update. From the tormented battlefield of the Valley of Agony to the ghostly remnants of Bava Nisos, these ominous locales are saturated with lore that has been cultivated over two decades.

The Mistburned Barrens – New Mursaat Zone in Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds

For over a dozen years, Guild Wars 2 has added numerous explorable zones spread across various continents and five expansions. Among these areas, very few exude the eerie, unsettling darkness that envelops the Mistburned Barrens. The landscape transforms from altered wildlife and magic-marred trees to awe-inspiring ruins, which grow increasingly terrifying upon closer inspection – similar to the Mursaat who constructed it.

The barren lands known as Mistburned are divided into three significant sectors, two of which lie amidst the remnants of Bava Nisos – an ancient city once inhabited by the Mursaat in the Isle of Janthir. This secret city is where Saul D’Alessio initially established the White Mantle before it was obliterated by the Titans during the first game, and has been linked to some of the most intriguing enigmas in Guild Wars mythology. Adventurers can embark on three journeys into this region from the Alliance Staging Grounds, each offering an event chain with distinctive obstacles, motifs, prizes, and global bonuses.

The Valley of Agony – Mistburned Barrens Northern Survey

In the far north, I find myself standing at the edge of a city long fallen to ruin, where the Valley of Agony looms ominously. Known for being “one of Tyria’s most perilous locales,” this vast, gaping chasm is shrouded in a red mist – a telltale sign of the Mursaat’s potent Agony magic. To delve into its depths unassisted would be foolhardy; instead, I rely on the aid of powerful enchantments like those wielded by Isgarren the Curator, one of the few remaining Seers who have long been adversaries of the Mursaat.

The Grand Athenaeum – Mistburned Barrens Central Survey

As a gamer, I delve deep into the core of Bava Nisos, where the mighty Grand Athenaeum stands. This region is home to shadowy libraries, said to have held knowledge believed vanished when the city crumbled 250 years past. Ghosts of Mursaat linger here, so tread with care – not every spirit I encounter will be a foe.

The Laboratory – Mistburned Barrens Southern Survey

The route heading south takes you to the Lab. Design-wise, it’s reminiscent of Castlevania as suggested by the creators. Inside these labyrinthine corridors, you’ll find Bloodstone – a mystical mineral that the Mursaat utilize for controlling and shaping souls. The vengeful spirits of individuals sacrificed by the Mursaat to imprison the Titans reside here along with Bloodstone Elementals. At the end of your exploration, Manikaz, a spectral entity uncovered in the Janthir Wilds expansion of Guild Wars 2: Godspawn update, awaits you.

As they traverse the desolate Mistburned Barrens, players encounter Mursaat Mirrors which offer teleportation to concealed areas through the art of Mursaat Shadowcraft Mastery. Among various discoveries hidden within these locations are Vistas, Mastery Points, and secrets that can be unlocked with the Guild Wars 2 Warclaw mount.

Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds Mursaat Shadowcraft Mastery

Mastery Cost Description
Mursaat Mirror and Movement 2 Use Mursaat Mirrors to reach secret locations and Mistburned Beehives to refresh cooldowns
Mursaat Ruins Delving Improvements 3 Gain extra Curious Mursaat Ruin Shards from Mistburned Barrens events
Barrens Survey Result Augmentation 4 Earn extra rewards from completing Mistburned Barrens Survey event chains

Read More

2025-03-11 19:08