20 Years of Guild Wars: What’s New in the 20th Anniversary Update?

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Summary

  • Access to new ‘Of The’ weapon mods for various professions, adding up to 5 attribute points to another profession’s primary attribute.
  • Introduction of challenging end-game Hard Mode quests with ultra-rare minipet rewards.
  • Exclusive limited-edition weapons now dropping worldwide in various regions around Tyria.

For twenty years now, the renowned MMORPG, “Guild Wars”, is organizing a special anniversary celebration event reminiscent of its 15th, featuring an extensive content update for gamers to savor. Although certain new elements will persist until May 6, as long as the Anniversary Festival lasts, other additions, including some of the most thrilling, will be permanent.

Since the last substantial update in “Guild Wars” with “Guild Wars Beyond,” the 20th anniversary patch is primarily designed for dedicated fans who have continued playing throughout the years. This update offers fresh motivations to engage with end-game content, opportunities for rare drops that were previously unattainable, and a possible reconfiguration of the build meta, potentially introducing new strategic options.

New “Of The” Weapon Mods (Permanent Addition)

Blowing Buildcraft Possibilities Wide Open

  • Special, rare drops with the “of the [Profession]” modifiers can now be found throughout the game
  • These mods can be found on any mainhand weapon and grant its user 1-5 points in a profession’s main attribute

In celebration of Guild Wars , one particularly tantalizing enhancement from a gameplay standpoint is the introduction of new skill suffix items. These items allow players to tap into the key attributes of other professions, ranging from level 1 to 5. For instance, if a paragon wields a spear labeled “of the Assassin”, they can acquire up to five points in Critical Strikes. This not only amplifies their damage output but also grants them access to the Assassin-exclusive Critical Strike abilities that were previously unavailable.

This extraordinary attribute enhancer significantly expands the building possibilities in the game while preserving the distinct character of each profession. Finding weapons equipped with this mod becomes an enticing prospect, and another reason to engage in loot hunting. Fortunately, these mods will drop at various points throughout the year. To add excitement, weapon skins carrying these mods will create visual effects like streaks with every strike, projectile launch, or spell cast.

End-Game Hard Mode Quests & Minitures (Permanent Addition)

Big News For Minipet And Endgame Content Enjoyers

  • New daily endgame, Hard Mode quests focusing on the most challenging content in the game, are available from Embark Bay
  • The rewards for these quests include ultra-rare (in the hundreds) and highly-prized minipets

Through conversations with Merrise in Embark Bay, which serves as a mainstay for daily missions and activities, players can unlock unique endgame, Hard Mode quests that delve into some of the toughest content from the annals of Guild Wars. Those who appreciate prestige items or are avid collectors or completists will undoubtedly take pleasure in learning that the rewards for these taxing quests encompass extremely rare minipets.

Earlier in the game, there were hundreds of these miniature pets scattered throughout it. Some special ones like the Miniature Kanaxi and Miniature Panda were exceptionally valuable, worth a fortune even in an MMO environment. To maintain this value, the newer versions of these rare minis will not be transferable between players, but can instead be offered at the Hall of Monuments. These tasks and their associated rewards are accessible year-round.

Previously-Limited-Edition Weapons Dropping Worldwide (Permanent Addition)

Opening Up An Exclusive Armory

  • Weapon skins from exclusive promotions or region-locked events will now drop throughout the game
  • Most weapons will drop anywhere in the world, while some are campaign-specific

Because of various pre-order incentives, exclusive partnership deals, restricted PVP tournament prizes, and area-specific events, a small fraction of players in Guild Wars had access to extremely scarce in-game items. However, with the release of the anniversary patch, these coveted weapons, like the previously Korea-exclusive Ominous Aegis and the Taiwan pre-order offhand, Wolf’s Greed, have been made available for loot throughout Tyria.

In this game, certain items can appear randomly, while others are exclusive to specific storyline zones. For instance, Dragon Fangs daggers can only be obtained in Cantha, and the Soulbreaker scythe can only be found in Elona. Due to their rare drops, players who enjoy grinding and farming will have the opportunity to search for them throughout the entire year.

Anniversary Festival Events (Until May 6)

Well-Worth Attending For Special Weapons, Skills, And Loot

  • The Anniversary Festival is the only way to purchase special anniversary weapons
  • The Proof of Triumph item required to capture powerful PvE skills in endgame content can be traded only during the festival

Yearly from April 22 to May 6, the festivities of the Anniversary Festival resurface, featuring the thrilling Rollerbeetle Racing and Dragon Arena events, accessible from prominent cities. During these events, unique tokens known as “Proof of Legend” are earned upon completing a mission in each region (such as Ascalon, Kryta, or the Jade Sea). These tokens can be traded for a “Proof of Triumph,” summoning bosses with exclusive PvE abilities, and Anniversary Weapons that possess the extraordinary ability to bend professions in Guild Wars.

As a devoted player, I can’t help but share some exciting news about Embark Beach before May 6th. Instead of just passing by, it’s worth taking a trip down memory lane with the Pilgrimage to the Hall of Heroes, a nostalgic and lucrative opportunity to dive back into Player versus Player (PvP) action. If you’re a Ranger at heart or even have Ranger as a secondary profession, this is your chance! By chatting up Ceira, Sworn to Fire, you can unlock the House of Balthazar – a fantastic reward that adds a touch of grandeur to your gaming experience.

New Decade Weapon Set (Until May 6)

Flash New Skins For Every Profession

  • Flashy new weapon skins for each profession are available
  • As well as dealing bonus damage or deciding spell cast time, their bonuses double during the Anniversary Festival

Back in 2015, I stumbled upon some eye-catching weapons known as the Decade Weapons. These bad boys were martial, magical, and ranged items that you could snag from the Ancient Anniversary Weaponsmith over at Embark Beach. All it took was five Proofs of Legend to make them mine. Fast forward to the 20th Anniversary Update, and a fresh new set of weapons hit the market. Each one can be had for the same number of tokens as their older counterparts.

Apart from adding a stylish touch, these weapons offer a 20% increase in damage or a 20% chance to reduce casting time by half, particularly beneficial for both melee and caster weapons. The new-decade skins, introduced in the 20th Anniversary Update, carry the “of the” suffix modifiers. Much like their original counterparts, these exclusive designs are available exclusively during the festival period (or a week following, until May 13).

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2025-04-18 07:39