Guild Wars 2 Details Big New Update for February 3

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Guild Wars 2 will release its first major update for Visions of Eternity on February 3rd. The update significantly improves the raid system, adding a new Quickplay feature to help players of all levels find groups and tackle challenging raids more easily.

The latest expansion, Visions of Eternity, arrived for Guild Wars 2 on October 28th. Players will travel to the distant island of Castora as heroes of Tyria, chasing after the Inquest and their quest to uncover ancient secrets.

Guild Wars 2 Raid System Improvements Coming February 3

I’m so excited, it’s almost time for the first big update for Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity! It’s called “Raids and Wardrobe,” and it sounds like ArenaNet is really focusing on making the game even better with some core improvements. The biggest news for me is the complete overhaul of the raiding system. They’re giving it a brand new UI that will make everything so much smoother. We’ll be able to access both raid wings and encounters (which used to be called Strike Missions) from one central panel. As a squad leader, I’ll be able to pick exactly what we want to tackle, keep track of what we’ve already finished, and even move us right into the next encounter without having to go back to town! It’s going to make raiding so much more streamlined.

We’re adding a new feature called Quickplay to help players easily find teams for raids. Players can join a Quickplay queue for specific raids and will be automatically matched with a group – no one will be designated as the leader. To help with varied team compositions, characters will receive a buff while in Quickplay. If the team succeeds, they can either continue together in the Lion’s Arch Aerodrome raid lobby or return to where they started. Quickplay will be available for the following raids when it launches:

Image via ArenaNet

  • Aetherblade Hideout
  • Whisper of Jormag
  • Boneskinner
  • Cosmic Observatory
  • Temple of Febe
  • Xunlai Jade Junkyard
  • Old Lion’s Court
  • Kaineng Overlook

The upcoming raid won’t be available in Quickplay right away; it will be added at a later time with a future update.

We’ve simplified rewards in raids. Instead of Prophet Shards, you’ll now earn Magnetite Shards and Gaeting Crystals. Prophet Shards will automatically be converted. The amount of Magnetite Shards you get from each raid boss depends on how challenging it is – harder bosses give more, and Challenge Mode awards even more. Quickplay encounters will give fewer shards. There’s a limit of 800 Magnetite Shards you can earn each week.

This update introduces new rewards, such as a unique Dhuum-themed skin for your Skyscale mount in Guild Wars 2, plus weekly items earned through raid currency and progress. There are also new achievements – including daily raid boss bounties, mentor goals, Quickplay milestones, and the ultimate Raid God achievement – offering ongoing challenges. For competitive players, a new raid challenge leaderboard lets you compare your completion times with others worldwide and track your personal bests.

What Else Is Coming in Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity’s First Major Update?

Image via ArenaNet

This initial update for Guild Wars 2 focuses on core improvements rather than adding a new area or continuing the main story. To make up for this, the game’s second and third updates this year will feature more detailed and engaging storylines than those typically found in Guild Wars 2 expansions.

Even with the challenges, the first update still has a lot to offer. In addition to improvements to raids, we’re adding a completely new raid encounter. Players can also look forward to six Relics, a new Legendary ring, a weapon set, and a refreshed Wizard’s Vault for the current season. While many of these new items will require ownership of Visions of Eternity, everyone will be able to enjoy the raid improvements, even those with older Guild Wars 2 expansions.

Join us for a live developer stream on Twitch, January 23rd at 12 PM Pacific Time, where we’ll demonstrate these features and much more!

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2026-01-23 08:04