Obscure Expansion Unveils its Secrets with a Grand Launch on August 22

ArenaNet and NCSOFT have an exciting surprise expansion called Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure coming soon to the MMORPG.

Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure is the fourth major expansion for Guild Wars 2, following the success of Heart of Thorns, Path of Fire, and End of Dragons. Pre-orders for the expansion are now open, priced at $24.99. Along with the expansion, players who pre-purchase will receive the following bonus items:

• Eagle Eye Weapon Chest
• Arcane Spellweaver’s Hat
• Special Demon Hunter character Title
• Shared inventory slot
• Level 80 character boost

For players looking for more, there is also a Deluxe Edition available for $49.99. In addition to the bonus items listed above, the Deluxe Edition includes:

• Astral Ward Feathered Raptor mount skin
• Magic Juggle emote
• Additional character slot
• Identity Repair Kit

For the ultimate experience, the Ultimate Edition is priced at $79.99 and includes everything mentioned above, along with 4,000 Gems.

Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure aims to uncover the mysteries of the Wizard’s Tower that hovers above Tyria. The expansion begins with adventurers exploring the Skywatch Archipelago, one of two new maps available at launch (the other being Amnytas). These floating islands are under attack from the Kryptis, a malevolent demonic race that has entered Tyria through the Mists. As the Elder Dragons have been defeated, the world’s fragile peace is now threatened by the Kryptis. Players must embark on an epic journey into the Demon Realm, where they will play a pivotal role in determining the fate of the world alongside new secretive allies.

The Wizard’s Tower serves as the central hub for the expansion. Here, players will join forces with the Astral Ward, a group dedicated to protecting Tyria. Players can accept monster hunts and bounty contracts from the Astral Ward, earning ranks, rewards, and new abilities along the way.

Linked to the Astral Ward is the Heart of the Obscure, a mystical stone capable of unlocking special doors and reward chests, creating support items such as leyline and updraft generators, and opening and sealing rifts.

Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure also introduces two 10-player instanced Strike Missions (the Cosmic Observatory and the Temple of Febe), a new Relic equipment slot (which allows for a variety of rune set bonuses that were previously exclusive to different rune types), Weaponmaster Training (enabling each class to equip weapons that were previously reserved for their elite specialization), the Wizard’s Vault (a reward system that grants Astral Acclaim currency upon completion of achievements; this currency can be traded for skins, gold, armor, legendary crafting materials, and more), two new Flight Masteries (in-combat mounting and updraft use, applied to both the Skyscale and the Griffon mounts), and a host of other rewards, including a legendary armor set that can be earned through open-world PvE activities.

After the expansion’s launch, Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will continue to receive additional content and features. This includes a third map, a new Fractal of Mists encounter, challenge modes for the Strike Missions, and more rewards to look forward to.

From June 29th to July 2nd, fans can participate in a special beta event to experience the Weaponmaster Training feature before the official release. ArenaNet has provided a dedicated beta character slot for players to explore the new build opportunities available with Weaponmaster Training.

In addition, players can enjoy discounts of up to 50% on Guild Wars 2 bundles starting from June 29th, whether they purchase from Steam or the official website. It is worth noting that ArenaNet is reportedly working on a third-person action fantasy title for consoles, although no official details have been shared at this time.