We’re celebrating the warmer weather with the Guild Wars 2® summer sale! Explore past adventures and experience the latest expansion, Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds™, now on sale for the first time!

From June 26 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7) to July 10 at 9:59 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7), you can take advantage of special deals on Guild Wars 2 expansions. Invite a friend to join your adventures, or expand your account with the features of a new expansion. Even if you’ve never played before, it’s the perfect time to begin your journey in Tyria!

The following discounted items are available now on the official Guild Wars 2 website, with some of the same exciting deals on Steam! For those looking to add the Living World™ series to your collection, you can find them on sale for 30% off in the in-game store. The summer sale is not currently available on the Epic Games Store.

Head north to the wilderness of Janthir—a dangerous land that was once home to the strange mursaat and their White Mantle sycophants. Befriend the lowland kodan who reside there and learn the secrets of wielding a spear on every profession. Your journeys will lead you to own your own homestead, engage in a challenging new raid, and forge a bond with a warclaw mount with new abilities!

Both Standard and Deluxe editions of the Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds expansion are now available at a 20% discount.*

In a world finally safe from the Elder Dragons’ corruption, new threats rise to seek power. Embark on an epic journey and uncover the mysteries of the Wizard’s Tower as you defend the skies against incursions from the Mists. Unlock access to weapons that were previously exclusive to elite specializations for each profession and an updated path to unlocking your skyscale mount.

Both Standard and Deluxe editions of the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure expansion are now available at a 30% discount.*

The future of Cantha is now. The dragon cycle that has sustained and blighted Tyria for ages is collapsing. Mortal hearts and choices will define this moment in history—and echo into the future forever. Unlock new elite specializations, Masteries, and more, including access to fishing and skiffs.

Both Standard and Deluxe editions of the Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons® expansion are now available at a 40% discount!*

Experience the entire dragon cycle saga from beginning to end with Guild Wars 2—The Complete Collection. This bundle contains an entire decade’s worth of content! Included Guild Wars 2 Living World® Seasons 2–5 and the first three expansions:

• Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns®
• Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire®
• Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons

You’ll also get two Level-80 Boosts, allowing you to instantly level up two characters and jump straight into our latest content, with two Shared Inventory Slots to easily share items with every character on your account.

The Complete, Deluxe, and Standard editions of the Elder Dragon Saga Collection are discounted by 50% for the length of the sale. Note: only the Complete edition of the Elder Dragon Saga is available through the Steam store.

Unlock mounts, gliding, and more with the first two expansions for Guild Wars 2. This package grants you access to a new profession, the revenant, as well as eighteen elite specializations to change the way you play. Experience the joy of movement with the best mounts in MMOs.

This expansion bundle is available now at a 60% discount!

Now is the perfect time to experience the game that started it all! The original Guild Wars and all its expansions and editions are discounted by 50%. This includes the recent Guild Wars: The 20th Anniversary Masterpiece Collection, which includes all three campaigns (Prophecies™, Factions™, and Nightfall™), the Guild Wars : Eye of the North™ expansion, and the Bonus Mission Pack.

Premium items like Xunlai Storage Panes, costumes, unlock packs, and more are all available at a 50% discount as well. Head over to the original Guild Wars site to take advantage of the sale!

Fill your Hall of Monuments and unlock bonus items and titles that transfer to Guild Wars 2!

Our expansion sales are also available from the following third-party retailers:

Americas:

• Guild Wars 2 Steam
• Guild Wars Steam
• Nuuvem
• Hype Games (Brazil)

Europe:

• Guild Wars 2 Steam
• Guild Wars Steam
• CDgalaxis (Hungary)
• Gameliebe (Germany)
• Gamecardsdirect (EUROPE)
• Gamecardsdirect (France)
• Gamecardsdirect (Netherlands)
• Key4you (Czech)

*Deluxe packages for Guild Wars 2 are not available through the Steam store.

The Dragon Bash festival has returned to Hoelbrak! Starting today and running until July 8, the norn capital has once again transformed into a celebration of defiance, laughter, and a whole lot of piñata smashing!

Dragon Bash is open to players of all levels, and it’s packed with activities you can jump into right away. From brawling with holographic dragons to betting on moas, there’s something for every kind of adventurer. And of course, there’s a fresh batch of rewards to earn, including the new Raven-Blessed Visage, the Sacred Raven’s weapon set, and more! Check out the full release notes for all the details for today’s festival!

No festival is complete without prizes, and Dragon Bash is packed with them. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick daily objective or diving deep into the full event, there are plenty of ways to earn new rewards and celebrate the season.

The (Annual) Dragon Bash Feats meta-achievement returns for another year of festival traditions. By finishing this year’s meta-achievement, you’ll earn the Raven-Blessed Visage, a striking avian helm imbued with the solemn power of the raven. In case you missed them, rewards from previous years can be purchased from the Dragon Bash merchant.

In addition, a new weapon set passed down from norn ancestry is now available. Earn your choice of the Sacred Raven’s weapon collection by progressing through the meta-achievement with additional selections available through the (Weekly) Dragon Bash Festivities achievements.

Three new Uncrowned Legend’s weapons—warhorn, trident, and greatsword—have also been added as rare drops from dragon coffers, but they can also be purchased from Sparking Stone, a Dragon Bash weapons vendor in Hoelbrak. Brandishing these storied armaments in battle will give your foes pause!

Beyond achievement rewards, this year’s Dragon Bash introduces a host of new collectibles and decorations. The Mini Golden Labrador makes its debut as a heart-melting festival companion, ready to follow you across Tyria with tail wags.

For decorators and builders, Deft Lahar is visiting Hoelbrak for the festival and has a variety of homestead-tailored recipes for purchase. Six new homestead recipe books are available, each unlocking homestead versions of popular Dragon Bash-themed guild hall decorations. Titled Homestead Recipe Book: Dragon Bash, Volumes 1 through 6, these collections are perfect for bringing a bit of the festival home.

Additionally, five new decorations will be available for both homesteads and guild halls. You can add warmth with the classic Norn Brazier, construct dramatic layouts with the Norn Stair, and bring rugged northern charm to your space with the Norn Structure and Norn Stone Structure. The centerpiece, the Raven Hall, offers a majestic architectural touch worthy of honoring Tyria’s enduring resilience.

Special Dragon Bash-themed objectives will be added to the Wizard’s Vault for the duration of the festival. These limited-time tasks will guide you toward festive content while helping you rack up Astral Acclaim for even more rewards.

The Dragon Bash festival is located in Hoelbrak. Check your in-game mail for an Invitation to Dragon Bash, and double-click the item to teleport instantly to Hoelbrak. The festivities can be found all over the city.

When you enter Hoelbrak, the entire city will be decorated for Dragon Bash! New activities are also available during this time. There are dragon piñatas all over the city, and you can smash them to obtain zhaitaffy, the main currency used in this festival. So, get to smashing all those candy-hoarding dragons!

If you’re looking for something fast and fiery, you can spend time betting on the moa racing! Choose your favorite feathery friend and cheer for them. If you’re teamwork oriented, the Dragon Arena is made just for you! Destroy mighty holographic dragon champions with other players.

There are also two adventures available in the city: Piñata Bashing and Time Trial: Dragon Bash Rally. The latter will allow you to race through the city with a time limit. An event variant where you can compete against others will also pop up from time to time. If you don’t have a roller beetle, you can rent one from a nearby race coordinator. Piñata Bashing is a more rigorous version of dragon smashing, with a time limit and special skills.

Finally, there is the Hologram Stampede located outside Hoelbrak. This event will occur in Wayfarer Foothills, Dredgehaunt Cliffs, Lornar’s Pass, and Snowden Drifts. On the right side of your screen, you can check where it will happen next. In each round of the stampede, you’ll have to destroy as many holograms as possible by activating hologram devices spread across the map. This is a public event, and you’ll have help from other players also participating in your map!

Dragon Bash ends on July 8, so make sure you log in and bash and smash those dragons!

Salutations, Tyrians. My name is Gerard Ledda, and I am a game designer here at ArenaNet. We’re always listening to your feedback, and we’ve been hard at work on some game updates that you’ve been asking for. Today, I’m here with the inside scoop on some quality-of-life updates that are coming in next week’s Guild Wars 2®: Janthir Wilds™ release, “Absolution.” These changes are designed to alleviate pain points, add convenience, and—most importantly—free up precious inventory space!

The Wizard’s Portal Tome is a new item that will store many of the teleportation devices you’ve earned in game, condensing more than 30 items into a single inventory slot! This tome will work much like the Living World season portal tomes, giving you a list of available destinations to choose from.

When “Absolution” releases on June 3, you can visit Astral Ward Medic Miyrna either in Bloodcoast Ward in Lion’s Arch or in the new map, Bava Nisos, to pick up a new side story achievement, Work Hard for Now. Completing that side story will reward you with the Wizard’s Portal Tome, and the Teleportation Gizmos Collector collection will track the teleportation devices that you’ve earned. Then, just bring the Wizard’s Portal Tome wherever you go, and you can free up all that inventory space!

Over the years, we’ve added many portable exchangers—commonly called “gobblers”—to the game that allow players to convert items and currency to more valuable materials. Over time, these gobblers have become so plentiful that they themselves clog up inventory space. The Wizard’s Gobbler is our solution to this problem, allowing you access to multiple exchange items without having to fumble with them individually.

Like the Wizard’s Portal Tome, a collection will track over 20 portable exchanger and gobbler items as you unlock them and offer their functionality in a single item. Visiting Lion’s Arch will retroactively update your progress if you have the item in your inventory, have completed the respective achievement, or have met other conditions. This will determine which options you can access when using the Wizard’s Gobbler. All Guild Wars 2 players can access the Wizard’s Gobbler by heading to Hooligan’s Route in Lion’s Arch and purchasing it from the charr vendor Gharr Leadclaw.

We’ve heard that your bag and bank slots are overflowing with rift essence, and we’ve got a solution coming next week!

Fine, masterwork, and rare rift essence can be converted into a wallet currency beginning June 3. You’ll be able to convert the essence yourself by consuming it or by visiting Rift Researcher Adam at Moon Camp Covert in Lowland Shore or the Rift Hunter Lounge in the Wizard’s Tower. He will be able to mass convert your essence into a wallet currency for free. Recipes, vendor costs, and rewards of rift essence will all be updated to reflect this change.

We’ve also heard your feedback about the challenge of acquiring research notes. After the next update, all crafting disciplines will have access to a new crafting recipe called Peer Reviewed Research. This item does not have a crafting rating requirement, so even novices can make it. When crafted, it grants 150 research notes!

We’ll be adjusting the purchase limits of provisioner tokens from faction provisioners in Central Tyria and Heart of Maguuma from one purchase a day per tab to seven purchases a week per tab. You’ll be able to buy the same number of items, but in one trip instead of seven!

During your adventures, you might have accumulated a surplus of Hero’s Choice Chests, and when you finally decide which item to select from them, you were faced with a difficult choice. You could open them one at a time through a time-consuming series of clicks, or you could use a bulk exchange vendor but lose out on some of the valuable loot inside.

With the release of “Absolution,” you can trade Hero’s Choice Chests and karma to the respective exchange vendors in Dragon’s Stand, Eye of the North, Arborstone, the Wizard’s Tower (requires Wayfinder Mastery), or Lowland Shore. You’ll then receive the guaranteed item in addition to a new Commander’s Choice Chest, which allows bulk selection of your choice of items. This functions like the Janthiri Renown Chests and Mistburned Renown Chests.

Finally, players will be able to double the decoration cap in their homestead from 1,000 to 2,000 after “Absolution” is live next week! Deft Lahar will sell decoration limit increase services to raise the cap by 500, and players can train the Grandmaster Handiworker Crafting tier for another 500.

Deft Lahar will also have new home instance nodes in his inventory, allowing players to purchase new gathering nodes for their homesteads or home instances.

“Absolution” is just around the corner, and we can’t wait for you to experience these new quality-of-life updates. See you in Tyria!

“Absolution,” the third and final major content update for Guild Wars 2®: Janthir Wilds™, has arrived. This update brings the concluding chapters of the story, a brand-new map to explore, feature improvements, new content and rewards, and a few unexpected twists to keep players on their toes. We’ve also added a unique legendary backpack that doubles as a glider! We’re going to cover the major features of this release in this blog, but for all of the details, check out the full release notes on our forums.

In our latest studio update blog, we shared what’s ahead for Guild Wars 2, including a closer look at upcoming content and our ongoing goals for long-term feature support. We also released a companion blog focused on the quality-of-life improvements we’ve made that aim to enhance your everyday experience in Tyria. There’s much more to come in “Absolution,” however, and here are the highlights from this update:

• New map: Bava Nisos
• New story chapters
• New fractal: Kinfall (with challenge mode on June 24)
• Convergences update: new boss, Ura, and challenge mode for private squads
• Legendary backpack
• QoL improvements to inventory management, rift essences, research notes, and more!
• New homestead decorations and decoration cap increase!
• Many new rewards, including minis, armor, weapons, and more

An immortal shadowy demonic presence from the Mists, Orrax is here to be your new best friend! Go on adventures! Glide around! Find some tasty snacks! Make a bargain for your immortal soul! Swish a fancy new tail that you may not have had a few moments before! Orrax will join you on all of your adventures—just as soon as you finish letting it manifest through you into Tyria.

Like previous legendary backpacks, crafting Orrax Manifested will unlock a matching glider as well. However, this time, Orrax is not content simply staying on your back and manifests directly to better help you conquer the skies of this fascinating world.

Talk to Jorvik Jorundsson in Mantle’s Arrival in Bava Nisos after completing the story of “Absolution” to begin the legendary collection.

The Astral Ward’s magic stirs once again, and the Wizard’s Vault unveils a new collection of treasures for the worthy. Whether you’re defending Tyria’s farthest reaches or honing your legend within the Mists, these rewards are steeped in both style and power.

Embrace the strength and nobility of the Ward Knight’s cape, coat, helm, and leggings, armor forged for the bravest of Tyria’s defenders that blends ceremonial elegance with battlefield grit. Or arm yourself with the Stone-Growth weapons petrified by the passage of countless years!

Ride in arcane style with the Enchanted Roller Beetle Skin, adding a magical gleam to your travels. Don’t forget to give it a spin on the new racetrack in Southsun Cove!

Starting June 3, you can earn exciting  Twitch Drops just by watching your favorite  Guild Wars 2 streamers! Watch a total of five hours between 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7) March 11 and 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7) June 8 to unlock all available rewards.

Here’s what you can earn:

• One Hour: Tradesman’s Package
• Two Hours: Bloodstone Ascender
• Four Hours: Mini Bloodstone Rock
• Six Hours: Bloodstone Glider

Immerse yourself in the rich soundscape of Guild Wars 2‘ s fifth expansion with the official soundtrack of Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds. Featuring 27 tracks composed by Maclaine Diemer, Bryan Atkinson, and others, this collection captures the spirit of a land both wild and storied.

The soundtrack brings to life the sweeping coastlines, ancient ruins, and deep-rooted mysteries of the Janthir isles. With each track, you’ll hear the tension between nature and civilization, tradition and transformation.

Hear songs from this update adding new layers to the musical journey across the isles. Whether you’re exploring tranquil lowlands or braving conflict alongside the lowland kodan, these themes help shape every step of your adventure.

You can  preorder the Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds vinyl soundtrack today.

While “Absolution” marks the conclusion of the Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds story arc, the adventure in Tyria is far from over. A full slate of events is on the horizon while we prepare to share more about what is next for Guild Wars 2.

The celebration kicks off on June 17 with the return of Dragon Bash, bringing festive chaos and brawling fun to the streets of Hoelbrak. Just a few days later, on June 23, challenge seekers can dive into the new Kinfall fractal’s challenge mode.

In July, players can look forward to the announcement of our next expansion and bonus events! The Return to Secrets of the Obscure event runs from July 15 to July 29, offering a chance to relive key moments and earn valuable rewards. Then it’s off to the Mists from July 22 to July 29 with the WvW Rush bonus event!

As summer rolls on, Festival of the Four Winds returns from August 5 to August 26, inviting players to relax, compete, and revisit one of Tyria’s most beloved seasonal events. Don’t forget to bookmark our handy event calendar to keep tabs on what’s happening in the game!

• June 3—Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds—”Absolution”
• June 17–July 8—Dragon Bash
• June 24—Skills and Balance Update, Kinfall Fractal Challenge Mode

• July (TBA)—Expansion Announcement
• July 15–July 29—Return to Secrets of the Obscure Event
• July 22–July 29—WvW Rush Bonus Event

• August 5–August 12—PvP Push Beta Event 3
• August 5–August 26—Festival of the Four Winds

Stay tuned for news about our next expansion for Guild Wars 2 this summer. We look forward to joining you on your adventure in Bava Nisos!

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<p class="screenshot"><a href="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/41b0erebeljacket-thumbnail.jpg"><img src="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/41b0erebeljacket-thumbnail-590x332.jpg" alt="A male charr in sunglasses stands looking to the right. He wears an unzippered black leather jacket with a white shirt underneath." width="590" height="332" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-57791" srcset="https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...ail-590x332.jpg 590w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...ail-768x432.jpg 768w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...nail-130x73.jpg 130w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...nail-139x79.jpg 139w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...ail-290x164.jpg 290w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /></a></p>
<h3>Rebel Jacket Skin</h3>
<p>This leather jacket makes you feel cool whether you’re intimidating foes or racing roller beetles. This rebellious skin is designed to go with the Rebel Long and Short Boots Package; unleash your inner bad-to-the-bone aesthetic. The Rebel Jacket Skin is now available for 500 gems.</p>
<h3>What’s in Stock</h3>
<p>On Friday, May 30, we’ll be rotating our stock of permanent finishers and lounge passes! Chill out in your favorite luxurious lounge, or finish off your enemies with a fun, unique animation. The items below are 20% off until June 13:</p>
<ul>
<li>Mistlock Sanctuary Passkey</li>
<li>Lava Lounge Pass Bundle</li>
<li>Permanent Gift Finisher</li>
<li>Permanent Snowman Finisher</li>
<li>Permanent Snow Globe Finisher</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Returning This Week</strong></p>
<p>Easily salvage materials with our amazing kits, or organize your account with template expansions. From today until June 3, the Copper-Fed Salvage-o-Matic, Silver-Fed Salvage-o-Matic, Runecrafter’s Salvage-o-Matic, and Equipment Template Expansions are 20% off, and Build Template Expansions are 40% off.</p>
<p class="screenshot"><a href="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/0a87brebeljacket-blogalt.jpg"><img src="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/0a87brebeljacket-blogalt-590x332.jpg" alt="A human sits mounted on a blue roller beetle. A charr stands next to him on the ground. They both are wearing the Rebel Jacket Skin which is a black leather jacket." width="590" height="332" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-57792" srcset="https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...alt-590x332.jpg 590w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...alt-768x432.jpg 768w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...galt-130x73.jpg 130w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...galt-139x79.jpg 139w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...alt-290x164.jpg 290w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /></a></p>
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<h3>Available Now in the Gem Store!</h3>
<p>Log into <em>Guild Wars 2</em> and press 'O' to access the Black Lion Trading Company for these great offers and more!</p>
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<p>Greetings, Tyrians! </p>
<p>The final chapter of <em>Guild&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;2&reg;:&nbsp;Janthir&nbsp;Wilds&trade;</em> arrives on June 3 with “Absolution,” a climactic update that plunges deep into the haunted heart of mursaat history. Journey into the ruins of Bava Nisos and uncover the truth behind the rift that still threatens Tyria.</p>
<p>Alongside this epic conclusion, “Absolution” also brings a new fractal, a legendary backpiece, homestead upgrades, a suite of quality-of-life changes, relics, goodies in the Wizard’s Vault, and the debut of challenge mode for Convergence: Mount Balrior, along with a Twitch Drops event to celebrate the release. Let’s take a look at what’s coming next for <em>Guild&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;2</em>.</p>
<p><iframe width="590" height="332" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0boXkTbLZ8o?rel=0&modestbranding=1&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h3>Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds&mdash;”Absolution”</h3>
<p>When Mabon fell to the Kryptis, an ancient ward cast over the city of Bava Nisos evaporated. All its secrets were free to fester&mdash;all its ghosts danced back to life.</p>
<p>At the start of <em>Guild&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;2:&nbsp;Janthir&nbsp;Wilds</em>, the commander was sent on a mission of diplomacy to befriend the lowland kodan of the Janthir region. But just as we settled into the calming rituals of the delta lifestyle, a darker threat emerged from the shadows. Titans had somehow been released into Tyria once again, and the commander, with the aid of allies old and new, navigated the perilous reaches of Janthir to defeat these otherworldly creatures. Victory was just within reach, too, before Ura revealed with her dying breath that the door that she and her kin used to breach our realm remained wide open.</p>
<p>In the second update for <em>Guild&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;2:&nbsp;Janthir&nbsp;Wilds</em>, “Repentance,” we chased the echo of an old acquaintance through the ruins of his people’s demise as we searched for this open Mists gate. Now, in the finale of <em>Guild&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;2:&nbsp;Janthir&nbsp;Wilds</em>, we will reach the core of the titan crisis once and for all.</p>
<p class="screenshot"><a href="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ec417gw295.jpg"><img src="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ec417gw295-590x332.jpg" alt="an otherworldly landscape with floating islands of rock and stone that twist in unpredictable patterns." width="590" height="332" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-57814" srcset="https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...295-590x332.jpg 590w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...295-768x432.jpg 768w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...w295-130x73.jpg 130w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...w295-139x79.jpg 139w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...295-290x164.jpg 290w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /></a></p>
<h3>Bava Nisos</h3>
<p>Each of the three survey teams that you helped comb through Mistburned Barrens completed their research and have come to the same conclusion: something vile awaits us within the depths of Bava Nisos. When a path into the city proper is finally revealed at the start of “Absolution,” our final descent begins.</p>
<p>Once a monument to mursaat victory, Bava Nisos was built into the side of a great mountain&mdash;its sprawling halls and twisting passages branch in every direction. However, the once-opulent city is now crumbling with decay. When the Door of Komalie was opened and titans spilled out into Tyria, Bava Nisos was sieged by a bloody battle that took down one of Tyria’s most powerful societies. Most of the living mursaat and attacking titans were slaughtered. But despite their defeat and the city’s abandonment, menacing magic still lingers inside of Bava Nisos. Left alone for almost three hundred years, this magic has mutated and warped with time.</p>
<p>As the grand finale of the <em>Guild&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;2:&nbsp;Janthir&nbsp;Wilds</em> experience, Bava Nisos contains a climactic map-wide meta-event. You’ll be working alongside factions supporting the Tyrian Alliance&mdash;such as Councillor Ludo from Rata Sum and a spirited guest from Divinity’s Reach’s most elusive social club&mdash;to fight your way to the Mists gate at the city’s heart. The meta contains three main lanes that players can participate in, where you’ll face various obstacles and threats as you navigate the surreal landscape.</p>
<p>What could possibly await you inside?</p>
<p class="screenshot"><a href="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ea410gw248.jpg"><img src="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ea410gw248-590x332.jpg" alt="A dark cavern filled with crumbling towers and ominous winged statues." width="590" height="332" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-57815" srcset="https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...248-590x332.jpg 590w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...248-768x432.jpg 768w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...w248-130x73.jpg 130w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...w248-139x79.jpg 139w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...248-290x164.jpg 290w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /></a></p>
<h3>New Challenges Await</h3>
<p>The battle for Mount Balrior is about to get even more intense. In “Absolution,” we’re adding the third and final Convergences boss encounter as Ura, the titan imperatrix known as the Steamshrieker, at last makes her appearance. This godspawn commands the scalding steam and choking geysers of the mountain, making her unending wrath truly something to be feared. If you’ve fought Ura before, this encounter introduces some new mechanics to make this a fresh twist on the Mount Balrior experience!</p>
<p>And for those seeking an even greater test of skill, we’re also introducing challenge mode for Mount Balrior Convergences, offering greater difficulty, sharper coordination checks, and even more rewarding spoils for those who triumph.</p>
<p>Our newest fractal dungeon, Kinfall, also arrives on June 3. Step into the roles of a small band of lowland kodan as they defend their homeland during the Icebrood invasion of northern Tyria…and as they hear the whispers of the legendary dragon Jormag. In response to player feedback, with Kinfall we’ve intentionally stepped back from the raid-like complexity of more recent fractals in favor of a streamlined and repeatable experience reminiscent of some of our earlier fractals. The challenge mode for Kinfall will release three weeks later, in our June 24 game update.</p>
<p class="screenshot"><a href="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/72c6eKinfallFractal.jpg"><img src="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/72c6eKinfallFractal-590x332.jpg" alt="A kodan fighting a foe in a dreary blue ice cave." width="590" height="332" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-57773" srcset="https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...tal-590x332.jpg 590w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...tal-768x432.jpg 768w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...ctal-130x73.jpg 130w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...ctal-139x79.jpg 139w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...tal-290x164.jpg 290w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /></a></p>
<h3>Home Improvement</h3>
<p>In “Absolution,” we’re doubling the homestead decoration cap to 2,000, giving builders and dreamers the space they’ve been craving. Players can train the new Grandmaster Handiworker Crafting tier to increase the decoration limit by 500, and Deft Lahar will sell decoration limit increases to raise the cap by an additional 500. This release also introduces new decorations and adds two new resource nodes to Deft Lahar’s inventory.</p>
<p>But we’re not stopping at structural upgrades; we’re elevating the vibes as well. On June 3, the Black Lion Trading Company will debut a brand-new customization option that lets you change the appearance of your homestead’s sky. First up is a dazzling aurora borealis display that turns Hearth’s Glow into a northern dreamscape. Later this year, you’ll also be able to personalize the entrance to your homestead with skins for your conjured doorway. </p>
<p>Look forward to even more updates to homesteads in our next expansion later this year. Homesteads are beginning to rival fashion wars for the most expressive corner of Tyria!</p>
<p class="screenshot"><a href="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/33211Shimmering_Aurora_Screenshot_02.jpg"><img src="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/33211Shimmering_Aurora_Screenshot_02-590x332.jpg" alt="A peaceful homestead featuring a shimmering aurora skybox." width="590" height="332" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-57771" srcset="https://d3b4yo2b5lbf..._02-590x332.jpg 590w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf..._02-768x432.jpg 768w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...t_02-130x73.jpg 130w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...t_02-139x79.jpg 139w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf..._02-290x164.jpg 290w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...reenshot_02.jpg 950w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /></a></p>
<h3>Quality of Life</h3>
<p>We’ve got a hefty round of quality-of-life updates coming your way in “Absolution.” From the Wizard’s Portal Tome to hold your collection of portal scrolls to the endlessly efficient Wizard’s Gobbler, this update is full of small changes that make a big difference (and free up some much-needed inventory space)! We’ll dive into all the details in a dedicated blog later this week. Stay tuned!</p>
<h3>Summer Schedule</h3>
<p>While “Absolution” marks the end of the <em>Guild&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;2:&nbsp;Janthir&nbsp;Wilds</em> story arc, there’s still plenty to look forward to in the months ahead while you await this summer’s news of our next expansion. </p>
<p>Here’s a look at what’s coming up on the horizon:</p>
<p class="screenshot"><a href="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/155abenUS-gw2-ex5-jw-qr3-studio-update-roadmap-1920x1080.jpg"><img src="//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/155abenUS-gw2-ex5-jw-qr3-studio-update-roadmap-1920x1080-590x332.jpg" alt="A roadmap covering the next 3 months of events in Guild Wars 2" width="590" height="332" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-57824" srcset="https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...080-590x332.jpg 590w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...1080-130x73.jpg 130w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...1080-139x79.jpg 139w, https://d3b4yo2b5lbf...080-290x164.jpg 290w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /></a></p>
<h4><strong>June</strong></h4>
<ul>
<li><strong>June 3</strong>&mdash;<em>Guild&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;2:&nbsp;Janthir&nbsp;Wilds</em>&mdash;”Absolution”</li>
<li><strong>June 17</strong>&ndash;July 8&mdash;Dragon Bash</li>
<li><strong>June 24</strong>&mdash;Skills and Balance Update, Kinfall Fractal Challenge Mode</li>
</ul>
<h4><strong>July</strong></h4>
<ul>
<li><strong>July (TBA)</strong>&mdash;Expansion Announcement</li>
<li><strong>July 15&ndash;July 29</strong>&mdash;Return to <em>Secrets of the Obscure</em> Event</li>
<li><strong>July 22&ndash;July 29</strong>&mdash;WvW Rush Bonus Event</li>
</ul>
<h4><strong>August</strong></h4>
<ul>
<li><strong>August 5&ndash;August 12</strong>&mdash;PvP Push Beta Event 3</li>
<li><strong>August 5&ndash;August 26</strong>&mdash;Festival of the Four Winds</li>
</ul>
<p>Stay tuned to our channels throughout this week and next as we share a deeper look at what’s coming with “Absolution.” As always, thank you for being part of this journey with us.<br />&mdash;The Guild Wars 2 Team</p>
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