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About Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 lets players roam the continent of Tyria, where discovery is guided by a compass and a content guide that suggest landmarks and directions. The open world is populated by characters whose personal goals trigger renown hearts and dynamic events that grant experience.
The game blends adventure, MMO and RPG elements and is free‑to‑play, with optional expansions that add new maps, professions, mounts and story chapters. Players shape combat by equipping weapons, skills and traits, and can customize appearance with skins and dyes.
01 / THE GUIDE
Open World Exploration
Tyria can be traversed in any direction; the compass points to nearby points of interest and the content guide lists suggested locations. Players may simply pick a favorite direction and let the world present encounters without a fixed route.
Exploration ties into renown hearts and dynamic events, so moving through the landscape can trigger experience‑granting activities tied to the characters and locations the player discovers.
- Use the compass to locate new points of interest.
- Consult the content guide for recommended landmarks.
02 / THE GUIDE
Dynamic Events and Renown
Characters across Tyria have personal goals that appear as dynamic events. Completing these events or the associated renown hearts provides experience and advances the story tied to that region.
Players may choose to help or thwart a character’s plan; either choice resolves the event and still awards experience, reflecting the open‑ended nature of the living world.
- Assist characters to see their story progress.
- Oppose characters for alternative event outcomes.
03 / THE GUIDE
Weapon and Skill Customization
Each profession can wield a variety of weapons, and every weapon type offers a distinct playstyle. Players unlock and equip hundreds of skills and traits to refine how they fight with their chosen weapons.
Equipping new weapons and armor also unlocks their visual skins, which can be further personalized using the wardrobe’s dye options and thousands of possible combinations.
- Try different weapon types to discover preferred combat feel.
- Collect dyes to customize unlocked skins.
04 / THE GUIDE
Structured PvP
Players can enter structured PvP directly; all participants compete at the same level and receive access to max‑level gear and build options, ensuring a level playing field for competitive matches.
PvP matches are separate from the open‑world experience, focusing on player‑versus‑player combat rather than story progression or exploration.
- Enter PvP early to test your builds against others.
- Use the provided max‑level gear for balanced matches.
05 / THE GUIDE
Expansions and Living World
Purchasing expansions adds new maps, the revenant profession, mounts with movement skills, and activities such as gliding, fishing, skiff piloting and demon‑rift hunting, each introduced in a specific expansion.
Living World seasons continue the story between expansions; seasons 1 and 2 are free with the core game, while later seasons require purchase and become playable at level 80, unlocking new zones, rewards and Masteries.
- Upgrade to an expansion for additional maps and professions.
- Reach level 80 to access Living World episodes.
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