Guild Wars News

The Year of the Dragon is upon us! Hop over to the Canthan New Year’s Festival web page and take in of all the fantastic stuff we have planned for this year. The festivities begin on Thursday, February 2nd and wrap up on Monday, February 6th.

Festival Update

• Made preparations for the Canthan New Year Festival.

Skills

Assassin

• Fox Fangs (PvP): reduced bonus damage to 10...25.
• Leaping Mantis Sting: reduced bonus damage to 5...15.

Dervish

• Crippling Victory: increased adrenaline cost to 6; removed Cripple from AoE component.
• Onslaught (PvP): removed 25% movement-speed increase.
• Twin Moon Sweep (PvP): reduced damage by 25%.
• Wearying Strike: increase adrenaline cost to 6.

Elementalist

• Blinding Flash: increased recharge to 8 seconds.
• Glyph of Sacrifice: added the following functionality: "Ends prematurely if you use a non-spell skill."
• Obsidian Flame (PvP): split for PvP; reduced damage to 22...92.

Monk

• Shield Guardian: reduced cost to 5 Energy; increased casting time to 1.5 seconds.
• Spirit Bond: reduced healing threshold to 50 damage; reduced healing to 30...90.
• Spirit Bond (PvP): reduced healing threshold to 50 damage; reduced healing to 30...90.

Paragon

• Wild Throw: added the following functionality: "All of your non-spear attack skills are disabled for 3 seconds."

Ranger

• Melandru's Shot: reduced recharge to 8 seconds.

Warrior

• Enraged Smash (PvP): split for PvP; increased recharge to 10 seconds.
• Yeti Smash: removed 1 second activation; reduced adrenaline cost to 6.

Skill Balance

For more information on these changes, please see the Developer Updates page.

Hard Mode

• Reduced the armor level for Hard Mode enemies.
• Raised the maximum Health of Hard Mode enemies.

Exhaustion

• The amount of Exhaustion caused by a skill is now represented numerically next to a gray dot with a downward arrow.

Skills

Elementalist

• Armor of Frost: reduced recharge to 20 seconds; added the following functionality: "You have +1 Water Magic." Removed "Ends if you use Fire Magic."
• Blinding Surge: added the following functionality: "This spell has 25% armor penetration. If this spell strikes an attacking foe, all adjacent foes are also struck and this spell deals 50% more damage."
• Celestial Storm: improved description.
• Chain Lightning: now always causes 5 Exhaustion instead of conditionally causing 10 Exhaustion.
• Churning Earth: reduced casting time to 2 seconds.
• Double Dragon: increased casting time to 1 second; increased cost to 10 Energy; increased recharge to 20 seconds; changed functionality to: "Invoke the power of the Dragon. For 8 seconds, you and target ally are enchanted with Double Dragon. Adjacent foes are dealt 5...30 fire damage each second. Additionally, when you or your ally use skills that target a foe, that foe is set on fire for 0...3 seconds."
• Elemental Attunement: rescaled duration to 25...60 seconds; reduced recharge to 20 seconds; added the following functionality: "You are attuned to Air, Fire, Water, and Earth and gain +1...2 to these attributes."
• Energy Blast: reduced casting time to 1.5 seconds.
• Energy Boon: changed skill type to enchantment spell; increased casting time to 1 second; increased cost to 10 Energy; reduced recharge to 20 seconds; changed functionality to: "For 36...60 seconds, Energy Boon raises the maximum Health of you and target ally by 1...3 for each point of your respective maximum Energy. When this enchantment is first applied, you and your target gain 1...12 Energy. You gain an additional 1 Energy for every 2 points you have in Energy Storage."
• Ether Prodigy: increased duration to 8...20 seconds; reduced damage per point of Energy to 2.
• Fireball: reduced casting time to 1.5 seconds.
• Freezing Gust: increased recharge to 8 seconds.
• Glimmering Mark: added the following functionality: "For 10 seconds, target foe and all foes adjacent to your target take 5...25 damage each second. Foes using attack skills are Blinded for 3 seconds."
• Glyph of Energy: increased recharge to 25 seconds; now affects your next 1...3 spells; reduced Energy savings to 10...25; added the following functionality: "Your elemental attributes are increased by 1...2."
• Gust: changed functionality to: "For 5...11 seconds, both you and target ally move 33% faster. When you cast this spell, all foes near you and your target take 15...70 cold damage. Foes struck by Gust while attacking or moving are knocked down."
• Ice Prison: removed the following functionality: "This effect ends if target takes fire damage."
• Ice Spikes: reduced casting time to 1.5 seconds.
• Invoke Lightning: now always causes 5 Exhaustion instead of conditionally causing 10 Exhaustion.
• Lightning Surge: reduced cost to 10 Energy; reduced casting time to 1 second; added the following functionality: "Target foe has Cracked Armor for 5...20 seconds. This spell has 25% armor penetration."
• Master of Magic: reduced recharge to 10 seconds; changed elemental attribute scaling to 8...14; removed Energy regeneration; removed the following functionality: "This enchantment ends if you use a non-Elementalist skill." Added the following functionality: "Your elemental spells return 30% of their Energy cost."
• Mind Burn: changed functionality to: "Target foe and all adjacent foes take 15...60 fire damage. If you have more Energy than target foe, that foe and all adjacent foes take an additional 15...60 fire damage and are set on fire for 1...8 seconds."
• Mind Freeze: increased damage to 10...60; increased additional damage to 10...60; reduced Exhaustion to 5; reduced recharge to 5 seconds; reduced duration to 1...5 seconds.
• Mind Freeze (PvP): split for PvP; reduced Exhaustion to 5; reduced recharge to 5 seconds; reduced duration to 1...5 seconds.
• Mind Shock: reduced Exhaustion to 5.
• Mind Shock (PvP): split for PvP.
• Mirror of Ice: reduced casting time to 0.75 seconds; reduced Energy cost to 10; reduced recharge to 12; changed functionality to: "Shatter a Mirror of Ice. All foes near you and target ally take 15...70 cold damage and move 66% slower for 2...6 seconds. If you strike a foe hexed with Water Magic, Mirror of Ice recharges 50% faster.
• Mist Form: reduced cost to 5 Energy; changed functionality to: "For 10...45 seconds, you take 33% less damage from foes under the effect of Water Magic hexes. Whenever you cast an elemental spell, all non-spirit allies in earshot are healed for 50...250% of the Energy cost of the spell."
• Mist Form (PvP): split for PvP; reduced cost to 5 Energy; changed functionality to: "For 10...45 seconds, you take 33% less damage from foes under the effect of Water Magic hexes. Whenever you cast an elemental spell, all non-spirit allies in earshot are healed for 50...250% of the Energy cost of the spell. This spell does not heal allies above 80% Health."
• Obsidian Flame: reduced Exhaustion to 5; reduced casting time to 1.5 seconds.
• Ride the Lightning: reduced Exhaustion to 5; reduced damage to 10...70; you can now teleport to allies as well as enemies; added the following functionality: "All adjacent foes are Blinded for 1...5 seconds."
• Ride the Lightning (PvP): split for PvP; increased cost to 15 Energy; increased recharge to 10 seconds; reduced Exhaustion to 5; reduced damage to 10...70; you can now teleport to allies as well as enemies; added the following functionality: "All adjacent foes are Blinded for 1...5 seconds."
• Sandstorm: reduced recharge to 25 seconds.
• Second Wind: reduced casting time to 1 second; reduced Exhaustion to 5; changed functionality to: "You gain 1 Energy and 5 Health for each point of Energy restricted by Exhaustion. You lose all enchantments."
• Shatterstone: reduced cost to 10 Energy; changed functionality to: "Target foe is struck for 25...100 cold damage and is hexed with Shatterstone for 3 seconds. When Shatterstone ends, that foe and all nearby foes are struck for 25...100 cold damage."
• Shockwave: changed functionality to: "All foes in the area take 15...60 earth damage and are Weakened for 1...10 seconds. Nearby foes also take +15...60 earth damage and have Cracked Armor for 1...10 seconds. Adjacent foes suffer the previous effects, take +15...60 earth damage, and are Blinded for 1...10 seconds."
• Star Burst: reduced recharge to 7 seconds; changed functionality to: "Target touched foe and all foes in the area are struck for 7...112 fire damage and set on fire for 1...4 seconds. For each foe you hit, gain 2 Energy."
• Stone Sheath: reduced recharge to 12 seconds; changed functionality to: "For 5...20 seconds, you and target ally have +1...35 armor and are immune to critical hits. When you cast this spell, all foes near you and your target take 15...70 earth damage and are Weakened for 5...20 seconds."
• Teinai's Prison: removed the following functionality: "This effect ends if target takes fire damage."
• Thunderclap: reduced recharge to 8 seconds; reduced damage to 10...50; added 25% armor penetration; changed functionality to: "Create a massive shockwave at target foe's location. Deals 10...50 lightning damage to target and all adjacent foes. Struck foes are interrupted and suffer from Cracked Armor and Weakness for 5...20 seconds. This spell has 25% armor penetration."
• Unsteady Ground: reduced recharge to 15 seconds.
• Ward Against Harm: changed functionality to: "Create a Ward Against Harm at this location. For 5...15 seconds, non-spirit allies in this area have +1...3 Health regeneration, +12...24 armor, and an additional +12...24 armor against elemental damage. This spell is disabled for 20 seconds."
• Ward Against Harm (PvP): split for PvP; increased recharge to 30 seconds; changed functionality to: "Create a Ward Against Harm at this location. For 5...15 seconds, non-spirit allies in this area have +1...3 Health regeneration, +12...24 armor, and an additional +12...24 armor against elemental damage. This spell is disabled for 30 seconds."
• Water Trident: changed functionality to: "Send out a fast-moving Water Trident, striking target foe and up to 2 adjacent foes for 10...90 cold damage if it hits. If it hits a moving foe, that foe is knocked down."

Mesmer

• Mistrust: reduced damage to 10...100.
• Mistrust (PvP): reduced damage to 10...75; reduced recharge to 12 seconds.

Ritualist

• Ancestor's Rage: lightning damage from this skill no longer ignores armor.
• Ancestor's Rage (PvP): increased damage to 1...41; lightning damage from this skill no longer ignores armor.
• Cruel was Daoshen: reduced damage to 15...85.
• Destructive was Glaive: reduced damage to 15...85.
• Destructive was Glaive (PvP): reduced damage to 15...85.
• Signet of Spirits: reduced spirit damage to 5...20.
• Spirit Rift: reduced damage to 25...125.

Automated Tournaments

• Updated the 2012 Automated Tournament Series Trophy in the Great Temple of Balthazar.
• Updated the Automated Tournament map rotation.

We’ve made a major update to the Elementalist, improving their viability in PvE. Try out the enhanced elementalist today! Check out our Developer Update to learn more!

PvP Updates

• Added support for the January Flux.

Wintersday Events

• Made further preparations for the Wintersday 2011 finale.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that caused people who bought only the Augur of Kormir or Vision of Lyssa from the Guild Wars In-Game Store to receive the opposite item.
  • If you were affected by this issue, please contact Support.

Wintersday

The Season of the Colossus is loosening its grip,
But there are still the icy patches. Careful or you'll slip!
Perhaps you are the type to frolic in the frosty glow.
Perhaps you wear a fuzzy scarf until the Zephyrs blow.
Whichever type of reveler you know yourself to be,
One thing is true: this is a time for sweet festivity.
So wrap your hand around a ball of snow or mug of cheer.
Pelt your foes! Hug your friends! Wintersday is here!

Wintersday Events

• Preparations have been made for Wintersday 2011.
• Holiday quests are now available throughout the land.
• Players can enter PvP Snowball Fights by speaking with Wintersday Priests.
• 8v8 ATS-style Snowball Tournaments are accessible through guild halls.
• Replaced "Operation: Crush Spirits" with a PvP version of "The Great Snowball Fight of the Gods," accessible by talking to the Priest of Balthazar in Kamadan or Lion's Arch.
• Added a Priest of Balthazar to the Great Temple of Balthazar for those accessing "The Great Snowball Fight of the Gods."
• Removed the grentch activity from festival towns.

In-Game Store

• Added localization support to the Guild Wars In-Game Store for the new costumes and limited-edition costume packs.

Bug Fix

• Fixed a bug that caused display issues with the Dragonguard costume.

Costumes

• The Augur of Kormir and Vision of Lyssa costumes are now available for purchase from the Guild Wars In-Game Store and the NCsoft Store.
• The Limited Edition Pantheon Pack of costumes is also available for purchase from from the Guild Wars In-Game Store and the NCsoft Store.

General Updates

• Kurzick architects have been dispatched to build a ramp in "Urgoz's Warren" to facilitate exploration without teleportation.

In-Game Store

• Removed the grentch activity from festival towns.

Bug Fix

• Fixed a bug that caused display issues with the Dragonguard costume.

Bug Fix

• Fixed a bug that caused "The Great Snowball Fight of the Gods" to start players in the wrong location.

Wintersday Events

• Added additional support for The Great Snowball Fight of the Gods.

Prepare for two weeks of holiday fun – Wintersday is here! The annual in-game festivities run from December 15 to January 2, and this year we’re featuring two brand new costumes! Learn more at our Wintersday 2011 web page.

Feature Updates

• Ensured Nicholas the Traveler and Professor Yakkington are well-supplied for the next iteration of their Tyrian adventure.

Automated Tournaments

• Updated the 2011 Automated Tournament Series Trophy in the Great Temple of Balthazar.
• Updated the Automated Tournament map rotation.

We've cut the price on the Xunlai Storage Pane down to $6.99 for one week only. Stop by the In-Game Store or NCsoft Store and stock up on storage for the holidays! Don't delay, the sale ends at Noon Pacific on December 8.

For one weekend only, we’re hacking prices on Guild Wars in half! Pick up the Guild Wars Trilogy for $14.99 and Eye of the North for just $9.99. Take advantage of this great deal now – the sale runs from November 25 (12:01 AM Pacific Time) to November 28 (11:59 PM Pacific Time) in the In-Game Store and the NCsoft Store!

As the nights become shorter and autumn winds blow through Tyria, it’s time to give thanks for this year’s harvest with some seasonal treats! From Nov 23-28, enemies in PVE will randomly drop Hard Apple Cider and Slice of Pumpkin Pie, two tasty consumables that are sure to please!

Festival Update

• Halloween hat givers will be added to Lion's Arch and Kamadan for one week.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that occasionally prevented players from completing "A Favor Returned."
• Fixed a bug that allowed players to attack Carlotta in "Passage Through the Dark River."
• Changed the spawn locations of some Ettin groups in the Deldrimor Bowl.
• Fixed art issues with Post-Searing Jarrel the Tamer.
• Fixed some clipping issues with the Tricorne festival hat.
• Fixed some clipping issues with the Wraith Veil costume headpiece.
• Changed the functionality of Leadership to: "You gain 2 Energy for each ally affected by one of your shouts or chants (maximum 1 Energy for every 2 ranks)."

This past Halloween, many Guild Wars players on the East Coast of the USA were unable to participate in the big holiday finale and missed out on this year’s festival hats. To address the situation, two Halloween Hat NPCs will appear in-game from Nov 17 through Nov 24. Find Aahtan in Kamadan or Erulis in Lion's Arch to exchange Halloween items for this year's hats!

Automated Tournaments

• Updated the 2011 Automated Tournament Series Trophy in the Great Temple of Balthazar.
• Updated the Automated Tournament map rotation.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed additional clipping issues with the Ravenheart Witchwear.
• Fixed a bug that sometimes prevented Hidden Treasures from being revealed by the Light of Deldrimor.

PvP Updates

• Added localization support for this month's Flux.

Festival Updates

• Added support for Mad King Thorn's upcoming visit.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed some clipping issues with the Ravenheart Witchwear.

It was a tough decision, but we have selected the Halloween Art Contest winners from a field of fantastic entries. Thank you to all who participated! Check out the winning art right here.

Festival Updates

• Updated skill bars for "Scarred Psyche" to improve performance: replaced Animate Candy Minions with Animate Candy Golem.
• Updated rewards for "Scarred Psyche."

Festival Updates

• Added support for Halloween quests.

Festival Updates

• Added localized text for various parts of Halloween.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that prevented Pious Renewal from recharging outside Costume Brawl.

Halloween 2011

The leaves have turned. The air is chill.
Spectral fiends do what they will.
We light a candle, draw the shades,
And hope it's just the light that fades.

Can ancient bonds still hold back doom?
Is there no everlasting tomb?
Should we help break the Mad King's yoke?
Are we a punchline in his joke?

Let's robe ourselves in others' guises,
Dodge the tricks, and seek out prizes,
Risk our souls for passing fame,
And pray that this is just a game.

Halloween Events

• Preparations have been made for Halloween 2011.
• Costume Brawl has been updated with new hero and villain costumes.
• A new challenge mission will become available early next week.

Festival Updates

• Changed the default dye colors for the Ravenheart Witchwear and Vale Wraith Costumes.
• Changed Guild Wars In-Game Store art to reflect new default dye colors.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that prevented Pious Renewal from recharging itself during Costume Brawl.

Halloween is coming to Tyria, so prepare for 13 days of mischief and mayhem, courtesy of Mad King Thorn and his Lunatic Court! The Halloween festival starts on Thursday, October 20, at noon Pacific daylight time (-7 GMT) and runs until 12:01 a.m. on November 2. This year we’re offering two spooky new costumes: the Vale Wraith and Ravenheart Witchwear. As always, Mad King Thorn himself will make a series of appearances on October 31! Be there—but beware! Head over to the Halloween 2011 page for the details!

Save the date! October 15 is just around the corner, and that means Pink Day in LA is coming soon! Find out more about this charity event in support of breast cancer research on the Community News page!

Experience the second phase of the three-part Winds of Change storyline – now live in-game. Battle for the soul of Cantha with all new-content, and check out our updated Winds of Change web page right here!

The days are growing shorter, the air is crisp, and pumpkins are ripe on the vine – fall is here! If you’re like us, you’re counting the days until Halloween. Help us celebrate the season by entering our seventh annual Guild Wars Halloween Art Contest! Design a costume, carve a pumpkin, create a spooky piece of art, or whatever the spirits inspire you to create. Learn how to enter the contest right here!

Summer is in full swing, but there’s a chance to cool off in Tyria during Wintersday in July. This year, as a special treat, those who spend the weekend slinging snowballs can do so in their favorite costumes and festival hats! Join us, starting at noon Pacific (-7 GMT), and find out just how refreshing it is to drink an eggnog in the summer sun. See the event page for more details.

Summer in Cantha brings the Dragon Festival, that annual celebration of the rebirth of the Empire of the Dragon from the devastation of the Jade Wind. Travel to Cantha and join the festivities in the Shing Jea Monastery from June 30^th to July 4^th. You'll find games of chance, rollerbeetle races, holiday quests and treats, and a visit from the Emperor himself!

Explore the wonders of the Dragon Festival here!

We have just launched Guild Wars Support Forums, an online resource for Guild Wars players who have technical issues, want to submit a bug report, or have problems with their account. Players will use their Guild Wars game account to register on these forums, which are currently only available in English. Keep in mind that these forums are for support-related issues only.

We’ll be doing some maintenance work on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 12:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time. We expect the work to take about an hour, during which you will not be able to log in. We’re sorry for any inconvenience, and appreciate your patience.

Start time: Thursday, June 9, 12:01 AM PDT
End time: Thursday, June 9, 1:01 AM PDT

Our six-week anniversary sale continues with 50% off Guild Wars: Eye of the North – available until Thursday June 2 in the In-Game Store and the NCsoft Store. A new item(s) goes on sale each Thursday at noon Pacific until June 9, 2011.

To celebrate the sixth anniversary of Guild Wars, we’re hosting an in-game party – and you’re invited! A week full of games, sugary treats, and anniversary surprises starts at noon Pacific on April 28. Check out our anniversary page for more details!

This weekend, Guild Wars Guru starts off their 2011 GvG Championship Series tournament, and the folks at [Lore] are hosting MantleCon! You're invited, so head over to Community News for more details!

You’re invited to some awesome parties organized by players like you! Read the latest edition of Community News for more details!