Guild Wars 2 is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by ArenaNet that came out in 2012. Since then, the developers have pushed out multiple expansions to extend the main storyline and add more content than what was seen on launch day.
Here is a detailed list of all expansions for Guild Wars 2 in order.
Heart of Thorns
Expansion Number: 1
Release: October 23, 2015
Heart of Thorns is the first expansion for Guild Wars 2. The story follows the Warrior of Light as they journey to Ishgard, a city-state embroiled in the centuries-long Dragonsong War against the Dravanian Horde.
Uncovering the truth behind the conflict’s origins and Ishgard’s dark secrets, they must confront powerful dragons, navigate political intrigue, and mend the rift between man and dragon. In a tale of sacrifice and redemption, the Warrior strives to end the cycle of vengeance and bring peace to the war-torn nation.
Below is an overview of new features introduced in the Heart of Thorns expansion.
- New Region: The Heart of Maguuma
- Explore the dense and dangerous jungle zones, including Verdant Brink, Auric Basin, Tangled Depths, and Dragon’s Stand.
- Dynamic map-wide meta events that challenge players to coordinate in large-scale encounters.
- Elite Specializations
- Each profession gains access to a unique Elite Specialization, unlocking new weapons, skills, and traits.
- Examples include the Dragonhunter (Guardian with longbow), Reaper (Necromancer with greatsword), and Chronomancer (Mesmer with time-based abilities).
- Mastery System
- A new progression system for max-level players, replacing traditional leveling beyond 80.
- Unlock gliding for aerial mobility, mushroom jumping for better navigation, and Itzel & Nuhoch language mastery to interact with jungle inhabitants.
- Raids
- Introduction of challenging 10-player raid content, starting with Spirit Vale.
- Requires teamwork, strategy, and mastery of mechanics to overcome powerful bosses.
- Guild Halls
- Guilds can claim and customize their own massive guild halls, including the Gilded Hollow and Lost Precipice.
- Build structures, unlock upgrades, and participate in guild-based activities.
- PvP & WvW Enhancements
- New PvP game mode: Stronghold, featuring an objective-based battle with NPC reinforcements.
- World vs. World improvements, including redesigned borderlands maps and new siege tactics.
Path of Fire
Expansion Number: 2
Release: September 22, 2017
Path of Fire is the second expansion to Guild Wars 2. The story follows the return of the rogue god Balthazar, seeking to steal the power of the Elder Dragons to fuel his war against them. The Commander and their allies travel to the Crystal Desert and Elona to stop his rampage, uncovering the threat he poses to all of Tyria.
Along the way, they gain the aid of powerful mounts, encounter the mysterious Forgotten and Primeval Kings, and learn more about the connection between dragons and divine magic. In a climactic battle, the Commander defeats Balthazar, but his death transfers immense power to the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik, setting the stage for even greater dangers ahead.
Below is an overview of new features introduced in the Path of Fire expansion.
- New Region: The Crystal Desert & Elona
- Explore five massive, diverse maps, including the desolate Crystal Oasis, the sprawling Elon Riverlands, the deadly Desolation, and the lush Domain of Vabbi.
- Face off against Balthazar’s Forged army, the Branded, and the Awakened forces of Palawa Joko.
- Mount System
- Introduces four unique mounts at launch—Raptor, Springer, Skimmer, and Jackal—each with special movement abilities.
- Griffon, a hidden fifth mount, available as an endgame mastery reward.
- Mounts provide improved world traversal and play a role in puzzle-solving and exploration.
- Elite Specializations
- Each profession gains a new Elite Specialization, offering fresh weapons, skills, and traits.
- Examples include the Firebrand (Guardian with tomes), Deadeye (Thief with rifles), and Scourge (Necromancer with sand-based barriers and shades).
- Bounties & Open-World Group Challenges
- Players can take on bounty contracts to hunt powerful enemies in the desert.
- Encourages large-scale cooperative play with dynamic, high-difficulty encounters.
- New Story & Enemies
- Face off against Balthazar, the rogue god of war, as he seeks to destroy the Elder Dragons.
- Encounter new factions, including the Forged, Awakened, and Branded, each with unique combat mechanics.
- PvP & WvW Updates
- New PvP map: Djinn’s Dominion, featuring interactive terrain elements.
- World vs. World improvements, including mount integration and balance updates.
End of Dragons
Expansion Number: 3
Release: February 28, 2022
End of Dragons is the third expansion for Guild Wars 2. The story follows the Commander and their allies’ journey to the long-isolated land of Cantha to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Elder Dragon Soo-Won and the rise of the jade-powered civilization.
As tensions rise between Canthan factions and the dangerous Void corruption spreads, the team learns that the death of previous Elder Dragons has destabilized the balance of magic. In a desperate final battle, the Commander confronts the corrupted Soo-Won and, with her sacrifice, ends the Elder Dragon cycle forever—ushering in a new era of uncertainty and possibility for Tyria.
Below is an overview of new features introduced in the End of Dragons expansion.
- New Region: The Crystal Desert & Elona
- Explore five massive, diverse maps, including the desolate Crystal Oasis, the sprawling Elon Riverlands, the deadly Desolation, and the lush Domain of Vabbi.
- Face off against Balthazar’s Forged army, the Branded, and the Awakened forces of Palawa Joko.
- Mount System
- Introduces four unique mounts at launch—Raptor, Springer, Skimmer, and Jackal—each with special movement abilities.
- Griffon, a hidden fifth mount, available as an endgame mastery reward.
- Mounts provide improved world traversal and play a role in puzzle-solving and exploration.
- Elite Specializations
- Each profession gains a new Elite Specialization, offering fresh weapons, skills, and traits.
- Examples include the Firebrand (Guardian with tomes), Deadeye (Thief with rifles), and Scourge (Necromancer with sand-based barriers and shades).
- Bounties & Open-World Group Challenges
- Players can take on bounty contracts to hunt powerful enemies in the desert.
- Encourages large-scale cooperative play with dynamic, high-difficulty encounters.
- New Story & Enemies
- Face off against Balthazar, the rogue god of war, as he seeks to destroy the Elder Dragons.
- Encounter new factions, including the Forged, Awakened, and Branded, each with unique combat mechanics.
- PvP & WvW Updates
- New PvP map: Djinn’s Dominion, featuring interactive terrain elements.
- World vs. World improvements, including mount integration and balance updates.
Secrets of the Obscure
Expansion Number: 4
Release date: August 22, 2023
Secrets of the Obscure is the fourth expansion to Guild Wars 2. The story follows the Commander is drawn into a hidden war against the Kryptis, a demonic invasion force emerging from rifts in the skies above Tyria.
Guided by the Astral Ward and the enigmatic wizards of the Wizard’s Tower, the Commander uncovers long-kept secrets about Tyria’s magical protectors and the origins of the Kryptis threat.
As the battle escalates, the Commander ventures into the Mists to confront the Kryptis overlord and prevent the demons from consuming Tyria’s magic. The expansion sets the stage for a new era of celestial exploration and magical mysteries beyond the known world.
Below is an overview of new features introduced in the Secrets of the Obscure expansion.
- New Regions: Skyward Reaches & Kryptis Strongholds
- Explore the floating ruins of ancient wizard strongholds and battle the invading Kryptis across the skies of Tyria.
- Journey into the Rift and uncover hidden magical realms tied to Tyria’s deepest mysteries.
- Weapon Mastery System
- Professions are no longer restricted to specific weapon types—unlock and wield new weapons previously unavailable to your class.
- Adds new playstyles and build diversity without requiring an Elite Specialization.
- Expanded Aerial Combat & Flight Mechanics
- Skyscale riding now more accessible and integrated into combat encounters.
- New updrafts, ley lines, and aerial-focused encounters encourage high-mobility combat and exploration.
- Rift Hunting & PvE Challenges
- Players can seal Kryptis Rifts appearing throughout the world, engaging in escalating battles against waves of demonic enemies.
- Provides new dynamic content that scales with player participation.
- New PvE Endgame: Wizard’s Vault
- A new progression system rewarding players with currency to exchange for valuable gear, cosmetics, and account-wide unlocks.
- Encourages daily, weekly, and seasonal engagement with a variety of game modes.
- New Storyline & Kryptis Faction
- Uncover the secrets of the Wizard’s Tower and its hidden role in Tyria’s magical balance.
- Face off against the Kryptis, a demonic force threatening to consume Tyria’s magic from the Rift.
- Strike Missions & Future Content Updates
- New Strike Missions introduce challenging group PvE content with tiered difficulties.
- Expansion designed with a multi-update roadmap, promising additional story chapters and features over time.
Janthir Wilds
Expansion Number: 5
Release date: August 20, 2024
Janthir Wilds is the fifth expansion to Guild Wars 2. The story follows the Commander on a journey to the untamed jungles of Janthir, a vast and mystical land shrouded in mystery and home to powerful, ancient forces. The wilds are threatened by the sudden appearance of a forgotten, ancient deity that seeks to reclaim control over the region and its magical creatures.
As the Commander uncovers the truth behind the deity’s return, they must rally the local factions, face ancient guardians, and restore balance to the region before its chaotic magic consumes all of Tyria.
Below is an overview of new features introduced in the Janthir Wilds expansion.
- New Region: The Janthir Wilds
- Explore the vast, dense jungles of Janthir, a land filled with ancient ruins, mysterious magical forces, and untamed wildlife.
- Navigate treacherous terrain, from dense canopies to crumbling temples, while facing off against the unpredictable wildlife and powerful new enemies.
- New Faction: The Wildborn
- Encounter the Wildborn, a faction of nature-bound warriors who have lived in harmony with the land for centuries.
- Align with or oppose the Wildborn as you uncover their ties to the ancient deity threatening the land.
- New Mount: The Vineback
- Unlock the Vineback mount, a jungle-based mount that can traverse both land and climb walls using its vine-based abilities.
- Vinebacks provide increased mobility across vertical and dense environments, perfect for navigating the Wilds’ terrain.
- Shapeshifting Combat Mechanics
- Introduce a new shapeshifting combat mechanic for certain professions, allowing players to temporarily take on the abilities and forms of native creatures like the Tiger Spirit or the Guardian Bird.
- Shapeshifting offers dynamic gameplay and new strategies in both PvE and PvP content.
- World Events: The Awakening
- Engage in large-scale world events that span the region, including the reawakening of ancient beasts and the rise of the forgotten deity.
- Players must unite with local factions to fend off the growing threats in collaborative, high-difficulty encounters.
- New Storyline: The Forgotten Deity
- Investigate the return of an ancient, forgotten god whose magic has destabilized the land, summoning terrifying creatures and shifting the very fabric of nature.
- The Commander must uncover the deity’s origins and stop the spread of its chaotic influence before it corrupts all of Janthir.
- PvP & WvW Updates
- New PvP map: Temple of the Wild, set within the heart of the Janthir Wilds, featuring jungle-based obstacles and shifting environments.
- Enhanced World vs. World mechanics to incorporate new terrain elements and environmental hazards from the Wilds.
- Expanded Crafting & Customization
- New crafting recipes inspired by the wilds, including armor sets, weapons, and dyes that reflect the jungle’s vibrant ecosystem.
- Customization options for mounts, pets, and weapons related to the Janthir aesthetic.
Guild Wars 2 is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by ArenaNet and initially released in 2012 for PC.