Blockbuster game Guild Wars 2’s second expansion, Path of Fire, is here to provide players with even more adventures in the huge land of Tyria. Here’s everything you need to know before you embark upon your own epic quest.
The story
Once you have Path of Fire, you can jump straight into its story, which features a suitably epic foe to take on: Balthazar, the god of fire and war. He’s one of the six gods whom humanity has worshipped for centuries, but he’s not here to answer any prayers.
Balthazar’s a god with a plan: he wants to destroy the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik, feed off the crystal dragon’s magical power, and smash through any obstacle that stands in his way. He’s organized a massive army to make war in the south of Tyria. But that’s where you come in.
The new region
Balthazar’s army is rampaging in the Crystal Desert and the kingdom of Elona. So that means players have more huge maps to explore while they’re trying to stop the onslaught. Explore vast new maps filled with magic-drenched desert plains, ancient temples and ruins, and beautiful oases. Uncover secrets of Tyria’s history, and discover the fate of the Elonian people after years of silence.
Along with the new areas, Path of Fire opens up a new guild hall called Windswept Haven to provide a base of operations in between adventures. This oasis in the Crystal Desert boasts beautiful architecture and a wealth of secrets.
Mounts
With all that new real estate opening all the time, it helps to have a little transportation to get around it. That’s why Path of Fire introduced mounts — but they do so much more than just speeding up your heroic commute; the rideable beasts also provide new ways to get around and explore the world.
Take giant, canyon-traversing leaps with the Raptor. Reach high rocky outcrops with the Springer. Blink through time with the Jackal. Hover across dangerous ground with the Skimmer. Or swoop high into the sky with the powerful Griffon.
But that’s not all: The Roller Beetle is a new mount that lets its riders drift, jump, and race at full speed across the desert. Roller Beetle Racing is the all-new craze hooking players with its fast and furious action. There are five official courses across the Guild Wars 2 map with races and time trials and rewards and prizes for the victors. While only the best of the best can win at roller beetle races, don’t be discouraged — anyone can participate, as the races take place in core maps and kind vendors will allow you to mount up whether or not you’ve tamed a beetle of your own!
Keep growing your character
80 isn’t just a level number. It’s also the start of a new way to customize and grow a character. Path of Fire also introduces new elite specializations to help players fine-tune their heroes to suit their needs.
Players of each of Guild Wars 2’s nine professions can choose a specialization which gives them access to new weapons, skills, and abilities. Warriors become Spellbreakers and use the power of meditation to see past their enemies defenses. Rangers become Soulbeasts and can merge with their pet to attack as one. An Engineer can harness the power of the sun as the Holosmith. Mesmers become Mirages, magical duelists who wield deception as a weapon. Guardian Firebrands are devoted fighters who protect their allies and rebuke enemies in equal measure. Necromancers take on the power of the Scourge and bid shades move at their command. Elementalist Weavers combine their elemental attacks together in all-new ways. Thieves are experts at stealth and surprise made all the more deadly as Deadeye snipers. And the otherworldly Revenants channel the legend of Kalla Scorchrazor as Renegades.
Path of Fire offers plenty more content to keep people playing, growing, and customizing their experience. This means tons more gear to play with, loot to salvage, and collections to complete — players can participate in bounties to hunt down bosses or forge a weapon that will really tie that new, desert-themed outfit together. And the story continues with Living World, regular content updates that provide new story episodes just like your favorite TV shows — meaning the world of Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire is always evolving.
The editions
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire is available now.
