Secrets of the Obscure Launches for Guild Wars 2, With New Story, Maps, New Build Options, and More

22.08.2023 - 18:25 / mmorpg.com / New Story / New

It's launch day for the next chapter in Guild Wars 2 with the release of the newest expansion, Secrets of the Obscure on PC. This is the fourth expansion, but the first following the 10-year-long Elder Dragon Saga. You'll be able to take to the sky, explore new areas,  get your hands on a skyscale mount, and get more build customization options.

Secrets of the Obscure  features two new explorable maps, Skywatch Archipelago and Amnytas. It also takes you to the Wizard’s Tower, a mysterious floating location that holds a number of secrets you'll get to start cracking. Because there are floating locations and other places to explore, this expansion also offers a brand new way to get your hands on the skyscale mount and advanced flight mastery training. Two of the skyscale masteries will also apply to the griffon mount, so you'll be able to also take that into this expansion content as well. If you already acquired the skyscale mount in Path of Fire, you'll unlock extra bonuses as you progress through the flight mastery training.

The Heart of the Obscure will be a new tool in the form of a mystical stone. As you upgrade it, you'll be able to open certain doors and reward chests, and even to create items that will help you through your high-flying environment like leyline and updraft generators. The stone will also, rather conveniently,  be able to open and to seal rifts that the Kryptis are using to threaten the world. 

The expansion also features the Wizard's Vault, which is a new system for achievements across with daily, weekly, and seasonal accomplishments. If you earn those achievements, you'll be able to earn things like armor pieces, skins for weapons and mounts, crafting materials, gold, and more.

The new Relic equipment slot and system will let you earn and use previous rune set bonuses in a new way. This is designed to let you customize your character by using special effects or stat bonuses in this new slot. All of the nine professions in Guild Wars 2 will also be able to equip weapons that were previously reserved for the elite specialization. This weaponmaster training will unlock even more build customization options. 

You’ll also be able to explore areas of Tyria as they rebuild after the events of End of Dragons. There’s also a significant returning character–Zojja–once again voiced by Felicia Day.

With Guild Wars 2 moving to a seasonal model with more frequent and differently structured expansions, the all new story will continue with a series of additional content releases into 2024. There will also be a third map added, Strike Mission challenge modes, more weapon masteries, and new rewards, including the first PVE Legendary armor set.

In announcing the release of the expansion,