Day and night
Day and night are two environment states which affect certain gameplay mechanics, including schedule of some dynamic events, fishing, and several cosmetic effects, like appearance of specific weapons or sylvari's glow. It can be tracked by enabling "Show Time of Day" in the General Options panel to display Tyrian time of day (dawn, day, dusk, or night) next to the in-game clock.
In most areas of the game, day and night alternate according to the day-night cycle, sometimes referred to in-game as Tyrian Time. Any zone or instance that does not follow the cycle will be permanently frozen at a particular time. The day-night mechanic is intended as an element of realism in the game; for example, the day-night cycle mimics the passage of real time, and the night state of many underground dungeons reflects the darker feeling of those locations.
Day-night cycle[edit]
Schedule[edit]
A single day-night cycle lasts for 2 hours in real time, though in-universe it is considered to take 24 hours. Thus, one hour of Tyrian Time corresponds to five minutes of real time, and one minute of Tyrian Time corresponds to five seconds of real time. The cycle is split into four stages:
| Stage | Length (real time) | Tyrian Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day | 70 minutes | 06:00–20:00 |
| Dusk | 5 minutes | 20:00–21:00 |
| Night | 40 minutes | 21:00–05:00 |
| Dawn | 5 minutes | 05:00–06:00 |
Open world maps in Cantha are on a slightly different day/night cycle in which both day and night have the same duration.[1] It breaks down as follows:
| Stage | Length (real time) | Tyrian Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day | 55 minutes | 08:00–19:00 |
| Dusk | 5 minutes | 19:00–20:00 |
| Night | 55 minutes | 20:00–07:00 |
| Dawn | 5 minutes | 07:00–08:00 |
For the purposes of mechanics that can't transition smoothly between day and night behaviors, dawn is usually considered night and dusk is considered day. Food and Fishing are exceptions: Food will treat dawn as day and dusk as night, and Fishing will treat dawn and dusk as both day and night at the same time.
All zones with the day-night cycle are synchronized to the same schedule. Tyrian Time may be tracked via the in-game clock, which can be turned on via the Options panel; alternatively it can be checked via the chat command /time. Note that this can only be checked within zones with the day-night cycle active, as zones not on the cycle will permanently display the time they are frozen at.
List of locations with day-night cycle[edit]
- All cities and almost all explorable zones in the open world.
- Bitterfrost Frontier is only partially on the cycle. It progresses at the normal rate until 21:00 Tyrian Time, and will remain frozen there until all Jormag's Champions are killed as part of the Beacons of Koda meta event. Once all are dead, it skips ahead to 05:00 and resumes progressing as normal. Consequently, Bitterfrost's cycle is not synchronized with the rest of Tyria.
- Draconis Mons is fixed to 09:00 tyrian time at all times.
- Instances accessible via the open world, notably:
- Order headquarters
- Home instances
- Special Forces Training Arena
- Sun's Refuge
- Hearth's Glow, when entered, is on the cycle, but can be removed from it while the current character is in it by interacting with Deft Lahar.
- Eye of the North
- Some (but not all) of the replayable Living World Season 1 instances:
- Guild Halls
- Heart of the Mists
- Most World versus World zones:
List of zones not on cycle[edit]
| Context | Name | Status | Tyrian Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| City | Lion's Arch (only during Halloween) | Night | 00:00 |
| City | Mistlock Sanctuary | Day | 11:00 |
| City | Thousand Seas Pavilion | Day | 12:00 |
| Dungeon | Ascalonian Catacombs | Night | 22:00 |
| Dungeon | Caudecus's Manor | Day | 07:00 |
| Dungeon | Twilight Arbor | Night | 22:00 |
| Dungeon | Sorrow's Embrace | Night | 22:00 |
| Dungeon | Citadel of Flame | Night | 22:00 |
| Dungeon | Honor of the Waves | Day | 07:00 |
| Dungeon | Crucible of Eternity (story mode) | Day | 12:00 |
| Dungeon | Crucible of Eternity (explorable mode) | Night | 22:00 |
| Dungeon | The Ruined City of Arah | Day | 07:00 |
| Fractal | Mistlock Observatory | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Aetherblade Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Aquatic Ruins Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Captain Mai Trin Boss Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Chaos Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Cliffside Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Deepstone Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Molten Boss Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Molten Furnace Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Nightmare Fractal | Day | 08:00 |
| Fractal | Shattered Observatory Fractal (normal mode) | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Shattered Observatory Fractal (challenge mode) | Varies | Varies |
| Fractal | Silent Surf Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Siren's Reef Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Snowblind Fractal | Night | 22:00 |
| Fractal | Solid Ocean Fractal | Night | 22:00 |
| Fractal | Sunqua Peak Fractal (normal mode) | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Sunqua Peak Fractal (challenge mode) | Night | 05:00 |
| Fractal | Swampland Fractal | Night | 22:00 |
| Fractal | Thaumanova Reactor Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Twilight Oasis Fractal | Night | 00:00 |
| Fractal | Uncategorized Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Underground Facility Fractal | Night | 22:00 |
| Fractal | Urban Battleground Fractal | Day | 12:00 |
| Fractal | Volcanic Fractal | Night | 22:00 |
| Instance | Dragonstorm | Day | 12:00 |
| Instance | Personal story instances | Varies | Varies |
| Instance | The Nightmare Incarnate | Night | 01:00 |
| Instance | The Twisted Marionette | Night | 00:00 |
| Raid | Spirit Vale | Day | 07:00 |
| Raid | Salvation Pass | Day | 07:00 |
| Raid | Stronghold of the Faithful | Day | 07:00 |
| Raid | Bastion of the Penitent | Day | 12:00 |
| Raid | Hall of Chains | Day | 07:00 |
| Raid | Mythwright Gambit | Day | 07:00 |
| Raid | The Key of Ahdashim | Day | 07:00 |
| Region | Mad King's Realm | Night | 02:00 |
| Strike Mission | Shiverpeaks Pass | Night | 00:00 |
| Strike Mission | Voice and Claw of the Fallen | Day | 12:00 |
| Strike Mission | Fraenir of Jormag | Day | 12:00 |
| Strike Mission | Boneskinner | Day | 12:00 |
| Strike Mission | Whisper of Jormag | Dusk | 20:00 |
| Strike Mission | Forging Steel | Day | 12:00 |
| Strike Mission | Cold War | Dusk | 20:00 |
| Strike Mission | Aetherblade Hideout | Day | 12:00 |
| Strike Mission | Kaineng Overlook | Night | 00:00 |
| Strike Mission | Harvest Temple | Night | 00:00 |
| Strike Mission | Temple of Febe | Day | |
| Structured PvP | Asura Arena | Day | 08:00 |
| Structured PvP | Auric Span | Night | 22:00 |
| Structured PvP | Battle of Champion's Dusk | Night | 22:00 |
| Structured PvP | Battle of Kyhlo | Night | 22:00 |
| Structured PvP | Courtyard | Night | 22:00 |
| Structured PvP | Djinn's Dominion | Day | 08:00 |
| Structured PvP | Eternal Coliseum | Day | 12:00 |
| Structured PvP | Forest of Niflhel | Night | 22:00 |
| Structured PvP | Hall of the Mists | Night | 22:00 |
| Structured PvP | Legacy of the Foefire | Day | 12:00 |
| Structured PvP | Revenge of the Capricorn | Night | 22:00 |
| Structured PvP | Skyhammer | Day | 12:00 |
| Structured PvP | Spirit Watch | Day | 10:00 |
| Structured PvP | Temple of the Silent Storm | Night | 22:00 |
| Zone | Bitterfrost Frontier (during the storm; see above) | Night | 21:00 |
| Zone | Draconis Mons | Day | 09:00 |
| Zone | Edge of the Mists | Day | 07:00 |
The following encounters start at the tyrian (or canthan for XJJ) time that the instance was created at, and freezes until the instance is closed.
- Strike Mission: Cosmic Observatory
- Strike Mission: Old Lion's Court
- Strike Mission: Xunlai Jade Junkyard
Game elements affected by day-night state[edit]
Dynamic events, NPCs, and enemies[edit]
- Each major city will play a sound every 5 minutes, and a tune from the Guild Wars 2 soundtrack every 2 hours at dawn:
- In Lion's Arch, the Phoenix Roost Lighthouse plays an excerpt from Overture.
- In the Black Citadel, gongs will play a bit from The Charr Triumphant.
- In Divinity's Reach, a tune from Heritage of Humanity will play from the orrery at Central Plaza.
- In Hoelbrak, a giant warhorn will resonate through the whole stead slowly playing the first notes of The Saga of the Norn. The warhorn can also be heard from outside Hoelbrak when standing close to the entrance in Wayfarer Foothills.
- In Rata Sum, the golems through the city will play a morning alarm to the tune of Snaff's Workshop and say "Good morning" three times.
- In The Grove, the flowers and reeds hanging from a twisting branch at Upper Commons will act as wind chimes to play a fragment of Fear Not This Night.
- Shaemoor Cemetery will have a Priest of Grenth investigating a restless spirit in the day, who appears as the Lady in White at night. Bats are also found in the cemetery only at night.
- Lion's Arch Exterminator achievement requires going into the Lion's Shadow Bed and Breakfast, which is only open at dawn, dusk, and night.
- Verdant Brink's meta events focus on building defenses by day and defending against attacks at night.
- Bloodstone Fen is swarming with White Mantle during the day, but spirits (mostly) come out to attack at night.
- Ghosts haunt Lake Doric at night, triggering two events (1 and 2) and allowing access to a hidden achievement and a hungry cat.
- The two hungry kittens in The Grove will only accept food during certain times of day. The black kitten will accept food during the day (not dusk), and the white kitten will accept food at night (not dawn).
- The Sunspear assault on Palawadan starts always at dusk.
- The four meta events of Grothmar Valley begin at specific times of the day: the expedition into Doomlore Shrine sets off at 8am; the Ooze Pit Trials start at 2pm; the concert begins at dusk; and the effigy burning takes place at 2am.
Sigil of the Night[edit]
- Primary article: Sigil of the Night
Sigils of the Night are weapon sigils that increase outgoing damage during the night state. Neither dawn nor dusk is considered night for the purposes of this mechanic.
| Sigil of the Night | Rarity | Level | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
 Minor Sigil of the Night
|
Masterwork | 20 | Outgoing damage is increased by 1% with an additional 3% at night. |
 Major Sigil of the Night
|
Rare | 40 | Outgoing damage is increased by 2% with an additional 5% at night. |
 Superior Sigil of the Night
|
Exotic | 60 | Outgoing damage is increased by 3% with an additional 7% at night. |
Fishing[edit]
- Primary article: Fishing
Some fish can only be caught during specific times of day.
Daytime/Nighttime Fish can still be caught during Dusk/Dawn Time Periods.
Food[edit]
- Primary article: Food
The following foods confer different bonuses depending on whether it is day or night. Dawn is considered day and dusk is considered night for the purposes of this mechanic.
| Level | Duration | Item | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 30m |  Chili Pepper Popper
|
Day: 8% Chance to gain might on crit |
| 20 | 30m |  Bowl of Fancy Bean Chili
|
+20 Ferocity Day: 8% Chance to cause Burning on Critical Hit Night: 8% Chance to Steal Life on Critical Hit |
| 20 | 30m |  Stuffed Pepper
|
Day: 16% Chance to gain might on crit |
| 30 | 30m |  Stuffed Zucchini
|
Day: 24% Chance to gain might on crit Night: 24% Chance to cause chill on crit |
| 35 | 30m |  Bowl of Zucchini Chili
|
+30 Ferocity Day: 12% Chance to cause Burning on Critical Hit Night: 12% Chance to Steal Life on Critical Hit |
| 46 | 60m |  Bowl of Degun Shun Stew
|
+30 Ferocity Day: 12% Chance to Burn on Critical Hit Night: 12% Chance to Steal Life on Critical Hit +10% Experience from Kills |
| 50 | 30m |  Bowl of Hummus
|
Day: 28% Chance to gain might on crit Night: 28% Chance to cause chill on crit |
| 50 | 30m |  Bowl of Spiced Veggie Chili
|
+20 Ferocity Day: 14% Chance to cause Burning on Critical Hit Night: 14% Chance to Steal Life on Critical Hit |
| 65 | 30m |  Roasted Artichoke
|
Day: 36% Chance to gain might on crit Night: 36% Chance to cause chill on crit |
| 70 | 30m |  Bowl of Spicy Veggie Chili
|
+40 Ferocity Day: 18% Chance to cause Burning on Critical Hit Night: 18% Chance to Steal Life on Critical Hit |
| 80 | 30m |  Ghost Pepper Popper
|
Day: 40% Chance to gain might on crit Night: 40% Chance to cause chill on crit |
| 80 | 30m |  Bowl of Fire Veggie Chili
|
+50 Ferocity Day: 20% Chance to cause Burning on Critical Hit Night: 20% Chance to Steal Life on Critical Hit |
Cosmetics affected by day-night state[edit]
Mount appearances[edit]
The following mount skins have different appearances during day and night states:
Weapon appearances[edit]
The following weapons have different appearances during day and night states:
Sylvari glow[edit]
- Primary article: Physical appearance/Sylvari
Sylvari will glow when in the night state. This glow appears gradually during dusk, and disappears gradually during dawn. For playable characters, the color and intensity of the glow is set during character creation.
Music[edit]
- Primary article: Customized soundtrack
For players who customize their in-game music, many explorable zones that use the default Ambient playlist during the day state will switch to the NightTime playlist in the night state.
Trivia[edit]
- Though the day-night cycle has been present in the game since launch, "Tyrian Time" was not introduced until September 2019, when it was added as part of Prologue: Bound by Blood. Tyrian Time was added as an option to the in-game clock as part of the October 1, 2019 update.
- Kraitkin, the legendary trident, was originally assumed to have a different appearance at night, as its eels would become petrified and emit a faint but noticeable light-green glow, along with an aura of bubbles that would appear around the whole trident. This was eventually removed, and later confirmed to be a bug.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Comment by Rubi Bayer, en-forum.guildwars2.com
- ^ Comment by mattp, reddit.com
