Account

This article is about Guild Wars 2 Account (ArenaNet Account). For other uses, see Account (disambiguation).

Accounts are collections of characters associated with a single set of login credentials.

Account types

Account differences

The original Buy-to-Play business model has since been modified by the introduction of totally free accounts (Play4Free), which include restrictions. You may see references to multiple different account types with varying access to content. Upgrading from P4F to other account types unlocks additional access and content. In order of decreasing access to content the different account types are:

Expansion

• Full, unrestricted access to all content (including Living World content), free to play after one-time purchases of all current expansions and Living World episodes ().
• Full, unrestricted access to all content (sans Living World content), free to play after one-time purchases of all current expansions.
• Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire (expansion), unrestricted access to the core game, Path of Fire and Heart of Thorns content, free to play after one-time purchase. The first expansion, Heart of Thorns, is included at no additional cost as of August 30, 2019
• Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns (expansion), unrestricted access to the core game and Heart of Thorns content, free to play after one-time purchase. This is now bundled with Path of Fire and no longer purchasable separately as of August 30, 2019
• Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons (expansion), unrestricted access to the core game and End of Dragons content, free to play after one-time purchase.
• Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure (expansion), unrestricted access to the core game and Secrets of the Obscure content, free to play after one-time purchase.
• Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds (expansion), unrestricted access to the core game and Janthir Wilds content, free to play after one-time purchase.

Core

• Guild Wars 2 (core), unrestricted access to the core game, but no expansion features, free to play after purchase, no longer available for purchase from ArenaNet.

Free

• Free Account, restricted access to the core game, no expansion features, unlimited time, totally free.
• Steam Account, same access as a free account, but with restrictions regarding account management and serial code redemption.

Trial

• Trial Account, obsolete (no longer available), limited time access with restrictions similar to free accounts.

Additional details on the differences between account types can be found on the Guild Wars 2 Account Types page and in the table below. Refer to the Limitations section for more detail.

Features	Account Type
	Free	Core	Expansion
Purchases
Requirements	Default	ArenaNet accounts only: Redeem either a Guild Wars 2 Heroic Edition or original Guild Wars 2 game key (both no longer available for purchase)	Purchase any expansion: ArenaNet accounts only: Serial codes from ArenaNet Store or approved third-party retailers (Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate) Steam accounts only: Steam Store (Standard, Deluxe)
Gems	400  earned in-game per 5000 In-game purchase with real-world money ArenaNet accounts only: Gem cards	400  earned in-game per 5000 In-game purchase with real-world money Currency Exchange ( to ) ArenaNet accounts only: Gem cards	400  earned in-game per 5000 In-game purchase with real-world money Currency Exchange ( to ) ArenaNet accounts only: Gem cards
Currency Exchange	to	to to	to to
Gem Store	Limited	1	1
World Transfer	Limited (1-time service only via customer service)	1	1
Game Features
Content	See Expansion for content unlocked based on owned paid content upgrades
Base Game Content	Limited by character level	1	1
Level Cap	80	80	80
Masteries	0	1	1
Character Slots (Total)	2 More purchasable with	5 More purchasable with	5 More purchasable with
Bag Slots (Per Character)	3 More purchasable with	5 More purchasable with	5 More purchasable with
Trading Post	Limited	1	1
Guild Hall Features	Limited	1	1
Wizard's Vault	Limited	Limited	Full with most recent expansion
Communication
In-Game Mail	Limited	1	1
Whisper	Limited	1	1
Map Chat	Limited	1	1
Squad Chat	Account-wide unlock at level 30	1	1
PvP Chat	Limited	1	1
Custom Emotes	0	1	1
Looking for Group	Account-wide unlock at level 30	1	1
Forum Posting Access	0	1	1

Creating an account

A new account is created when using a 25-character alphanumeric serial code (also known as an access key). The serial code can appear on the distribution media or sent digitally via email. The serial code is associated with an email address and password that are entered into the login screen. Free accounts do not require a serial code.

Support

• For account-related issues, players can create a support ticket or use the in-game support panel.
• If an account is compromised, then an Account Restoration can be requested.
• For Steam accounts, contact Steam support for issues with account access, management and Steam store/wallet purchases. For in-game issues and in-game gem store purchases, contact the Guild Wars 2 support team.

Upgrade

Free accounts Upgrade prompt

A free account can currently be upgraded by purchasing an expansion. Each includes a new serial code. This serial code can be used to create a new account or upgrade an existing Play4Free account. An expansion purchase can be used to upgrade a Core account, as well.

There are three ways to purchase an upgrade:

1. via the Black Lion Trading Company;
2. by clicking the upgrade prompt always visible in the upper-left corner of free accounts; or,
3. by making a purchase via the official website shop and then logging into the ArenaNet website to redeem the serial code.

Additionally, activation of a legacy Guild Wars 2 Heroic Edition serial code will upgrade an account and lift all free-to-play restrictions without granting any expansion access. Heroic Edition keys were the retail equivalent to the original Digital Deluxe Upgrade - their sale has been discontinued, but they are occasionally issued during special promotions and existing keys are still functional.

Steam accounts cannot be upgraded with serial codes and can only purchase expansions through the Steam store.

Characteristics

Many characteristics are associated with an account and shared by all characters on an account.

Home world

Each new account must select a home world as part of the initial setup. This selection is only relevant when accessing World versus World. Accounts can be transferred to a different world once every 7 days, if the new world is not full.

If there are no characters in the account then the transfer is free. Otherwise, there is a cost that is determined by the population of the new world. The account is logged out during the transfer process, which might take 5-30 minutes.

Initial resources

New (paid/fully unlocked) accounts receive the following:

• 5 character slots (initially empty) — additional character slots can be purchased from the Gem Store
• Account vault
  • Bank (30-slot) — additional Bank Tab Expansions can be purchased from the Gem Store
  • Material Storage (250 per item) — additional Material Storage Expanders can be purchased from the Gem Store
• Starting equipment, received following character creation, which includes armor, a weapon, and a 20-slot bag.

Items

• Account Bound items
• Items that are stored in the Account Vault
• Currency stored in the Wallet

Progress

• Achievements and titles
• Wizard's Vault objectives
• PvP Rank and PvP Reward Tracks
• World Experience and WvW Reward Tracks
• Account bonuses
• Masteries

Upgrades and unlocks

• Wardrobe skins (Level 6 Unlock)
• Outfits (Level 6 Unlock)
• Miniatures (Level 6 Unlock)
• Dyes (Level 6 Unlock)
• Finishers (Level 2 Unlock)
• Mail carriers (Level 10 Unlock)
• Mounts (Level 80 Unlock)

Player interactions

• Contacts are shared across the entire account.
• Mail sent by another player can be read and deleted by any character in the account. However, selected game-generated mail can only be read and deleted by one character.
• Guilds can be associated with an account. Each character can choose to represent a different one of five guilds. Only one character per account needs to be invited, since each will show up in the guild roster as a single member, however, each character must individually press the "represent" button if they wish to use certain guild perks.

Limitations

Certain limitations apply to all accounts. Guild Wars 2 (core) accounts do not have access to Heart of Thorns (expansion), Path of Fire (expansion), End of Dragons (expansion) or Secrets of the Obscure (expansion) features. In particular, they are not able to use gliding, obtain any mount, skiff, fish and unlock the mastery points in central Tyria. They are not able to buy any expansion-related items in the Gem Store and Wizard's Vault, but they can buy and use the items from other expansions on Trading Post. Additional limitations apply only to free accounts.

Character level requirement

Some content is restricted until at least one character on the account has reached the minimum level requirement, after which all characters in the account have access, regardless of level.

Mail

Cannot compose mail until level 2, but may receive mail.

User interface

^{[verification requested]}

• Map completion icons on World Map - hidden until level 2.
• Structured PvP icon — hidden until level 3.
• World versus World icon — hidden until level 31.
• Wizard's Vault icon — hidden until level 80.

These game modes can still be accessed through the asura gates in Lion's Arch or key binding the panels.

Game mechanics

Hero challenges unlocked at level 11.

Time requirement

Some content is restricted until sufficient real-world time has passed. The timer starts once a code for an expansion or the core game gets applied to the account.

Three day

• Currency Exchange in the Gem store after account creation to combat botting and scams.
• All deposits and withdrawals to the Guild Vault after joining a Guild for verified accounts. The time remaining is shown on the Guild Vault display and the entire vault is "grayed out". This timer is reset if you leave and rejoin a guild. It is not affected by either Guild Rank or Vault permissions.

Five day

• The trading post limits (ability to buy or sell certain items) are removed 5 days after code application.
• Access to the Guild Vault regardless of Guild Rank will become available 5 days after code application.

Seven day

There is a restriction of 500  per week on the total amount any account may receive from a Guild Vault or via in-game mail. If this is exceeded using the Guild Vault then the "withdraw" button is "greyed out". If exceeded using in-game mail then when you hover over the "Take All" button", you may see:

“

This would exceed the value allowed to be received by this account this week. Each account can only receive 5,000,000 coins per week through in-game mail or the Guild Vault. Please wait and try again later.

— In-game message

First month

The first 30 days following creation, a new account is limited as follows:

• Amount of coin or item with assigned value that can be mailed. However, any amount can be received.
• Value of items both deposited into and withdrawn from a Guild Vault.

The amount you are allowed increases by approximately one gold every 10 hours. The exact amount of the coin limit is determined by the level of the highest level character of the account. When this amount is exceeded, the error message that appears is:

“

This transfer would exceed the total value of transfers allowed for new accounts. As you continue to play, your account will be allowed to transfer higher values. New account limits are necessary to protect your online experience from fraud and illegal trading. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience.

— In-game message

Anomalies:

• An unlimited amount of items that have no assigned value can be transferred by new accounts regardless of their price on the Trading Post.
• Multiple small amounts of gold can be transferred by new accounts even though equivalent large, single transfers are blocked.

Free accounts

3 of 5 character slots locked out

Free accounts have a number of additional restrictions placed on them, with the intent of preventing malicious persons from using them to disrupt the game and to encourage purchase of the game.

• Initial character slots (2). The other 3 of 5 initial slots are locked.
• Bag slots per character (3): 20 slot Starter Backpack plus 2 expansion slots, initially empty.
• In-game mail limited to mutual friends; prohibits sending coin and items, but they can both be received.
• Guild hall features: Guild Vault, Guild Enhancements and Guild Portal are unavailable, but full access to all other guild features.
• Gem Store limited to items usable by free accounts.
  • Free gifts can be claimed, but cannot be gifted.
• Currency Exchange — gems to gold exchange available, gold to gems exchange unavailable.
• Transferring to different worlds is unavailable, except through customer service. (Customer service will, as a one-time service, assist free players who initially chose the wrong server.)
• Official forum posting unavailable.

Character level requirement

Character specific

• Only starter maps can be accessed until character level 10.
  • There is one waypoint in every starting area automatically available for transport before level 35.
  • Attempting to leave the starting area will give the following message: "You must be level 10 to enter this area. You can open your map by pressing M to travel to other starting zones. Upgrade your account with a Guild Wars 2 expansion to access this area immediately."
• Lion's Arch is unlocked at character level 35.
  • Attempting to enter Lion's Arch before level 35 will give the following message: "You must be level 35 to enter this area. You can open your map by pressing M and travel to other starting zones. Upgrade your account with a Guild Wars 2 expansion to access this area immediately."

Account wide

• PvP is unlocked once any character reaches level 3.
• Looking For Group is unlocked once any character reaches level 30.
• World versus World is unlocked once any character reaches level 60.

Chat

• Map chat messages are rate-limited.
• Whisper chat is limited to mutual friends and people in the same map. Mentors can talk to players via whisper.
  • For non-friends, can only whisper one new person every 30 seconds.
• Players cannot use custom emotes. (/e, /me, etc., but can still use emotes such as /talk, /dance, etc.)
• Squad chat unlocked at character level 30.
• PvP chat:
  • team chat available
  • PvP Lobby chat unlocked at PvP Rank 20
  • emotes, map chat, and say chat disabled during matches

Trading Post

Trading Post is limited, either for buying or selling, to items from a selected list, which are as follows:

• fine, masterwork, rare and exotic crafted armor, crafted weapons (including Destroyer weapons) and trinkets, but only:
  • Single attribute: Mighty, Precise, Resilient, Vital, Malign, Healing
  • Dual attribute: Hearty, Honed, Hunter's, Ravaging, Rejuvenating, Strong, Vigorous
  • Triple attribute: Apothecary's, Assassin's, Berserker's, Carrion, Cleric's, Knight's, Rampager's, Valkyrie
• orbs, crystals, shards etc. with the above-mentioned stats (incl. Passion Flower)
• Agony Infusions
• unrefined common crafting materials (no pigments)
• fine crafting materials: blood, bones, claws, dust, fangs, scales, totems, venom sacs, karka shells, watchwork sprockets
• nearly all cooking materials
• some food and utilities: Plate of Truffle Steak, Bowl of Lemongrass Poultry Soup, Bowl of Poultry and Leek Soup, Orange Cake, Mango Pie, Glazed Peach Tart, Strawberry Ghost, Master Tuning Crystal, Superior Sharpening Stone, Master Maintenance Oil
• Globs of Ectoplasm, Mystic Coins, Quartz Crystals, Pieces of Ambrite
• Unidentified Dyes
• Trick-or-Treat Bags
• Wintersday Gifts
• Black Lion Chests
• some bags: 10 Slot Thin Leather Pack, 15 Slot Rugged Leather Pack, 18 Slot Mithril Box, 18 Slot Silk Bag, 18 Slot Thick Leather Pack

Not allowed items will be grayed-out with a locked symbol in the lower-left corner.

Steam accounts

Primary article: Steam

Steam accounts have the following restrictions:

• Only accounts created via Steam can be used to log in to the game via Steam. Accounts created through the Guild Wars 2 website cannot be transferred to Steam.
• Account authentication from ArenaNet is not available. Steam may have authentication options for Steam accounts.
• Gem codes cannot be added to a Steam account in game or on the website.
• Expansion game codes cannot be added to a Steam account. Expansions must be purchased via Steam.
• A Guild Wars account cannot be linked to a Guild Wars 2 Steam account. However, a Guild Wars account created via Steam can be linked to a non-Steam Guild Wars 2 account.

Free to play accounts can be created through Steam but will have the additional limitations of #Free accounts as described above.

Linking a Guild Wars account

Accounts (excluding Steam accounts) can be linked to an original Guild Wars account and gain bonuses through the Hall of Monuments. This service is available in the Game Content section on the official My Account website.

“

Unlock access to your earned achievements and rewards by linking your Guild Wars account with your ArenaNet account. Enter your original Guild Wars account name and password below to link your accounts. To calculate your achievements and rewards, visit the Hall of Monuments.

Linking is irreversible. Once both accounts are linked, your ArenaNet account information will be used to log in to both Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2.

— My Account website

Trivia

• Steam Accounts became available on August 23, 2022.
• Free Accounts became available on August 29, 2015.
• Trial Accounts were previously available during trial weekends and had similar restrictions as the Free Accounts.

External links

• Register an account
• Account Types: Free, Core, HoT & PoF