Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure
“A new chapter unfolds in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, the fourth expansion for the award-winning MMORPG Guild Wars 2. Soar through the skies to combat the strange and otherworldly forces emerging through rifts to devastate Tyria. The adventure continues through three major story and content releases to follow. A self-contained story with its own resolution will play out at launch. Later releases will seamlessly pick up where the launch arc concluded and tell the rest of the expansion's story. Additional features and updates across the game are planned for release every quarter.
Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure is the fourth expansion pack for Guild Wars 2. Its development was confirmed on March 22, 2022,[1] and officially announced on June 27, 2023.[2] The release date was Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 16:00 UTC+00:00.
A beta event for the Weaponmaster Training was available to all players from June 29 to July 2, 2023, with a beta for the Expanded Weapon Proficiency coming on November 28, 2023[3]: see the beta page for detailed info.
Purchasing[edit]
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The expansion is available through the online store and the in-game Black Lion Trading Company panel.
- External source — creating a new account or upgrading an existing account requires the redemption of the serial code
- In-game panel — upgrading an existing account will automatically be applied to the account used to purchase the upgrade
- Editions available
- Standard Edition ($24.99 / €24,99 / £21.99)
- Deluxe Edition ($49.99 / €49,99 / £43.99)
- Ultimate Edition ($74.99 / €74,99 / £64.99)
| Secrets of the Obscure | ArenaNet[N 1] | Steam[N 2] | Epic[N 3] | 3P[N 4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | 1 |
1 |
1 |
1
|
| Deluxe Edition | 1 |
Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure—Deluxe Upgrade | Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure—Deluxe Upgrade | 1
|
| Ultimate Edition | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
- ^ ArenaNet created accounts should only purchase via website, BLTC or authorized retailers.
- ^ Steam created accounts should purchase directly via Steam client.
- ^ Epic created accounts should purchase directly via Epic client.
- ^ Third Party Retailers (https://www.guildwars2.com/en/retailers/)
| Items | Standard | Deluxe | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure (expansion) | 1 |
1 |
1
|
| Shared Inventory Slot | 1 |
1 |
1
|
| Max Level Boost | 1 |
1 |
1
|
| Additional Character Slot | 0 |
1 |
1
|
| Astral Ward Feathered Raptor Skin | 0 |
1 |
1
|
| "Magic Juggle" Emote Tome | 0 |
1 |
1
|
| Identity Repair Kit | 0 |
1 |
1
|
| 4000 Gems ($50 / €50 / £42.50 value) | 0 |
0 |
1
|
Upgrading to Deluxe Edition[edit]
Players who have bought the Standard version of the expansion can choose to upgrade to the Deluxe version via the Black Lion Trading Company for 2,400 
. You cannot upgrade to Ultimate from either Standard or Deluxe.
Features[edit]
Plot[edit]
- Primary article: Secrets of the Obscure story
Related external links
In the quiet that follows the events of Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons, a new force rises to threaten Tyria. As you fight back against Kryptis invaders from the Mists, you'll uncover the answers to mysteries that have haunted Tyria from the time of the original Guild Wars. Ancient rivalries come into play—the world is at risk. While we've relied on the aid of our allies in many adventures to date, it's time for you to find your footing in a darker, more mysterious side of the world.
Now that the Elder Dragon cycle is "over," Tyria is blood in water. The Mists are watching.
Locations[edit]
Combat Features[edit]
- New gameplay and combat features
Related external links
Weaponmaster Training[edit]
“Up until now, you could only equip each elite specialization’s weapon by locking yourself into that elite specialization’s trait line. But what if you could charge into the fray as a hammer-wielding holosmith or control the battlefield as a firebrand with a longbow?
- Every profession can now use their elite specialization weapons without having the corresponding elite specialization equipped or trained.
Guardian: Axe (main hand), sword (off hand), longbow
Revenant: Shield (off hand), greatsword, short bow
Warrior: Dagger (main and off hand), pistol (off hand), torch (off hand)
Engineer: Mace (main hand), sword (main hand), hammer
Ranger: Dagger (main hand), hammer, staff
Thief: Scepter (main hand), rifle, staff
Elementalist: Sword (main hand), warhorn (off hand), hammer
Mesmer: Axe (main hand), dagger (main hand), shield (off hand)
Necromancer: Pistol (main hand), torch (off hand), greatsword
Expanded Weapon Proficiency[edit]
Related external links
“To round off our combat systems updates, we’re granting each profession proficiency with an additional weapon. Like we said earlier: getting to play with a new weapon and changing out your first five skills is one of the most impactful parts of an elite specialization for many players. The weapons and weapon skills we’re introducing to each profession in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure are meant to satisfy that same itch of a new skillset—we just focused on making these weapons fit in with the existing trait lines.
- Nine new weapons, one for every profession.
Other Combat Features[edit]
- New juvenile pets — Aether Hunter, Sky-Chak Striker, Spinegazer
Mounts[edit]
- Two mounts originally from Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire are available via an alternate acquisition method:
- Raptor — A hardy saurian, capable of leaping horizontally across long distances, available with only the base mastery:[5]
- The New Player Experience in August 2022 made the raptor permanently available to anyone with an expansion.
- The Skyscale[6] — A Mists-born dragon adept at scaling cliffs and traversing through the air.
- Raptor — A hardy saurian, capable of leaping horizontally across long distances, available with only the base mastery:[5]
Masteries[edit]
- See also: Secrets of the Obscure mastery tracks
- Heart of the Obscure Research — a tool that allows characters to hunt and close Kryptis rifts, open special doors and reward chests, create ley lines, and others.
- Flight Training — for Skyscale, new flight Masteries are built to complement existing mastery lines, usage of leylines and updrafts. Some of these masteries can also be utilised by the Griffon.
- This new Mastery line also includes previous skyscale abilities like Air Rescue and Wall Launch. As a bonus for dedicated players, training both Masteries will unlock bonuses for those skills.
- Astral Ward — As the Kryptis invade Tyria, players will be able to join a band of treasure hunters and adventurers known as the Astral Ward to help protect the world, undertaking monster hunts and bounty contracts throughout the game to rank up and earn new rewards and abilities.
- Gliding — originally available in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns, its base mastery is available.[7]
- Inner Nayos — Fourth mastery line in the first major release (Update #1) after launch.
Achievements[edit]
Secrets of the Obscure: Act 1
Secrets of the Obscure: Act 2
Secrets of the Obscure: Act 3
Horn of Maguuma
Mastery Insights
Skywatch Archipelago
Amnytas
The Wizard's Tower
Weekly Rift Hunting- Rift Hunting
- Convergences: Outer Nayos
Secrets of the Obscure
Wizard's Vault Daily Objectives
Basic Collections (several achievements)
Rare Collections (several achievements)
Explorer (several achievements)
Fishing (several achievements)
Legendary Weapons (several achievements)
Legendary Armor (several achievements)
Legendary Trinkets (several achievements)
Through the Veil- Inner Nayos: Heitor's Territory
The Realm of Dreams- Inner Nayos: Nyedra Surrounds
The Midnight King- Inner Nayos: Citadel of Zakiros
Equipment[edit]
Related external links
- New armor sets and skins — Secrets of the Obscure armor
- New weapon sets and skins — Secrets of the Obscure weapons
- New legendary armor set — Obsidian armor
- Relics — a new category of equipment, available at level 60, offering bonuses previously available to 6th Rune slots
- Rune rework — 6th tier reworked, only gives a stat bonus instead
- New mount skins — several in-game skins are available for owners of the expansion
- Kryptis Skyscale — available via a new collection, A New Look, after unlocking the skyscale through the expansion
- Enchanted Owl Griffon Skin — available via Wizard's Vault
- Enchanted Skimmer Skin — available via Wizard's Vault
Group Content[edit]
Strike Missions[edit]
- Two strikes at launch, with challenge modes available in subsequent releases[6]:
Fractals of the Mists[edit]
Public instances[edit]
Other features[edit]
Related external links
- Wizard's Vault[9][10] — a new streamlined rewards system, including a new currency Astral Acclaim, which can be exchanged for rewards of your choosing, such as skins, Gem Store items, gold, legendary crafting materials, and more
- New minis — Secrets of the Obscure miniatures
- New emotes, infusions
- New guild decorations
- New fish for fishing[9]
Bestiary[edit]
Additional releases[edit]
- Three major quarterly updates:[3][4][11]
| Overview | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expansion launch (August 22, 2023) |
Through the Veil (November 7, 2023) |
The Realm of Dreams (February 27, 2024) |
The Midnight King (May 21, 2024) | |
| Story | Launch Story Arc (Chapters 1 to 10) | Story Continues (Chapters 11 to 13) | Story Continues (Chapters 14 to 16) | Story Concludes (Chapters 17 to 19) |
| Maps | Skywatch Archipelago, Amnytas, Outpost: Wizard's Tower | Inner Nayos (Final Map) Introduced | Final Map Extended | Final Map Completed |
| Instanced Combat | Strike: Cosmic Observatory, Strike: Temple of Febe | Cosmic Observatory Challenge Mode | Temple of Febe Challenge Mode | New fractal: Lonely Tower |
| Weapon | Weaponmaster Training | New Weapon Proficiency for Each Profession | ||
| Masteries | Heart of the Obscure Research, Flight Training, Astral Ward | Inner Nayos Masteries | New Astral Ward Mastery | New Astral Ward Mastery Tier |
| Wizard's Vault | Introduced | Wizard’s Vault Seasonal Refresh | Wizard’s Vault Seasonal Refresh | Wizard’s Vault Seasonal Refresh |
| Armor | Rift Hunter armor, Astral Ward armor | Oneiros-Spun armor | Obsidian Legendary Armor Tier 1 | Obsidian Legendary Armor Tier 2 |
| Relics | 40 Core Relics, 12 Secrets of the Obscure-Exclusive Relics | Additional Expansion Relics | Legendary Relic | Additional Expansion Relics |
| Rift Hunting | Available in Secrets of the Obscure Maps and a Rotation of 12 Existing Maps | Convergences with Legendary Enemies, Rift Hunting Map Rotation Completed |
2 new Legendary Enemies in Convergences | New Legendary Enemies |
| Pets | Aether Hunter | Sky-Chak Striker | Juvenile Spinegazer | |
Gallery[edit]
Screenshots[edit]
New skin for the Skyscale.
Wizards Tower Sized
Kryptis looming over the Wizard's Tower.
Skyscale attack against an elemental.
Skyscale fireball
Skyscale Kryptis Skin
Skyscale Kryptis Skin
Sanctified Armor Weapons
Convergences
Wizard's Vault
Inner Nayos
Oneiros-Spun armor
Concept art[edit]
- Primary article: Category:Secrets of the Obscure concept art
The World Spire concept art.
Kryptis concept art.
The Wizard's Tower concept art.
Skyscale concept art.
Astral Ward Feathered Raptor concept art.
Hall of Confluence concept art.
Enchanted Owl Griffon concept art.
"Obsidian armor" concept art.
Kryptis concept art.
Key art with Peitha.
Key art with Ramses, Pact Commander, Peitha, and Arina.
Expanded weapon proficiency.
Obsidian armor in-game.
![Concept art of demons.[12][13]](/wiki/File:%22Expansion_4%22_concept_art.jpg)
.jpg)
Promotional material[edit]
(Animation) Each secret is a seed. Each seed a glimpse into the Obscure
Wallpapers[edit]
Kryptis concept art.
Concept art of the Pact Commander, Zojja, and Isgarren, for the Secrets of the Obscure expansion.
Trivia[edit]
- Indigo Linde has the title of Narrative Lead on the expansion while Matthew Medina has the one of Narrative Design Lead.[14]
- Maclaine Diemer has composed some of the music for the expansion.[15]
- Pre-purchase became available on June 27, 2023 and accounts that pre-purchased any edition received:[16]
- ArenaNet released a filk song about this release: The Floating Tower.
External links[edit]
- Official Website
- Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure – Expansion Announcement trailer, Youtube.com
- Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure Launch Trailer
- Announcing Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- Combat in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- A New Chapter Begins in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- New Rewards in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- Studio Update: Spring 2023, GuildWars2.com
- After the Dragon Cycle, GuildWars2.com
- First Contact: The Kryptis and Rift Hunting, GuildWars2.com
- Soaring with the Skyscale, GuildWars2.com
- Rift Hunting, YouTube.com
- Skywatch Archipelago Map Flythrough, YouTube.com
- Amnytas Map Flythrough, YouTube.com
- Discover the Wonders within the Wizard’s Vault in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- Showcase of the new flight masteries! - Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, YouTube.com
- Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure Launches Today, GuildWars2.com
- Secrets of the Obscure: Looking Back and Forward, GuildWars2.com
- Previews and interviews
- Guild Wars 2 formally announces fourth expansion, Secrets of the Obscure, launching August 22, Massivelyop.com
- The next Guild Wars 2 expansion releases this August, and will finally answer an 18-year-old mystery, Pcgamer.com
- EXCLUSIVE: First Look At Felicia Day's Guild Wars 2 Return As Zojja, ScreenRant.com
- Guild Wars 2's latest expansion has a "more adult voice" thanks to Elden Ring and Dungeons and Dragons, Techradar.com
- Guild Wars 2: Die neue Erweiterung Secrets of the Obscure angespielt – 5 Dinge sind richtig stark, doch eine nervt, mein-mmo.de
- GUILD WARS 2: SECRETS OF THE OBSCURE PREVIEW – A GLIMPSE BEYOND THE WIZARD’S TOWER, Gamespace.com
- Flameseeker Chronicles: Hands-on with Guild Wars 2’s Secrets of the Obscure, MassivelyOp.com
- Guild Wars 2's new expansion is built around the game's best mount, PCgamer.com
- Preview: Without Dragons, Guild Wars 2 Secrets of the Obscure Enters A New Era, Mmorpg.com
- Level 239: Maclaine Diemer (Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure), YouTube.com
- Deep Dive: Reimagining the battle pass in Guild Wars 2, GameDeveloper.com
References[edit]
- ^ ArenaNet Studio Update: The Future of Guild Wars 2, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Announcing Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- ^ a b c d Studio Update: Guild Wars 2 in Autumn and Winter 2023, GuildWars2.com
- ^ a b c d Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure official site, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Soaring with the Skyscale, GuildWars2.com
- ^ a b A New Chapter Begins in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Confirmation, Discord.com
- ^ a b Guild Wars 2 formally announces fourth expansion, Secrets of the Obscure, launching August 22, Massivelyop.com
- ^ a b New Rewards in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Discover the Wonders within the Wizard’s Vault in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure Launches Today, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Studio Update: Spring 2023, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Tweet by that_shaman, Twitter.com
- ^ After the Dragon Cycle, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Tweet by Maclaine Diemer, Twitter.com
- ^ Prepurchase Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, GuildWars2.com
All releases and expansions
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