User:TEF/Guides/Guide to unlocking traits

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Guide to Unlocking Traits[edit]

This isn't so much a guide as it is an at-a-glance list of all the trait unlock requirements to make it easy to see where/when/how. It includes my recommendations of "Grind" vs "Buy" vs "Try," i.e. should you spend the effort to unlock it, pay the gold, or try unlocking first and buy only if you find yourself getting annoyed by the process. I've attempted to offer a neutral appraisal of whether you could earn the required gold faster than you could complete the relevant task. For example, map completion takes ages, but the cost of unlocking is only 10 Silver coin; since time is money, it's "cheaper" to earn the coin and skill points than completing the entire map.

I have a strong personal bias against this type of leveling in any game; I especially dislike it for GW2 (see below), but I've tried to avoid letting my preferences interfere with providing a fair objective guide (with the exception of using the word, grind — I think it's hard to argue that repeating identical tasks is pleasurable for anyone after the Nth time).

At a glance[edit]

Line # # Task Type Map Nearest Pingable Code Notes Effort Coin SPs Recom
1 I Complete the story step "A Light in the Darkness." Personal Story The Grove Omphalos Chamber [&BH8EAAA=] L55 story. 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
1 II Capture Inferno's Needle. Capture Edge of the Mists Inferno's Needle [&BEIHAAA=] [none] 4 (group effort) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
1 III Earn 100% completion in Gendarran Fields. Map Completion Gendarran Fields Vigil Keep Waypoint [&BJIBAAA=] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
1 IV Defeat Rhendak the Crazed. Event Diessa Plateau Font of Rhand Waypoint [&BNwAAAA=] [none] 2 (easy) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
1 V Earn 100% completion in Blazeridge Steppes. Map Completion Blazeridge Steppes [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
1 VI Help Shining Blade Kimber defeat Kol Skullsmasher. Event Harathi Hinterlands tbd tbd Giant 4 (group effort) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
1 VII Befriend the ogre camp so they will join you as allies. Event Eternal Battlegrounds Dragoss Kraal [&BOkDAAA=] [none] 4 (group effort) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
1 VIII Complete the Citadel of Flame in Story Mode. Dungeon Story Citadel of Flame The Flame Citadel Waypoint [&BEAFAAA=] [none] 3 (medium) 50 Silver coin 5 Buy
1 IX Find the splendid chest in Rebel's Seclusion. Explore Fireheart Rise Breaktooth's Waypoint [&BBoCAAA=] Achievement: Rebel's Seclusion 2 (easy) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
1 X Defeat the Terror-Seven Krewe Leader. Event Mount Maelstrom Aquabase Terror Seven [&BI0GAAA=] [none] 2 (easy) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
1 XI Discover Death's Anthem. Explore Cursed Shore Death's Anthem [&BA0DAAA=] Achievement: Grounded 1 (fast) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Grind
1 XII Defeat the Risen High Priest of Balthazar. World Boss Straits of Devastation Glorious Victory Waypoint [&BPoCAAA=] Orrian Temple (random timer) 4 (group effort) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Try
1 XIII Defeat the Risen High Wizard and secure the Promenade of the Gods. World Boss Cursed Shore Arah Waypoint [&BCADAAA=] Orrian Temple (random timer) 4 (group effort) Gold coin 20 Try
2 I Find the splendid chest in Earth's Gap. Explore Kessex Hills Gap Waypoint [&BLoDAAA=] Achievement: Goff's Loot 2 (easy) 10 Silver coin 2 Grind
2 II Complete Twilight Arbor in Story Mode. Dungeon Story Twilight Arbor Twilight Arbor Waypoint [&BEEFAAA=] [none] 3 (medium) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
2 III Defeat Ulgoth the Modniir and his minions. World Boss Harathi Hinterlands Cloven Hoof Waypoint [&BLEAAAA=] Timer (5:30 & 10:30 pm) 4 (group effort) 10 Silver coin 2 Try
2 IV Earn 100% completion in Lornar's Pass. Map Completion Lornar's Pass [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
2 V Earn 100% completion in Bloodtide Coast. Map Completion Bloodtide Coast [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
2 VI Earn 100% completion in Fireheart Rise. Map Completion Fireheart Rise [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
2 VII Befriend the hylek camp so they will join you as allies. Event Eternal Battlegrounds Novotl Grounds [&BOoDAAA=] [none] 4 (group effort) 50 Silver coin 5 Buy
2 VIII Find the grand chest in the Windy Cave. Explore Lornar's Pass Mistriven Waypoint [&BJkBAAA=] Achievement: Windy Cave Treasure 2 (easy) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
2 IX Defeat the fire shaman and his minions. World Boss Iron Marches Gladefall Waypoint [&BO4BAAA=] [timer unknown] 4 (group effort) 50 Silver coin 5 Try
2 X Complete the story step "Forging the Pact." Personal Story Timberline Falls Rankor Ruins Waypoint [&BFQCAAA=] L62 story. 5 (fergidaboutit) 50 Silver coin 5 Buy
2 XI Complete the Crucible of Eternity in Story Mode. Dungeon Story Crucible of Eternity Crucible of Eternity Waypoint [&BEIFAAA=] [none] 3 (medium) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Buy
2 XII Find the grand chest near Scholar Fryxx. Explore Straits of Devastation Vesper Bell Waypoint [&BPICAAA=] Achievement: The Long Way Around 1 (fast) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Grind
2 XIII Defeat the Risen Priest of Grenth. World Boss Cursed Shore Murdered Dreams Waypoint [&BCIDAAA=] Orrian Temple (random timer) 4 (group effort) Gold coin 20 Try
3 I Defeat Fleshgrazer. Event Dredgehaunt Cliffs Wyrmblood Waypoint [&BGUCAAA=] Achievement: Forsaken Fortune 4 (group effort) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
3 II Complete the story step "The Battle for Claw Island." Personal Story Lion's Arch Claw Island Portage Waypoint [&BA8EAAA=] L50 story. 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
3 III Capture Stonegaze Spire. Capture Edge of the Mists Stonegaze Spire [&BEcHAAA=] [none] 4 (group effort) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
3 IV Defeat Victurus the Shattered and his army. Event Iron Marches Wreckage of Day's Labor [&BNkBAAA=] [none] 2 (easy) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
3 V Earn 100% completion in the Fields of Ruin. Map Completion Fields of Ruin [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
3 VI Earn 100% completion in Iron Marches. Map Completion Iron Marches [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
3 VII Befriend the dredge camp so they will join you as allies. Event Eternal Battlegrounds Molevek Works [&BPIDAAA=] [none] 4 (group effort) 50 Silver coin 5 Buy
3 VIII Complete Sorrow's Embrace in Story Mode. Dungeon Story Sorrow's Embrace Sorrow's Embrace Waypoint [&BD8FAAA=] [none] 3 (medium) 50 Silver coin 5 Buy
3 IX Defeat Vidius Flame Tribune. Event Fireheart Rise Vidius Castrum Waypoint [&BBwCAAA=] [none] 2 (easy) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
3 X Complete the story step "The Battle of Fort Trinity." Personal Story Straits of Devastation Plinth Timberland Waypoint [&BFgGAAA=] L70 story. 5 (fergidaboutit) 50 Silver coin 5 Buy
3 XI Find the locked door at the end of the forgotten stream. Explore Cursed Shore Verdance Waypoint [&BBsDAAA=] Achievement: Forgotten Stream 2 (easy) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Grind
3 XII Defeat the Risen Priest of Melandru. World Boss Cursed Shore Verdance Waypoint [&BBsDAAA=] Orrian Temple (random timer) 4 (group effort) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Try
3 XIII Defeat the Karka Queen. World Boss Southsun Cove Pearl Islet Waypoint [&BNUGAAA=] Timer (6 pm PDT) 4 (group effort) Gold coin 20 Try
4 I Complete the Obsidian Sanctum jumping puzzle. Explore Obsidian Sanctum [na] [na] Achievement: Obsidian Sanctum 4 (group effort) 10 Silver coin 2 Grind
4 II Capture Tytone Perch. Capture Edge of the Mists Tytone Perch [&BD0HAAA=] [none] 4 (group effort) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
4 III Find the grand chest in Provernic Crypt. Explore Gendarran Fields Provern Shore Waypoint [&BOQAAAA=] Mini-dungeon 1 (fast) 10 Silver coin 2 Grind
4 IV Earn 100% completion in Harathi Hinterlands. Map Completion Harathi Hinterlands [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
4 V Earn 100% completion in Timberline Falls. Map Completion Timberline Falls [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
4 VI Earn 100% completion in Mount Maelstrom. Map Completion Mount Maelstrom [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
4 VII Find the chest in Verarium Delves. Explore Sparkfly Fen Ocean's Gullet Waypoint [&BMkBAAA=] Mini-dungeon 2 (easy) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
4 VIII Find the grand chest in Arundon Vale. Explore Frostgorge Sound Arundon Waypoint [&BHgCAAA=] [none] 2 (easy) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
4 IX Defeat the dredge commissar. Event Dredgehaunt Cliffs Tribulation Waypoint [&BFYCAAA=] [timer unknown] 4 (group effort) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
4 X Complete the story step "The Source of Orr." Personal Story Cursed Shore Verdance Waypoint [&BBsDAAA=] L80 story. 5 (fergidaboutit) 50 Silver coin 5 Buy
4 XI Complete Honor of the Waves in Story Mode. Dungeon Story Honor of the Waves Honor of the Waves Waypoint [&BEMFAAA=] [none] 3 (medium) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Buy
4 XII Defeat the Statue of Dwayna. World Boss Malchor's Leap Tempests Waypoint [&BLACAAA=] Orrian Temple (random timer) 4 (group effort) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Try
4 XIII Find the grand chest in the Ship of Sorrows. Explore Straits of Devastation Plaza of Lost Wisdom [&BOACAAA=] Achievement: Ship of Sorrows 2 (easy) Gold coin 20 Grind
5 I Complete Caudecus's Manor in Story Mode. Dungeon Story Caudecus' Manor Beetletun Waypoint [&BPoAAAA=] [none] 3 (medium) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
5 II Kill the Foulbear chieftain and her elite guards. Event Fields of Ruin Foulbear Kraal [&BNIAAAA=] [timer unknown] 4 (group effort) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
5 III Complete the story step "Retribution." Personal Story Lion's Arch Claw Island Portage Waypoint [&BA8EAAA=] L59 story. 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
5 IV Earn 100% completion in Dredgehaunt Cliffs. Map Completion Dredgehaunt Cliffs [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
5 V Earn 100% completion in Sparkfly Fen. Map Completion Sparkfly Fen [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
5 VI Earn 100% completion in Frostgorge Sound. Map Completion Frostgorge Sound [na] [na] [none] 5 (fergidaboutit) 10 Silver coin 2 Buy
5 VII Defeat Vexa and her golem in Vexa's Lab. Event Fireheart Rise Noxious Castrum [&BA4CAAA=] Achievement: Vexa's Lab 2 (easy) 50 Silver coin 5 Grind
5 VIII Defeat the Infinity Coil Commander and capture the Infinity Coil. Event Mount Maelstrom Crucible of Eternity Waypoint [&BEIFAAA=] [none] 3 (medium) 50 Silver coin 5 Try
5 IX Defeat Admiral Taidha Covington. World Boss Bloodtide Coast Laughing Gull Waypoint [&BKgBAAA=] Timer (8:30 pm) 4 (group effort) 50 Silver coin 5 Try
5 X Defeat the Branded Devourer Queen. Event Iron Marches Grundallion's Lair [&BN0BAAA=] [none] 2 (easy) 50 Silver coin 5 Buy
5 XI Defeat the Overgrown Grub. Event Eternal Battlegrounds Blue World Keep [&BOIDAAA=] [none] 4 (group effort) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Buy
5 XII Complete the Ruined City of Arah in Story Mode. Dungeon Story Ruined City of Arah Gates of Arah [&BBUDAAA=] [none] 3 (medium) Gold coin 50 Silver coin 10 Buy
5 XIII Defeat the corrupted high priestess of Lyssa. World Boss Malchor's Leap Lyssa Waypoint [&BK0CAAA=] Orrian Temple (random timer) 4 (group effort) Gold coin 20 Try

Legend[edit]

  • Line #: The order of the trait line, i.e. 1 corresponds to Guardian icon small.png Zeal, Warrior icon small.png Strength, ...
  • #: The trait #.
  • Task: The required task to unlock.
  • Type: For sorting purposes. I hope the categories are self-explanatory.
  • Map: The name of the map.
  • Pingable: The name of something that you can ping to chat, allowing for a clickable link.
  • Code: The chat code. (I need to update these to copy/paste friendly versions.
  • Other: Notes about whether the task is associated with an achievement or is time limited (times are PDT).
  • Effort: My estimate of how much time and aggravation is required. The number is for sorting only — it's the text that gives the estimate of easy vs forget about it.
  • Gold and SP The gold and skill point costs to unlock.
  • Recom: My personal recommendation. Buy = spend the coin. Grind = spend the time. Try = attempt the task first (if you can pull it off, it's a big time/coin savings.)

Summary[edit]

  • Buy: 12 Gold coin 60 Silver coin + 132 skill point
  • Try: 18 Gold coin 10 Silver coin + 127 skill point
  • Grind: 12 Gold coin 30 Silver coin + 101 skill point

In other words, spend about 13 Gold coin and then save a lot of the remaining costs by running around the map.

Editorial[edit]

One of the things I loved about the initial launch of Guild Wars 2 was: less grinding to "level up," by which I mean: I wasn't forced to do anything in particular to maximize my build potential. As of April 2014, that has changed substantially. Notably, there is only one way to obtain maximum armor/weapons (grind crafting); only one way for newbies to obtain ascended trinkets (FotM and guild missions — the laurel method only works if you have played for ages); only two ways to unlock traits (pay 43 Gold coin or repeat the same exact tasks on each toon). I happen to like g-mish, crafting, and Fractals, so I don't mind those requirements, but Kormir help those who don't. And I especially hate having to run around the map to places I have been before multiple times to unlock various traits. Sure, I could grind the gold, but that's a ridiculous investment for a relatively small return: I need the traits unlocked, because I have no idea when/if I will need them. It's almost worse than in GW1, where I could accidentally accumulate tomes on Toon A, that would allow Toon B to unlock the relevant skills; there's no such shortcut in GW2.