Guild Wars 2 Expansions Explained: What Each One Includes

Whether you're brand new to Guild Wars 2 or a long-time veteran who never took the plunge into expansions, chances are you're asking:

• There are so many expansions!
• Where do I even start?
• What do I actually need?
• What do I even want!

Fair and valid question. After over a decade of content, Guild Wars 2 has built up quite some expansions and updates. It can feel overwhelming at first but don’t worry. This guide has you covered.

**Why should you even consider getting an expansion? **

Not only do expansions deliver new story content, but also a vast variety of other gameplay tools. Expansions grant you access to elite specialisations, mounts, gliding, raids, strikes and so much more.

However, not every expansion offers the same things. You may want to unlock mounts first or you may want to have access to raids first. But as they don't come within the same expansion, you may be confused why you have only access to one thing but not the other.

Let's stop beating around the bush and take a dive into each expansion, what they offer, and what you need to know to help you decide, which expansion suits your needs and wants.

Up to this date Guild Wars 2 has three main expansions:

• Heart of Thorns (HoT)
• Path of Fire (PoF)
• End of Dragons

Let's see what each expansion entails aside from story content, which is an aspect in each expansion, living world and mini-expansion.

Heart of Thorns (HoT) is the first expansion title this game has seen. The story leads us deep into the Maguuma Jungle to reveal its secrets on our journey to confront the elder dragon Mordremoth.

Aside from story this expansion offers:

• Four new open world maps: Verdant Brink, Auric Basin, Tangled Depths, Dragon'S Stand
• Access to the first three Raid Wings: Spirit Vale, Salvation Pass, Stronghold of the Faithful
• The mastery system after you reached level 80: Gliding, Itzel Lore, Exalted Lore, Nuhoch Lore, Raids, Ancient Magics
• Two different guild halls: Gilded Hollow and Lost Precipice
• One new profession: Revenant
• The first elite specialisations introduced to the game: Reaper, Tempest, Chronomancer, Daredevil, Scrapper, Druid, Dragonhunter, Herald and Berserker
• New attribute prefixes including new armor and weapon sets
• Legendary armor: Perfected Envoy armor
• New legendary weapons (Gen 2)
• New adventures and meta events
• New ranger pets
• A new PvP game mode: Stronghold and new reward tracks
• A new WvW map: Desert Borderlands

Path of Fire (PoF) is the second full expansion for Guild Wars 2. This time the story lets us travel to the Crystal Desert, where we learn how to praise Joko and how to cross swords with a god.

Let's see what else this expansion adds to the game aside from story:

• Five new open world maps: Crystal Oasis, Desert Highlands, Elon Riverlands, The Desolation, Domain of Vabbi
• Three new raid wings: Hall of Chains, Mythwright Gambit, The Key of Ahdashim
• A legendary ring (obtained through Raids):
• New legendary weapons (counting to Gen 2)
• Access to six mounts via the mastery system; Raptor, Springer, Skimmer, Griffon, Warclaw
• A new guild hall: Windswept Haven
• New elite specialisations: Scourge, Weaver, Mirage, Deadeye, Holosmith, Soulbeast, Firebrand, Renegade and Spellbreaker
• Bounties
• New armor and weapon sets with new attribute prefixes
• New adventures

End of Dragons (EoD) is the last major expansion that came to Guild Wars 2. The story leads us to Cantha - the Dragon Empire, that over two centuries ago severed all bonds to Tyria and Elona. Not only will we get to know this mysterious culture but also everything about jade technology. We will also be faced with the consequences of our changed relationship to the Elder Dragons and what balance truly means.

But what else comes with this expansion?

• Five new open world maps: Seitung Province, New Kaineng City, The Echovald Wilds, Dragon's End, Gyala Delve
• Four strike missions: Aetherblade Hideout,Xunlai Jade Junkyard, Kaineng Overlook, Harvest Temple
• New legendary weapons (Gen 3); all of them are Aurene themed with the option to get a skin of the other Elder Dragons
• New masteries: Fishing, Skiff Piloting, Jade Bots, Arborstone Revitalization, Turtle Mount
• A new guild hall: Isle of Reflection
• New elite specialisations: Harbinger, Catalyst, Virtuoso, Spectre, Mechanist, Untamed, Willbender, Vindicator and Bladesworn
• New armor and weapon sets with new attribute prefixes

Living World Season 1 was the first release of this content upgrade. It wasn't possible to play this one unless you have been around for the initial release in 2013. However, in 2022 we got a re-release of it and can play through the story. This one is free for all players. Within the story we will have to fight against Scarlet Briar, who was responsible for the destruction of Old Lion's Arch and the awakening of an Elder Dragon.

What else do we get?

• A new strike mission: Old Lion's Court
• Three public instances: The Tower of Nightmares, The Twisted Marionette, The Battle For The Battle for Lion's Arch
• A new lobby (obtained through achievements):
• New weapon sets: Lion's Champion Weapons

Living World Season 2, also known as Glint's Prophecy, is the next in line. The story is a continuation of Scarlet's War and leads us deeper into the lore and towards Maguuma. Unlike Living World Season 1, you will have to pay for each episode if you haven't been around during the release period.

Let's see what we will get with this content upgrade other than story and lore.

• Two new maps: Dry Top, The Silverwastes
• New armor sets:Carapace armor and Luminescent armor
• New ascended back item: , and its associated converter

Living World Season 3 is also known as Glint's Legacy. We pick up the story one year after where Heart of Thorns finished. We learn about the White Mantle and Bloodstone magic.

You may wonder what else will be offered? Let's check out some details.

• Six new maps:Bloodstone Fen, Ember Bay, Bitterfrost Frontier, Lake Doric, Draconis Mons, Siren's Landing
• New weapon sets: Carnival Weapons Carnival Weapons
• A new mastery: Ancient Magics
• A new legendary trinket:
• New attribute combination: Seraph

Living World Season 4, known as Rise of Kralkatorrik, picks up the story shortly after where Path of Fire ended. We have to face yet another Elder Dragon. This time one that threatens the lives of people in Elona.

Let's take a look at what else is included in this part.

• Six new maps: Domain of Istan, Sandswept Isles, Domain of Kourna, Jahai Bluffs, Thunderhead Peaks, Dragonfall
• New mounts: Roller Beetle and Skyscale
• New armor sets: Elegy armor, Requiem armor, Mist Shard armor, Blossoming Mist Shard armor and Corsair armor
• New weapon sets
• A new legendary trinket:
• New attribute combination: Plaguedoctor's
• New masteries: Roller Beetle, Skyscale and Crystal Champion

Living World Season 5 or better known as The Icebrood Saga (IBS), focuses on the Charr and Norn as they need to defend their lands in the Far Shiverpeaks and the Blood Legion Homelands from the threat of another Elder Dragon - Jormag.

What does the Icebrood Sage offer beyond its story?

• Three new maps: Grothmar Valley, Bjora Marches, Drizzlewood Coast
• New armor sets: Raven Ceremonial armor, Stone Summit armor, Runic armor, Bear Ceremonial armor
• New weapon sets
• New masteries
• Strike missions (known as IBS 5)
• Dragon Response Missions (DRM)

In August, 2023, ArenaNet introduced a new expansion model: Mini Expansions. They were not only meant as a new business model but also promised the community of players to receive quarterly updates with new story, content, maps and more. So far they received mixed feelings due to the lack of new elite specialisations but we will see how directions may change and shift in future. However, these expansions do offer a lot of other exciting things to explore. Let's take a look at them.

Secrets of the Obscure (SotO) is the first of of these expansions. This time we are not fighting against any Elder Dragons. A new threat arises in Tyria from the Mists and we'll uncover answers to mysteries that have haunted Tyria from the time of the original Guild Wars.

Let's take a dive and see what Secrets of the Obscure has to offer.

• Four new maps: Skywatch Archipelago, Amnytas, The Wizard's Tower, Nayos which later on got extended with Inner Nayos
• Weaponmaster training: you can now use your elite specialisations weapons from previous expansions without locking yourself into their corresponding traitline. Additionally, each profession received a new weapon.
• Mounts: The Raptor is now permanently available to anyone with an expansion and the Skyscale received an alternative way of obtaining
• New masteries
• New armor sets and weapon sets
• New legendary armor set: Obsidian armor
• Relics and a Legendary Relic
• New strike missions: Cosmic Observatory, Temple of Febe
• New public instance: Outer Nayos
• Wizard's Vault: a new system that replaces the old daily system, so you can choose the rewards yourself for Astral Acclaim.

Janthir Wilds (JW) is the next expansion and the most recent that has been added to the game. This time we are on our mission to befriend new allies - the lowland kodan. Through fights and exploration through ancient mursaat ruins in Janthir, we will learn more about the mysteries of Tyria's past.

Let's unpack a little of what else comes with Janthir Wilds.

• Four new maps: Lowland Shore, Janthir Syntri, Mistburned Barrens, Bava Nisos
• Our first proper homestead: Heart's Glow
• Land spear for all professions
• Improved Warclaw
• New masteries
• New armor and weapon sets
• A new legendary spear: and its variants
• A new legendary backpack:
• A new raid wing: Mount Balrior which is also available as
• A new convergence Mount Balrior

Visions of Eternity (VoE) is the next expansion, released on October 28, 2025, with more content coming out in three quarterly releases in 2026.

Here is what we know so far: Rumours spread across Tyria of covert Inquest voyages in search of the island of Castora - a remote island that has long thought to be inaccessible or even non-existent.

Let us see what we got so far with the newest expansion.

• Two new open world regions: Shipwreck Strand and Starlit Weald
• Three new mastery tracks, including one for the skimmer mount with new abilities
• New adventures, collections and thematic rewards
• A new Castoran homestead map: Comosus Isle(Janthir Wilds (JW) required!) and homestead layouts.
• New elite specialisations: Ritualist, Evoker, Troubadour, Antiquary, Amalgam, Galeshot, Luminary, Conduit, Paragon
• New legendary weapon (spear/staff): Aetheric Anchor
• New legendary aquabreather: Selachimorpha
• Six new relics
• new weapon and armor sets

To be continued...

Here we are now. You know about all the various expansions that have been added to the game but you may wonder: "Which order? This is all over the place! What if I want to play them chronologically?"

Don't worry, the correct order goes as follows after you finished the main story from the base game:

1. Living World Season 1
2. Living World Season 2
3. Heart of Thorns
4. Living World Season 3 (requires Heart of Thorns (HoT))
5. Path of Fire
6. Living World Season 4 (requires Path of Fire (PoF))
7. The Icebrood Saga (requires Path of Fire (PoF))
8. End of Dragons
9. Secrets of the Obscure
10. Janthir Wilds
11. Visions of Eternity

After finding our way through this jungle of expansions, you hopefully gained some clarity on what each has to offer for your current gameplay needs and wants. Seeing this many expansions, without any guidance or clarity, can be daunting. Things should be much clearer now and might even fuel your excitement to explore all the unknown areas of Tyria and beyond.