Once again, the air grows chill, the veil between the Mad Realm and Tyria grows thin, and the Shadow of the Mad King falls over Lion’s Arch and beyond. Log in now for the spooky celebrations, fiendish fun, and mountains of candy! The haunting lasts until November 3, so check out the full release notes and start your trick-or-treating.
Thrilling Rewards
This year’s festival comes with a lineup of eerie new rewards. Complete the (Annual) Halloween Rituals meta-achievement to earn the Primeval King’s Wrappings headpiece and your choice of the Fog Machine weapon. Save up enough Candy Corn Cobs (and other spooky materials) and you can purchase a Plush Mad King Backpack and Mini Longhaired Black Cat of your very own! And if decorating is part of your tradition, you can talk to Deft Lahar in Lion’s Arch to unlock the following new guild and housing decorations: Plush Zhaia, Plush Mad King, Foreboding Raven Tree, and Foreboding Raven Roost.
Fall Fun in the Gem Store
Evon Gnashblade is celebrating with discounts and new items from the Black Lion Trading Company! Halloween-themed items, like the Witch’s Outfit, are available at a 20% discount until November 3, and the Black Lion Chest has been updated with the guaranteed Evon Gnashblade Trick-or-Treat Bag and the chance to get the Flowing Sand Cape.
A new Autumn Garden Homestead Package is available for 800 gems and bundles up everything you need for a cozy, autumnal garden: leaf piles, cornstalks, a garden gate and fence, tree stumps, falling leaves, hanging lanterns, and a garden tree with leafy and bare versions!
And don’t forget, the Mad King Homestead Sky and Mad King Conjured Doorway are still available to make decorating your homestead for the spooky season complete!
How to Enter the Mad Realm
The path to the Mad King’s domain begins with a letter from Magister Tassi. Check your in-game mail for an Invitation to the Mad Realm. Use this to travel between the mortal world and the twisted realm of Mad King Thorn.
Lion’s Arch serves as the heart of Halloween festivities in Tyria. You’ll find portals to Lion’s Arch in every major city for players level 35 and above or for anyone who owns a Guild Wars 2 expansion.
For those who can’t access Lion’s Arch directly, fear not! You can still find haunted doors in locations like the Village of Shaemoor or the Village of Smokestead. These spooky portals are guarded by Lunatic Boatmasters who will happily ferry you to the Mad Realm’s horrors. Don’t forget to explore the haunted doors scattered throughout Kessex Hills and Gendarran Fields—trick-or-treating opportunities await!
Events of Eerie Delight
Mad King Thorn’s laughter rattles through every shadowed corner, daring mortals to dance to his tune. Embrace the eerie with activities both beloved and bizarre!
Lion’s Arch: The city is transformed into a nightmarish vision filled with ghoulish decorations and a haunted atmosphere. Every two hours, Mad King Thorn himself will challenge players to a twisted game—obey his commands (but only when he says “Your Mad King says…”) and win keys to unlock his treasures!
Mad King’s Labyrinth: Explore the dark and winding maze of the Mad King’s Labyrinth, battling hordes of twisted creatures, racing your mounts, and trick-or-treating for bags stuffed with ghoulish goodies. Be wary, though—dreadful enemies like the Grand High Viscount of Candy Corn and the terrifying Labyrinthine Horror stalk these shadowy halls.
Mad King’s Clock Tower: For thrill-seekers, the original heart-pounding jumping puzzle returns. Race against the rising miasma below! Or, if you prefer a slower pace, test your skills on the Stopped Clock Tower variant.
Ascent to Madness: Ready for the ultimate showdown? Face Mad King Thorn himself in this spine-chilling dungeon encounter, available to players of all skill levels.
Mad King’s Raceway: Race through creepy courses on your mounts in time trials or head-to-head races. Rental mounts are available if you don’t have your own.
Minigames: Speak to a Lunatic Boatmaster to jump into the frenzied chaos of Reaper’s Rumble or the survival horror of Lunatic Inquisition.
Enjoy the frightful festivities between now and November 3!