Greetings, new friends!
Given the recent deluge of brand-new Tyrian citizens, the Captain's Council of Lion's Arch has seen fit to release an informational missive regarding the activities of one Mad King Thorn and his yearly incursion into the streets of Lion's Arch.
Shadow of the Mad King
Shadow of the Mad King is Guild Wars 2's yearly Halloween-themed festival, and we do holiday events like no other. It's not just a short set of quests or a few cosmetics—it's an entirely new way to play the game. Loads of unique game modes will be available that can be used to expand your wardrobe, fill your wallet, and level up your character faster than ever before.
This content is available for free to all players.
For the next three weeks, you'll gain access to a new set of daily and annual achievements that will act as your guide to Guild Wars 2's unique set of festival celebrations. Shadow of the Mad King adds a number of activities that can be used to earn our Halloween festival currency, candy corn. It can be spent on new weapon skins, armor skins, miniatures, and more.
Getting Started
First, check your in-game mail for a letter from Magister Tassi containing an Invitation to the Mad Realm. Use this item to travel back and forth between Tyria and the Mad King's Labyrinth.
Lion's Arch is Tyria's Halloween celebration headquarters. Asura gate portals to Lion's Arch are available in major cities and can be used by any player who has purchased a Guild Wars 2 expansion or is at least level 35.
Players without access to Lion's Arch can travel to the Mad Realm from any of Guild Wars 2's starting zones:
- Village of Shaemoor in Queensdale
- Village of Smokestead in the Plains of Ashford
- Snowlord's Gate in the Wayfarer Foothills
- Village of Astorea in Caledon Forest
- Soren Draa in Metrica Province
These locations are outside each starting city's main gate and can be freely teleported to by any character, regardless of which playable race you began the game as. Run to the candy corn icon on your map and speak to a Lunatic Boatmaster guarding a haunted door, and they'll whisk you away to your choice of Halloween activities.
Activities
The Mad King's Labyrinth
How's your inventory management? Clean out your bags and get ready for a loot waterfall.
Squad up and take down the denizens of the labyrinth. Kill stuff, get loot. Open haunted doors around the labyrinth to spawn boss enemies or focus on the small fry while you make a circuit around this haunted maze.
Magic find is an account-wide attribute that increases your chance of receiving high-quality loot from slain enemies. When you're cleansing the Mad King's Labyrinth…you'll be slaying a lot of enemies. Make the most of it by picking up some Heroic Boosters or speak to Madame Cookie within the labyrinth to exchange candy corn for an enhancement to your magic find.
The Mad King's Clock Tower
Hop to the top of a viciously timed jumping puzzle before the deadly miasma below makes its way to you. Open the Magnificent Chest at the top once per day for—you guessed it—more sick loot.
Mad King Says…
Every two hours at the Grand Piazza in Lion's Arch, follow Mad King Thorn's commands and receive key fragments for your efforts. Collect three key fragments and you'll be able to open the Mad King's Chest. This chest is available once per day and will reward you with Trick-or-Treat Bags and some delicious Globs of Ectoplasm.
Ascent to Madness
Group up with up to four friends and take the fight to that despicable Oswald Thorn. He's still up to his Mad King Says antics, too, so keep your ears open for his commands. Defeat the Mad King once per day to earn Trick-or-Treat Bags and more.
Mad King's Raceway and Labyrinth Race
If you haven't tried out Guild Wars 2's unique mount system, now's a great chance. Speak with a Lunatic Boatmaster to enter one of the Mad King's many mount races. Even if you don't own a mount, you'll find rental mounts available by speaking to the Mad Stablehand nearby.
Lunatic Inquisition and Reaper's Rumble
If you're more of a PvP-oriented player, we've got something just for you! Take on your fellow Tyrians in the MOBA-style Reaper's Rumble, or escape from the Courtier's grasp in the tag-style Lunatic Inquisition. In the Mad King's Realm, speak to a Lunatic Boatman to enter these game modes. Victory rewards Trick-or-Treat Bags and the greatest reward of all—cold, hard coin.
Rewards
Once you've tired yourself out with our Halloween festivities, you might find that your constant looting has left you with…well…fewer available bag slots than is ideal. What do you do with all this stuff, anyway?
Trick-or-Treat Bags
The Mad King's mystery bags can contain anything from rare crafting materials to ultra-rare infusions and special weapon skins. Or maybe just some candy corn. Take your chances with opening the bags for the opportunity of a rare drop. Alternatively, sell them to other players on the Trading Post for a guaranteed win.
Candy Corn
Candy corn is as good as coin when Mad King Thorn is in town. One thousand pieces of candy corn can be exchanged for a Candy Corn Cob at candy corn vendors in Lion's Arch or any of the starting zones. You can also feed these candies to a Candy Corn Gobbler for random enhancements to experience, magic find, and more.
The Candy Corn Cobs can be spent at vendors in Lion's Arch for unique weapon skins, armor skins, miniatures, and other rewards. If you're not interested in that, they can also be sold on the Trading Post to other players for a tidy profit.
Enter The Mad King's Realm Today!
Clean up your bags and get ready to profit. Level up quicker than ever before. Beat up skeletons. Get loot. Take your friends with you on a journey to the labyrinth and get lost in the joy of exploration.
Play Guild Wars 2 for free now.
See you in the Mad Realm!