Today, we're thrilled to announce Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure™, a new expansion launching on August 22. New features and content will arrive with the initial release and continue over nearly a year of additional feature and story updates.
Extending the Story
If you read our February and May studio update blogs, you've heard us talk about updating our approach to development to provide more consistent updates for both the core game and expansion content. Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure benefits from this new approach. At launch, you'll be able to play through a self-contained story; following launch, this story will be seamlessly expanded upon in updates that come out every few months, telling a second, stand-alone arc.
Ancient Mysteries, New Threats
The story of Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure represents the opening of a new chapter: the Elder Dragon cycle that dominated major events from the original launch through Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons™ has come to a close. In fact, today's game update includes a small scene to transition out of the End of Dragons storyline. This interlude brings us to a scenic overlook in Seitung Province, where one of our dearest comrades has some...bittersweet news to share.
In the quiet that follows, 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 cycle is "over," Tyria is blood in water. The Mists are watching.
Two explorable zones and the Wizard's Tower outpost, floating high above the Tyrian coast, will be available at launch. In the releases that will follow every few months, a third explorable zone will open in conjunction with the ongoing story that plays out.
Soar with the Skyscale
The skyscale mount was first introduced in Living World Season 4, following Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire™, and it changed the way players navigate maps in Guild Wars 2. We love the freedom and movement options the skyscale offers—which is why we want to make sure it's readily accessible to as many players as possible. As a result, we're adding a new skyscale mount acquisition method with this expansion. Whether or not you own Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire or completed the original skyscale collection, Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will grant you a more streamlined collection to unlock a skyscale of your very own.
Once you've unlocked the skyscale in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, you'll get access to a new skyscale skin collection. Completing that will award you a terrifying and beautiful Kryptis-themed skyscale skin.
Skyscale Mastery Updates
Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure skyscale Mastery line includes new abilities, like the Fireball aerial attack you'll unlock at tier two. Some of the new Mastery tiers grant Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire Masteries; in those cases, players who have trained skyscale Masteries from both expansions will get a bonus functionality unlock. For example, the first tier of the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure skyscale Mastery grants Air Rescue—the ability to mount in midair. If you've already trained Air Rescue with the Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire Mastery line, you'll now get Bond of Vigor every time you use Air Rescue.
| Tier | Effect | Bonus from Both Mastery Tracks |
| 1–Air Rescue 2.0 | Grants Air Rescue | Air Rescue grants Bond of Vigor |
| 2–Fireball | Grants an aerial flame attack while mounted on the skyscale | |
| 3–Wall Spring 2.0 | Grants Wall Launch | Upgrades Wall Launch to charge faster and launch farther |
| 4–Wind Beneath Your Wings | Flying mounts can use updrafts | |
| 5–Combat Launch | Gain the ability to mount your skyscale in combat | |
| 6–Ley-Line | Acclimation | Flying mounts can use ley lines |
| 7–Rising Spirits | Updrafts regenerate the skyscale's flight meter |
*Names are subject to change.
Mastering the Rifts
Two additional Mastery lines will be introduced in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, both of which are closely tied to the expansion's story. As you fight off the ravages of the Kryptis, you'll make allies of the Wizard's Court and the Astral Ward—ancient protectors of Tyria who have been brought out of their seclusion by the Kryptis threat. Through your new allies, you'll gain access to a powerful artifact called the Heart of the Obscure.
With Kryptis forces pouring into Tyria through portals in the Mists, it falls to you and the Astral Ward to track down and close those portals—and deal with any Kryptis that have managed to pass through them. The Heart of the Obscure and Astral Ward Masteries will aid you as you hunt and close rifts throughout Tyria. Together, the two Mastery lines will allow you explore the world more freely, take on greater threats, and earn richer rewards.
The skyscale, Astral Ward, and Heart of the Obscure Mastery lines will all be available at launch on August 22. We're planning to introduce a fourth Mastery line in the first major release following launch.
Fractals of the Mists, Strike Missions, and Challenge Modes
Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will bring new challenging content in the form of two new Strike Missions and a Fractal of the Mists, each with an accompanying challenge mode. Both Strike Missions will be part of the August 22 launch; their challenge modes will come out in subsequent releases.
As a side note: We'd be remiss not to mention that today's game update includes a new fractal that you can play right this very moment if you own Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons!
Today's announcement also included information on combat, system changes and rewards. We'll be back with more information about Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure between now and launch. Until then, check out the official page for more details and visit the official store to prepurchase.