With Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, players received an expansion without new elite specifications for the first time, but the developers, of course, want to make up for the disappointment. So far it’s been about weapon training, which unlocks weapons with elite specifications across the class (elemental mages can use the warhorn with each spec), but we have a more interesting innovation ahead: completely new skills with access to weapons that were previously out of class! Rifles for mesmerists, pistols for guardians, swords for necromancers and more! The developers have now shed light on all these weapons – we have a compact overview including videos for you.
When will you be able to try these weapons yourself?
Before you hold your breath too long: these weapon types are scheduled to be unlocked in 2024, in the second post-launch update for Secrets of the Obscure. Probably late February, but you’ll still be able to try them out before then. As part of the Advanced Weapon Knowledge Beta EventYou gain full access to all new skills. It starts on November 28 at 6 pm CET (9 am PT) and ends on December 4 at 7 am CET (December 3 at 10 pm PT). There will also be a preview livestream on November 27 at 9 p.m.
Advanced weapon types: GW2’s nine classes at a glance
Necromancer: swords in the main and secondary hands.
- DpS weapon with power damage.
Armed with two swords, the necromancer can drain life energy and also sacrifice his own health to deal greater damage. So players have to decide for themselves how risky they want to jump around the battlefield; yeah, the Necro finally gets a little more mobility. More about the Sword Necromancer on the Arenanet blog.
Guard: pistols in the main and secondary hand.
- DpS weapon with condition damage.
Guardians can finally ditch the scepter as their primary ranged weapon! So if you want it, some versions definitely have more options now. And who doesn’t love creating an arcane symbol in the air to light up their pistol shots as they fire? More about pistol guard on the Arenanet blog.
Engineer – Short Bow
A curious innovation is the short bow for the engineer. But in action it all looks really exciting: place magical elixirs, which then explode in area-of-effect fields and, depending on the overlap and order of detonation, activate other effects, such as barriers or healing for your companions. More about the short arc engineer on the Arenanet blog.
Elementalist – Pistol in main hand
- DpS weapon with condition damage.
When playing the keys of the elementalist’s piano, it is not surprising that a single pistol in the main hand also opens up many new possibilities. Because the integrated elemental ball mechanics guarantee exciting variety. Depending on the mood of the land, gun skills generate elemental spheres, which are then consumed when you use a skill, granting you bonuses.
Consume approximately one earth orb with Shattering Stone to cause bleeding on upcoming attacks. Or consume a balloon with “Rock Shock” to gain Barrier. There are balls and effects like this for every element! And of course, extra bonuses for Weber… more about the pistol hypnotist on the Arenanet blog.
Continued on page 2 with Mesmer, Returner, Warrior, Thief and Ranger!