Guild Wars 2’s Janthir Wilds expansion is live today. The first part of the expansion adds new maps, quests, a Kodan spear that opens up new skill mastery lines for every profession, a refreshed Warclaw mount and a long-requested feature: player housing.
Following the events of Secrets of the Obscure, Tyria unites in the name of allied defenses. You undertake a diplomatic mission down in Janthir, where the Lowland Kodan live. As you explore the expansion’s two new maps, you'll be able to meet new allies, and of course encounter new dangers.
Finally, housing in GW2. With Homesteads, expansion owners will get a plot of land and housing space to decorate and customize. The expansion launches with new tools and over 300 decoration items to make your home your own. Each home also has a mount stable, resource improvements, and plenty of space for your alts to hang out. If you choose to place alts in your homestead, they are customizable and you can place them wherever you want.
You’ll make good use of that mount stable as the Warclaw is no longer confined to competition in WvW. An updated version of the mount will let you explore in the open world, and comes with a new mastery track too. Keep training your big cat to do things like leap multiple times, sniff out treasure, and even assist in combat while you attack from the saddle.
Speaking of masteries, the Kodan spear will keep you busy. Once you wield it, any profession will feel fresh and offer new ways to play, new combos, and new strategies. The spear launches with a number of changes in response to player feedback.
This first part of the expansion will also add refreshed Wizard’s Vault rewards, a new world boss event–a 50-player group challenge that pits you against titans–and a brand new Convergence. The first Convergence in Secrets of the Obscure was successful, so now a new 50-player instance is coming in Janthir Wilds to fight against those same titans in all new, different encounters.
The Janthir Wilds launch is just the beginning. The first update arrives later this year and the second in early 2025. Expect two additional new maps, for a total of four, a new legendary spear and backpack, more secrets to discover, and Guild Wars 2's first new raid in five years. This will feature 10-player instances with story beats that tie into the main storyline.
