On February 28, the new expansion End of Dragons for the MMORPG Guild Wars 2 will be released. We at MeinMMO take a look at the expansion and tell you who it is interesting for and whether it’s still worth getting into Guild Wars 2.
What’s included in End of Dragons? The new expansion takes you to the continent of Cantha. This continent has an Asian influence and impresses with some beautiful areas. Especially fans of the first game will benefit, as they already know the continent and will encounter many Easter eggs.
Otherwise, the expansion offers:
- New story content around the fight against the Elder Dragons
- New elite specializations for all classes
- A new 2-player mount
- Fishing and sailing
- A new guild hall
- Jade-Bots as new companions
- New strike missions that are set to receive challenge modes for higher difficulty after the release
- New legendary weapons
When will End of Dragons be released? The release of the new expansion will take place on February 28. A specific time has been announced. It starts at 18:00.
What is the price of End of Dragons? The standard version of End of Dragons costs €29.99. This includes all new content. There is also a Deluxe and an Ultimate Edition, each offering bonus items and gems, the real-money currency.
Anyone who does not yet own any other expansions can purchase the Collection. For €49.99 you get all three expansions of Guild Wars 2 in one package.
Checklist – Should I buy and play End of Dragons?
For a quick overview, we have included a short checklist for you. We have prepared 10 statements for you, and if you answer at least 7 of them with “yes”, you can confidently play End of Dragons. You can find more detailed information further down the text.
- I am looking for a new MMORPG that I can play cheaply, or I am considering returning to Guild Wars 2.
- I love Asian worlds, which also have a few Steampunk elements.
- My current classes in Guild Wars 2 absolutely need new skills.
- Huge world events with dozens of players are exactly my thing.
- I love action-packed combat systems with dodging roles.
- I like to fish for leisure in MMORPGs.
- I’ve always wanted to sit on a giant turtle and shoot enemies with big cannons.
- New equipment is not important to me; rather, I prefer to learn new secondary skills like faster riding or cute robot companions.
- I want to be the great hero in the story.
- I have already played Guild Wars Factions and want to experience that feeling again.
- Bonus statement: I love good jumping puzzles that challenge me.
End of Dragons delivers a lot, even without a big hype
Why should I play End of Dragons? End of Dragons is the third major expansion for Guild Wars 2 and promises a lot of new content once again. For fans of the MMORPG, it is a must to play End of Dragons as well.
Especially fishing, the new mount, and the Jade-Bots offer many side activities and opportunities to make progress without needing a new max-level or new equipment to enter the game. Furthermore, it is true that the ascended armor at level 80 is the best you can get.
In addition, you can expect numerous hours of story and dozens of achievements, as well as new world events, which are one of the hallmarks of Guild Wars 2.
Is it worth starting Guild Wars 2 as a newcomer? Yes. Newcomers should not be discouraged by the sheer amount of content in the game. You reach level 80 within 20 to 30 play hours. After that, you can theoretically start directly into End of Dragons.
However, we recommend playing through the entire story first. Because each chapter builds on each other and tells a common story, where a jumping-in point is difficult, though not impossible.
In GW2, however, it is generally true: The journey is the goal. Because the endgame of Guild Wars 2 differs from classic MMORPGs. Although there are dungeons, raids, and strike missions (10-player instances, where often only one boss awaits), you can also reach the best equipment through achievements, crafting, or by purchasing at the trading post.
Moreover, equipment does not play such a big role because, in PvE, you can experience everything outside of raids without the perfect equipment, and in arena PvP, the equipment doesn’t matter at all. And even if you want to have the best equipment, you can achieve this easily in 20 to 50 play hours.
If you are considering starting Guild Wars 2, you can find a detailed beginner guide here:
Focus on the story and “casualization” is not for everyone
Who should better not play End of Dragons? Guild Wars 2 has some quirks that not everyone will like. One aspect is the combat system, which relies on you quickly dodging enemy attacks, keeping yourself alive, and occasionally executing a combo with special AoE fields.
Another aspect is the lack of item spiral. Because once you are level 80 and own an ascended gear, you are basically done with the game. In the endgame, a lot revolves around side skills, fashion, and skins, farming achievements, and the story.
And even this story is not viewed positively by everyone since you are the hero of Tyria and basically take on every danger. However, there are so many heroes of Tyria that the immersion can sometimes be lost.
In general, Guild Wars 2 is quite easy, and in case of hurdles, other players can always help. This makes it a good casual MMORPG, but not a game for hardcore gamers. In End of Dragons, despite new strike missions, this likely won’t change.
Whether Guild Wars 2 is worth it for you, you can find out in detail in this article:
