Can I Start With End of Dragons in Guild Wars 2?
Yes, you can technically start playing Guild Wars 2 with the End of Dragons (EoD) expansion. However, whether it’s the best approach, especially for new players, is a more complex question. While the game allows you to jump straight into the EoD content if you have the expansion, there are some significant factors to consider that might impact your overall experience. This article will delve into these factors and provide a comprehensive overview to help you make an informed decision.
Understanding How End of Dragons Fits Into the Guild Wars 2 Narrative
Guild Wars 2’s story is built upon a chronological progression, although, it’s not entirely linear. The base game introduces the world of Tyria and its key characters. This is followed by the first expansion Heart of Thorns (HoT), which takes players to the challenging jungle region. The next expansion, Path of Fire (PoF), leads into the Crystal Desert and the story it carries with it. End of Dragons, the third major expansion, shifts the narrative focus to the technologically advanced region of Cantha.
While each expansion’s story is designed to be relatively standalone, you may miss out on crucial world building and character development if you skip over the base game and previous expansions. End of Dragons assumes you are at least familiar with some central events and characters that are part of the core game’s narrative and earlier expansions.
What You Gain by Starting With End of Dragons
- Immediate Access to Cantha: Upon logging in after purchasing the expansion, you’ll receive a prompt, and if not, you’ll be guided to the Eye of the North, which leads directly into the End of Dragons story in Cantha.
- New Specialization: You will gain immediate access to the Catalyst specialization for the Elementalist, or the corresponding elite specialization for your class in the EoD expansion.
- New Features: You get access to expansion specific features like skiffs, fishing, and your own jade bot, along with four new explorable zones.
- Max-Level Boost: If you’re a new player purchasing the expansion, you’ll likely receive a max-level boost. This item will instantly boost one of your characters to level 80 which is required for the content in End of Dragons.
- Free Content Continues the Story: You gain access to free content that continues the expansion’s story once you have completed it.
Potential Downsides of Starting With End of Dragons
- Narrative Context: Jumping straight into End of Dragons means potentially missing essential story elements, understanding the history of Tyria, and missing some character connections, particularly if you skipped through the personal story, Heart of Thorns, and Path of Fire expansions.
- Overwhelming Complexity: The base game has a gradual learning curve. Going straight to the content designed for level 80 characters may feel overwhelming in terms of combat and game mechanics.
- Missing Previous Content: Starting with EoD means you’ll potentially miss out on exploring earlier regions, collecting rewards, mastering earlier systems, and experiencing the stories of both Heart of Thorns and Path of Fire and some Living World Seasons. This content is still highly relevant and enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Starting with End of Dragons
To further clarify, here are some frequently asked questions:
Q1: Do I need to own previous expansions to play End of Dragons?
A: No, you don’t need to own previous expansions to play End of Dragons, but the experience is significantly enhanced if you have at least some familiarity with the story and characters from earlier parts of the game. You will still need the base game of Guild Wars 2 though.
Q2: Can I play Guild Wars 2 without any expansions?
A: Yes, the core Guild Wars 2 game is free-to-play and offers a vast amount of content. However, expansions add significant content and features.
Q3: If I start with End of Dragons, can I still go back and play the previous content?
A: Absolutely. Once you have access to a character at level 80, you can explore any region, including those from the core game, Heart of Thorns, and Path of Fire.
Q4: Does End of Dragons include previous expansions like Heart of Thorns or Path of Fire?
A: No, End of Dragons does not include Heart of Thorns or Path of Fire unless you purchase a bundle that explicitly states this. These must be purchased separately, if desired.
Q5: What content is unlocked by purchasing End of Dragons?
A: Buying End of Dragons unlocks skiffs, fishing, your own jade bot, four new zones in Cantha, and the elite specializations for each class. Also access to all future story content after completion of the primary EoD story line.
Q6: Is there a level requirement for End of Dragons content?
A: Yes, End of Dragons content is designed for level 80 players, which is the level cap in Guild Wars 2.
Q7: How can I get to level 80 to experience the End of Dragons content if I’m a new player?
A: You may receive a max-level boost item with your purchase of End of Dragons which will take one character to level 80 instantly. The game also scales you down to lower levels if you visit older zones to prevent the game becoming too easy.
Q8: Is the Griffon mount faster than the Skyscale in End of Dragons?
A: The Griffon is faster than the Skyscale in some situations, especially when diving. However, mastering the Griffon takes longer. Neither of these are available straight away with End of Dragons they are from the previous expansion Path of Fire.
Q9: Do I need End of Dragons to access Secrets of the Obscure?
A: No, the Secrets of the Obscure expansion is a separate purchase and does not require owning End of Dragons.
Q10: What is the recommended order to play Guild Wars 2 expansions?
A: The recommended order is the base game, then Heart of Thorns, then Path of Fire, then End of Dragons, and then Secrets of the Obscure. While not required, this order provides the most context and narrative flow.
Q11: Does the End of Dragons expansion include the siege turtle mount?
A: Yes, End of Dragons introduces the siege turtle, a 2-player mount that emphasizes combat over speed.
Q12: How much gold does it cost to unlock the Griffon mount?
A: To unlock the Griffon, you need 250 gold. You also need to have completed the story in the Path of Fire expansion. This would not be available if you are only playing End of Dragons.
Q13: What is the recommended play order for the personal story episodes, Heart of Thorns, and Path of Fire?
A: You should play through all the episodes of your personal story, and then move to Heart of Thorns, followed by Path of Fire. The story is structured that way to provide the best cohesive experience. This is why starting with End of Dragons may be confusing.
Q14: Is Path of Fire a better expansion than Heart of Thorns?
A: Both Path of Fire and Heart of Thorns are worth the money, with many players preferring Path of Fire for its quality of gameplay and content, which you would miss out on if you only played End of Dragons.
Q15: What are the storage requirements for Guild Wars 2?
A: The game requires approximately 70 GB of available storage space, which is largely the same for each expansion.
Conclusion
While you can begin your Guild Wars 2 journey with End of Dragons, it’s not necessarily the most recommended approach. For new players, starting with the base game and progressing through the expansions chronologically will result in a more fulfilling and less confusing experience. If you are an experienced player and want to move straight into End of Dragons for a specific specialization, then you can. However, you may miss out on crucial content and story that provide a richer and deeper understanding of the world of Tyria. Consider your priorities when choosing which expansion to begin with, however, the order above is always recommended.