Can You Craft Ascended Gear for Other People in Guild Wars 2? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is no, you cannot directly craft ascended gear and then trade it to another player in Guild Wars 2. However, there are nuances and indirect methods to help others acquire this powerful gear, which we will explore in detail.
Understanding Ascended Gear and Account Binding
Ascended gear represents a significant upgrade from exotic gear, offering slightly better stats and the crucial ability to be infused with Agony Resistance (AR), essential for tackling high-level Fractals of the Mists. Crucially, all crafted ascended gear is account bound upon creation. This means once crafted, it cannot be traded, sold, or given directly to another player through the in-game trading post or direct player-to-player interactions. This restriction is in place to encourage players to engage with the crafting system themselves and contribute to the game’s economy.
Indirect Ways to Assist Others in Obtaining Ascended Gear
While directly gifting crafted ascended gear is impossible, several methods allow you to assist others in their ascended gear journey:
- Teaching the Crafting Process: The most direct (though time-consuming) method is to teach someone how to craft ascended gear themselves. This empowers them to create gear for any character they choose. Guide them through leveling the necessary crafting disciplines, acquiring the necessary recipes and materials, and mastering the crafting process.
- Providing Crafting Materials: Ascended crafting often requires rare and expensive materials. You can significantly help someone by gathering or purchasing these materials and gifting them. This includes things like Glob of Ectoplasm, T6 crafting materials (like Vicious Claws and Ancient Bones), ascended crafting materials (like Damask and Deldrimor Steel Ingots), and time-gated materials.
- Assisting with Time-Gated Material Acquisition: Some ascended materials are time-gated, meaning you can only acquire a certain amount per day. This can be frustrating for players eager to craft their gear. You can help by running daily activities that reward these materials and sharing the rewards with the player in need.
- Fractal Carries: Running Fractals of the Mists, especially at higher tiers, rewards ascended equipment. While you cannot trade the equipment you receive, you can help someone else obtain it by carrying them through Fractals. This allows them to earn their own ascended drops.
- Providing Gold for Purchases: If a player prefers to purchase their ascended gear, you can provide them with gold to do so. This is particularly helpful for acquiring ascended accessories like rings and amulets from vendors.
Why is Ascended Gear Account Bound?
The account-bound nature of crafted ascended gear serves several important purposes within Guild Wars 2’s game design:
- Promotes Crafting Engagement: By making crafted ascended gear untradeable, the game incentivizes players to level up crafting disciplines and actively participate in the crafting system. This creates a demand for crafting materials and supports the game’s economy.
- Discourages Exploitation: Without the account binding, there could be potential exploits such as mass crafting by one player to sell gear for profit. This would devalue the gear and undermine the crafting system’s integrity.
- Maintains Gear Progression: The account-bound status helps preserve the value of ascended gear as a prestigious and relatively rare item. If it were easily traded, its value and the sense of accomplishment associated with obtaining it would diminish.
- Supports Time-Gated Content: Ascended crafting often involves time-gated materials, encouraging players to engage with the game on a regular basis. This encourages player retention and consistent participation in various game activities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ascended Crafting and Trading
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of ascended gear crafting and trading:
Q1: What crafting disciplines are required to craft ascended armor?
The crafting disciplines required vary based on the armor weight:
- Light Armor: Tailor
- Medium Armor: Leatherworker
- Heavy Armor: Armorsmith
Q2: What crafting disciplines are required to craft ascended weapons?
Several crafting disciplines are required for ascended weapons depending on the weapon type:
- Weaponsmith: Swords, Axes, Maces, Greatswords, Hammers
- Huntsman: Bows, Pistols, Rifles, Torches, Warhorns
- Artificer: Scepters, Focuses, Staves, Tridents
Q3: Can I trade ascended accessories (rings, amulets, etc.) to other players?
No. While some ascended accessories can be acquired through gameplay (Fractals, Living World, etc.), none are directly tradeable between players. Rings and Amulets can often be acquired by using Laurel and Pristine Fractal Relics.
Q4: Are ascended trinkets account-bound upon acquisition?
Yes, almost all ascended trinkets (amulets, rings, accessories) are account-bound upon acquisition, regardless of how they are obtained.
Q5: How do I get the recipes for crafting ascended gear?
Ascended recipes are typically acquired through:
- Master Craftsman vendors: Found in major cities.
- Fractal Vendors: Purchased with Fractal Relics.
- PvP/WvW Reward Tracks: As rewards for completing specific tracks.
- Living World maps: Specific maps associated with Living World content.
Q6: What are time-gated crafting materials and why are they important?
Time-gated materials are crafting materials that can only be crafted or acquired in limited quantities per day, such as Spiritwood Planks, Deldrimor Steel Ingots, and Damask. They are crucial for ascended crafting and limit the speed at which players can craft ascended gear.
Q7: Can I craft ascended materials and sell them on the Trading Post?
Yes. Materials like Deldrimor Steel Ingots, Spiritwood Planks, and Damask can be crafted and sold on the Trading Post. This is a common way for crafters to make gold.
Q8: Is it more cost-effective to craft or buy ascended gear?
This depends on the current market prices of crafting materials and the availability of ascended gear on the Trading Post (for items like weapons). Generally, crafting is often cheaper in the long run, but requires more time and effort.
Q9: What are infusions and why are they important for ascended gear?
Infusions are modifications that can be added to ascended gear to increase stats or Agony Resistance (AR). AR is essential for surviving higher-level Fractals of the Mists.
Q10: How do I get Agony Resistance (AR) for Fractals?
AR is primarily obtained through infusions. You can insert infusions into ascended gear to increase your AR level. Different tiers of infusions provide varying amounts of AR.
Q11: Can I remove infusions from ascended gear?
Yes, infusions can be removed from ascended gear using an Infusion Extraction Device, which can be purchased from fractal vendors. This destroys the gear in the slot of the infusion.
Q12: What is the difference between ascended and legendary gear?
Ascended gear offers slightly better stats than exotic gear and can be infused. Legendary gear has the same stats as ascended gear but offers the convenience of stat swapping (changing the stats on the gear) and a unique appearance. Legendary gear also allows you to easily switch builds on the fly without needing multiple sets of gear.
Q13: Can I craft legendary gear for other people?
No. Legendary gear, like ascended gear, is account-bound upon crafting and cannot be traded. However, you can assist players by providing materials or gold.
Q14: What are stat-selectable ascended equipment boxes?
Some ascended equipment comes in boxes that allow you to choose the stat combination. These are usually obtained from Fractals, raids, or Living World content. You can select the desired stats before the item becomes account-bound.
Q15: What is the best way to help a new player gear up in ascended gear?
Focus on providing guidance, materials, and assistance with content that rewards ascended drops. Helping them level their crafting, providing gold for purchases, and carrying them through Fractals are all great ways to support their journey.
Conclusion
While you cannot directly craft ascended gear for other players in Guild Wars 2, there are several ways to assist them. By understanding the crafting system, offering guidance, providing resources, and helping them access content that rewards ascended gear, you can significantly contribute to their progression and enjoyment of the game. Remember that the journey to obtain ascended gear is often a rewarding experience in itself, so focus on empowering others to achieve their goals and celebrate their accomplishments along the way.