Does End of Dragons Include All Expansions? An In-Depth Guide
The straightforward answer is no, the Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons (EoD) expansion does not include all previous expansions. Purchasing End of Dragons grants you access to the content specific to that expansion, but it does not automatically unlock Heart of Thorns (HoT), Path of Fire (PoF), or even the newer Secrets of the Obscure (SOTO). To experience the full breadth of Guild Wars 2’s story and world, you’ll need to acquire each expansion individually, or potentially through specific bundles or collections. This model of individual expansion purchases is consistent with how Guild Wars 2 has released content over the years.
Understanding the Guild Wars 2 Expansion Model
Guild Wars 2 has a unique approach to its content delivery. Instead of a subscription fee, the game employs a buy-to-play model, meaning you purchase the base game once and then purchase expansions as desired. This gives players flexibility and control over which parts of the game they want to access. However, it also means that you are not guaranteed to have the content from every expansion unless you have purchased them all. End of Dragons specifically focuses on the Canthan continent, story, and gameplay features. Therefore, to experience the older regions of Tyria, associated masteries and gameplay features you will still need to purchase previous expansions individually.
What End of Dragons Does Include
While it doesn’t include all expansions, Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons comes packed with plenty of content that focuses on delivering a unique experience within the game. Here’s what you can expect when purchasing the End of Dragons Standard Edition:
- Access to the Canthan Continent: Explore the diverse and beautiful regions of Cantha.
- New Story and Characters: Delve into a new chapter of Guild Wars 2’s compelling narrative.
- Nine New Elite Specializations: Unlock new builds and playstyles for each profession.
- Skiffs for Travel: Explore the waterways of Cantha with personal skiffs which can also be used to fish with friends.
- One Shared Inventory Slot: An extra slot for items shared across all characters on your account.
- One Max Level Boost: Allows you to instantly boost a character to level 80 and jump straight into the End of Dragons content.
- Upgrade from Free Account: If you’re using a free account, purchasing End of Dragons will upgrade your account and unlock all the core game content.
Why Are Expansions Sold Separately?
This separate purchase model ensures each expansion can provide a comprehensive and focused gameplay experience, allowing ArenaNet to delve deeply into the lore and mechanics associated with each storyline and region. This also means that ArenaNet is able to provide more value with each release, as they are not constrained by having to re-release the same content with each expansion. This allows them to focus on delivering new and engaging content. Selling expansions separately allows players to pick and choose which gameplay mechanics and content they’d like to participate in.
Key Differences Between Expansions
Each Guild Wars 2 expansion brings its own distinctive features and content. Heart of Thorns introduced masteries, gliding, and the challenging jungle environment, whereas Path of Fire brought the desert landscapes and mounts. End of Dragons focuses on Cantha, with its distinct Asian-inspired aesthetic, personal skiffs, and fishing. Secrets of the Obscure added new maps in the skies above Tyria, and expanded on the concept of masteries. Each expansion adds its own masteries, maps, and gameplay elements, making them unique and worth experiencing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Guild Wars 2 Expansions
Here are 15 common questions about Guild Wars 2 expansions that can help you understand how the system works:
1. Does buying End of Dragons unlock Path of Fire or Heart of Thorns?
No, buying End of Dragons does not automatically unlock Path of Fire or Heart of Thorns. These expansions must be purchased separately. There are, however, collection editions that sometimes bundle two or three expansions together.
2. What is included in the End of Dragons Standard Edition?
The End of Dragons Standard Edition includes the expansion itself, a shared inventory slot, and a max-level boost to get you started.
3. Do I need End of Dragons to play Secrets of the Obscure?
No, you do not need End of Dragons to play Secrets of the Obscure, as they are separate expansions.
4. Can I get mounts with End of Dragons?
Yes, while Path of Fire introduced mounts initially, End of Dragons does include mount functionality. Mounts are needed to explore all of the areas in End of Dragons. However, End of Dragons does not provide all of the mounts in the game, those are unlocked with previous expansions.
5. Can I start playing Guild Wars 2 with End of Dragons?
Yes, End of Dragons is designed for level 80 players. If you’re new, the max-level boost included with the expansion lets you immediately start playing the content with a level 80 character. The game recommends that new players explore the core game before starting the expansion to best enjoy the story elements.
6. How many Guild Wars 2 expansions are there currently?
There are currently four substantial expansions released for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns, Path of Fire, End of Dragons, and Secrets of the Obscure.
7. Which expansion should I buy first?
This depends on your preference, but generally, Path of Fire is recommended as it introduces the mount system, which makes traveling the open world easier and more enjoyable. Heart of Thorns focuses on difficult group content, and End of Dragons provides a unique story and features that focus on fishing and personal boats.
8. What level do I need to be to play End of Dragons content?
End of Dragons content is designed for level 80 characters. If you are not yet level 80, you will need to use the included max-level boost with the expansion, or level your character using the core game content.
9. Does End of Dragons include Living World Episodes?
No, End of Dragons does not include Living World Episodes. Living World episodes are released between expansions and are usually purchased separately or as part of a collection.
10. What are strike missions, and do I need End of Dragons to access them?
Strike missions are instanced, challenging group content. End of Dragons strike missions do require the End of Dragons expansion to access.
11. Can I unlock the Skyscale mount without End of Dragons?
No, the Skyscale mount is primarily associated with the Path of Fire expansion. While you can acquire it by working through the achievement systems after unlocking the first level of the “Flight Training” mastery, the content used to unlock it is tied to the content from Path of Fire.
12. Is End of Dragons the last Guild Wars 2 expansion?
No, despite its name, End of Dragons is not the final expansion. Guild Wars 2 continues to develop new content, with Secrets of the Obscure being the latest release and further updates and expansions planned.
13. What are the benefits of buying expansions?
Expansions provide new maps, stories, gameplay features, and elite specializations, as well as new challenges such as raid content. They expand the game and add many more hours of content, and offer ways to gain extra power through the use of the mastery system.
14. How many story chapters are in End of Dragons?
End of Dragons has 16 story chapters, the same amount as Heart of Thorns, and more than Path of Fire which has 13.
15. How does the max-level boost work with End of Dragons?
The max-level boost is an item you receive when you purchase the expansion. Using this item on a character will instantly level them up to 80, provide the character with level appropriate equipment, and prepare them for the End of Dragons content. This boost can be used on an existing character or when creating a new one.
Conclusion
While End of Dragons offers a significant amount of content, it does not include previous Guild Wars 2 expansions. To fully experience the story and all the game has to offer, you will need to consider purchasing other expansions individually or in bundles. Each expansion provides unique content, features, and challenges, and allows you to explore more of the world of Tyria. Understanding the expansion model will help you make informed decisions about what content to acquire, ensuring you have the best experience playing Guild Wars 2.