Dungeons

Dungeons are private adventure areas for teams of five players that allow you to challenge some of Tyria’s most insidious enemy factions in their own territory. Each dungeon is divided into story mode, which features a gripping plot and fearsome opponents, and explorable mode, where players can access even more challenging content with new goals and obstacles.

During your first visit to a dungeon, you’ll experience story mode, which focuses on the ongoing saga of the legendary band of adventurers, Destiny’s Edge. In the Twilight Arbor dungeon, for instance, your party will join forces with the famed sylvari thief Caithe in a deadly clash against the evil sylvari of the Nightmare Court.

If your party successfully completes any dungeon’s story mode, you’ll unlock the explorable mode. Your party chooses which of three paths to follow to tackle the dungeon, and each of these three options will lead you to new areas, new challenges, and different enemy creatures.

You’ll earn tokens by completing dungeon paths, and these can be exchanged for special rewards. Each dungeon has its own themed armors and weapons that reflect the enemies and environment found within.

Dungeons in Guild Wars 2 are perfect for those who enjoy delving deeper into the secrets of Tyria with other players by their side. You’ll unlock dungeons as you level up, but they continue to provide challenges and rewards even at level 80.

The Fractals of the Mists

The Fractals of the Mists is a string of increasingly challenging dungeons that takes teams of five players through fragments of the mystical protoreality known as the Mists. Each fractal represents a possible echo of Tyrian history—while some are recognizable and recorded, others have been lost to time.

You can find the Mistlock Observatory through the Fractals of the Mists gate in Lion’s Arch, where asuran investigator Dessa will send you and your team to explore fractal islands. As you complete fractals, your personal fractal level will rise, and you’ll be able to explore at a higher difficulty for greater challenges and rewards. As the difficulty scale increases—from level 1 to level 100—the Mists become more volatile. You’ll encounter mistlock instabilities that shake up your play, and you’ll need infused armor to protect yourself against agony-inflicting enemies.

Playing in the Fractals of the Mists will let you earn gear, new weapon appearances for your character, and more. They are excellent for seasoned explorers who love to adventure alongside other players in quick, challenging encounters.

Raids

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns™ introduces the ultimate challenge in the form of raids. Raids are ten-player, instanced, elite dungeon content, meant to put you and your teammates to the test and grow your skills as Guild Wars 2 players. In the first raid, the Forsaken Thicket, you’ll be tasked with tracking down a missing Pact squad in the midst of an area overrun with wild magic. Uncover its secrets across three wings, each one home to unique and challenging boss encounters.

Raiding in Guild Wars 2 is an action-oriented, engaging experience. You’ll have to actively manage your position, dodge, and coordinate to tackle objectives in situations where your next action could spell victory or death. Your knowledge of your profession and your build customization will determine how well you keep yourself alive, support your team, and help ensure success.

With great challenges come great rewards, and raids in Guild Wars 2 are the ultimate test.