ArenaNet Details First-Time Raid Content in Guild Wars 2

Raids were confirmed during ArenaNet’s PAX Prime panel last weekend, something that players have been asking for since 2005’s Guild Wars, and developer ArenaNet has taken the time to provide some details on how raids will work when they are implemented in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns later this year.

While there is plenty of end-game content to explore in Guild Wars 2, raids will scratch the itch of players who have been longing for something more akin to large, group-based, instanced boss encounters that require strategy and coordination.

“At the core of each encounter is a challenge that we want you and your group to solve,” the blog post reads. “These puzzles, so to speak, will require focus on team coordination, communication, and both build and play roles.”

It continues: “Some encounters will require the entire raid party to perform a specific task to succeed. This could be something like gliding off the boss platform and catching an updraft to avoid a devastating attack. Other encounters will offer tasks that rely on the expertise of a few select players. This could be a specific creature that needs to be kited away from the rest of the group, otherwise exploding and dealing massive damage.”

Masteries, the new character progression system that will be implemented in Heart of Thorns in lieu of a raised level cap, will also serve a role in how quickly progress can be made in raids.

“If a player who is new to raiding joins your squad, he or she will—for the most part—be able to assist entirely in the encounters,” the blog post reads. “That said, there are a number of Mastery traits attached to various facets of the raid encounters. For example, if your squad is working on the last boss of a wing, and no one has a particular and clearly stated Mastery unlocked, you’re probably going to fail spectacularly.”

Because of this form of progression being used in raids for Heart of Thorns, ArenaNet doesn’t want its players “rushing to max out every Mastery in order to prepare for raids.” Therefore, the first section of the first raid in Heart of Thorns will not be available immediately upon release of the expansion pack on Oct. 23, 2015.

Source: Official Guild Wars 2 website