Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds - All Features Announced For The Next Expansion (2024)

The popular MMORPG Guild Wars 2 has just announced its next expansion launching on August 20, Janthir Wilds, another annual 'mini expac' that will have you explore new areas of the world. The previous expansion, Secrets of the Obscure, paved the way so Janthir Wilds can have a smoother launch.

As a 'mini expac,' Janthir Wilds could be excused for not covering as many things as a formal expansion, but the features revealed are plenty indeed. You can expect a new weapon for each profession, an old mount receiving the Skyscale treatment, and even a roof to put over your head.

6 New Stories In The Isles Of Janthir

And A New Variant Of Kodan, Too

With the problems of the Kryptis and the Wizard’s Tower behind us, it is time to get back to solid ground and see what the rest of the world has been up to. There are mentions of a Tyrian Alliance being formed from the many factions of Tyria, with the trailer already showing Krytan Humans, Charr and Sylvari.

As far as new people to meet, it seems that not all Kodans live in snow-filled lands. Janthir Wilds will introduce Kodans with brown fur, accustomed to areas devoid of extreme cold, and with crucial knowledge of the dangers that lie in the Isles of Janthir.

5 New Raids

The Ten-Player Instanced Content Is Back

One of the main features of Guild Wars 2’s first expansion, Heart of Thorns, was Raids. These were the ultimate endgame feature, where the toughest battles of Guild Wars 2 happened; the only issue with them was how they alienated the more casual player base.

It has been over five years since the last Raid was released, and Guild Wars 2 is finally ready to give us a new one. Only this time, if you don’t want to engage with it with a party of ten, you can also engage with the content in an open-world format, with the same story but a zerg of hundreds of players to tackle the challenge.

4 Spears On Land

Time To Dry Them Up

Even though Janthir Wilds won’t be adding new Elite Specializations, it will add a new weapon for each profession (just like Secrets of the Obscure did), and this time everyone is getting the same weapon. This is because the new weapon is the Spear, something that already existed in the game, but it was exclusive for underwater combat.

While everyone gets the same weapon, each profession will use the Spear differently, with some using it in melee while others throwing them around. Based on how the new weapons worked in Secrets of the Obscure, we can expect entire new mechanics to arrive with this new Land Spears.

3 New Legendary Items

That Shiny New Spear Needs A Good Look

A pleasant surprise announced for Janthir Wilds is a new Legendary weapon, although we don’t know how it looks yet. We do know, however, that it will be a Spear, a smart move considering that every profession is going to get one when the expansion launches on August 20.

A new Legendary backpack was also announced, and while some fans might think this is a Legendary way to increase inventory space, it likely just means a new flashy backpiece. We are still waiting for the coming months when more details are revealed about these Legendary items.

2 Improved Warclaw

An Old Mount Getting New Toys

The mounts in Guild Wars 2 are some of the best the MMO world has to offer, making them a prime selling point when it comes to expansions. Secrets of the Obscure added new skills and a new way to acquire the Skyscale, and Janthir Wilds aims to do the same with the Warclaw.

Currently, the Warclaw is unlockable in WvW, where it has skills that let it finish off players, break castle doors, and improve the speed of allied players without mount. You can mount it in the PvE maps, but the feline creature has no usable skills beyond a tiny jump forward.

We don’t know what Janthir Wilds will give the Warclaw, but looking at the key art, we might be able to guess. One of the new Kodans is riding a Warclaw while wielding a Spear, and since every profession is getting a Spear, the Warclaw might be the first true combat mount.

1 Player Housing

Finally A Bed To Call Your Own

Player Housing is a feature that’s been requested by the player base ever since the game first launched. Guild Halls have been a suitable replacement, but the economics around owning a Guild Hall make it infeasible for a single player to own.

Well, Janthir Wilds is finally giving the player base what they asked for, and it's called a Homestead. You can earn this piece of land through the story, and develop it with its associated Mastery, letting you decorate, cultivate, and ultimately make the place a home for your characters to live in.