Shadow of the Mad King 2023

Shadow of the Mad King, our annual Halloween festival, returns with ghoulish capers, spooky fights, and holiday fun! Gather together with the citizens of Lion's Arch to enjoy another year of tricks, treats, and terrible jokes. — Official website

“

Shadow of the Mad King, our annual Halloween festival, returns with ghoulish capers, spooky fights, and holiday fun! Gather together with the citizens of Lion's Arch to enjoy another year of tricks, treats, and terrible jokes.

— Official website

Shadow of the Mad King is a Halloween-themed festival that launched from October 17 to November 7. Decorated festival areas have been added outside of each race's capital city: Plains of Ashford, Queensdale, Wayfarer Foothills, Metrica Province, and Caledon Forest. Festival merchants, as well as ominous portals to the Mad Realm, are also present during the festivities.

Returning features

Lion's Arch loading screen

Items and rewards

For list of all Halloween rewards and items, see: Halloween/items

Halloween Events

• Mad King's Labyrinth - Bloody Prince Edrick has taken over parts of the Mad King's Labyrinth and is controlling the undead armies in the Mad King's Realm. The Skeletal Lich, Grand High Viscount of Candy Corn, and the Labyrinthine Horror lie in wait.
  • Labyrinth Race - Take part in a race through the Labyrinth on your mounts. (Occurs roughly every 20 minutes)
• Mad King's Clock Tower - Tyria's most maddening jumping puzzle thrilled players during last year's Halloween event and returns better than ever.
• Ascent to Madness - Fight against the Mad King Thorn himself, as he trades in his usual jokes and pranks to face you head on.
• Mad King Says - Join the Mad King Thorn as he commands you to perform actions, or attempts to trick you.
• Lunatic Inquisition - Attempt to survive the night as a villager while the Lunatic Courtiers hunt you down.
• Mad Memoires scavenger hunt
• Reaper's Rumble - A fast-paced PvP format where players compete to recover pumpkins and spawn hordes of skeletons to attack the enemy team’s base.
• Mad King's Raceway - On the fields of Reaper's Rumble, join the new races or try your skill at the adventures. Rental for the respective Mounts available for a small fee.
  • Time Trial: Roll into Madness - New adventure on the fields of Reaper's Rumble.
  • Reach the finish line! (Roll into Madness) - New mount race event.
  • Time Trial: Pumpkin Paradise - New adventure on the fields of Reaper's Rumble.
  • Reach the finish line! (Pumpkin Paradise) - New mount race event.
  • Time Trial: Li'l Eddie's Bunny Bounce - New adventure on the fields of Reaper's Rumble.
  • Reach the finish line! (Li'l Eddie's Bunny Bounce) - New mount race event.
• Mad Maleficence collection.

Halloween Achievements

•  Halloween Daily
•  Halloween Rituals
•  Shadow of the Mad King
•  Lunatic Wardrobe

Vendors

• Black Lion Weapons Specialist
• Candy Corn Vendor
• Candy Corn Vendor (Weekly)
• Lunatic Alchemist

2023 features

New activities

• Stopped Clock Tower

New achievements

• Shadow of the Mad King: The Night Time Stood Still — Investigate a new occurrence in the Mad Realm. (1)
• Shadow of the Mad King: Time Unmoving — Complete the Stopped Clock Tower jumping puzzle. (3)
• Shadow of the Mad King: Time Unwaiting — Complete the Mad King's Clock Tower jumping puzzle. (12)

New vendors

• Mysterious Craftsraven

New skins and equipment

• Clawing Shadow Greaves Box
  • Sinister Clawing Shadow Greaves (heavy)
  • Sinister Clawing Shadow Greaves (medium)
  • Sinister Clawing Shadow Greaves (light)
• Grim Machine weapons
  • Grim Machine Sword
  • Grim Machine Hammer
  • Grim Machine Longbow
  • Grim Machine Short Bow
  • Grim Machine Axe
  • Grim Machine Dagger
  • Grim Machine Greatsword
  • Grim Machine Mace
  • Grim Machine Pistol
  • Grim Machine Rifle
  • Grim Machine Scepter
  • Grim Machine Staff
  • Grim Machine Focus
  • Grim Machine Torch
  • Grim Machine Warhorn
  • Grim Machine Shield
• Paper Bag Helm Skin (Angry)
• Paper-Bag Helm Skin (Blush)
• Paper Bag Helm Skin (Happy)
• Paper Bag Helm Skin (Sad)
• Sanctioned Executioner
• Guided Executioner
• Heralded Executioner

New items

• Grim Machine Chest
• Mini Derlitz the Candy Raven

Guild Hall Decorations

• Clock Tower's Broken Beam
• Raptor Rental Post
• Reaching Twisted Tree
• Writhing Twisted Tree

Gem Store

• Moonshadow Bat Griffon Skin
• Weekly Black Lion Supply Package
  • Guaranteed Dye Unlock
• New Black Lion Chest — Lorekeeper's Flight Chest:
  • Personal Gyrocopter Chair Glider Combo
    • Personal Gyrocopter Chair
    • Personal Gyrocopter Glider

Mail

Magister Tassi Happy Halloween! Once again, Halloween falls across Tyria. The doorways between our world and the Mad Realm are opening, and the ancient Krytan monarch, Mad King Thorn, walks the streets of Lion's Arch again! I've assured the Captain's Council that it's all relatively safe—this time—but I'm sure they'd appreciate a brave adventurer like yourself making an appearance. Not to mention the opportunities for field research in the Mad Realm itself ! Visit me at the Grand Piazza at your earliest convenience! —Magister Tassi Piece of Candy Corn (5) Lion's Arch, built upon the wreckage of the Krytan City of the same name, has grown and prospered in the years since the rise of the Orrian Dragon. Founded by pirates and dependent on trade, the city has become a common ground for all the races of Tyria.  Trader's Forum Waypoint —

Gallery

See also: Shadow of the Mad King 2020#Gallery

External links

• Shadow of the Mad King 2023 Is Now Live!, Guildwars2.com
• Studio Update: September 2023, GuildWars2.com
• Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure is Out Now, GuildWars2.com

---

Festivals

---

2023 Festival and Special Event releases

Lunar New Year Super Adventure Festival Dragon Bash Festival of the Four Winds Shadow of the Mad King A Very Merry Wintersday