Zone
A zone, also referred to as a map or explorable zone, is a type of location. Zones encompass a number of smaller areas; multiple zones form a region.
Contents
Exploration[edit]
Each zone comes with its own set of activities and objectives. In addition to the dynamic events populated in its borders, five measures of completion are specifically associated with a zone:
Hero Challenges often present a puzzle or a Veteran foe to a character, completion of which earns another Hero point.
Renown Hearts ask characters to complete tasks in their environs.
Points of Interest mark out special locations to be explored.
Waypoints provide instant, safe travel to places previously discovered - for a price.
Vistas provide a graphical showcase of given locations in the environment.
Bringing up the world map will show a breakdown of the character's progress for the current zone. Upon map completion, the character receives a reward of some items and crafting materials, experience, and coin. This milestone is also acknowledged by the Tyrian Explorers Society with a letter of recognition.
List of zones[edit]
Every zone has a recommended difficulty range, expressed as the recommended level player characters should reach before traveling there. The monsters and the recommended level for renown hearts and dynamic events in an area will be between the given levels. The dynamic level adjustment in the game will put characters at the recommended level for an area if their current level exceeds it. Recommended levels are generally expressed in multiples of 5.
For the differences between mechanical and geographical regions, see Region.
Original release zones[edit]
All zones available in Guild Wars 2 on release contribute to 
world completion and are available to every account.
Post-launch zones[edit]
All zones added to the game through various releases and expansions after the original game's launch are scaled for level 80. Most of them require having a specific expansion or Living World episode unlocked, and have one or more achievement categories connected to it.
Map level caption[edit]
The recommended level for the zone is expressed as a caption on world map, below the zone name. The caption is color coded based on the difference between player's current level and the zone's recommended level, as follow:
| Level difference [1] | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -8 or less | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3 | -2 | -1 | 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +4 | +5 | +6 | +7 | +8 | +9 | +10 or more |
| Grey | Green | Light Green | Greenish White | White | Light Pink | Pink | Light Red | Red | Deep Red | Magenta | ||||||||
