Game updates/2022-08-23

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August 23, 2022

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Update - August 23, 2022[edit]

Guild Wars 2 10th Anniversary[edit]

Ten years ago, the launch of Guild Wars 2 opened a new window into the world of Tyria. Three expansions, five seasons of Living World releases, and countless updates later, we're still inspired by the dedication of the game's fans.

To commemorate this anniversary for new and veteran players alike, we've added a series of new achievements taking you across the game to earn Proofs of Legend, which you can trade for the new Decade's armor set. If you're busy this week, no need to worry—these achievements and the armor set will be available permanently. Characters who are turning ten themselves will also be receiving an extra Proof of Legend to kickstart their collection. If you have extras, you can trade them for some treats to share with your friends.

It's an honor to share this world with you. Thanks for playing, and here's to many more years of adventuring in Tyria!

  • The Guild Wars 2 10th Anniversary event starts now, giving a 30% bonus to karma gain, magic find, and PvP/WvW reward track progress for a week.
  • A permanent new achievement category, Decade of the Dragons, has been added in the Side Stories category. Complete various achievements taking you across the regions of Guild Wars 2, its expansions, and Living World to earn Proofs of Legend. Completing a set of 10 and 20 achievements will also reward you with your choice of a weapon from the new Dragon Decade set and the new Decade's War cape skin. The cape skin will also unlock an alternate version with your guild emblem when you acquire it!
  • Proofs of Legend will also be delivered to any characters as they turn 10 years old or older, along with the other prizes in their birthday gift.
  • Trade your Proofs of Legend to an ancient armorsmith in capital cities to unlock the new Decade's armor set. Once the full set is unlocked, you can trade your extra Proofs of Legend for consumable items.

World Polish[edit]

  • Fixed an issue that prevented the Shadow Behemoth's claws from triggering trap skills while lowered to the ground during the meta-event in Queensdale.
  • Fixed an issue with the Shadow Behemoth's animation when transitioning between skills during the meta-event in Queensdale.
  • Fixed an issue that caused the fire elemental's defense to be lower than intended.
  • Fixed an issue that caused the Great Jungle Wurm to quickly kill pets during the meta-event in Caledon Forest.

General[edit]

  • The Character Adventure Guide has been added to the game. The Character Adventure Guide is a set of new goals for level 1–79 characters that are designed to guide a player's journey while leveling up in Guild Wars 2. These goals are listed on the right side of the UI along with your other objectives, and completing them will grant substantial experience rewards to leveling characters! Level 80 characters can complete tasks but will receive significantly reduced experience rewards.
  • The achievements for the Character Adventure Guide are character specific, not account based.
  • These achievements do not award any achievement points.
  • All experience gains for characters under level 80 have been slightly increased.
  • The existing Tutorial achievement category has been deprecated and moved to the Historical category for anyone who has already completed them.
  • Fixed a bug that caused the following achievements to be unobtainable by players who only have access to Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons
    • Legendary Weapon Collections
    • End of Dragons Elite Specialization Weapon Collections
    • Core Mastery Insights
  • Fixed a bug that caused the Special Forces Training Area to be inaccessible to players who only have access to Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons.

Fractals[edit]

Shattered Observatory[edit]
  • Fixed an issue that could cause the GL-XC S7L enemy to stall and block fractal progression.

Profession Skills[edit]

General[edit]

Core Weapon Tuning[edit]

In this update, we focused on improving the number of viable core weapon choices across many professions in PvE. This included increasing base damage on many ranged weapon autoattacks to a higher baseline damage per second. These changes should help reduce the performance gap between players using suboptimal and optimal weapons.

Guild Wars 2 is designed to encourage social gameplay–you should be stronger playing together than alone. With that in mind, we took another look at how boons are given out. Several weapon skills have been updated to grant might to nearby allies as well as the user in PvE, further contributing to boon availability in group events.

Damage Build Improvements[edit]

Our player community develops builds that are considered the gold standard for effective play, so we review them regularly. We made changes to some elite specialization weapons and traits to make various builds more competitive. Our goal is for every profession to have viable power- and condition-based damage builds.

  • Power Tempest
  • Condition Tempest
  • Power Weaver
  • Power Scrapper
  • Power Holosmith
  • Power Dragonhunter
  • Power Reaper
  • Power Herald
  • Power Vindicator
  • Power Daredevil
  • Power Deadeye
  • Power Berserker
  • Condition Berserker
  • Power Spellbreaker
Improving Support Diversity[edit]

Firebrand and healing Mechanist are currently dominating group compositions. In this update, we're improving support-role diversity by adding stability and aegis to Tempest's shouts and giving Druids increased access to those boons as well.

We're also making targeted reductions to stability and might uptime on Firebrand and Mechanist builds to make room for other professions. Firebrand's high on-demand stability from Mantra of Liberation is too essential in Fractals of the Mists and other group content, while Mechanist's barrier and might upkeep are cementing it as a build that pairs together too well with a Quickbrand to meet a group's support needs.

In the immediate future, we want to make sure more builds can be used successfully. In future updates, we'll expand this further by shoring up more support and healing build options.

Elementalist[edit]

We've firmed up the role of Fire Attunement skills in condition builds and improved Air Attunement skills' direct strike damage. Tempest's Transcendent Tempest trait has more than doubled in power to set it apart as the keystone choice for damage builds.

Staff[edit]
Fire[edit]
  • Fireball.png Fireball: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.0 to 1.4. Now also inflicts 1 stack of burning with a 1-second duration.
  • Lava Font.png Lava Font: (PvE only) Now inflicts 1 stack of burning with a 1-second duration on each strike.
  • Flame Burst.png Flame Burst: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.01[sic] to 1.0. Burning stacks applied increased from 2 to 3.
Air[edit]
  • Chain Lightning.png Chain Lightning: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.66 to 0.8.
  • Lightning Surge.png Lightning Surge: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.44 to 1.8.
Earth[edit]
  • Stoning.png Stoning: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.5 to 1.2.
  • Shock Wave.png Shock Wave: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.5 to 2.5.
Scepter[edit]
Fire[edit]
  • Phoenix.png Phoenix: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. Burning stack count increased from 1 to 2.
Water[edit]
  • Water Trident.png Water Trident: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 20 seconds to 10 seconds.
Earth[edit]
  • Rock Barrier.png Rock Barrier: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 15 seconds to 8 seconds.
Dagger (Main Hand)[edit]
Water[edit]
  • Vapor Blade.png Vapor Blade: (All game modes) The aftercast animation duration before another skill can be used has been decreased by 0.5 seconds.
Air[edit]
  • Convergence.png Convergence: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.5 to 1.8.
  • Shocking Aura.png Shocking Aura: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 25 seconds to 10 seconds. Duration increased from 4 seconds to 10 seconds.
  • Transmute Lightning.png Transmute Lightning: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1 to 1.5.
Earth[edit]
  • Ring of Earth.png Ring of Earth: (PvE only) Final impact damage multiplier increased from 1.2 to 1.5.
  • Earthen Rush.png Earthen Rush: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 18 seconds to 12 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 1 to 1.8.
Dagger (Off Hand)[edit]
Fire[edit]
  • Fire Grab.png Fire Grab: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 25 seconds to 20 seconds, matching PvP and WvW.
Water[edit]
  • Frost Aura.png Frost Aura: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 30 seconds to 10 seconds. Duration increased from 4 seconds to 10 seconds.
  • Cleansing Wave.png Cleansing Wave: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
Air[edit]
  • Ride the Lightning.png Ride the Lightning: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Updraft.png Updraft: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 40 seconds to 20 seconds.
Earth[edit]
  • Earthquake.png Earthquake: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 30 seconds to 16 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 1 to 3.
  • Churning Earth.png Churning Earth: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
Trident[edit]
Fire[edit]
  • Magma Orb.png Magma Orb: Now also applies 1 second of burning on explosion.
  • Boil.png Boil: Now also applies 1 second of burning on hit.
  • Steam (elementalist skill).png Steam: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 15 seconds to 10 seconds.
  • Lava Chains.png Lava Chains: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 20 seconds to 16 seconds.
Water[edit]
  • Ice Globe.png Ice Globe: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 10 seconds to 8 seconds.
  • Ice Wall.png Ice Wall: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 15 seconds to 12 seconds.
Air[edit]
  • Electrocute.png Electrocute: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.2 to 2.4.
  • Air Bubble.png Air Bubble: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 25 seconds to 20 seconds.
Earth[edit]
  • Rock Anchor.png Rock Anchor: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Murky Water.png Murky Water: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.

Weaver[edit]

Sword[edit]
Fire[edit]
  • Fire Strike.png Fire Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.66 to 0.8.
  • Fire Swipe.png Fire Swipe: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.77 to 0.9.
  • Searing Slash (weaver).png Searing Slash: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.25 to 1.6.
Water[edit]
  • Seiche.png Seiche: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.33 to 0.5.
  • Clapotis.png Clapotis: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.45 to 0.6.
  • Breaking Wave.png Breaking Wave: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.66 to 1.0.
Air[edit]
  • Charged Strike.png Charged Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.77 to 0.8.
  • Polaric Slash.png Polaric Slash: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.88 to 0.9.
  • Call Lightning (weaver).png Call Lightning: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.0 to 1.2.
Earth[edit]

Tempest[edit]

Traits[edit]
  • Transcendent Tempest (effect).png Transcendent Tempest: (PvE only) Damage modifier increased from +7% to all damage dealt to +15% to all damage dealt.
Shouts[edit]
  • "Feel the Burn!".png "Feel the Burn!": (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.0 to 2.5. Might stacks applied increased from 3 to 5.
  • "Eye of the Storm!".png "Eye of the Storm!": (PvE only) Cooldown reduced from 40 seconds to 30 seconds. Now also applies 1 stack of stability to allies for 5 seconds.
  • "Aftershock!".png "Aftershock!": (PvE only) Cooldown reduced from 35 seconds to 30 seconds. Now also applies aegis to allies for 5 seconds.

Engineer[edit]

The previous update's Mechanist-only damage reduction to Aim-Assisted Rocket left us with room to add damage to the core trait Big Boomer, bringing up the damage output of Holosmiths and Scrappers. That's not enough to close the gap on its own, so we're also making specialization-specific damage increases to Scrapper and Holosmith on sword, hammer, and Blast Gyro–which, in addition to more damage, will now stun enemies rather than knocking them away.

We're reducing the output of dominant Mechanist healing builds to give other support options more breathing room. We're also slightly reducing the output of condition damage builds with reductions to the Mech Command skills Rolling Smash and Discharge Array.

Harpoon Gun[edit]
  • Homing Torpedo.png Homing Torpedo: Animation time reduced from 1.5 seconds to 1 second. Damage multiplier increased from 0.84 to 1.0. Applies 1 second of burning. This is now an explosion.
  • Scatter Mines.png Scatter Mines: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 10 seconds to 6 seconds.
  • Timed Charge.png Timed Charge: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.75 to 3.5.
  • Net Shot.png Net Wall: (PvE only) Immobilize duration increased from 3 seconds to 6 seconds.
Utility Skills[edit]
  • Throw Mine.png Throw Mine: (All game modes) The animation aftercast before another skill may be used has been reduced by 0.5 seconds. The mine will now detonate immediately if there is an enemy target in proximity when the mine lands. Now causes knockdown instead of knockback, with a duration of 2 seconds in PvE and 1 second in PvP and WvW. (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 2 to 3. Boons removed from targets increased from 1 to 3.
Med Kit[edit]
  • Med Blaster.png Med Blaster: (PvE only) Healing power multiplier reduced from 0.2 to 0.1, matching PvP and WvW.
Elixir Gun[edit]
  • Super Elixir.png Super Elixir: (PvE only) Duration reduced from 10 seconds to 5 seconds.
Explosives[edit]
  • Big Boomer.png Big Boomer: (PvE only) Damage increase changed from 10% to 15%.
Holosmith[edit]
Sword[edit]
  • Refraction Cutter.png Refraction Cutter: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1 to 1.4.
  • Radiant Arc.png Radiant Arc: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.5 to 1.8.
Photon Forge[edit]
  • Corona Burst.png Corona Burst: (PvE only) Might stacks per pulse reduced from 2 to 1, but they are now applied to up to 5 nearby allied targets.

Scrapper[edit]

Hammer[edit]
  • Electro-whirl.png Electro-whirl: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 2.4 to 3.
  • Rocket Charge.png Rocket Charge: The aftercast animation duration before another skill can be used has been decreased by 0.35 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 3.3 to 3.6 in PvE only.
Gyros[edit]
  • Blast Gyro.png Blast Gyro: (PvE only) Now stuns enemies for 3 seconds instead of knocking them back. Damage multiplier increased from 2.65 to 3.5.

Mechanist[edit]

Mech Commands[edit]
  • Rolling Smash.png Rolling Smash: (PvE only) Bleeding stacks applied reduced from 8 to 4.
  • Discharge Array.png Discharge Array: (PvE only) Confusion duration per hit reduced from 5 seconds to 3 seconds.
  • Crisis Zone.png Crisis Zone: (PvE only) Stability duration reduced from 15 seconds to 6 seconds.
  • Barrier Burst.png Barrier Burst: (PvE only) Base barrier value per pulse reduced from 434 to 260. Might stacks per pulse reduced from 3 to 2.
Mace[edit]
  • Mace Blast.png Mace Blast: (PvE only) Base barrier value reduced from 434 to 260.
Signets[edit]
  • Barrier Signet.png Barrier Signet: (PvE only) Base barrier value per pulse reduced from 434 to 260.
Traits[edit]
  • Mech Core- Barrier Engine.png Barrier Engine (Passive): (PvE only) Base barrier value reduced from 434 to 260.

Guardian[edit]

Multiple stored uses of on-demand stun break and stability have made Firebrand mandatory in Fractals, Strike Missions, raids, and even WvW. In this update in PvE only - see Guild Wars 2 Wiki notes, Firebrand's Mantra of Liberation is reduced from 3 to 2 ammunition, with an increased cooldown. Together with an added source of stability for both Tempest and Druid, this will provide better parity across different professions' support builds in PvE. Firebrand's multiple sources will be countered by higher recharge.

The greatsword damage increases benefit Dragonhunter builds, and hammer improvements will help close the gap between it and other damaging weapons while living up to that weighty feel a hammer should have.

Greatsword[edit]
  • Strike.png Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.8 to 0.9.
  • Vengeful Strike.png Vengeful Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.8 to 1.0.
  • Wrathful Strike.png Wrathful Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.2 to 1.4. Might is now applied to up to 5 allies in a 360 radius.
  • Leap of Faith.png Leap of Faith: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 12 seconds to 10 seconds, and damage multiplier increased from 1.25 to 2. Healing per foe hit increased from 235 to 1,053 in PvE, matching PvP and WvW.
  • Binding Blade.png Binding Blade: (PvE only) Damage multiplier on initial hit increased from 1.0 to 1.5.
Hammer[edit]
  • Symbol of Protection.png Symbol of Protection: The aftercast animation duration before another skill can be used has been decreased by 0.65 seconds.
  • Mighty Blow.png Mighty Blow: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 2.1 to 2.4.
  • Glacial Blow.png Glacial Blow: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 6 seconds to 4 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 2.4 to 2.5.
  • Zealot's Embrace.png Zealot's Embrace: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.8 to 1.5.
  • Banish.png Banish: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1 to 3.
Staff[edit]
  • Bolt of Wrath.png Bolt of Wrath: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.55 to 0.65.
  • Searing Light.png Searing Light: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.65 to 0.75.
  • Seeking Judgment.png Seeking Judgement: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.75 to 0.9.
  • Holy Strike.png Holy Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.25 to 1.8.
  • Empower.png Empower: (PvE only) Might stacks per pulse reduced from 4 to 3. Might duration reduced from 12 seconds to 10 seconds.

Firebrand[edit]

  • Mantra of Liberation.png Mantra of Liberation (PvE only): Ammunition reduced from 3 to 2. Recharge increased from 25 seconds to 30 seconds.

Dragonhunter[edit]

Longbow[edit]
  • Puncture Shot.png Puncture Shot: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.85 to 1.0.

Mesmer[edit]

In the August 2 update, we reviewed and updated the greatsword and sword core weapons. In this update we're increasing Chronomancer's alacrity duration from Stretched Time and increasing the damage of Tides of Time, the fifth shield skill. This will give a slight bump to boon-focused Chronomancer builds.

Staff[edit]
  • Phantasmal Warlock.png Phantasmal Warlock: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 18 seconds to 15 seconds.
  • Chaos Armor.png Chaos Armor: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 25 seconds to 20 seconds.
Utility Skills[edit]
  • Blink.png Blink: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.

Chronomancer[edit]

  • Stretched Time.png Stretched Time: Alacrity on well cast increased from 4 seconds to 5 seconds.
  • Tides of Time.png Tides of Time: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.3 to 1.5.

Necromancer[edit]

Necromancer changes are focused on improving damage and skill-recharge timers for several weapons and abilities.

Staff[edit]
  • Necrotic Grasp.png Necrotic Grasp: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.666 to 1.
  • Mark of Blood.png Mark of Blood: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.33 to 1.5.
  • Chillblains.png Chillblains: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 16 seconds to 12 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 0.55 to 1.8.
  • Putrid Mark.png Putrid Mark: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 20 seconds to 15 seconds.
  • Reaper's Mark.png Reaper's Mark: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 32 seconds to 18 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 0.275 to 3.
Dagger (Main Hand)[edit]
  • Life Siphon.png Life Siphon: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 10 seconds to 8 seconds.
  • Dark Pact.png Dark Pact: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 15 seconds to 12 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 1.2 to 2.4. Immobilize duration increased from 3 seconds to 6 seconds.
Dagger (Off Hand)[edit]
  • Deathly Swarm.png Deathly Swarm: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 18 seconds to 16 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 0.6 to 1.2.
  • Enfeebling Blood.png Enfeebling Blood: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 25 seconds to 20 seconds. Damage multiplier increased from 0.5 to 1.5.
Focus[edit]
  • Soul Grasp.png Soul Grasp: (PvE only) Ammunition recharge reduced from 15 seconds to 12 seconds. Ammunition count increased from 2 to 3.
  • Spinal Shivers.png Spinal Shivers: (PvE only) Recharge reduced from 20 seconds to 16 seconds. Damage multiplier on targets with no boons increased from 0.75 to 2, one boon from 1.125 to 2.375, two boons from 1.875 to 2.75, and three boons from 2.625 to 3.125. Fixed an issue that caused incorrect damage to be displayed in the tooltip of this skill.

Reaper[edit]

Greatsword[edit]
  • Fading Twilight.png Fading Twilight: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.3 to 1.4.
  • Chilling Scythe.png Chilling Scythe: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.7 to 1.8.
  • Death Spiral.png Death Spiral: (PvE only) Damage multiplier per hit increased from 0.425 to 0.5.
Reaper Shroud[edit]
  • Life Rend.png Life Rend: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.875 to 0.9.
Shouts[edit]

Ranger[edit]

Feline pets' autoattacks aren't affected by quickness, a long-standing issue that makes them subpar in group play. Meanwhile, the iboga is the most powerful pet in any PvE boss encounter because its base attack damage scales with number of conditions on the target. A release note from 2018 indicated that this was fixed, but the change didn't make it to the live game.

A recent fix to the calculated critical-hit-chance values in the pet stats UI caused pet critical-hit chances to appear to drop by 17.8%. This was a display issue only, and the text now reflects the real value.

We're using this as an opportunity to improve pet balance in PvE overall by delivering that long-delayed reduction to iboga damage while bringing all Ranger pets' performance up by giving them a flat 17.8% critical-hit chance across the board.

Ranger pets and spirits will now also have a locked defiance bar in PvE, making them immune to crowd-control effects. This quality-of-life improvement will ensure that their skills are available for use when needed and that pets will perform more consistently in all PvE content.

All Ranger Pets[edit]
  • (PvE only) All ranger pets' chance to critically hit has been increased by 17.8%.
  • (PvE only) All ranger pets are now immune to crowd control when on a PvE map.
Feline Pet Family[edit]
  • Maul (feline).png Slash (Autoattack): Now affected by quickness.
White Tiger[edit]
  • Fixed a bug that caused a delay before this pet could act when summoned.
  • Guardian's Roar.png Guardian's Roar: (All game modes) Casting time reduced from 1 second to 0.4 seconds in all game modes. (PvE only) Cooldown reduced from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
Other Pets[edit]
Wallow[edit]
  • Fixed a bug that caused a delay before this pet could act after being summoned.
Phoenix[edit]
  • Fixed a bug that caused a delay before this pet could act after being summoned.
Siege Turtle[edit]
  • Fixed a bug that caused a delay before this pet could act after being summoned.
Iboga[edit]
  • Consuming Bite.png Consuming Bite (Autoattack): Reduced the base damage of this skill by 33%. Reduced the damage per condition by 40%.
Spirits[edit]
  • (PvE only) All ranger spirits are now immune to crowd control on a PvE map.

Druid[edit]

  • Solar Beam.png Solar Beam: This skill can now target allies.
  • Glyph of Equality (Celestial Avatar).png Glyph of Equality: Range increased from 300 to 360 in all game modes. Now applies 5 seconds of stability to allies in PvE only.

Revenant[edit]

For core revenant, we're improving hammer as a ranged damage option. All revenant specializations will receive damage increases from Invocation trait updates.

Hammer[edit]
  • Hammer Bolt.png Hammer Bolt: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.95 to 1.1.
  • Phase Smash.png Phase Smash: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.75 to 2.
  • Drop the Hammer.png Drop the Hammer: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.5 to 2.3.
Invocation[edit]

Herald[edit]

Vindicator[edit]

Greatsword[edit]
  • Mist Swing.png Mist Swing: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.9 to 1.0.
  • Mist Slash.png Mist Slash: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.0 to 1.1.
  • Arcing Mists.png Arcing Mists: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.25 to 1.3.
  • Mist Unleashed.png Mist Unleashed: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.9 to 2.0.
  • Phantom's Onslaught.png Phantom's Onslaught: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.5 to 1.6.
  • True Strike (vindicator).png True Strike: (PvE only) Base damage multiplier increased from 1.0 to 1.5. Damage multiplier added per blocked attack increased from 0.4 to 0.5.

Thief[edit]

In group content, venoms can account for as much as 25% of a thief condition damage build's total damage. Their solo damage is lacking in comparison. We're shifting some of that damage from venoms to direct attacks with increased condition duration on Death Blossom, Specter's scepter, and Shadow Shroud autoattacks, as well as a 50% increase to the condition damage attribute granted by the trait Deadly Ambition. The net effect of this change is to increase condition damage dealt in solo and open-world play.

Deadeye and Daredevil both get power damage increases as well, giving those builds stronger top-end damage potential.

Dagger (Main Hand)[edit]
  • Backstab.png Backstab: (PvE only) Front damage multiplier increased from 1.2 to 1.5. Back damage multiplier increased from 2.4 to 3.
  • Malicious Backstab.png Malicious Backstab: (PvE only) Front damage multiplier increased from 1.2 to 1.5. Back damage multiplier increased from 2.4 to 3.
  • Death Blossom.png Death Blossom: (PvE only) Bleed duration increased from 10 seconds to 15 seconds.
Dagger (Off Hand)[edit]
  • Dancing Dagger.png Dancing Dagger: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.6 to 0.9.
Pistol (Off Hand)[edit]
  • Headshot.png Head Shot: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.25 to 1.
Sword[edit]
  • Slice (thief skill).png Slice: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.8 to 0.85.
  • Slash (thief skill).png Slash: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.8 to 0.85.
  • Crippling Strike.png Crippling Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.3 to 1.4.
  • Infiltrator's Strike.png Infiltrator's Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.75 to 1.8.
Venoms[edit]
  • Skale Venom.png Skale Venom: (PvE only) Torment duration decreased from 5 seconds to 3 seconds.
  • Spider Venom.png Spider Venom: (PvE only) Poison duration decreased from 4 seconds to 3 seconds.
Deadly Arts[edit]
  • Deadly Ambition.png Deadly Ambition: (PvE only) Condition damage attribute bonus increased from 120 to 180.

Specter[edit]

  • Shadow Bolt.png Shadow Bolt: (PvE only) Torment duration increased from 3 seconds to 4 seconds.
  • Haunt Shot.png Haunt Shot: (PvE only) Torment duration increased from 5 seconds to 6 seconds.
Traits[edit]
  • Traversing Dusk.png Traversing Dusk: Alacrity radius on well cast and healing radius on shadowstep increased from 240 to 360.

Deadeye[edit]

  • Premeditation.png Premeditation: (PvE only) Bonus damage per boon increased from 1% to 1.5%.
  • Iron Sight.png Iron Sight: (PvE only) Bonus damage dealt to and damage reduction taken from your marked target increased from 10% to 15%.

Daredevil[edit]

Staff[edit]
  • Staff Strike.png Staff Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.66 to 0.75.
  • Staff Bash.png Staff Bash: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.66 to 0.80.
  • Punishing Strikes.png Punishing Strikes: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.672 to 1.8.
  • Hook Strike.png Hook Strike (Stealth Attack): (PvE only) Knockdown duration increased from 2 seconds to 4 seconds.
Traits[edit]
  • Weakening Strikes.png Weakening Strikes: (PvE only) Damage dealt to weakened foes increased from 7% to 10%.
  • Bounding Dodger.png Bounding Dodger: (PvE only) Damage bonus increased from 10% to 15% in PvE, matching PvP and WvW.

Warrior[edit]

Warrior's longbow updates will make Arcing Arrow relevant in PvE and turn Smoldering Arrow into a useful defiance-bar breaker. We've also increased damage for several core weapons, elite specialization weapons, and traits.

Greatsword[edit]
  • Greatsword Swing.png Greatsword Swing: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.7 to 0.8.
  • Greatsword Slice.png Greatsword Slice: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.95 to 1.05.
  • Brutal Strike.png Brutal Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.25 to 1.5.
  • Arcing Slice.png Arcing Slice: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.32 to 2. Damage multiplier against foes under 50% health increased from 1.98 to 3.
  • Bladetrail.png Bladetrail: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.75 to 1.5.
  • Rush.png Rush: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.7 to 2.5.
Sword (Main Hand)[edit]
  • Sever Artery.png Sever Artery: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.6 to 0.8.
  • Gash.png Gash: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.6 to 0.8.
  • Hamstring.png Hamstring: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1 to 1.2.
  • Savage Leap.png Savage Leap: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.66 to 2.
Sword (Off Hand)[edit]
  • Impale (warrior sword skill).png Impale: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.5 to 1.5.
  • Rip.png Rip: (PvE only) Might is now applied to up to 5 allied targets in range of 360.
Longbow[edit]
  • Dual Shot.png Dual Shot: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.44 to 0.525.
  • Arcing Arrow.png Arcing Arrow: (All game modes) The aftercast animation duration before another skill can be used has been reduced by 0.5 seconds. (PvE only) Increased ammunition count to 2. Now applies 5 seconds of burning on hit.
  • Smoldering Arrow.png Smoldering Arrow: (PvE only) Now applies 1 second of dazed on hit.
Rifle[edit]
  • Fierce Shot.png Fierce Shot: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.605 to 1. Might is now applied to up to 5 allied targets within a range of 360.
  • Explosive Shell.png Explosive Shell: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.25 to 1.5.
Hammer[edit]
  • Earthshaker.png Earthshaker: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1 to 2.
  • Hammer Shock.png Hammer Shock: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1 to 1.8.
Arms[edit]
  • Furious.png Furious: (PvE only) Condition damage per stack increased from 10 to 15.

Berserker[edit]

Traits[edit]
  • Bloody Roar.png Bloody Roar: (PvE only) Damage bonus increased from 20% to 25%.

Spellbreaker[edit]

Dagger (Main Hand)[edit]
  • Breaching Strike.png Breaching Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.5 to 2.5.
  • Precise Cut.png Precise Cut: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.55 to 0.6.
  • Focused Slash.png Focused Slash: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.55 to 0.65.
  • Keen Strike.png Keen Strike: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 0.85 to 1.05. Might is now applied to up to 5 allied targets within a range of 360.
  • Aura Slicer.png Aura Slicer: (PvE only) Damage multiplier increased from 1.2 to 1.8.
Dagger (Off Hand)[edit]
  • Bladestorm.png Bladestorm: (PvE only) Damage multiplier per hit increased from 0.35 to 0.5.
Traits[edit]
  • Pure Strike (trait).png Pure Strike: (PvE only) Damage bonus increased from 7%/14% to 7.5%/15%.
  • Magebane Tether.png Magebane Tether: (PvE only) Damage bonus to tethered target increased from 10% to 15%. Might stacks per second reduced from 3 to 1, but they are now applied to up to 5 allied targets within a range of 360.

Guild Wars 2 Wiki notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Official forum | August 23 Balance Patch Update Preview | Double Tap | True Shot clarification
  2. ^ Official forum | August 23 Balance Patch Update Preview | Cal Cohen | Firebrand changes: We agree with the feedback and have reverted these changes in WvW for this release.
  3. ^ Official forum | August 23 Balance Patch Update Preview | Josh Davis | Mirage changes: For reference, these are the mirage changes that are being removed from the August 23 update
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