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

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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 was launched on October 17, 2023, and ended on November 7, 2023. The celebration brings many seasonal events and activities in Lion's Arch and starting areas. During the festival, the barriers separating Tyria from the Underworld start to weaken, resulting in many paranormal phenomena, and the arrival of the Mad King Thorn, who opens the doors to the Mad Realm to all of the festival visitors.

Returning features

Primary article: Halloween

Lion's Arch loading screen

Zones

• Mad King's Labyrinth
• Mad King's Raceway

Activities

• Ascent to Madness
• Lunatic Inquisition
• Mad King's Clock Tower
• Mad King's Labyrinth
  • Defeat the strange foe that came through the haunted door
  • Defeat the strange foes coming through the haunted door
  • Defeat the strange foes that came through the haunted door
  • Reach the finish line! (Mad King's Labyrinth)
  • Slay the Labyrinthine Horror
• Mad King's Raceway
  • Reach the finish line! (Li'l Eddie's Bunny Bounce)
  • Reach the finish line! (Pumpkin Paradise)
  • Reach the finish line! (Roll into Madness)
• Mad King Says
• Reaper's Rumble

Scavenger hunts

• Mad Memoires

Adventures

• Time Trial: Labyrinth Lunatic
• Time Trial: Li'l Eddie's Bunny Bounce
• Time Trial: Pumpkin Paradise
• Time Trial: Roll into Madness

Achievements

•  Halloween Daily
•  Halloween Rituals
•  Shadow of the Mad King
•  Lunatic Wardrobe
•  Festival Collections
  •  Royal Flame Weapons
  •  Lunatic Court's Finery
  •  Mad Armory: Carapace of Chaos
  •  Mad Armory: Last Rites
  •  Tricks and Treats
  •  The Goldclaw Holiday Collection: Heart of Thorn
  •  Festival Frequenter: Invitation to the Mad Realm
•  Black Lion Collections: Bloody Prince's Toybox

Vendors

• Black Lion Weapons Specialist
• Candy Corn Vendor
• Candy Corn Vendor (Weekly)
• Lunatic Alchemist
• Lunatic Weaponsmith Markham
• Sparking Stone

Items and rewards

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

For list of Halloween Gem Store items, see: Category:Gem Store Halloween items

2023 features

New activities

• Stopped Clock Tower

New vendor

• Mysterious Craftsraven

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 skins and equipment

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

New items

• Grim Machine Chest

New miniatures

• Mini Derlitz the Candy Raven

New 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
  • Black Lion Chest Key (2)
  • Heroic Booster
  • Guaranteed Dye Unlock
  • Guaranteed Wardrobe 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 —

Event schedule

Previous period

Next period

00:00 UTC

Gallery

See also: Shadow of the Mad King 2022#Gallery

Promotional material

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New skins and equipment

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New miniatures

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Gem Store

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External links

• Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure is Out Now, GuildWars2.com
• Studio Update: September 2023, GuildWars2.com
• Shadow of the Mad King 2023 Is Now Live!, GuildWars2.com
• Shadow of the Mad King Halloween Rewards Trailer (2023) | Guild Wars 2, YouTube.com
• Look Up in the Sky: A New Griffon Skin and Glider Arrive in Guild Wars 2, GuildWars2.com
• Look Up in the Sky: A New Griffon Skin and Glider Arrive in Guild Wars 2, YouTube.com

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Festivals

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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