0

GW2 Patch: Game Update Notes: November 28, 2023

Posted on by Jen

11/28/2023—November 28 Release Notes

General

  • Updated the icon for the Kryptis Essence Extractor effect.
  • Removed an unintended character model from Inner Nayos.
  • Fixed an issue that prevented tier 3 Kryptis rift enemies from spawning properly around Equilibrium Glade in Amnytas.
  • Chapters 12 and 13 of the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure story will now only be displayed in the Story Journal after completing the respective previous chapters.
  • Fixed an issue that prevented two story instances in Chapter 11: Duress and one story instance in Chapter 12 of the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure story from rewarding experience to Secrets of the Obscure Mastery tracks.
  • Updated Chapter 8: Into the Obscure to require completion of anyKryptis rift tier instead of being limited to tiers 2 or 3.
  • Fixed an issue that could block players from progressing if they started Chapter 8: Into the Obscure for the first time, accepted Kamilla’s uncommon Kryptis motivation, swapped to other Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure story chapters, and then swapped back to Chapter 8 and reached that story step again. Players who were in this blocked state can interact with Kamilla to continue progressing through the story.
  • The requirements for beginning Chapter 11: Duress of the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure story have been updated.
    • Chapter 11 now requires completion of the Chapter 6: Tower of Secrets story achievement, which is awarded per account.
      • Previously, this required each character to complete Chapter 10: Treachery of the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure storyline
      • This change means that once any character has finished Chapter 6, all characters on that account can start Chapter 11, as it assumes players have the Heart of the Obscure, rift hunting, and the skyscale unlocked. 
      • Further in-game messaging for this progress requirement will come in a future update.
    • Updated the portals in Skywatch Archipelago and Lion’s Arch that transport players to the Wizard’s Tower to appear for all characters on an account once the owner has completed the Chapter 6: Tower of Secrets story achievement.
      • Previously, this required each character to complete Chapter 6: Tower of Secrets of the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure storyline.
      • This change means that once any character has finished Chapter 6, allcharacters on that account can travel to the Wizard’s Tower via either Skywatch Archipelago or Lion’s Arch.
    • These changes bring the story content added in the “Through the Veil” update more in line with previous expansions and their subsequent story updates while still ensuring that the player is not blocked by limited access to features that are obtained through the core Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure story chapters.

Fishing

The fishing experience in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of Obscure has been updated to be more accessible to players. 

Recommended Fishing Power 

The recommended fishing power levels for Horn of Maguuma have been adjusted for the following explorable zones:

  • Skywatch Archipelago
    • Open Water: From 500 to 450.
    • Fractured Lake Fish: From 550 to 250.
    • Fractured Freshwater Fish: From 600 to 500.
    • Fractured Desert Fish: From 600 to 550.
    • Fractured Channel Fish: From 650 to 250.
  • Wizard’s Tower
    • Deep Tower Fish: From 750 to 600.
  • Amnytas
    • Open Water: From 650 to 500.
    • Astral Fish: From 700 to 550.
    • Spire Fish: From 750 to 600.
  • Inner Nayos
    • Open Water: From 750 to 550.
    • Nayosian Fish: From 800 to 600.

Skywatch Archipelago

  • Increased the number of active fishing holes.
  • Increased the drop rate of Fractured Fish.
  • Increased the drop rate of Queen’s Flipper.
  • Increased the drop rate of Primal Maguuma Trout.
  • Increased the drop rate of Codmander.
  • Increased the drop rate of Jokopu.
  • Increased the drop rate of Empress Fish.

Amnytas

  • Increased the number of active fishing holes.
  • Increased the drop rate of Obscure Fish.
  • Adjusted the drop rate of Celestial Fish to be more consistent with other legendary fish.

Inner Nayos

  • Increased the number of active fishing holes in some locations.
  • Increased the drop rates of Daydream and Phantom Pollock caught in open water.

Items

  • The costs of Gift of Persistence and Gift of Stormy Skies have been updated to include Inner Nayos currency and materials.
  • Fixed an issue that caused the Mini Corrupted to be displayed underwater.
  • Updated the failure text for using a Concealed Unstable Kryptis Essence Coffer without an unstable Kryptis motivation.

Profession Skills

General

As part of this balance update, we’re tuning up some of the less impactful relics. We’re also using this update as an opportunity to update all relics with the “fact” system used for skill tooltips, meaning that relevant information such as range, radius, and other numerical values will now be shown for all relics.

  • Relic of Leadership: Increased the number of conditions converted to boons from 3 to 5 in PvE and from 2 to 3 in PvP and WvW.
  • Relic of the Water: Increased the number of conditions removed from 1 to 2.
  • Relic of the Centaur: Increased the stability stacks granted from 1 to 2 in all game modes. Increased the stability duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds.
  • Relic of Resistance: This relic now grants its effect to allies in a radius of 360.
  • Relic of the Herald: This relic now also grants its bonus when applying boons to yourself. Increased the concentration per stack from 15 to 25. This relic no longer has an internal cooldown.
  • Relic of the Monk: This relic no longer has an internal cooldown.
  • Relic of the Zephyrite: Increased the base duration from 3 seconds to 4 seconds.
  • Relic of Vass: This relic no longer has an internal cooldown when triggered by an elixir skill. Reduced the stack duration from 30 seconds to 10 seconds. Stacks are now expended when striking an enemy and when attacks are negated. Increased the poison duration from 3 seconds to 5 seconds in PvE only.
  • Relic of the Citadel: Fixed an issue that caused this relic to have infinite range.
  • Relic of the Sunless: Fixed an issue that caused this relic to have infinite range.
  • Relic of Peitha: The dagger is now launched from the ending location and fires faster. The damage increase now remains for a duration instead of ending after the first hit. Reduced the duration of the damage increase from 10 seconds to 4 seconds. Increased the torment duration from 4 seconds to 7 seconds in PvE only.
  • Relic of the Ice: This relic now shoots ice at the nearest 5 enemies three times. Projectiles now inflict vulnerability. Increased the chill duration from 1 second to 1.5 seconds. Increased the damage coefficient from 0.5 to 1.0 in PvE only.
  • Profession skills that are not dependent on your equipped weapon will now default to the hammer weapon’s strength.

Elementalist

The effectiveness of power-based catalyst builds relies on Empowered Empowerment, which either grants the user the full bonus or none at all. We think that this disparity is a bit too large, so we’re updating the trait to always grant a lesser bonus, making it less punishing to drop below the maximum number of stacks. Sword skills in the third weapon-skill slot are also getting some improvements in competitive modes to make the weapon more appealing to players who aren’t using the weaver elite specialization.

  • Flame Wheel: Increased the damage and condition damage bonus from 10% to 15% in PvE only.
  • Crescent Wind: Increased the critical strike chance bonus from 10% to 15% in PvE only.
  • Ground Pound: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Increased the power coefficient from 1.3 to 2.0 in PvE only.
  • Ring of Fire: Increased the power coefficient from 1.2 to 2.0 in PvE only.
  • Tidal Surge: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 30 seconds.
  • Water Globe: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 30 seconds.
  • Cauterizing Strike: Increased the power coefficient against burning enemies from 1.6 to 1.8 in PvP and WvW.
  • Aqua Siphon: Increased the base healing from 1,150 to 2,255 in PvP and WvW.
  • Quantum Strike: Reduced the cooldown from 18 seconds to 16 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Glyph of Elemental Power: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Arcane Shield: Reduced the cooldown to 35 seconds in all game modes.
  • Tornado: Reduced the cooldown from 150 seconds to 60 seconds in PvE only.
  • Whirlpool: Reduced the cooldown from 150 seconds to 60 seconds in PvE only.
  • Hammer: Fixed an issue that caused circular projectiles to occasionally lose their ability to strike enemies when their duration was refreshed.
  • Hammer: Orbs will now be removed when swapping weapons.
  • Cauterizing Strike: Increased the angle of this skill’s hit box.
  • Aqua Siphon: Increased the angle of this skill’s hit box.
  • Quantum Strike: Increased the angle of this skill’s hit box.
  • Twin Strike: Increased the angle of this skill’s hit box.
  • Pyro Vortex: Increased the angle of this skill’s hit box.
  • Gale Strike: Increased the angle of this skill’s hit box.
  • Lightning Orb: Fixed an issue that prevented this skill from targeting large bosses such as Conjured Amalgamate.

Weaver

  • Aquatic Stance: This skill now also grants endurance. Increased the base healing on activation from 2,640 to 4,000. Increased the base healing when striking an enemy from 573 to 650.
  • Woven Stride: This trait now additionally removes a condition when gaining superspeed or swiftness, with a 3-second internal cooldown in PvE and a 5-second internal cooldown in PvP and WvW.
  • Weave Self: Reduced the cooldown from 90 seconds to 75 seconds in WvW and PvP.

Catalyst

  • Empowered Empowerment: This trait will now cause Elemental Empowerment to always be 50% more effective. Effectiveness at the maximum number of stacks is unchanged.

Engineer

Rifle and pistol are both receiving some general improvements to make them more compelling options, with pistol filling the role of a hybrid damage off-hand weapon to play alongside both sword and pistol main hands. We’ve also made some improvements for support-focused scrapper builds and reworked some of the passive trait triggers in alchemy for more active gameplay.

  • Net Shot: Increased the casting time from 0.24 seconds to 0.62 seconds. This skill now inflicts vulnerability in addition to immobilizing enemies. Increased the power coefficient from 0.5 to 1.25 in PvE only.
  • Jump Shot: This skill will now evade for 0.5 seconds at the start of the animation.
  • Static Shot: Reduced the casting time from 0.4 seconds to 0.2 seconds. Reduced the cooldown from 12 seconds to 10 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Blowtorch: Increased the minimum power coefficient from 0.33 to 1.0 in PvE only. Increased the maximum power coefficient from 1.0 to 2.0 in PvE only.
  • Glue Shot: Increased the missile velocity from 900 to 1,200. This skill is now a blast finisher and deals strike damage to enemies in the impact area with a power coefficient of 1.5. Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 12 seconds in PvE only.
  • Bandage Blast: This skill will now directly target up to 5 allies with bandages instead of firing them in a fan-shaped area. Bandages will now only hit their intended target unless that target is at full health.
  • Elixir B: Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Toss Elixir B: This skill no longer has a chance to grant swiftness.
  • Toss Elixir U: Reduced the cooldown from 32 seconds to 25 seconds.
  • Soothing Detonation: Increased the healing coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5 in PvP only.
  • Health Insurance: Increased the outgoing healing bonus from 7% to 10% in PvP only.
  • Invigorating Speed: This trait will now also activate when gaining superspeed.
  • Transmute: This trait will now activate after using a healing skill instead of upon reaching a threshold of conditions.
  • Emergency Elixir: This trait will now activate after using an elite skill instead of when being struck below a health threshold.
  • HGH: Adjusted the might from 3 stacks for 6 seconds to 2 stacks for 10 seconds in PvP. Increased the might duration from 6 seconds to 8 seconds in WvW.
  • Grenade: Reduced the power coefficient from 0.33 to 0.25 in PvP only.

Scrapper

  • System Shocker: The barrier granted by this trait is now also applied to nearby allies.
  • Mass Momentum: Increased stability stacks from 1 to 2. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5.
  • Expert Examination: This trait has been reworked. Your function gyro grants protection to allies when summoned. Using a healing skill’s associated toolbelt skill grants protection to nearby allies.
  • Rapid Regeneration: Increased the swiftness base healing from 88 to 101 in PvP and WvW. Increased the superspeed base healing from 176 to 214 in PvP and WvW.
  • Blast Gyro: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds in PvE only. Reduced the power coefficient from 3.5 to 2.75 in PvE only.
  • Applied Force: The condition damage penalty from this trait has been removed. Increased the bonus power per stack of might from 20 to 35 in PvE only.
  • Bypass Coating: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.

Holosmith

  • Spectrum Shield: This skill no longer has a reduced recharge when used above a heat threshold and now grants stability when used. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
  • Flash Spark: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds.

Mechanist

  • When equipped, the following relics’ effects will now activate when the mech’s abilities fulfill their requirements but affect the mech and the engineer separately:
    • Relic of the Herald
    • Relic of the Brawler
    • Relic of the Scourge
    • Relic of the Aristocracy
  • When equipped, the following relics’ effects will now activate when the mech’s abilities fulfill their requirements, but cooldowns are shared with the engineer:
    • Relic of the Monk
    • Relic of Antitoxin
  • Mechanical Genius: For a short period of time, the effect will remain active even after the mech moves out of range of the engineer.
  • Rectifier Signet: Reduced the base pulse healing from 142 to 115 in PvP only.
  • Superconducting Signet: Reduced the burning duration from 3 seconds to 1 second in PvP only.

Guardian

Support-focused firebrand is receiving a few smaller improvements in PvP to make it a competitive pick. We’ve also tuned up a few of guardian’s defensive tools alongside some improvements to the hammer, including additional burst damage potential with Banish now refreshing Mighty Blow when striking an enemy.

  • Symbol of Protection: Reduced the casting time from 0.9 seconds to 0.7 seconds.
  • Zealot’s Embrace: Reduced the casting time from 1.2 seconds to 0.94 seconds. Increased the additional-hit barrier from 225 to 625. Increased the power coefficient from 1.5 to 2.25 in PvE only.
  • Banish: This skill now recharges Mighty Blow when striking an enemy. Increased the number of targets from 1 to 3.
  • Strength in Numbers: This trait has been reworked and renamed Redemption. Cast Lesser Litany of Wrath when you use virtue skill 3. Lesser Litany of Wrath lasts for 3 seconds.
  • Might of the Protector: Increased the might duration from 6 seconds to 9 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Executioner’s Calling: Increased the power coefficient of the initial strike from 0.75 to 1.25 in PvE only. Increased the angle of this skill’s hit box.
  • Advancing Strike: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.75 to 1.25 in PvE only. Increased the angle of this skill’s hit box.

Dragonhunter

  • Shield of Courage: Reduced the cooldown from 50 seconds to 45 seconds.
  • Piercing Light: This trait has been reworked and renamed Hunter’s Premonition. Gain aegis when you use a trap skill.
  • Defender’s Dogma: This trait now also grants 180 vitality.
  • Pure of Sight: Increased the minimum damage bonus from 5% to 10% in PvP only.

Firebrand

  • Loremaster: Decreased the page generation interval from 6 seconds to 5 seconds in PvP only.
  • Swift Scholar: This trait no longer has an internal cooldown. Increased the quickness duration from 1.5 seconds to 2 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Chapter 1: Searing Spell: Increased vulnerability stacks from 2 to 4 in PvP only.
  • Ashes of the Just: This skill now also applies 5 stacks of might to nearby allies for 8 seconds.
  • Chapter 2: Daring Challenge: Increased the cooldown from 8 seconds to 15 seconds and reduced the page cost from 2 to 1 in PvP only.

Willbender

  • Conceited Curate: This trait now grants 180 vitality instead of healing power.
  • Roiling Light: This skill now grants resistance instead of swiftness.
  • Whirling Light: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.75 to 1.0 in PvE only.
  • Flash Combo: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.45 to 0.9 in PvE only.
  • Holy Reckoning: This trait now grants might to nearby allies. Reduced the might duration from 8 seconds to 4 seconds in WvW only.

Mesmer

Our goal for mesmer in this update was to improve the set of tools available to support builds. We’ve made larger changes to the chaos and inspiration specializations to provide better access to certain boons and improve healing capabilities.

  • Axe clones no longer perform an attack chain and instead will only use Lacerating Chop.
  • Lacerating Chop: This skill now applies bleeding and torment for 3 seconds when used by a clone.
  • Lingering Thoughts: Reduced the ammunition recharge from 8 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE and from 12 seconds to 10 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Axes of Symmetry: Reduced the cooldown from 10 seconds to 8 seconds in PvE and from 15 seconds to 12 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • The Prestige: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE.
  • Phantasmal Mage: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 30 seconds to 25 in WvW.
  • Phantasmal Warlock: The phantasm summoned by this skill now inflicts torment instead of vulnerability.
  • Ether Bolt: Increased the torment duration from 2 seconds to 4 seconds in PvE only.
  • Ether Blast: Increased the torment duration from 3 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only.
  • Illusionary Counter: Reduced the cooldown from 8 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only.
  • Counterspell: This skill now inflicts 5 stacks of confusion for 7 seconds in PvE only.
  • Confusing Images: Reduced the cooldown from 12 seconds to 9 seconds in PvE only.
  • Null Field: Increased the cooldown from 35 seconds to 45 seconds in WvW only.
  • Phantasmal Disenchanter: Reduced the number of boons removed from 2 to 1 in WvW only.
  • Metaphysical Rejuvenation: This trait has been reworked. Grant regeneration to nearby allies after using a healing skill, with a 10-second internal cooldown.
  • Illusionary Defense: This trait has been reworked. Grant protection to nearby allies when you use a shatter skill. Protection duration scales based on the number of shattered clones.
  • Chaotic Transference: This trait has been reworked. When you grant chaos aura to yourself, also grant it to nearby allies. When you grant chaos aura to an ally, also grant them regeneration.
  • Illusionary Membrane: This trait has been reworked. Gain chaos aura when you use Shatter skill 2. Deal increased condition damage when you have chaos aura.
  • Bountiful Disillusionment: The additional boon based on which Shatter skill you use is now also granted to nearby allies. Distortion now grants stability instead of regeneration.
  • Sympathetic Visage: This trait now also transfers conditions from nearby allies to summoned phantasms.
  • Illusionary Inspiration: This trait has been moved to the minor grandmaster slot, replacing Healing Prism. This trait now increases outgoing healing in addition to its previous effect.
  • Restorative Illusions: This trait has been moved to the grandmaster tier, replacing Illusionary Inspiration. The healing and condition removal now also affect nearby allies.
  • Ego Restoration: This trait fills the master tier slot previously held by Restorative Illusions. Create a clone after using a healing skill.
  • Temporal Enchanter: Increased the superspeed duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds. Increased the resistance duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE and PvP. Increased the area of effect.
  • Mental Defense: This trait has been reworked. Distortion grants resistance and breaks stuns for nearby allies.
  • The Pledge: This trait no longer reduces the cooldown of torch skills. Increased burning stacks from 1 to 2.
  • Compounding Power: This trait no longer increases the condition damage attribute and instead increases outgoing damage from conditions by 2% per stack.
  • Malicious Sorcery: This trait has been reworked. Confusion you inflict has increased duration. When you evade an attack, inflict confusion on the attacker.
  • Unstable Bladestorm: Fixed an issue that prevented this skill from targeting large bosses such as Conjured Amalgamate.

Mirage

  • Mirrored Axes: This trait no longer reduces the cooldown of axe skills and will no longer generate phantasmal spinning axes with Mirror Strikes. Increased the torment inflicted by phantasmal seeking axes from 1 stack for 4.5 seconds to 2 stacks for 3 seconds.
  • Sand through Glass: This skill now also removes the immobile condition.

Necromancer

We’ve focused on improving some of necromancer’s less utilized skills and traits. We’ve also swapped the position of the Terror and Parasitic Contagion traits in the curses specialization to allow more trait selection flexibility for fear-focused condition builds.

  • Well of Blood: Increased the base pulse healing from 280 to 496 in PvP and WvW.
  • Life Transfer: This skill now also inflicts bleeding when striking an enemy.
  • Signet of Vampirism: Increased the base active healing from 4,950 to 5,750. Increased base active life-steal healing from 470 to 600.
  • Plague Signet: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW. Reduced the number of conditions transferred from 4 to 3 in PvP and WvW.
  • Well of Power: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 35 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Terror: This trait has been moved to the grandmaster tier. Increased the base damage from 444 to 555, and increased the condition damage scaling from 0.4 to 0.55.
  • Parasitic Contagion: This trait has been moved to the master tier.
  • Master of Corruption: This trait now applies vulnerability instead of blindness when using Consume Conditions.
  • Soul Comprehension: This trait now also grants life force upon entering a shroud form based on the number of active Death’s Carapace stacks.
  • Deadly Strength: This trait now also grants condition damage per stack of Death’s Carapace.

Reaper

  • Augury of Death: Increased the base life-steal damage from 138 to 172. Increased the life-steal power coefficient from 0.01 to 0.0125.  Increased the base life-steal healing from 125 to 156. Increased the life-steal healing coefficient from 0.02 to 0.025.
  • Blighter’s Boon: This trait now always heals and grants life force regardless of whether the necromancer is in a shroud form. Reduced the base healing from 197 to 85.

Scourge

  • Feed from Corruption: Reduced the base barrier from 1,000 to 750 and the healing coefficient from 0.5 to 0.25 in PvP only.
  • Demonic Lore: Reduced the torment damage bonus from 33% to 20% in PvP only.
  • Sand Cascade: Reduced the healing power coefficient from 2.0 to 1.0 in WvW only.
  • Sandstorm Shroud: Reduced the pulse healing power coefficient from 0.65 to 0.35 and the final healing power coefficient from 1.3 to 0.7 in WvW only.
  • Desert Empowerment: Reduced the healing power coefficient from 1.2 to 0.65 in WvW only.

Harbinger

  • Elixir of Bliss: Reduced the cooldown from 32 seconds to 25 seconds in PvP and WvW.

Ranger

Pets are the focus of this update’s ranger changes. We’ve made changes to many underperforming pet skills to better solidify the identity of each family and increase the number of viable pet choices, such as adding a stun to the polar bear’s Icy Roar and causing the bird family’s Quickening Screech to remove movement-impairing conditions.

  •  Unleashed Wild Swing: This skill is no longer interrupted early by other skills.
  • “Strength of the Pack!”: Reduced the cooldown from 75 seconds to 60 seconds.

Soulbeast

  • Dolyak Stance: Fixed an issue that caused this skill to grant a longer stability duration than intended in PvP.

General

  • All basic pet attacks are now affected by quickness.
  • Pet skills that affect allies do not count the pet they originate from in their target cap.

Bear Family

  • Members of this family now have 1,200 healing power.
  • Slash: Increased the power coefficient from 0.3 to 0.51 in PvE only.
  • Bite: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. Increased the base healing from 417 to 1,607. Increased the healing power multiplier from 0.28 to 0.5.
  • Defy Pain: Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds. The pet now uses this skill more frequently.
  • Poison Cloud (Murellow): Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 25 seconds.
  • Enfeebling Roar (Black Bear): Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.25 to 0.5. Reduced the weakness duration from 10 seconds to 4 seconds. Reduced the radius from 600 to 360.
  • Icy Roar (Polar Bear): Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds. This skill now stuns in addition to its previous effects. Reduced the radius from 600 to 360.
  • Rending Maul (Arctodus): Increased the power coefficient from 0.5 to 0.67. Increased the bleeding per hit from 1 stack to 2 stacks.
  • Bite (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.7 to 1.0. Increased the base healing from 417 to 1,607. Increased the healing power multiplier from 0.28 to 0.5.

Bird Family

  • Swoop: Increased the stacks of vulnerability from 1 to 5. Decreased the vulnerability duration from 12 seconds to 6 seconds.
  • Quickening Screech: This skill now removes crippled, chilled, and immobile conditions from affected allies.
  • Blinding Slash (Raven): Increased the power coefficient from 0.66 to 1.0 in PvE only.
  • Chilling Slash (Owl): Increased the power coefficient from 0.66 to 1.0 in PvE only.
  • Lacerating Slash (Hawk): Increased the cooldown from 6 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.33 to 1 in PvE and from 0.33 to 0.475 in WvW and PvP. Increased the bleeding stacks per hit from 1 to 3 in PvE and from 1 to 2 in WvW and PvP.
  • Brash Slash (Eagle): This skill replaces Lacerating Slash. Slash at your foe, inflicting weakness.
  • Swoop (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.86 to 1.2.
  • Quickening Screech (Soulbeast): Increased the cooldown from 12 seconds to 15 seconds. This skill now removes crippled, chilled, and immobile conditions from affected allies.

Canine Family

  • Juvenile Hyena: Increased power from 934 to 1,868. This pet now has a ferocious archetype.
  • Juvenile Krytan Drakehound: This pet now has a versatile archetype.
  • Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.24 to 0.335 in PvE only.
  • Brutal Charge: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 18 seconds in PvE only.
  • Intimidating Howl (Krytan Drakehound): Increased the power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5.
  • Chilling Howl (Alpine Wolf): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5.
  • Regenerate (Fern Hound): Reduced the cooldown from 25 to 20 seconds. Reduced the regeneration duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased the base healing from 1,000 to 2,600.
  • Howl of the Pack (Hyena): Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds. Increased the number of summoned allies from 1 to 2. Reduced the ally duration from 40 seconds to 15 seconds. Summoned allies can no longer use Brutal Charge.
  • Terrifying Howl (Wolf): Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 30 seconds in PvE and from 45 seconds to 35 seconds in WvW and PvP. Increased the power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.5 in PvE only.

Devourer Family

  • Twin Darts: Increased the power coefficient from 0.15 to 0.25 in PvE only. This skill no longer has a chance to poison and now bleeds enemies it strikes. Increased the velocity.
  • Devourer Retreat: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds. The activation time of this skill has been greatly reduced. This skill will no longer be used at full health.
  • Poisonous Cloud (Carrion Devourer): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the poison duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased the velocity.
  • Rending Barbs (Lashtail Devourer): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.2 to 0.3. Increased the bleeding duration from 5 seconds to 8 seconds. Increased the velocity.
  • Poison Barbs (Whiptail Devourer): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.5 to 0.65. Increased the poison stacks from 1 to 4 and poison duration from 2 seconds to 6 seconds. This skill now pierces and can only hit a target once.

Drake Family

  • Members of this family now have 600 healing power.
  • Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.24 to 0.3425 in PvE only. This skill now causes the pet to move slightly from its initial position.
  • Chomp: Increased the base healing from 965 to 1,285. Increased the healing power scaling from 0.15 to 0.5. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5.
  • Tail Swipe: Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 16 seconds in PvE only.
  • Fire Breath (Salamander Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in WvW and PvP. Increased the burning duration from 1 second to 3 seconds.
  • Insect Swarm (Marsh Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the power coefficient from 0.25 to 0.2 in WvW and PvP. Increased the poison duration from 3 seconds to 4 seconds.
  • Frost Breath (Ice Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Increased the chilled duration from 1 second to 1.5 seconds.
  • Lightning Breath (River Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 30 seconds to 25 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the power coefficient from 0.33 to 0.275 in WvW and PvP.
  • Sonic Shriek (Reef Drake): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Increased the confusion stacks per hit from 1 to 2.
  • Chomp (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.65 to 1. Increased the base healing from 965 to 1,285. Increased the healing power scaling from 0.15 to 0.5. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5.
  • Tail Swipe (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 1.1 to 1.3.

Feline Family

  • Slash: This skill no longer applies vulnerability.
  • Bite: This skill now applies 5 stacks of vulnerability for 6 seconds.
  • Maul: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.2 to 0.4.
  • Mighty Roar (Jungle Stalker): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the might stacks from 5 to 8 in PvE only. Reduced the radius from 600 to 360. Decreased the casting time.
  • Rending Pounce (Lynx): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Reduced the bleeding duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds.
  • Icy Pounce (Snow Leopard): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Furious Pounce (Tiger): Increased the cooldown from 10 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 1.0 to 2.0 in PvE only.
  • Stalk (Jaguar): Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds. This skill now applies stealth rather than the Stalking effect. Damage bonuses from this skill still last 6 seconds, even if the pet is revealed.
  • Phase Pounce (White Tiger): Decreased the cooldown from 20 seconds to 16 seconds. Increased the bleeding stacks per hit from 1 to 2, and increased the bleeding duration from 5 seconds to 10 seconds.
  • Savannah Strike (Cheetah): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.45 to 0.5. Increased the swiftness duration from 4 seconds to 5 seconds.
  • Blinding Roar (Sand Lion): Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 20 seconds.

Moa Family

  • Members of this family now have 1,200 healing power.
  • White Moa: This pet now has a supportive archetype.
  • The casting times of moa cries have been reduced.
  • Peck: Increased the power coefficient from 0.28 to 0.315 in PvE only.
  • Harmonic Cry: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 25 seconds. Increased the base healing from 1,340 to 1,660. Increased the healing power scaling from 0.2 to 1.0.
  • Frenzied Attack: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.2 to 0.4 in PvE only.
  • Protecting Screech (Blue Moa): Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Icy Screech (White Moa): This skill has been reworked and now grants Frost Aura to nearby allies.
  • Dazing Screech (Pink Moa): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds. This skill now dazes enemies in a circular area around the moa instead of a frontal cone. Increased the dazed duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE only.
  • Furious Screech (Red Moa): Reduced the cooldown from 25 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Harmonic Cry (Soulbeast): Increased the base healing from 1,300 to 1,940. Increased the healing power scaling from 0.5 to 0.75. Increased the radius from 240 to 360.

Porcine Family

  • Members of this family now have 600 healing power.
  • Pig: This pet now has a ferocious archetype.
  • Jab: Increased the power coefficient from 0.25 to 0.41 in PvE only.
  • Maul: Reduced the cooldown from 12 seconds to 10 seconds.
  • Brutal Charge: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 24 seconds in PvE only.
  • Forage (Boar): This skill now only forages a rock. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
  • Forage (Warthog): This skill now only forages a scale. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds. Reduced the weakness duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased the bleeding and poison stacks from 1 to 3. Reduced the poison duration from 20 seconds to 6 seconds and the bleeding duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds.
  • Forage (Siamoth): This skill now only forages feathers. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
  • Forage (Pig): This skill now only forages a greatsword. The greatsword can be thrown at enemies. Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.

Spider Family

  • Spit: Increased the power coefficient from 0.44 to 0.57 in PvE only. Increased the velocity.
  • Entangling Web: Reduced the duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in PvP and WvW. Increased the velocity.
  • Poison Gas: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds in PvE only. Increased the poison duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only. Increased the number of targets from 3 to 5. Increased the velocity.
  • Deadly Venom (Forest Spider): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the poison stacks from 1 to 2. Reduced the poison duration from 12 seconds to 6 seconds. Reduced the venom duration from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Weakening Venom (Cave Spider): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds. Increased the vulnerability stacks from 3 to 5. Reduced the vulnerability duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the weakness duration from 5 seconds to 3 seconds. Reduced the venom duration from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Paralyzing Venom (Jungle Spider): Reduced the cooldown from 45 seconds to 25 seconds. Reduced the immobilize duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in WvW and PvP. Reduced the venom duration from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Entangling Web (Soulbeast): Reduced the immobilize duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in WvW and PvP. Increased the velocity.
  • Poison Gas (Soulbeast): Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 15 seconds in PvE only. Increased the poison duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only.

Bristleback

  • Spike Shoot: Increased the power coefficient from 0.3 to 0.31 in PvE only.
  • Rain of Spikes: Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 0.5. Increased the bleeding stacks from 1 to 2. This skill can now only hit a target once.
  • Sharpen Spines: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Spike Barrage: Increased the cooldown from 15 seconds to 20 seconds. This skill now inflicts bleeding when striking an enemy.
  • Rain of Spikes (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 1 in PvE and from 0.4 to 0.8 in WvW and PvP. Increased the bleeding stacks from 1 to 2. This skill can now only hit a target once.

Smokescale

  • Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.25 to 0.56 in PvE only.
  • Takedown: Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. This skill no longer knocks down enemies. Increased the power coefficient from 0.01 to 0.5 in WvW and PvP.
  • Takedown (Soulbeast): Reduced the cooldown from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. This skill no longer knocks down enemies. Increased the power coefficient from 0.7 to 1.0 in PvE and from 0.01 to 1.0 in WvW and PvP.

Wyvern Family

  • Wing Buffet: This skill now properly indicates that it applies the launch control effect.
  • Consuming Flame (Fire Wyvern): Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 25 seconds. Increased the burning duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds.
  • Tail Lash (Soulbeast): Increased the power coefficient from 0.66 to 1.2.
  • Wing Buffet (Soulbeast): This skill now properly indicates that it applies the launch control effect.

Fanged Iboga

  • Consuming Bite: This skill now only scales with a maximum of 5 conditions on the target. Increased the base power coefficient from 0.2 to 0.45 in PvE only. Reduced the bonus power coefficient from 0.03 to 0.025 in PvE only.
  • Crippling Anguish: Increased the cooldown from 5 seconds to 10 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.1 to 0.3. Increased the torment stacks from 1 to 3 in PvE and from 1 to 2 in WvW and PvP. Reduced the torment duration from 10 seconds to 6 seconds in WvW and PvP only. Increased the confusion duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in WvW and PvP. Increased the velocity.
  • Narcotic Spores: This skill is now an ethereal field.
  • Crippling Anguish (Soulbeast): Increased the cooldown from 5 seconds to 10 seconds. Increased the power coefficient from 0.1 to 0.75. Increased the torment stacks from 1 to 2 and the torment duration from 3 seconds to 6 seconds. Increased the velocity.
  • Narcotic Spores (Soulbeast): This skill is now an ethereal field.

Jacaranda

  • Juvenile jacarandas now have 1,200 healing power.
  • Fixed an issue that caused this pet to have more health than intended.

Rock Gazelle

  • Headbutt: Increased the power coefficient from 0.32 to 0.415 in PvE only.
  • Charge: Increased the cooldown from 15 seconds to 20 seconds in PvP and WvW. This skill now tracks its target more accurately and stops upon reaching the target.

Phoenix

  • This pet’s health has been increased.
  • Wicked Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 0.43 in PvE only. This skill now causes the pet to move slightly from its initial position.
  • Gale Breath: This skill now only performs one sweep. Increased the power coefficient from 0.5 to 0.8.
  • Dash (Soulbeast): This skill replaces Wicked Bite when merged.

Wallow

  • This pet’s health has been increased.
  • Vampiric Bite: Increased the power coefficient from 0.4 to 0.42 in PvE only. Increased the attack range.
  • Undead Plague: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
  • Bloodthirsty Charge: Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 25 seconds.
  • Maul (Soulbeast): This skill replaces Vampiric Bite when merged.
  • Undead Plague (Soulbeast): Reduced the cooldown from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.

Siege Turtle

  • Jade Cannon: Increased the rate of fire and projectile speed. Reduced the power coefficient from 0.75 to 0.53 in PvE only.
  • Heavy Shot: This skill replaces Snap. Shoot a jade missile at your target that dazes nearby enemies on impact.
  • Slam (Soulbeast): This skill replaces Jade Cannon when merged.
  • Heavy Shot (Soulbeast): This skill replaces Snap when merged.

Revenant

This update is focused on improving revenant’s short bow, shield, and hammer weapons. We’ve made piercing part of the short bow’s base attacks to make it more appealing to non-renegade users. The shield changes improve its usability as a support weapon, while hammer has gotten some improvements to both its damaging and defensive capabilities.

  • Hammer Bolt: Increased the power coefficient from 1.15 to 1.35 in PvE only.
  • Coalescence of Ruin: Adjusted the damage areas to begin at the player’s location instead of being offset from it. Increased the power coefficient from 1.75 to 2.0 in PvE only. Reduced the cooldown from 10 seconds to 7 seconds in PvP only.
  • Phase Smash: Increased the power coefficient from 2.0 to 2.2 in PvE only.
  • Field of the Mists: This skill now grants aegis to the user on activation and will fire a projectile at up to 5 enemies around the target. The projectile destruction wall will now activate immediately.
  • Drop the Hammer: Increased the power coefficient from 2.3 to 2.7 in PvE only. Increased the knockdown duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE and PvP.
  • Envoy of Exuberance: This skill now grants protection to allies at its impact point instead of when the projectile passes through them. The impact now also grants aegis to allies. Increased the missile velocity from 900 to 1,200. Increased the healing coefficient from 0.5 to 1.0.
  • Crystal Hibernation: This skill now also heals allies in a radius of 360 around the user.
  • Shattershot: This skill now pierces.
  • Bloodbane Path: This skill now pierces.
  • Sevenshot: This skill now pierces.
  • Inspiring Reinforcement: Increased the duration of the initial stability from 1 second to 1.5 seconds in PvP only. Increased the duration of the pulsing stability from 1 second to 1.25 seconds in PvP only.
  • Spiritual Resolution: This trait now activates when invoking a legend instead of when using an elite skill.
  • Set in Stone: This trait replaces Eye for an Eye. Gain protection when you use profession skill 2.
  • Contained Temper: This trait has been reworked. Gain energy when you break out of stun.

Herald

  • Forceful Persistence: Increased the bonus damage from 15% to 20% in PvE only. Increased the bonus damage per herald upkeep skill from 5% to 7% in PvE only.

Renegade

  • Bold Reversal: This trait has been reworked. Gain resistance when you use a healing skill.
  • Heartpiercer: This trait no longer causes short bow skills to pierce.

Vindicator

  • Reaver’s Curse: This trait has been reworked. Reduce the recharge of Energy Meld. Energy Meld enhances the effects of your next dodge.
  • Angsiyan’s Trust: This trait has been reworked. Energy Meld no longer has an energy cost and grants energy when used.
  • Song of Arboreum: This trait has been reworked. Energy Meld grants more endurance and also grants endurance and vigor to nearby allies.
  • Dodging will no longer activate confusion damage.

Thief

The improvements to staff are focused on Debilitating Arc and Dust Strike to give these skills a more unique identity and application. Pistol is also being tuned up to make it a more viable option for condition-focused builds in PvE.

  • Vital Shot: Increased the bleeding duration from 4 seconds to 6 seconds in PvE only. 
  • Shadow Strike: Increased the torment stacks from 2 to 4 in PvE only. Increased the Repeater effect duration from 4 seconds to 10 seconds in PvE, and from 4 seconds to 5 seconds in PvP and WvW. Increased the Repeater effect stacks from 1 to 3 in PvE and from 1 to 2 in PvP and WvW. The effect now causes the Repeater skill to cost one less initiative, and one stack of the effect is consumed when using Repeater. 
  • Unload: Reduced the initiative cost from 5 to 3 PvE only.
  • Bountiful Theft: This trait now grants additional might to allies when stealing from a target with no boons.
  • Haste: Reduced the cooldown from 24 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE and from 35 seconds to 30 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Blinding Powder: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
  • Punishing Strikes: This skill no longer reflects projectiles.
  • Debilitating Arc: This skill now grants access to Helmet Breaker for a duration of time.
  • Helmet Breaker: Leap at your foe, dealing damage and inflicting the dazed effect.
  • Dust Strike: This skill now reflects projectiles and strikes foes in a circular area instead of in a frontal cone. Increased the total power coefficient from 0.6 to 1.8 in PvE only.
  • Sniper’s Cover: Fixed an issue that caused this skill to grant access to Death’s Advance when within the barrier and not kneeling.
  • Death’s Advance: Fixed an issue that could prevent this skill from granting stealth.

Deadeye

  • Impact Strike: This skill now evades attacks. Increased the cooldown from 25 seconds to 30 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Fixed an issue that caused stolen skills to grant more stealth than intended.

Specter

  • Well of Gloom: Increased the base pulse healing from 336 to 520 in PvP and WvW.
  • Well of Silence: Reduced the cooldown from 35 seconds to 30 PvP and WvW.

Warrior

Berserker’s improvements will make it slightly easier to maintain berserk mode in PvE encounters, and a lower cooldown will make it a bit less punishing to fall out of berserk mode. We’ve also improved the critical-hit-focused side of the arms specialization and tuned up a handful of underperforming skills and traits.

  • Crushing Blow: Increased the power coefficient from 1.5 to 2.25 in PvE and from 1.5 to 1.75 in PvP and WvW. Increased the might stacks from 3 to 5. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 12 seconds.
  • Tremor: Reduced the cooldown to 18 seconds in all game modes. Increased the power coefficient from 0.8 to 1.25 in PvE only.
  • Dolyak Signet: Increased the base healing from 1,640 to 2,870.
  • Signet of Stamina: This skill now also grants 10 endurance per condition it removes.
  • Vengeance: Increased the chance to rally from 25% to 100% in PvE only.
  • Opportunist: This trait will now also trigger when disabling an enemy. Reduced the cooldown from 10 seconds to 1 second. Reduced the fury duration from 10 seconds to 3 seconds.
  • Furious Burst: This trait no longer grants fury when using a burst skill and instead grants fury when swapping weapons. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 4 seconds. Reduced the fury duration from 5 seconds to 2.5 seconds.
  • Deep Strikes: This trait now also grants 5% increased critical strike chance against bleeding enemies in PVE and 10% increased critical strike chance against bleeding enemies in PvP and WvW.
  • Burst Precision: This trait now also grants 100% critical strike chance and 150 ferocity for 2, 3, or 4 seconds based on adrenaline level when striking with a burst skill.
  • Aggressive Onslaught: This trait now also grants 2 stacks of might for 6 seconds. Increased the movement speed bonus from 25% to 33%. Increased the quickness duration from 2 to 3 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Soldier’s Comfort: Increased the heal attribute scaling from 0.8 to 1.0. Increased the protection duration from 2.5 seconds to 4 seconds in PvE and from 2.5 seconds to 3 seconds in PvP and WvW.
  • Vengeful Return: This trait has been reworked and renamed to Stalwart Focus. Increased  the incoming healing effectiveness and outgoing healing to allies.
  • Heightened Focus: This trait will now also recharge all burst skills when it activates. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 12 seconds.
  • Gunstinger: Reduced the aegis duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in PvP only.

Berserker

  • Berserk: Increased the duration from 15 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only. Reduced the cooldown from 15 seconds to 8 seconds in PvE only.
  • Smash Brawler: This trait no longer extends berserk duration by a flat amount and instead causes Primal Burst skills to extend berserk duration by 2 seconds in PvE and 1 second in PvP and WvW when striking an enemy, once per skill. Decapitate will extend berserk mode by 1 second in PvE.
  • Heat the Soul: This trait no longer has an internal cooldown. Reduced the quickness duration from 4 seconds to 3 seconds in PvE only. Decapitate grants 2 seconds of quickness.

Bladesworn

  • Blooming Fire: Reduced the aftercast of this skill.
  • Artillery Slash: Reduced the aftercast of this skill.
  • Cyclone Trigger: Reduced the aegis duration from 3 seconds to 2 seconds in PvP only.
  • Flicker Step: Reduced the cooldown from 40 seconds to 20 seconds in PvE only.
  • Dragon Slash—Boost: Increased the delay before the dash from 0.25 seconds to 0.5 seconds.
  • Unyielding Dragon: This trait no longer causes Dragon Slash to stun foes in WvW and PvP.

11/28/2023—Late Notes

World Polish

  • Lesser Arcane Chests and Greater Arcane Chests now award Calcified Gasps when opened.
  • Kryptis essence in Convergences will no longer disappear after falling into water.

Items

  • Interacting with a Platter of Delectable Birthday Cakes now correctly applies its nourishment effect to players who are malnourished, and players can refresh the effect’s duration by interacting with the platter. Interacting with the platter will not replace any active nourishments, regardless of their remaining duration.

Structured Player vs. Player

Expanded Weapon Proficiency Beta Event

  • Due to a known issue, beta event characters should enter the PvP lobby before beginning a match to ensure that they are fully equipped. Characters entering a match before visiting the PvP lobby will only be equipped with weapons.
  • All beta event characters will need to manually add a relic to their PvP equipment.

World vs. World

  • Players will now be ejected on to the ground instead of being launched into the air when piloting golems after attaining Siege Golem Mastery rank 5.

Source: Guild Wars 2 Official Forums

Leave a Reply