The Guild Wars 2 development team has just unveiled some exciting details about an upcoming feature in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure. This new feature, known as ‘relics’, is set to provide players with enhanced opportunities to customize their characters’ combat abilities.
Rethinking the Rune System
The Guild Wars 2 team had earlier this year outlined its intention to revamp and improve the game’s core systems. Among the identified areas for improvement was the rune system, which was seen as needing a refresh. In the game’s current state, rune sets offer attribute increases and a special bonus effect for a complete set of six. Some runes were rarely selected due to the stats they provided, causing some intriguing bonus effects to be underutilized.
In the upcoming expansion, set for release on August 22, rune sets will continue to provide the same attribute bonuses. However, players will be able to choose a special combat effect by adding a new equipment type, a relic, to its dedicated slot. This change will separate the attribute choices from the bonus effects, resulting in greater flexibility and control in build customization.
Introducing Core and Expansion Relics
Upon the release of Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, the game will feature forty core relics and twelve expansion relics. The core relics, inspired by the current rune sets, will be available to all players, irrespective of expansion ownership. More core relics will be added over time as part of the team’s ongoing commitment to improving the game’s core features.
Characters of level 60 or above will receive a relic chest at the expansion launch, providing a choice of three core relics. These additional core relics can be crafted and shared between players.
Expansion relics, on the other hand, will be available only to those with the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure expansion. While they are not more powerful than core relics, expansion relics will offer more complex and thrilling effects, which will be tied closely to the expansion’s narrative. Players can obtain these through collections, achievements, or story progression.
Future Enhancements: Legendary Runes and Relics
The upcoming changes will impact the functionality of legendary runes, with some of their functionality moving to the new relic slot. While these runes will no longer feature six-tier bonus effects, they will retain their attribute-swapping flexibility.
The developers also plan to introduce legendary relics during one of the 2024 quarterly releases. These will offer the convenience of freely swapping between various relic effects. For players who have already crafted legendary runes, they will be given substantial progress towards unlocking these legendary relics.
A New Era of Customization
The introduction of relics to Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will add virtually endless possibilities for character build customization. As the launch date of August 22 draws closer, players will be eagerly awaiting the opportunity to explore this new feature, along with other updates promised in this expansion. With each profession gaining access to additional weapon combinations and the new relic system, the game’s combat dynamics are poised for a thrilling transformation.