In preparation for the release of its latest expansion pack,End of Dragons,Guild Wars 2has been steadily revealing new information about locations players will visit across Cantha.Guild Wars 2has recently revealed footage of the Echovald Wilds–the rampant evolution of the petrified Echovald Forest zone from theGuild Wars: Factions.
During the originalGuild Warsera, Echovald was a thick forested area inhabited by the gothic theocratic oligarchy known as the Kurzicks. A catastrophic event known as the Jade Wind swept through the continent of Cantha, petrifying the massive trees of the Echovald Forest, transforming them to stone
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After the events ofGuild Wars: Factions, and the 250 years between it andGuild Wars 2, the Echovald Forest has had life return to it in abundance. Known as theEchovald Wilds inGuild Wars 2: End of Dragons, it has become a chaotic land of life and death, growth and decay. Though the Kurzicks are gone, their descendants can still be found amidst the overgrown ruins and imperious trees that make up the area, as can the bird-like tengu, magnificent creatures like the kirin, and several dangerous gangs who wish to claim the unclaimable woods for themselves.
The Echovald Wilds are not the first areaGuild Wars 2: End of Dragonshas revealed, nor will it be the last. A few weeks ago,Guild Wars 2showed off footage of Shing Jea Island, another zone to be visited in the expansion, recognizable by players as the starting zone for newGuild Wars: Factionscharacters.Guild Wars 2will be showing off the Jade Sea later this month, and New Kaineng City in late January, leading up to the expansion’s launch in late February.
Players were understandably excited to see how the Echovald Wilds had changed inGuild Wars 2. The Kurzicks were one of two factions players inGuild Wars: Factionscould align themselves with. While players may be disappointed to learn the Kurzicks are no more, there are bound to be many of their secrets and ruins to discover as they explore the towering forests and discover how history has shaped it. The Echovald Wilds will be full of twists and turns, whether players arenew toGuild Wars 2players or veterans of the series.
Despite its age,Guild Wars 2still has a passionate and active community. With over 400 thousand active players, its population is still thriving, with players frequenting areas acrossGuild Wars 2’sdozens of sprawling zones, completing content both old and new. WithEnd of Dragonsonly a few months out, and with new areas, systems, and nine new elite specializations to come with it, now is a good time to check out whatGuild Wars 2has to offer.
Guild Wars 2is available now on PC, withEnd of Dragonsreleasing in February 2022.
