Cartographer

Cartographer
Campaign	Prophecies Factions Nightfall
Title type	Character

Cartographer is a title awarded to a character who explores 100% of each continent's map. There are separate title tracks for each campaign, prefixed with the name of their respective continent. These titles can be displayed in the "Honor" monument.

Cartographer title track

Tier	Prophecies title	Factions title	Nightfall title	Exploration of continent
1	Tyrian Explorer	Canthan Explorer	Elonian Explorer	60%
2	Tyrian Pathfinder	Canthan Pathfinder	Elonian Pathfinder	70%
3	Tyrian Trailblazer	Canthan Trailblazer	Elonian Trailblazer	80%
4	Tyrian Cartographer	Canthan Cartographer	Elonian Cartographer	90%
5	Tyrian Master Cartographer	Canthan Master Cartographer	Elonian Master Cartographer	95%
6	Tyrian Grandmaster Cartographer	Canthan Grandmaster Cartographer	Elonian Grandmaster Cartographer	100%

Legendary Cartographer title track

Title	Total maxed cartographer
Legendary Cartographer	3

Acquisition

"Scrape" the edges

The Grandmaster Cartographer title can only be obtained through extensive and thorough exploration of the world map for a given campaign. You need to "push" your character against the edges of each area in order to "scrape" the edges of the map. Stop from time to time to ensure that each obscure corner or portion gets "unfogged". The mission map makes it easier to see and notice areas that have not been explored as compared to the world map.

There is some leeway built into the title: uncovering the entire map would add up to more than 100% on each continent. This allows one to ignore areas of the game that become inaccessible as the character progresses through the storyline (e.g. the Island of Shehkah or Shing Jea Arena) or locations that are no longer available at all (e.g. Fort Koga). The exact amount of leeway is documented below.

Many areas can only be explored during a mission, some of which include a time constraint (e.g. parts of the Dunes of Despair mission map). Make sure that other players know about your interest in mapping before you begin.

A character obtains Legendary Cartographer automatically after maxing their third continent-specific cartography title.

Examining the map

Example of using image processing software to highlight the gaps

One method of discovering unexplored locations is to take screenshots of your world map and compare it to one of the fully-explored maps on the wiki.

You can also download software that makes it easier to compare two images, e.g. Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, or GIMP.

1. Change your Guild Wars graphics options to maximum resolution and disable post-processing effects.
2. Open up the world map (default shortcut "M") and take a screenshot (Shift+PrtScrn, to hide map markers) in either zoomed-in or zoomed-out mode.
3. Open a 100% explored map with your image editing software, then insert your screenshot as a layer on top of the image.
4. Set the layer to "difference" to emphasize differences between the two maps. All the explored areas will go dark, and unexplored areas (the differences) will become much brighter.

Remember to align and scale images as needed. You can also change the layer setting from "normal" to "difference" to "hidden" to determine if the bright areas are indeed unexplored areas, or if they are simply due to passing clouds.

Player modifications

ANet does not officially support any third party tools, but many players use "Cartography Made Easy", a plug-in for TexMod that makes it easier to see which areas remain fogged. This drastically reduces the amount of time spent pursuing the title, since it makes it possible to uncover the map while vanquishing, during a mission, or while otherwise performing other in-game tasks. See Guide to modifying in-game graphics/Texmod/Player made modifications for details.

Locations to explore in Tyria

Strikethroughs indicate places that don't contribute to the cartographer title. Underlines denote places that may be or become inaccessible (tutorial areas or low-level arenas).

Ascalon

• Towns and outposts: Ascalon City, Frontier Gate, Grendich Courthouse, Piken Square, Sardelac Sanitarium, Serenity Temple
• Arena / Mission Outposts: Fort Ranik, Nolani Academy, Ruins of Surmia, The Great Northern Wall, Ascalon Arena
• Arenas / Missions: Fort Ranik, Nolani Academy, Ruins of Surmia, The Great Northern Wall, Ascalon Arena
• Explorable areas: Ascalon Foothills, Diessa Lowlands, Dragon's Gullet, Eastern Frontier, Flame Temple Corridor, Old Ascalon, Pockmark Flats, Regent Valley, The Breach

Northern Shiverpeaks

• Towns and outposts: Beacon's Perch, Ice Tooth Cave, Yak's Bend
• Arena / Mission Outposts: Borlis Pass, The Frost Gate, Shiverpeak Arena
• Arenas / Missions: Borlis Pass, The Frost Gate, Shiverpeak Arena
• Explorable areas: Anvil Rock, Deldrimor Bowl, Griffon's Mouth, Iron Horse Mine, Traveler's Vale

Kryta

• Towns and outposts: Lion's Arch, Beetletun, Bergen Hot Springs, Fishermen's Haven, Temple of the Ages,
• Mission Outposts: D'Alessio Seaboard, Divinity Coast, Gates of Kryta, Riverside Province, Sanctum Cay
• Missions: D'Alessio Seaboard, Divinity Coast, Gates of Kryta, Riverside Province, Sanctum Cay
• Explorable areas: Cursed Lands, D'Alessio Seaboard (after progressing in War in Kryta), Divinity Coast (after progressing in War in Kryta), Kessex Peak, Lion's Gate, Majesty's Rest, Nebo Terrace, North Kryta Province, Riverside Province (after progressing in War in Kryta), Scoundrel's Rise, Stingray Strand, Talmark Wilderness, Tears of the Fallen, The Black Curtain, Twin Serpent Lakes, Watchtower Coast

Maguuma Jungle

• Towns and outposts: Henge of Denravi, Druid's Overlook, Maguuma Stade, Quarrel Falls, Ventari's Refuge
• Mission Outposts: Aurora Glade, Bloodstone Fen, The Wilds
• Missions: Aurora Glade, Bloodstone Fen, The Wilds
• Explorable areas: Dry Top, Ettin's Back, Majesty's Rest (environment transitions from Kryta), Mamnoon Lagoon, Reed Bog, Sage Lands, Silverwood, Tangle Root, The Falls

Crystal Desert

• Towns and outposts: The Amnoon Oasis, Augury Rock, Destiny's Gorge, Heroes' Audience, Seeker's Passage, Tomb of the Primeval Kings
• Mission Outposts: Augury Rock, Dunes of Despair, Elona Reach, Thirsty River, The Dragon's Lair
• Missions: Augury Rock, Dunes of Despair, Elona Reach, Thirsty River, The Dragon's Lair
• Explorable areas: Diviner's Ascent, Prophet's Path, Salt Flats, Skyward Reach, The Arid Sea, The Scar, Vulture Drifts

Southern Shiverpeaks

• Towns and outposts: Droknar's Forge, Camp Rankor, Copperhammer Mines, Deldrimor War Camp, Marhan's Grotto, Port Sledge, The Granite Citadel
• Mission Outposts: Ice Caves of Sorrow, Iron Mines of Moladune, Thunderhead Keep
• Missions: Ice Caves of Sorrow, Iron Mines of Moladune, Thunderhead Keep
• Explorable areas: Dreadnought's Drift, Droknar's Forge, Frozen Forest, Grenth's Footprint, Ice Floe, Icedome, Lornar's Pass, Mineral Springs, Snake Dance, Spearhead Peak, Talus Chute, Tasca's Demise, Witman's Folly

Ring of Fire Islands

• Outpost: Ember Light Camp
• Mission Outposts: Ring of Fire, Abaddon's Mouth, Hell's Precipice
• Missions: Ring of Fire, Abaddon's Mouth, Hell's Precipice
• Explorable area: Perdition Rock

Locations to explore in Cantha

Strikethroughs indicate places that don't contribute to the cartographer title. Underlines denote places that become inaccessible (tutorial areas or low-level arenas).

Shing Jea Island

• Towns and outposts: Shing Jea Monastery (town), Ran Musu Gardens, Seitung Harbor, Tsumei Village
• Arena / Mission outposts: Minister Cho's Estate, Zen Daijun, Shing Jea Arena
• Arenas / Missions: Minister Cho's Estate, Zen Daijun, Shing Jea Arena
• Explorable areas: Haiju Lagoon, Jaya Bluffs, Kinya Province, Linnok Courtyard, Minister Cho's Estate, Monastery Overlook, Panjiang Peninsula, Saoshang Trail, Sunqua Vale, Zen Daijun

Kaineng City

• Towns and outposts: Kaineng Center (town), Maatu Keep, Senji's Corner, The Marketplace, Zin Ku Corridor
• Mission outposts: Dragon's Throat, Imperial Sanctum, Nahpui Quarter, Raisu Palace, Sunjiang District, Tahnnakai Temple, Vizunah Square (Foreign Quarter), Vizunah Square (Local Quarter)
• Missions: Vizunah Square, Nahpui Quarter, Tahnnakai Temple, Sunjiang District, Imperial Sanctum, Raisu Palace, Dragon's Throat (challenge)
• Explorable areas: Bejunkan Pier, Bukdek Byway, Divine Path, Kaineng Docks, Nahpui Quarter (transformed at Winds of Change), Pongmei Valley, Raisu Palace, Raisu Pavilion, Shadow's Passage, Shenzun Tunnels, Sunjiang District, Tahnnakai Temple, The Undercity, Wajjun Bazaar, Xaquang Skyway

Echovald Forest

• Towns and outposts: House zu Heltzer (town), Aspenwood Gate (Kurzick), Brauer Academy, Durheim Archives, Jade Flats (Kurzick), Lutgardis Conservatory, Saint Anjeka's Shrine, Tanglewood Copse, Vasburg Armory
• Mission outposts: Altrumm Ruins, Amatz Basin, Arborstone, Fort Aspenwood (Kurzick), The Eternal Grove, The Jade Quarry (Kurzick), Unwaking Waters (Kurzick), Urgoz's Warren
• Missions: Arborstone, The Eternal Grove, Altrumm Ruins (challenge), Amatz Basin (challenge), Fort Aspenwood (PvP), Urgoz's Warren
• Explorable areas: Arborstone, Drazach Thicket, Ferndale, Melandru's Hope, Morostav Trail, Mourning Veil Falls, The Eternal Grove

The Jade Sea

• Towns and outposts: Cavalon (town), Aspenwood Gate (Luxon), Bai Paasu Reach, Breaker Hollow, Eredon Terrace, Harvest Temple, Jade Flats (Luxon), Leviathan Pits, Seafarer's Rest
• Mission outposts: Boreas Seabed, Fort Aspenwood (Luxon), Gyala Hatchery, The Aurios Mines, The Jade Quarry (Luxon), Unwaking Waters (Luxon), Zos Shivros Channel, The Deep
• Missions: Boreas Seabed, Gyala Hatchery, Unwaking Waters, Zos Shivros Channel (challenge), The Aurios Mines (challenge), The Jade Quarry (PvP), The Deep
• Explorable areas: Archipelagos, Boreas Seabed, Maishang Hills, Mount Qinkai, Gyala Hatchery, Rhea's Crater, Silent Surf, Unwaking Waters

Locations to explore in Elona

Strikethroughs indicate places that don't contribute to the cartographer title. Underlines denote places that become inaccessible (tutorial areas or low-level arenas).

Istan

• Towns and outposts: Kamadan, Jewel of Istan (town), Sunspear Great Hall, The Astralarium, Champion's Dawn, Beknur Harbor, Kodlonu Hamlet
• Arena / Mission outposts: Chahbek Village, Jokanur Diggings, Blacktide Den, Consulate Docks, Sunspear Arena
• Arenas / Missions: Chahbek Village, Jokanur Diggings, Blacktide Den, Consulate Docks, Sunspear Arena
• Explorable areas: Island of Shehkah, Sun Docks, Churrhir Fields, Plains of Jarin, Cliffs of Dohjok, Zehlon Reach; Fahranur, The First City; Lahtenda Bog, Issnur Isles, Mehtani Keys

Kourna

• Towns and outposts: Sunspear Sanctuary (town), Yohlon Haven, Camp Hojanu, Wehhan Terraces
• Mission outposts: Nundu Bay, Venta Cemetery, Dajkah Inlet, Pogahn Passage, Kodonur Crossroads, Rilohn Refuge, Moddok Crevice
• Missions: Nundu Bay, Venta Cemetery, Dajkah Inlet (challenge), Pogahn Passage, Kodonur Crossroads, Rilohn Refuge, Moddok Crevice
• Explorable areas: Arkjok Ward, Marga Coast, Sunward Marches, Jahai Bluffs, Turai's Procession, Dejarin Estate, Barbarous Shore, Gandara, the Moon Fortress, Command Post, The Floodplain of Mahnkelon, Bahdok Caverns

Vabbi

• Towns and outposts: The Kodash Bazaar (town), Honur Hill, Chantry of Secrets, Yahnur Market, Mihanu Township
• Mission outposts: Tihark Orchard , Dzagonur Bastion, Dasha Vestibule, Grand Court of Sebelkeh, Jennur's Horde
• Missions: Tihark Orchard, Dzagonur Bastion, Dasha Vestibule, Grand Court of Sebelkeh, Jennur's Horde
• Explorable areas: The Mirror of Lyss, Forum Highlands, The Hidden City of Ahdashim, Vehjin Mines, Holdings of Chokhin, Wilderness of Bahdza, Resplendent Makuun, Yatendi Canyons, Vehtendi Valley, Garden of Seborhin

The Desolation

• Towns and outposts: Bone Palace, Lair of the Forgotten, The Mouth of Torment, Basalt Grotto
• Mission outposts: Gate of Desolation, Ruins of Morah, Remains of Sahlahja
• Missions: Gate of Desolation, Ruins of Morah, Remains of Sahlahja (challenge)
• Explorable areas: Joko's Domain, Crystal Overlook, The Sulfurous Wastes, The Shattered Ravines, The Alkali Pan, Poisoned Outcrops, The Ruptured Heart

Normally inaccessible areas

See also: Portal jump

Some places can be reached even though they were not designed to be visited or become inaccessible as the character progresses through the storyline. None of these areas are required for the title, but any fog exposed while exploring them will count towards its progression. In some cases, they also lead to the end of the world (i.e. an area where terrain is no longer rendered). There are also several places where your character can uncover bonus areas — spots on the map that cannot be exposed through normal exploration (these places are marked in black when using Cartography Made Easy); these places add additional leeway to the title, since they add progress but are not counted as part of the 100%.

Tyria

• Talus Chute: along the eastern side edge of the zone (north of the Ice Caves of Sorrow), players can walk up the side of the mountain then traverse the ridge along the northeastern edge of the zone.
• The Great Northern Wall: after the timer starts, run into the Charr camp (north of the wall) to reach the edge of the map.
• Kryta: two areas can be explored without any foes after completion of the War in Kryta (and if you do not have any WiK-related bounties). Both areas count towards the title, but can be difficult to map during the missions.
  • D'Alessio Seaboard: speak to Jiaju Tai.
  • Riverside Province: speak to Blade Operative Paulina.

Cantha

Eredon Terrace bonus area.

• Eredon Terrace: the mountains northeast of the outpost can be explored by those belonging to the alliance that controls it. You can also reach this area via portal jumping, which allows exploration to the edge of the world; you can also expose a bonus part of the map, adding up to 0.5% leeway to the title.
• Gyala Hatchery: use Strike as One with a pet to gain access to Leviathan Pits outpost (there is a "glass bridge" near where the turtle is). This can add up to 0.1% towards the title.
• Linnok Courtyard: use Viper's Defense while standing on the cliff edges on one side of the entry portal (you can use a flagged hero/henchman to set the jump direction). After entering the Shing Jea Monastery, you can walk through the gate to the Monastery Overlook tutorial area. This contributes 0.5% to Canthan cartographer.
• Zin Ku Corridor: during A Meeting With the Emperor, use Return on Master Togo or Brother Mhenlo, jumping the portal and allowing travel beyond the gate.
• Shing Jea Arena: during The Final Confrontation, there is an opportunity to map the area before and after the dialogue (which is normally unavailable after passing level 10). This can add approximately 0.29% towards the title.

Elona

• Dzagonur Bastion: ignore all the groups and run for the portal in the south, towards what would be Resplendent Makuun. You can run through the gate and reach the end of the world, adding up to 0.1–0.2% leeway towards the title.
• Marga Coast: the portal to Sunspear Sanctuary is bugged — it allows heroes to walk through it without bouncing (as they do elsewhere). Send a hero through the portal and Shadow step to him/her (Recall is ideal for this). If you have trouble, use the mini-map flag the hero to the far side of the hill (left of the portal). You can reach the end of the world and add up to 0.1–0.2% leeway.
• Vehjin Mines: use Strike as One with a pet to gain access to Jennur's Horde outpost and the adjoining tunnel. This can add up to 0.1% towards the title.

Eye of the North

• Drakkar Lake: during The Great Norn Alemoot, you can ignore the challenge and use your three minutes to run through the portals to the north and south. This allows you to uncover an additional 0.2% of the map.
• Vlox's Falls: during Trial of Zinn, it is possible to enter into areas not otherwise accessible. Return or similar Shadow Steps work well for this. This can add up to 0.2% additional leeway.
  • Explore Arbor Bay by jumping past the Golem sentries. You can uncover areas near the portals to Shards of Orr, Alcazia Tangle and Riven Earth that cannot be reached during normal play.
  • Jump to the platform where the trial takes place.
  • Jump past the sentries to Vloxen Excavations by standing in front of them and clicking the walls behind. To return stand behind and click the ground in front.
• Grothmar Wardowns: you can portal jump past the portal leading to Ooze Pit, and uncover an additional 0.4% of the map not normally accessible.

Special events

Where to stand: Linnok Courtyard bonus area.

Some areas can be explored more easily during certain special events:

• April Fools' Day: parts of Old Ascalon can be exposed during Annihilator and Annihilator 2: Searing Day, including an otherwise unreachable spot in Regent Valley, adding less than 0.1% leeway towards the Tyrian title.
• Birthday Celebration, Canthan New Year, and the Dragon Festival: these events open up the Shing Jea Boardwalk, allowing exploration of the Shing Jea Island training area.

Notes

• The Tyrian Cartographer title does not require mapping any of the explorable areas in Eye of the North. Instead, exploration of those areas contributes to the Master of the North title.

• Several areas are only available under special circumstances, but they are not required to obtain the title; exploring them just increases the amount of leeway you have.
  • Some of these areas are only available early on: low-level arenas and the tutorial area of Nightfall. (The tutorial area of Factions can be explored when the Shing Jea Boardwalk is open.)
  • In Cantha, the faction sections of outposts in the Echovald Forest and Jade Sea require membership in the controlling alliance.

• Only areas that show up in the world map contribute directly to the title track. Areas that do not contribute include:
  • Underground areas and outposts, including Sunspear Sanctuary, Command Post, Sorrow's Furnace, Bahdok Caverns, and the Hidden City of Ahdashim.
  • Outposts and areas in The Mists, including the Realm of Torment, the Underworld, and the Fissure of Woe.
  • Ascalon (pre-Searing).
  • The elite areas and outposts in Factions: Urgoz's Warren and The Deep.

• Many areas can be quickly explored by running; bring heroes with party-wide speed boosts (e.g. "Charge!" or "Incoming!") and ignore any foes.

• Watching the Fort Aspenwood (i.e. Kurzick and Luxon) and the Jade Quarry (i.e. Kurzick and Luxon) cinematics unfogs areas in Fort Aspenwood and the Jade Quarry, respectively.

Trivia

• Prior to the February 21, 2013 update which removed the ability to teleport with player skills, you could get a certain amount of percentage in The Frost Gate, The Wilds, and Chahbek Village towards the corresponding Cartographer titles.

See also

• Cartography made easy
• GuildWiki has estimated the amount of leeway built-in to the titles as follows:
  • Tyria: > 1.49% (about the size of an average mission or explorable area, e.g. Salt Flats or Sanctum Cay)
  • Cantha: > 0.94% (about the size of Fort Aspenwood)
  • Elona:
    • ~0.19% for non-Elonans (about the size of Pogahn Passage (outpost))
    • >0.77% for Elonans (slightly larger than Churrhir Fields)
  • These estimates do not include exploring areas that are otherwise inaccessible; portal jumping can provide additional leeway, especially for Cantha.

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