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This list contains all recent updates as published by ArenaNet and 2weeks. If there are undocumented changes, they are listed in a section titled "Guild Wars Wiki notes" under the related update.

Update, February 5, 2026

We have two updates today. One is a skill update and the other is that we are going to start rolling out the Steam-based in-game store.

The first is a special surprise. As some of you know, as a studio we've avoided skill balance updates because doing a good job takes a lot of time, concentration, and knowledge of the complete database of skills.

It turns out a former ArenaNet staff member, Isaiah Cartwright, still had all the knowledge in his head to make balance changes, and, on his own initiative, volunteered to do a balance pass for us! Our strategy was to data mine the least popular skills and improve many of them which increases the number of viable skill options. That way the main ‘meta’ of the game remains the same (well, mostly) and the net effect is that the game has more useful skills. Richard Foge partnered on this update to help roll it out. Here are the details:

Balance pass - February 2026

Warrior

"I Meant to Do That!": increased adrenaline gain to 1...5...6 (from 1...4...5).
"You Will Die!": increased health threshold to 90% (from 50%).
Charging Strike: increased damage bonus to +10...74...90 (from 10...34...40).
Headbutt: reduced recharge to 15 seconds (from 20); daze duration reduced to 5 seconds (from 5...17...20).
Rage of the Ntouka: decreased duration to 8 seconds (from 10); decreased recharge on adrenal skills to 3 seconds (from 5).

Ranger

Arcing Shot: reduced recharge time to 3 seconds (from 6); increased damage bonus to +10...30...35 (from 10...22...25).
Marauder's Shot: decreased energy cost to 5 (from 10); increased damage bonus to +25...49...55 (from 10...30...35); decreased disable on non-attack skills to 5 seconds (from 10).
Marksman's Wager: decreased activation time to 1 second (from 2).
Practiced Stance: increased preparations duration increase to 30...246...300% (from 30...126...150%).
Splinter Shot: now deals damage to foes in the area (previously adjacent).

Nature rituals

Brambles: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150).
Conflagration: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Edge of Extinction: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Equinox: increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150).
Famine: increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...126...150); increased damage to 20...60...70 (from 10...30...35).
Fertile Season: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 15...75...90 seconds (from 15...39...45); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Frozen Soil: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Greater Conflagration: increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Infuriating Heat: increased duration to 30...102...120 seconds (from 30...54...60); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Lacerate: increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150).
Muddy Terrain: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Pestilence: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Predatory Season: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Quicksand: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Roaring Winds: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...54...60).
Symbiosis: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Toxicity: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Tranquility: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...102...120 seconds (from 30...54...60); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
Winter: increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).

Monk

(Monk elites are so good we need to buff other elites to see any play)

Amity: reduced recharge time to 20 seconds (from 45); reduced duration to 4...10...12 seconds (from 8...18...20).
Boon Signet: reduced recharge time to 6 seconds (from 8); increased bonus healing to 20...84...100 (from 20...68...80).
Divert Hexes: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
Mark of Protection: reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1); reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 45).
Pacifism: reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 30); reduced duration to 4...7...8 seconds (from 8...18...20).
Scourge Sacrifice: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
Smiter's Boon (PvP): reduced duration to 4 seconds (from 5).
Word of Censure: increased damage to 30...110...130 (from 15...63...75); increased target health threshold to 50% (from 33%).

Mesmer

Confusing Images: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
Feedback: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
Fevered Dreams: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
Fevered Dreams (PvP): reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
Hex Eater Vortex: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1); now deals damage to foes in the area (previously nearby).
Hypochondria: reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1).
Ignorance: reduced energy cost to 10 (from 15).
Mantra of Signets (PvP): added functionality of "you have +3 armor for each signet equipped". (This skill now functions the same in PvE and PvP.)
Persistence of Memory: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
Shared Burden: now affects foes in the area (previously nearby).
Shared Burden (PvP): now affects foes in the area (previously nearby).

Necro

Jagged Bones: reduced recharge time to 10 seconds (from 15); increased duration to 60 seconds (from 30).
Jaundiced Gaze: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); increased duration to 1...16...20 seconds (from 1...12...15).
Order of Apostasy: reduced maximum health loss to 10...4...3% (from 25...17...15%).
Spinal Shivers: decreased triggered energy cost to 8...4...3 (from 10...6...5).
Shivers of Dread: decreased triggered energy cost to 8...4...3 (from 10...6...5).
Ulcerous Lungs: reduced energy cost to 10 (from 15); reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).

Elementalist

Energy Blast: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
Ether Renewal (PvP): increased duration to 10 seconds (from 7).
Magnetic Aura: increased duration to 1...7...8 seconds (from 1...4...5).
Mind Freeze (PvP): increased conditional damage to 10...50...60 (from 10...34...40).
Slippery Ground (PvP): reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 20).
Swirling Aura: increased duration to 3...6...7 seconds (from 5).
Teinai's Prison: increased duration to 1...7...8 seconds (from 1...5...6).
Ward Against Elements: reduced energy cost to 10 (from 15).
Ward of Weakness: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).

Assassin

Dark Apostasy: reduced triggered energy cost to 10...4...3 (from 10...5...4).
Expose Defenses: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
Hidden Caltrops: reduced disable of non-assassin skills to 3 seconds (from 10).
Mark of Death: increased healing reduction to 50% (from 33%).
Sadist's Signet: increased health gain per condition to 10...38...45 (from 10...34...40).
Shadow Meld: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
Signet of Shadows: reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 30).
Shroud of Silence: increase duration to 1...5...6 seconds (from 1...3...3).
Signet of Twilight: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
Siphon Strength: increased critical hit chance bonus to +50% (from 33%).

Ritualist

Consume Soul: reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1); increased life steal to 5...57...70 (from 5...49...60); now deals conditional damage to foes in earshot (previously in the area) of the target .
Doom: increased damage to 10...50...60 (from 10...34...40).
Dulled Weapon: increased duration to 5...17...20 seconds (from 5...13...15); increased damage reduction to -3...17...20 (from 1...12...15).
Feast of Souls: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
Ghostly Haste: increased duration to 5...25...30 seconds (from 5...17...20).
Pure Was Li Ming: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
Restoration (PvP): reduced activation time to 3 seconds (from 5).
Wailing Weapon: reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 25); increased duration to 3...12...14 seconds (from 3...8...9).
Weapon of Quickening: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
Weapon of Renewal: increased duration to 5...17...20 seconds (from 4...9...10).
Wielder's Zeal: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); increased duration to 10...34...40 seconds (from 10...26...30).

Dervish

Arcane Zeal: increased energy gain to 2 (from 1); increased maximum energy gain to 2...6...7 (from 1...6...7).
Dwayna's Touch: changed heal per enchantment amount to 60 (from 15...51...60); changed maximum heal to 60...204...240 (from 150).
Ebon Dust Aura: increased earth damage to 3...25...30 (from 3...13...15).
Featherfoot Grace: increased condition expiration speed to 50% (from 25%).
Grenth's Grasp: increased maximum number of conditions transferred to 1...3...3 (from 1).
Mystic Corruption: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); increased duration to 1...8...10 seconds (from 1...2...2).
Natural Healing: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
Pious Restoration: increased maximum number of hexes removed to 1...3...3 (from 1...2...2).
Signet of Pious Restraint: reduced recharge time to 10 seconds (from 20); now affects foes in the area (previously nearby).
Test of Faith: reduced adrenaline cost to 5 (from 7); increased cold damage to 15...63...75 (from 15...55...65).
Winds of Disenchantment: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).

Paragon

"Make Your Time!": reduced recharge time to 10 seconds (from 30).
Angelic Protection: reduced incoming damage per second threshold to 250...114...80 (from 250...130...100).
Anthem of Guidance: reduced adrenaline cost to 2 (from 4).
Energizing Chorus: reduced adrenaline cost to 3 (from 4).
Energizing Finale: increased energy gain to 1...2...2 (from 1).
Hasty Refrain: increased duration to 3...13...15 seconds (from 3...9...11).
Inspirational Speech: increased adrenaline gain to 1...7...8 (from 1...3...4).
Leader's Zeal: increased energy gain to 2...4...4 (from 2).
Purifying Finale: reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1); reduced recharge time to 5 seconds (from 10).
Song of Power: reduced energy cost to 15 (from 25).
Song of Purification: reduced adrenaline cost to 3 (from 5); increased number of activations to 1...5...6 (from 1...3...3).

60/60 Exploit

A bug in the PvP Equipment panel allowed for non-PvP items to be customized, and in some cases would apply item upgrades that were incompatible with the customized item. This resulted in items being created that couldn't be obtained through natural play (this includes what the community refers to as 60/60 items). This change fixes the bug, and a later update will remove invalid item upgrades from items previously created via the bug.

New Steam-based In-Game Store Rolling Out

We've built an in-game store that integrates with the Steam Wallet / Billing System. The code is shipping today but disabled. Over the next few days we'll be testing it on the live systems and then steadily increasing access to all Steam players. To use the new store, you need to log into the game via Steam (i.e., not with an email address). You'll know the store is enabled for you because a prompt will appear in the upper right corner of the character select screen. The new store is tightly integrated with Steam and does not support our first party site – players who login with an email address will still need to use the web store. During this testing phase you might see the store button but the store might be in 'maintenance mode'. You'll be notified as soon as you press 'Enter Store' if that's the case. Oh, and the store button might disappear even after you've seen it, if we decide to reduce the number of players accessing the store, as we evaluate the performance.

Guild Wars Wiki Notes

These skills were also changed:

Signet of Mystic Wrath: Now deals a flat 25 holy damage per enchantment on you. Maximum damage now scales to 30...86...100 holy damage.
Word of Censure: The health threshold is actually 20%, and it is checked after the damage occurs.
Mind Freeze (PvP): The unconditional damage was also increased to 10...50...60.
Signet of Pious Restraint (PvP): Also had its recharge reduced to 10.
Though the update notes stated that the range of many nature rituals were increased, this change did not occur in game.

Update, January 30, 2026

First hotfix build:

Melandru's Accord characters can no longer pick up items that were orignally assigned to other players (either because an assignment expired or the other player left the party)
Melandru's Accord characters can no longer select account-based titles to display or receive corresponding buffs
Melandru's Accord characters no longer receive passive bonuses from account-based titles Wisdom, Lucky, and Treasure hunter
Melandru's Accord character progress towards GWAMM no longer includes any account based titles

Second hotfix build:

Fixed a bug introduced by the additional server check on gold movement: PvP characters were accidentally blocked from accessing gold in Xunlai chests.

Update -- January 29, 2026

Added additional server checking to prevent transferring gold into or out of account storage when Melandru's Accord is active.

Update -- January 28, 2026

Today we're introducing another game mode for those of you looking for further challenges in Guild Wars.

Melandru's Accord - A new mode that requires you to earn all the skills and items for your character without leveraging player trading, account storage, etc. This new mode is inspired by the community-driven Ironman challenge.
- Specifically, you:
  - can't trade with other players,
  - can't pick up drops from other players,
  - can't access account storage via the Xunlai vault,
  - can't use skill tomes to train skills unlocked on the account,
  - can't use /bonus, /bonusitem, or /special,
  - can't access the Zaishen Menagerie,
  - can't access traders that buy and sell items from other players at market prices,
  - can only train skills available from the skill trainer (normally you can train skills already unlocked by another character on the same account from any trainer),
  - can't add mercenaries to your hero roster, and
  - heroes can only use their starter skills, skills learned from a trainer on the current character, or from a hero skill trainer.
- You can be awesome.
UI badge consolidation - Badges displayed next to character names (Reforged mode, Dhuum's Covenant, and Melandru's Accord) now stack on top of each other to take up less space. Hovering over them on another player will cause them to temporarily expand.
Reforged mode: - We are bringing the early experience in Prophecies more in line with the early experience in Factions and Nightfall.
- Reforged skill cost retuning - To make it easier to acquire more skills, we are lowering the skill cost progression curve by roughly half and lowering the cap to 500 gold.
- Reforged mission XP tuning - Prophecies mission rewards are increased when playing in Reforged mode:
  - Mission completion reward: 2000xp, 200gp, 1sp
  - Bonus objective reward: 2000xp, 150gp, 1sp
  - (Hard mode mission completion reward has also been increased to 3000xp)
- Reforged mission/quest gold rewards - Several Prophecies quests have had gold rewards added or increased when in Reforged mode
Alpha/Beta feature localization - Translations from English to Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Polish and Russian are now available for all in-progress features (Melandru's Accord, Dhuum's Covenant, and Reforged mode).
Touch screen improvements - Touch-based scrolling is now supported for Steam Deck and laptops with touchscreens. Just touch a panel with a scroll bar visible and drag the contents up and down.

Guild Wars Wiki notes

Dhuum's Covenant's icon, which was previously green, is now gray (). Melandru's Accord's icon is green ().

Update -- January 9, 2026

Fixed a bug where adding more than 19 purchased character slots to an account returned an error (instead of the published limit of 26).
Fixed a bug where the status of "dialog pinning" and "start menu dragging" options were reset every time a person re-logged.