Game Update 2026-05-27

Update May 27, 2026

Reforged Mode updates

Reforged Mode is moving out of Alpha and into Beta status.

Reforged Mode will be on by default for new characters.

There is a new Reforged-only "Getting Started in Guild Wars" quest available from the Town Crier at the beginning of the Prophecies campaign. This quest is designed to guide new players through pre-Searing and give them some tips on getting the most out of the pre-Searing experience.

There is a new Reforged-only "Surviving After the Searing" quest that players can get from Warmaster Tydus (aka Sir Tydus in pre-Searing) that rewards players with a book that helps explain some of the core mechanics of Guild Wars and provides additional resources and rewards to help new players get started.

A connector quest from Ambassador Zain that leads players back to Warmaster Tydus for the next primary quest has been added.

You can still opt out of Reforged Mode during character creation, and you can toggle Reforged Mode off and on via the Shrine to Godly Accoutrements.

We have changed our previously communicated plan for bringing Reforged Mode out of beta. Here is the new plan:

When Reforged Mode comes out of beta, we will remove the Reforged badge from the game.

We will introduce a new Veteran mode, which will preserve the classic tuning changes and content (this will be the same as playing without Reforged Mode today).

Players will be able to opt into Veteran mode during character creation and toggle the mode off and on via the Shrine to Godly Accoutrements.

Neither Veteran nor Reforged badges will be applied to earned titles. There won't be any special rewards for playing in Veteran mode; it will exist solely to preserve the pre-Reforged experience.

We originally planned to mark titles with the mode they were earned under because we anticipated Reforged Mode could introduce tuning changes that might make certain titles significantly easier to achieve.

In practice, we've found ways to make the pacing and content changes without significantly impacting the level of effort required to earn each title (unlike Dhuum's Covenant and Melandru's Accord, which dramatically alter the level of effort needed to earn certain titles).

Our previous plan to mark titles based on Reforged Mode usage has unfortunately discouraged veteran players from checking out the new content with their existing characters.

Skill AI Adjustments (for NPCs and Heroes)

These are not balance changes but they affect the way that NPCs and heroes use skills.

Preservation – Fixed an issue where the lowest health ally wasn't getting properly updated.

Teinai's Crystals – Removed point-blank AI flag so it can be used by AI at range; adjusted consider so that casters prefer water-hexed enemies, ideally ones with additional enemies within the skill's range.

Soul Leech – Ensure skipping spirits when considering potential targets.

Energizing Finale – Removed low energy requirement for targeting consideration; prioritize targets w/low energy.

Arcane Conundrum – Only target caster primaries; prioritize healers and targets w/adjacent 'bonus' targets.

Dark Aura – Heroes now prioritize targets w/specific skills that have health sacrifice effects (Contagion, Soul Taker, Signet of Agony, Touch of Agony, Wallow's Bite); targets w/these skills are buffed out of combat in most circumstances; targets w/Masochism active w/adjacent targets also have high priority; targets w/sacrifice skills are prioritized in combat if the target has adjacent enemies. Basic enemies target their allies w/sacrifice abilities w/adjacent targets.

Wither – Heroes should now cast this skill more consistently and prioritize targets w/low overall energy.

Splinter Weapon – Skips spirits as potential targets; prioritizes party before allies.

Other adjustments

Forsaken Tunnels / Tunnels of the Forsaken – Removed crystal shard cripple debuff effect when character is clear of the affected area. Daze remains for its duration.