Game Update 2026-06-24

Update June 24, 2026

Bug Fixes

• Fix mislabeled signposts in the Tunnels of the Forsaken

• An update to "drunk effects" on mobile: Now you can get drunk in Kamadan "on the go"

• Fixes for projective texture sampling (fixes water reflections in Nightfall and later maps)

• Fixes for distortion depth textures (needed for portal effects in Nightfall and later maps)

• Fixes for correctly detecting cubemap samples in advanced materials (fixes flashing models in later missions)

Hero AI

The target selection logic for melee heroes has been adjusted to "stick" to their previous targets so that they don't waste valuable time moving between targets. If you specify a target, that will overrule this logic.

Heroes should freeze less often when they are having difficulty getting to their preferred target. This is particularly for melee heroes, who should try to attack enemies that are body blocking them while trying to progress to their desired target. Stuck heroes will also try to get unstuck periodically if they are unable to reach their preferred target.

AoE damage tolerance is increased until hero health is lower (65% instead of 80%) before they attempt to escape those effects.

The priority for melee heroes to use auto-attacks has been reduced until their energy levels are low.

Pet AI

The pet's target selection logic has been adjusted so that their highest priority is

• their locked target, then

• the called target of their player, then

• their previous target (to reduce target swapping).

If no priority targets are available, possible targets are chosen based on a variety of factors (proximity to their player, assisting their player, enemy type, etc).

AI Skill Adjustments

• RemovedVerata's GazeIncreased priority of using this skill on 'masterless' minions. Removed sacrifice function call since the skill does not sacrifice health. Caster prioritizes the minion that has the highest health and skips minions that have low health (< 30%).

• Unyielding Aura (PvE): Checks when evaluating removal to give characters with lower priority (not healers, lower Healing Prayers/Divine Favor attributes) a chance to remove the buff first to give character with high priority to keep the buff active a chance to keep it. This still needs some additional work to ensure character w/high priority to keep the skill don't remove it if lower priority characters remove it first. Players may be able to get desired results by reordering heroes so that lower priority heroes are lower in the party list.

• Flail: Checks to see if the skill is being used by characters using melee or ranged weapons and if there is an active target in the relevant range, this stance is viable. When considering other stances to use, prioritize using them if there is no longer a target in weapon range.

• Judge's Insight: Ensure target is using martial weapons (no caster weapons).

• "Brace Yourself!": Try to maintain this in combat on allies that have self-knockdown skills.

• "Find Their Weakness!": Cast on allied targets that are using any martial weapon (no caster weapons).

• Signet of Illusions: Take into account the number of non-Illusion spells that they have equipped when deciding casting priority. The more non-Illusion spells, the higher they prioritize using this signet. If they have no non-Illusion skills currently on their bar, this signet should not be used.

• Anthem of Weariness: Maintain this outside of combat to optimize maintaining echoes.

• "They're on Fire!": Maintain this outside of combat to optimize maintaining echoes.

• Destructive Was Glaive: Prioritize when in combat, regardless of number of enemies in range. If this bundle is held and there are more than 2 enemies in range, consider dropping the bundle.

• Finale of Restoration: Prioritize characters with lower health, do not cast again on characters that already have the buff.

June Balance Update

We are continuing our strategy of trying to increase variety in the meta by increasing the viability of skills underused in the current meta. This balance pass also features adjustments that reduce the power of several skills that have reduced build variety by virtue of being so effective that other builds don't stack up.

Assassin

• Beguiling Haze - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10.

• Black Spider Strike - Reduce recharge time from 12 to 8.

• Falling Lotus Strike - Reduce recharge time from 12 to 8.

• Jagged Strike - Increase recharge time from 1 to 2.

• Jungle Strike - Decrease recharge time from 10 to 6. Adjust text to remove '+' before conditional damage.

• Locust's Fury - Reduce activation time from 1 to 0.5.

• Mark of Insecurity - Reduce enchantment expiration increase from 30..80 to 20..60.

• Seeping Wound - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10, reduce recharge from 12 to 10.

• Way of the Empty Palm - Reduce effect duration from 5..20 to 5..15, add "your off-hand and dual attacks cost no energy and recharge 25..50% faster."

• Way of the Fox - Reduce recharge time from 45 to 30.

Dervish

• Fleeting Stability - Increase recharge from 10 to 15, increase effect duration from 2..6 to 4..10.

• Pious Assault (BOTH) - Increase conditional damage from 10..30 to 15..40.

• Mirage Cloak - Increase recharge from 10 to 15, reduce block chance from 40..80% to 30..60%.

• Mystic Regeneration (BOTH) - Increase energy cost from 10 to 15.

• Mystic Twister - Decrease activation time from 1 to 0.5.

• Rending Aura - Increase recharge from 6 to 10.

• Signet of Pious Restraint (PvP) - Reduce recharge bonus on enchantment removal from 75% to 50%.

• Whirling Charge - Decrease energy cost from 10 to 5, increase recharge from 6 to 10, decrease damage from 10..60 to 10..50.

Elementalist

• Ash Blast - Reduce recharge time from 15 to 10.

• Double Dragon - Decrease recharge from 20 to 15, increase damage per second to 10..40, increase "set on fire" duration from 0..3 to 1..4.

• Fireball - Increase range of effect from adjacent to nearby.

• Gust - Increase recharge from 10 to 15, reduce range of cold damage on cast from nearby to adjacent.

• Kinetic Armor - Increase effect duration from 8 to 12, decrease recharge from 60 to 30.

• Lightning Strike - Decrease damage and conditional damage from 5..50 to 5..40.

• Lightning Surge - Increase energy cost from 10 to 15.

• Sandstorm - Decrease recharge from 25 to 20, increase damage per second from 10..30 to 20..40 (additional DPS stays the same).

• Teinai's Wind - Increase energy cost from 5 to 10.

• Thunderclap - Increase range from adjacent to nearby.

Mesmer

• Arcane Conundrum - Increase recharge from 20 to 30.

• Auspicious Incantation - Reduce recharge from 25 to 20.

• Clumsiness - Increase recharge from 8 to 12, reduce damage from 10..92 to 10..80.

• Conjure Phantasm - Increase effect duration from 2..16 to 4..18.

• Crippling Anguish (PvP) - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10, increase health degeneration from 1..5 to 2..6.

• Cry of Frustration - Increase recharge from 15 to 20, reduce AoE damage from 100% to 75%.

• Enchanter's Conundrum (BOTH) - Reduce AoE damage from 100% to 75%

• Energy Drain (BOTH) - Reduce recharge from 30/25 to 20.

• Energy Surge - Reduce damage per energy from 9 to 7, reduce AoE damage from 100% to 75%.

• Illusionary Weaponry (BOTH) - Reduce recharge from 25 to 15, increase damage from 8..40 to 16..50.

• Images of Remorse - Reduce activation time from 2 to 1.

• Migraine (PvP) - Increase duration from 3..12 to 4..16.

• Mistrust (PvE) - Reduce damage from 10..100 to 10..80, reduce AoE damage from 100% to 75%.

• Mistrust (PvP) - Reduce damage from 10..75 to 10..60, reduce AoE damage from 100% to 75%.

• Overload - Reduce AoE damage from 100% to 75%

• Power Flux - Increase recharge from 10 to 15.

• Power Lock - Increase recharge from 12 to 20.

• Psychic Instability (BOTH) - Increase recharge from 12 to 20.

• Signet of Illusion - Changed functionality to "Your next 1..3 non-Illusion spells use your Illusion attribute instead of their normal attribute."

• Shatter Delusions (BOTH) - Reduce AoE damage from 100% to 75%

• Signet of Humility - Reduce "Your non-Mesmer skills are disabled for X seconds." from 10 to 4.

• Tease - Increase recharge from 15 to 20.

• Wastrel's Demise (PvE) - Increase recharge from 3 to 5.

• Wastrel's Worry - Increase recharge from 1 to 4, reduce AoE damage from 100% to 75%.

Monk

• Balthazar's Aura - Reduce energy cost from 25 to 15, reduce activation time from 2 to 1, reduce recharge from 25 to 20, increase damage from 10..25 to 10..30.

• Cure Hex - Reduce heal amount from 30..120 to 30..100.

• Divert Hexes - Increase recharge time from 5 to 8, reduce activation time from 1 to 0.75.

• Guardian - Increase recharge time from 4 to 6.

• Healing Burst - Increase recharge time from 4 to 6, adjust healing amount from 10..160 to 20..120.

• Healing Hands - Reduce recharge from 25 to 15.

• Ray of Judgment - Reduce activation time from 2 to 1, reduce recharge from 20 to 15, increase damage from 5..45 to 10..50.

• Shield of Deflection - Reduce recharge time from 10 to 5.

• Shield of Regeneration - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10, adjust armor increase to scaling (20..45).

• Symbol of Wrath - Reduce activation time from 2 to 1, reduce recharge from 30 to 20, increase damage from 8..32 to 10..40. Change functionality so that the AoE pulse happens at the target's location instead of the caster's.

Necromancer

• Animate Bone Fiend - Reduce energy cost from 25 to 15, reduce activation time from 3 to 1.

• Animate Bone Horror - Reduce energy cost from 10 to 5, reduce activation time from 3 to 1.

• Animate Bone Minions - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10, reduce activation time from 3 to 1.

• Animate Flesh Golem - Reduce activation time from 3 to 1.

• Animate Shambling Horror - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10, reduce activation time from 3 to 1.

• Animate Vampiric Horror - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10, reduce activation time from 3 to 1.

• Blood Ritual - Reduce activation time from 2 to 1.

• Consume Corpse - Reduce energy cost from 10 to 5.

• Feast of Corruption - Reduce recharge from 20 to 15.

• Lingering Curse - Increase health degeneration from 0..3 to 1..4, increase healing benefit reduction from 20% to 25%.

• Ravenous Gaze - Increase damage and health steal from 15..30 to 20..40.

• Spiteful Spirit - Increase effect duration from 8..20 to 10..25, increase damage from 5..35 to 15..45.

• Vampiric Spirit - Reduce activation time from 2 to 1, increase health steal from 5..50 to 15..60.

• Verata's Gaze - Add "...and heal it for 60..80." when claiming masterless minions.

• Wail of Doom - Increase effect duration from 1..4 to 2..6.

• Weaken Armor - Reduce activation time from 1 to 0.5.

Paragon

• Aggressive Refrain - Reduce energy cost from 25 to 15, reduce activation time from 2 to 1.

• Aria of Restoration - Reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

• Aria of Zeal - Reduce energy cost from 10 to 5, reduce activation time from 2 to 1, reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

• Ballad of Restoration (PvE) - Reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

• Ballad of Restoration (PvP) - Reduce recharge from 30 to 20.

• Cruel Spear - Decrease adrenaline cost from 7 to 6, increase damage from 1..31 to 10..50.

• Inspirational Speech - Reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

• Lyric of Purification - Reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

• Mighty Throw - Reduce activation time from 3 to 1.

• "The Power Is Yours!" - Increase effect time from 3 to 2..4, increase energy regen from 0..1 to 1..2.

• Song of Restoration (PvE) - Reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

• Song of Restoration (PvP) - Reduce recharge from 30 to 20.

• Stunning Strike - Reduce adrenaline cost from 10 to 8, increase damage from 5..30 to 10..50.

• Unblockable Throw - Reduce activation time from 3 to 1, reduce adrenaline cost from 7 to 4.

• Zealous Anthem - Reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

Ranger

• Barbed Trap - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10.

• Bestial Mauling - Reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

• Broad Head Arrow - Reduce energy cost from 15 to 10, reduce recharge from 15 to 10.

• Disrupting Lunge - Reduce recharge from 20 to 10.

• Maiming Strike - Remove condition to hit a moving foe and apply Crippled if the attack hits.

• Melandru's Shot - Increase recharge from 8 to 12.

• Pounce - Reduce recharge from 15 to 10.

• Reduce Nature Ritual activation time from 3 to 2. Affects: Brambles, Conflagration, Edge of Extinction, Energizing Wind, Equinox, Famine, Favorable Winds, Fertile Season, Frozen Soil, Greater Conflagration, Infuriating Heat, Lacerate, Muddy Terrain, Nature's Renewal, Pestilence, Predatory Season, Primal Echoes, Quickening Zephyr, Quicksand, Roaring Winds, Symbiosis, Toxicity, Tranquility, Winnowing, Winter.

Ritualist

• Anguish (PvP) - Reduce activation time from 3 to 1.5, reduce recharge from 45 to 30.

• Bloodsong (PvP) - Reduce activation time from 3 to 1.5.

• Dissonance (PvP) - Reduce activation time from 5 to 2, reduce recharge from 45 to 30.

• Pain (PvP) - Reduce activation time from 3 to 1.5.

• Protective Was Kaolai (BOTH) - Reduce recharge from 25 to 20.

• Shadowsong (PvP) - Reduce activation time from 5 to 2, reduce recharge from 45 to 30.

• Spirit Siphon - Increase energy gain percentage from 15..50% to 30..60%.

• Spirit Light Weapon - Increase heal per second and additional heal per second within earshot of a spirit from 1..15 to 5..25.

• Spirit's Strength - Reduce recharge from 30 to 20.

• Tranquil Was Tanasen - Reduce energy cost from 10 to 5, reduce recharge from 20 to 15.

• Vengeful Was Khanei - Reduce recharge from 20 to 15, increase health steal from 5..35 to 10..45.

• Weapon of Quickening - Reduce energy cost from 10 to 5.

Warrior

• Berserker Stance - Increase energy cost from 5 to 10, reduce recharge from 20 to 10, increase effect duration from 5..11 to 8..14, increase adrenaline gain from 50% to 100%.

• Cleave - Increase damage from 10..30 to 10..40, add additional 20% armor penetration effect, add also hits 1 random adjacent foe.

• Disrupting Chop - Increase recharge from 0 to 1.

• Dragon Slash - Reduce adrenaline cost from 10 to 8.

• Eviscerate - Increase damage from 1..31 to 10..45.

• "Fear Me!" - Reduce recharge from 6 to 4, increase energy loss from 1..4 to 2..6.

• Gladiator's Defense - Reduce recharge from 30 to 20.

• Hamstring - Reduce energy cost from 10 to 5, reduce recharge from 15 to 10.

• Headbutt - Decrease recharge from 15 to 10, decrease energy cost from 15 to 10, increase daze duration from 5 to 10.

• Hundred Blades - Decrease recharge from 25 to 20, increase damage from 10..25 to 10..35.

• Quivering Blade - Increase damage from 10 to 10..40. (This skill was accidentally nerfed in the last balance update when updating its daze duration from 5 to 10.)

• Savage Slash - Reduce recharge from 15 to 10.

• "To the Limit!" - Reduce recharge from 15 to 10.

Global Mobile Release

• Guild Wars Reforged has been globally released on iOS and Android.

• Phone and tablets now default to 60 fps; if your mobile device is still running hot, you can set it to 30 fps in the graphics settings.

• There is now support for playing with a mobile gaming controller connected to your phone or tablet.

• The client now detects which datacenter is closest to you. There is a new dropdown on mobile that will let you set a home territory. This will default to the closest datacenter but you can easily change it.

  • The home territory is separate from the territory you can select when map traveling.

  • The home territory is primarily used if you create a guild; your guild hall will be in the datacenter specified by your home territory.

• We're continuing to work on adding "Login with Steam" so that players who purchased on Steam can play on mobile for free.