February is a busy month for gamers, andGuild Wars 2is getting in on the hustle and bustle with a brand-new expansion.End of DragonsisGuild Wars 2’sthird full expansion pack, which will lead players back to the eastern-themed continent of Cantha. Formerly the setting of the originalGuild Wars’ Factionsexpansion, Cantha has changed much in the past 250 in-game years, transitioning from an insular, traditional dynasty to a cutting-edge, cyberpunk empire fueled by magical dragon jade.
Game Rant had the opportunity to attend a digital tour of New Kaineng City, the capital of the Canthan empire. The new urban zone is a fusion of old and new, and it promises an experience unlike any otherGuild Wars 2. Additionally,Guild Wars 2showed off the Jade Bot — acompanion players can collect inEnd of Dragons. This customizable jade-powered drone is as useful as it is adorable, and is the final Mastery track lineEnd of Dragons.
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Out With the Old Kaineng, In With the New Kaineng
For those who playedGuild Wars: Factions, Kaineng City might sound familiar, but the metropolisvisited inEnd of Dragonsis anything but the place they remember. One hundred years ago, when the Elder Dragon Zhaitan rose from the sea, a tidal wave carrying hordes of its Risen minions wiped out most of the old Kaineng City in an event called the Zhaitan Disaster. In the century that followed, the survivors fled south of the zombie-infested ruins and built a new home — New Kaineng City.
Today, New Kaineng is a technological marvel of a city thanks to the Xunlai Jade Corporation, and the heart of its civilization. Jade-powered mechs wander the city, providing direction and protection, holographic projections of Ministry of Purity leaders dispense news and updates to the populace, and holo-images of fish, whales, and other sea life swim through the skyline. Though in a transitory phase, the city is now home to both Canthan humans, including decedents from the defunct Luxon andKurzick peoples fromGuild Wars: Factions, and tengu despite their previous distrust, creating a melting pot of cultures and peoples which will grow even more with its exposure to the outside world.
Unlike previous maps, the New Kaineng map is almost entirely urban. The zone is the city itself, from the slums found in the lower sections to the central, affluent Ministry Ward, where the Ministry and Empress rule, and where theXunlai Jade Corporationkeeps their headquarters in a massive skyscraper of jade tech. Every alley of the city is rife with Jade Brotherhood criminals, haywire jade mechs, and other threats players will be able to confront to earn the trust of the Canthan Empire and bring stability to the city of light and jade.
New Kaineng is a far cry from the cramped, plague-ridden city from the originalGuild Wars, but it pays homage to the history and legacy of its past all the same. The northeastern corner of New Kaineng lies beyond the safety of the city walls. This area is overrun with the deathless Risen minions of the fallen Elder Dragon — a threat familiar to both old andnewGuild Wars 2players. Though it gives only a taste of the history of the Zhaitan Disaster,Guild Wars 2has hinted that players may be able to visit the heart of the Old Kaineng ruins, perhaps in a future Living World patch zone.
Jade Bots: Adventuring Companions of the Future
The influence of jade technology in Cantha is evident after thefirst step intoEnd of Dragons. Players will be able to access this powerful new tech in the palm of their hands with the new Jade Bot companion. This little drone is a marvel of Xunlai Jade Corporation, and is powered by the same technology as the jade security mechs and the holographic technology that runs through all of Cantha. They also act as the final new Mastery Track inEnd of Dragons.
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After players unlock the Jade Bot, they will be able to use it to help enhance their exploration and experience inEnd of Dragons. Jade Bots have numerous utility functions players can use. Certain areas withinEnd of Dragonsgive players the chance to remotely control their Jade Bot. While flying around as their Jade Bot, players can enjoy a drone’s-eye view of the gorgeous newGuild Wars 2areas. Beyond the fantastic screenshot opportunities, certain challenges, secrets, and discoveries can only be tackled with the minute companions, as they are too high or too small for players to reach. No nook or cranny will go unexplored by the intrepid adventurer with their trusty Jade Bot at their side.
Jade Bots can equip two new pieces of equipment: power cores and modules. Power cores give the Jade Bot the ability to interact with the world in unique ways. With a power core, Jade Bots can absorb charges from Jade Batteries found throughout Cantha, which can be in turn be used to energize deactivated tech or run across ziplinesfound inEnd of Dragons. Modules, on the other hand, give the jade bot special abilities, such as a speed boost for the fishing skiff vehicle, mount re-energizer, or automated looting and salvaging.Guild Wars 2has more modules planned throughout the course of the expansion, which will provide more options for customizable convenience.
The new Jade Bot Mastery Track will allow players to improve their companion’s functionality even further. As a part ofGuild Wars 2’shorizontal progression system, experience points earned after reaching the consistent level cap of 80 goes towards the Mastery Track players are currently working on. Some unlockable abilities on the Jade Bot Mastery Track include the ability for the Jade Bot to give a vertical boost while gliding, improve the functionality of the Jade Bot’s other abilities, and even rezzing players from a downed state like. Mastering the Jade Bot will prove instrumental in defeating the Aetherblade and unlocking the secrets of the Elder Dragons inEnd of Dragons.
Guild Wars 2is available now on PC.End of Dragonsreleases in February 28th.
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