Guild Wars 2

I just hit 80 with my first character, an elementalist today and i’m a bit confused on where to start at max level. Is there a special max level only zone to start working for better gear in? dungeons? raids?

The main things I actually enjoy in MMO’s is collecting cool stuff, and world content. not so much getting insanely OP gear for competing at high level play. Mostly collecting special outfits and such in the wardrobe (Or are those $$$ only purchases?) and solo content out in the world.

I also heard from several sources the end game content in this game isn’t as vast as other MMO’s also. Is this true? I recently unsubbed from WoW since the game is going in a direction i’m not a huge fan of.

Well, that’s it. You’re done.

Let me correct myself:

You have achieved the highest level. From here it is a matter of experimentation and delving deeper into the craft of actually playing the game. You can do this by either taking a new class or by trying new challenges such as Fractals. Dungeons will lower your scaling you back but still above your enemies so that won’t provide much challenge and honestly the “best” gear isn’t required to do any of the content so exotics are a fair place to stop if you aren’t interested in anything better. No one will even notice.

Raids are the high-end content so you’re probably not interested in that at all. Collecting things is very doable without Raids or any other particularly high-end content. Large scale bosses are probably what you will look at in the open world like Triple Trouble. As for the end-game content that depends on what you’re looking for; in your case it likely will not be as “vast” I admit since it is specifically what you don’t want.

DGraves.3720:

Well, that’s it. You’re done.

So there really isn’t anything to do at max level? If this is the case I could probably branch out into the other classes and try those. I only really played 3 so far, elementalist, warrior and revanent.

There is plenty to do at L80. There are several L80 maps. There is World Completion. There are many, many collections to fulfill. There is WvW and PvP. There is the Personal Story, the Living World Stories, the Heart of Thorns Story, and Current Events. There is Crafting, and Guild Halls. You can fill the Wardrobe.

There is an awful lot of content in Guild Wars 2. You might consider just browsing in Achievements in the Hero Panel, for a start.

Good luck.

The game works a bit like a sandbox in this regard, once you hit level 80, the progress is so called “horizontal”, meaning you expand more in options than in power.

As for tasks, generally you do whatever you feel like. Some people enjoy dungeons, others world events or meta events, some likes WvW/PvP etc. Basically put there isn’t a right or wrong answer, just suggestions for things you could try and see if you like.

Yes it sounds vague, because there really isn’t a definitive answer that goes for everyone.

From the sound of things you like:

• Open World
• Collections
• Skins/Outfits

Open World Exploration is what got me hooked to the game to start with, and I loved mapping out every single map. And that alone will keep you busy for a few months. Map completion of every map (hearts, wp, poi, hp’s) will also give you the Gift of Exploration if you do plan to make a legendary weapon sometime.

Collections are various achievements that requires you to find, buy, craft, rand drops, etc various items in order to complete. You might like them, and might not. (stupid spoons)

Skins/Oufits, there is a reason the game got the nickname “Barbie Wars 2” on launch There are lots of skins to find and collects, from the common crafting/drop skins that cost next to nothing, to skins you have to complete many achievements and events etc to get. You can definitively throw in a lot of time here if you want.

The only real warning I’ll give is if you want to get into crafting. Start with Chef first and see how you like that. If you’re going to do any of the other crafting, do your research and know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s a titanic gold-sink to level it, and it’s primary purpose is to craft Account Bound stuff at the end.

Good luck out there.

Edit: Outfits is different from Skins/Wardrobe, and almost all of them are Gem-store only. Do note that you can farm up gold and trade for Gems to buy things there, if there is one you really like. (Best buy, Copper-Fed-O-Matic!)

The real fun starts at lvl 80. :P Gear up, finish story, try meta events, fractals, guild stuff, achievements, map completion, collect skins, max all crafts and masteries, collect gold and currencies, and so on… I’ve been playing since 2012 and still have plenty of things to do in the game.

Fractals are fun. Maybe pay the silver wastes a visit? Have fun, that’s the big thing.

Linthenius.3704:

I just hit 80 with my first character, an elementalist today and i’m a bit confused on where to start at max level. Is there a special max level only zone to start working for better gear in? dungeons? raids?

The main things I actually enjoy in MMO’s is collecting cool stuff, and world content. not so much getting insanely OP gear for competing at high level play. Mostly collecting special outfits and such in the wardrobe (Or are those $$$ only purchases?) and solo content out in the world.

I also heard from several sources the end game content in this game isn’t as vast as other MMO’s also. Is this true? I recently unsubbed from WoW since the game is going in a direction i’m not a huge fan of.

You’re mistake is trying to think that Gw2 to WoW is an apples to apples comparison. It isn’t.

All of GW2 is “end game”. Where WoW tried to rush people through content that they rendered meaningless into doing the same raids over and over, GW2 is designed with the overall story being the important thing, and that’s not ending.

There is no gear grind. Once you have ascended gear, your max stats and that isn’t going to change. Legendary gear isn’t higher stats, it merely adds in the ability to change stats. There is different skins for weapons and armor to get, various achievements and so forth.

Unlike WoW, GW2 is very story driven. It is best to play through it completely and in order. Dungeons, the story mode part, are part of leveling up and flesh out the story even more on the hero side (with Destiny’s Edge and such) and the Living Story content furthers this. Fractals are fun and scale up in difficulty and rewards as your fractal level increases. There is only one “raid” in the game and it isn’t anything like you knew in WoW. It is more like an elite dungeon like in GW1 with Underworld or Fissure of Woe.

It’s also a good idea to play through every race as each races storyline fills in more of the story that you see towards the current end.

Er, literally? The whole thread and I didn’t read anything about elite specialization? That’s the progress… start the story of heart of thorns and work on your elite spec. And masteries of course. After gearing up to ascended you can enter the raid (or earlier, but don’t expect to be taken with exotic gear only). Go to fractals to finish level 100 with maximum agony resistance etc.

Just a word on Exotics vs Ascended. Exotics will get you through 99% of the game. Only higher level Fractals, and possible the one Raid, will require Ascended. In the case of higher Fratals because you need the infusion slots for more agony resistance more than the stats. Don’t feel like you have to get Asended gear.

(If you have a non-f2p account you get laurels for daily log-on, collect those and you can buy ascended trinkets for them (Amulet), get rings from Fractals or Laurels.)

@ Linthenius.3704,
There is a lot of collecting to do now that you reached level 80. As others have mentioned, I would start with obtaining a full set of Exotic gear. Also, I would start working on crafting so you can make ascended one day. If you love a particular class, I would get 100% map completion with that class.

As you get some ascended trinkets and gear, you can start working on the higher levels of fractals. Right now, you can go through the first 15 or so with no Agony Resistance.

If your a collector, there are tons and tons of weapon and armor skins to collect. Not to mention, tons of achievements to work on. Complete all of your story missions on the character you plan on getting 100% map completion. Doing that alone will allow you access to everywhere in the game, pretty much.

Find a friendly guild (I can help you there if your interested), and group with some people for Dungeons and Fractals.

If your not set on a particular class, explore other class options. But most of all, have fun doing whatever it is you enjoy doing. Don’t let tasks discourage you, and ask your guild and friends for help. The community in guild wars is generally better than most MMOs (there is always at least one bad apple). Things like Jumping Puzzles are some people’s bane, but others (like myself) love doing Jumping Puzzles, and do them frequently for guild members and friends who despise them.

ProtoGunner.4953:

Er, literally? The whole thread and I didn’t read anything about elite specialization? That’s the progress… start the story of heart of thorns and work on your elite spec. And masteries of course. After gearing up to ascended you can enter the raid (or earlier, but don’t expect to be taken with exotic gear only). Go to fractals to finish level 100 with maximum agony resistance etc.

This probably wasn’t mentioned based on the OPs statement about not being into gear grind and high level play. She/He prefers open world content and collecting stuff.

At 80 you can hit up Dry Top and Silverwastes, finish up the Personal Story if you haven’t yet, and if you have Heart of Thorns, you can enter the Heart of Maguuma and start working on your mastery lines to drive towards Mordremoth.

Also, there is a three wing raid area in the jungle, Fractals of the Mists, and achievements to work towards. Just because you’ve hit 80 doesn’t mean you’ve run out of options.

Also, if you aren’t part of one, you may want to find a guild or two. Guilds get weekly mission options to work towards, plus Guild Halls that you can help build up and expand.

LanfearShadowflame.3189:

ProtoGunner.4953:

Er, literally? The whole thread and I didn’t read anything about elite specialization? That’s the progress… start the story of heart of thorns and work on your elite spec. And masteries of course. After gearing up to ascended you can enter the raid (or earlier, but don’t expect to be taken with exotic gear only). Go to fractals to finish level 100 with maximum agony resistance etc.

This probably wasn’t mentioned based on the OPs statement about not being into gear grind and high level play. She/He prefers open world content and collecting stuff.

But that is exactly the casual part in HoT. It’s the thing everyone does: doing open world as max level and working towards masteries/elite spec.

ProtoGunner.4953:

LanfearShadowflame.3189:

ProtoGunner.4953:

Er, literally? The whole thread and I didn’t read anything about elite specialization? That’s the progress… start the story of heart of thorns and work on your elite spec. And masteries of course. After gearing up to ascended you can enter the raid (or earlier, but don’t expect to be taken with exotic gear only). Go to fractals to finish level 100 with maximum agony resistance etc.

This probably wasn’t mentioned based on the OPs statement about not being into gear grind and high level play. She/He prefers open world content and collecting stuff.

But that is exactly the casual part in HoT. It’s the thing everyone does: doing open world as max level and working towards masteries/elite spec.

shrug