Guild Wars 2

This has probably been answered, but I’m not sure if it has been directly. Do you need to equip the specialization to use its weapon?

Obviously, the two have synergy, but it seems pretty obvious that you don’t need to equip a greatsword to use Reaper traits; after all, you can swap weapons and go with daggers, scepter, and whatever. So how does it work going the other way?

Elite specialization gives you the access to new weapon, so yes.

Think of it like the Elite specialization getting an extra minor trait at 0 points. For the Reaper that extra trait is “Wield Greatsword”.

Here’s the post where they say elite specs have to be unlocked and equiped to use the new weapon. It’s the last sentence in the “New Weapons” section.

Edit: Helps if I actually paste the link!
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/specializations-part-two-reward-tracks-and-elite-specializations/

Kaz.5430:

Think of it like the Elite specialization getting an extra minor trait at 0 points. For the Reaper that extra trait is “Wield Greatsword”.

Not really, it’s just part of the first minor of an elite specialization. For example, the first minor of the Reaper reads:

You can equip greatswords and use reaper shouts. Death Shroud is replaced with Reaper’s Shroud, which has more melee oriented skills.