Guild Wars 2

Just as the title says can I participate reasonably well without the new skills added by the Heart of Thorns expansion.

Nope not meta simple answer.

Meta? No. Viable? Depending on the class, yes, mostly.

Can you be meta without HoT?
Can you even be viable without HoT?

Viable yes. meta no.

You won’t be meta. But it is possible to be effective using only the base classes. Just understand your opponents will likely have an easier time beating you than you will beating them. So be ready to outplay them. And don’t expect super quick easy victories. Play to the strengths of your build and try to build aimed at gaps in the metas defenses. They are not* 100% foolproof.

viable sure, meta no.

who cares about meta though? I play no meta builds at all and I preorderd HoT. sure meta builds a great, but mine just feel better. remorseless druid isn’t meta but taht doesn’t stop it being excellent.