Guild Wars 2 is ArenaNet's buy to play MMO, live since August 2012 and available on Steam since 23 August 2022. There is no subscription, the level cap has been 80 since launch, and stat gear stops at ascended, so long term progression runs through masteries, elite specializations and map completion instead of a gear treadmill. Six expansions have shipped, most recently Visions of Eternity on 28 October 2025, which handed every one of the nine professions a new elite specialization.
Guild Wars 2 features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queensdale | 1 to 15 | Early gear, the first vistas and points of interest, map completion progress toward a Gift of Exploration | Revenant |
| 2 | Lion's Arch | Any level | Trading post and bank access, asura gates to every capital, crafting stations in one place | Revenant |
| 3 | Verdant Brink | 80 | Gliding mastery, Heart of Thorns map currency, access to the deeper jungle maps | Guardian |
| 4 | Crystal Oasis | 80 | Raptor mount, Trade Contracts, the entry point to the Path of Fire story | Guardian |
| 5 | Seitung Province | 80 | Fishing and skiff masteries, Canthan crafting materials, the road into New Kaineng City | Guardian |
Queensdale: Starting Area
The human starter zone outside Divinity's Reach, and still the busiest low level map on most servers. Its event chains and renown hearts are the standard first hour of the game for new accounts.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 1 to 15 |
| Key Rewards | Early gear, the first vistas and points of interest, map completion progress toward a Gift of Exploration |
| Recommended Build | Revenant |
| Key Equipment | Staff |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Weapon skills and elite specializations. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Lion's Arch.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Lion's Arch: Early Game
The central hub city, rebuilt after the Living World season one attack. Every asura gate, the trading post, bank access, guild services and most world boss meetups run through it.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any level |
| Key Rewards | Trading post and bank access, asura gates to every capital, crafting stations in one place |
| Recommended Build | Revenant |
| Key Equipment | Staff |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Boons, conditions and combo fields. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Staff if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Verdant Brink.
Verdant Brink: Mid Game
The first Heart of Thorns map, and the one that teaches gliding and vertical map design. It runs a day and night cycle where the map shifts from ground objectives to night bosses.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 80 |
| Key Rewards | Gliding mastery, Heart of Thorns map currency, access to the deeper jungle maps |
| Recommended Build | Guardian |
| Key Equipment | Staff |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Greatsword becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Dodge rolls and endurance for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Crystal Oasis: Late Game
The opening Path of Fire map and where the Raptor mount is handed over almost immediately. Its wide open desert exists specifically to make you want the rest of the mount roster.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 80 |
| Key Rewards | Raptor mount, Trade Contracts, the entry point to the Path of Fire story |
| Recommended Build | Guardian |
| Key Equipment | Greatsword |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Greatsword should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Masteries, mounts and gliding mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Seitung Province.
Seitung Province: Endgame
The first End of Dragons map, set in Cantha after roughly two decades away from the setting. It introduces fishing and the skiff, and its meta event runs on a fixed timer.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 80 |
| Key Rewards | Fishing and skiff masteries, Canthan crafting materials, the road into New Kaineng City |
| Recommended Build | Guardian |
| Key Equipment | Greatsword |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Necromancer for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Queensdale → Lion's Arch → Verdant Brink → Crystal Oasis → Seitung Province. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Guild Wars 2 Guides
- Guild Wars 2 Guild Wars 2 Overview
- Guild Wars 2 Best Builds
- Guild Wars 2 Tier List
- Guild Wars 2 Walkthrough
- Guild Wars 2 Beginner's Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Tips & Tricks
- Guild Wars 2 Weapons Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Combat Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Boss Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Crafting Guide
- Guild Wars 2 Classes & Characters
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