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Back after a break? Start here.

Returning Player Checklist

At a glance

Check your equipment stats and build, configure the Wizard’s Vault, then review your expansions. Your existing characters, items, and unlocked content remain available.

First checks after returning

Start with these, however long you have been away.

  • Check gear rarity and stats Open Hero (H) → Equipment. Check for level 80 exotic (orange) or better gear with stats suited to your current build. Keep using suitable ascended or legendary pieces.
  • Check and configure the Wizard's Vault Open the Vault from the top menu and look at its daily and weekly objectives. Use the gear icon in each tab to choose the mode you mainly play: PvE, WvW, or PvP. If you have already claimed a reward other than logging in, changes apply at the next relevant reset.
  • Check skills and traits Patches may have changed your skills or traits. Open Hero (H) → Build and check your equipped trait choices.
  • Sort your bags and collect Trading Post proceeds Items may have sold while you were away. Check the Trading Post's Delivery Box for uncollected gold and purchases.
  • Check your mail You may have unclaimed rewards, guild messages, or event rewards in your mailbox.
  • Check your guild memberships Guild leaders may have removed inactive members. Open the Guild panel (G) to see your current memberships.
  • Try fractal or raid quickplay Select quickplay in the LFG panel to be matched with other players. Fractal quickplay uses scale 1 fractals from a curated list; raid quickplay uses its own encounter selection. Both can help you get used to combat again.

Major recent additions

Depending on when you last played, you may not have tried these expansion and system updates.

Visions of Eternity (VoE)

Fourth elite specializations

VoE adds a fourth elite specialization to each profession: Luminary, Conduit, Paragon, Amalgam, Galeshot, Antiquary, Evoker, Troubadour, and Ritualist. Full training costs 250 hero points.

Secrets of the Obscure (SotO)

Weaponmaster Training

SotO's Weaponmaster Training lets you use your profession's existing elite specialization weapons without equipping those specializations. For example, a guardian can wield an axe without using Firebrand. Speak with Frode early in SotO story chapter 3 or buy the unlock document from the WvW vendor.

Janthir Wilds (JW)

Land spears for every profession

With Janthir Wilds and the Lowland Spear Training mastery, all nine professions can use spears on land. Buying Lowland Spear Unlock from a Heroics Notary in WvW is an alternative.

System changes

Wizard's Vault: a different daily reward system

The Vault replaced login rewards and generic daily achievements. Earn Astral Acclaim from daily, weekly, and special objectives to buy rewards such as ascended gear chests.

How long were you away?

If you have been away for several months

  • Review the expansions you own Check the Hero panel's Story Journal and your purchase history. Before buying a bundle, check whether it includes the content you want, such as SotO, Janthir Wilds, or Visions of Eternity, and avoid duplicate purchases.
  • Check Living World episodes Season 1 is free. You may already own Seasons 2–4 and The Icebrood Saga through past free unlocks, purchases, or collections. Check for locked episodes in the Story Journal first.
  • Review your masteries New expansions may have added mastery tracks. Open Hero → Masteries to see which tracks you have yet to unlock.
  • Unlock Weaponmaster Training If you own SotO, speak with Frode early in story chapter 3 or buy a Weaponmaster Training Document from a Heroics Notary in WvW.

Additional checks after a year or more

  • Try the fourth elite specialization (VoE) If you own VoE, your profession has a fourth elite specialization available. It takes 250 HP to train it fully.
  • Check land spear skills (JW) If you own Janthir Wilds, look at your profession's land spear skill set.
  • Review mounts and masteries New expansions add masteries, including tracks that give existing mounts new abilities. Open Hero → Masteries to see the tracks you have not unlocked.
  • Look for new legendary equipment Updates may have added legendary items and crafting routes. Check whether there is a new item for a slot that interests you.
  • Review your build Check current builds for your profession on MetaBattle or Snow Crows. Balance patches may have changed the recommended setup.

A suggested route back into the game

If you are unsure where to begin, follow this order.

  1. Check your exotic gear set and use the Trading Post to fill any gaps
  2. Resume Wizard's Vault dailies to start earning Astral Acclaim
  3. Continue the main story or Living World to pick up the story again
  4. Unlock weapons and masteries: Weaponmaster Training through dialogue or a document; land spears through a mastery or WvW item
  5. Work on ascended trinkets through Winterberries in A Crack in the Ice, Guild Commendations, and other routes