What is Living World?
Episodic content that connects the stories between expansions. Season 1 is free. Episodes of Seasons 2–5 claimed during past free-unlock windows remain yours; missing episodes usually cost 200 gems each or can be bought in season bundles. Check the required expansion too.
How Living World began
Season 1 began in January 2013, before the first expansion. Recurring stories and events were intended to show a world changing over time. The format later developed into episodes connecting the expansions.
ArenaNet wanted a world that changed over time, where events left consequences and the story moved forward.
Season 1’s main story was available for limited periods, making it difficult for later players to experience. From Season 2 onward, episodes could be replayed through the Story Journal.
The Living World model ended with End of Dragons in 2022. Later expansion purchases include their follow-up quarterly content updates. Season 1 is free, while missing episodes of Seasons 2–5 still require separate purchases.
How it differs from an expansion: Expansions add major gameplay systems, such as mounts, gliding, or a new profession. Living World adds episodic stories, maps, and rewards, sometimes including mounts as in Season 4. Map counts and features vary by season. Both are needed to follow the full story.
How do you buy it?
Episodes claimed during past release or giveaway windows remain permanently on your account. Check the Story Journal to see which episodes you own and the price of any you are missing.
Episodes whose free-unlock window has passed can be bought through the Gem Store or Story Journal for 200 gems. You can also exchange gold for gems to buy them.
Each season has a bundle that costs less than buying its episodes individually. Elder Dragon Saga: Complete Collection includes Seasons 2–5. Expansion bundles without “Complete” in the name do not include Living World.
Steam accounts: If you already own the HoT/PoF bundle or EoD on Steam, you cannot add Elder Dragon Saga: Complete Collection to that account. Buy missing expansions on Steam and Living World through the in-game Gem Store. ArenaNet expansion codes do not work on Steam accounts.
The seasons
Listed in release order. Check each season’s requirements before buying.
Living World Season 1: Scarlet’s War Permanently free
Original: Jan 2013–Mar 2014 · Main story re-released Apr–Nov 2022 · Requires: base gameIn the first Living World season, Scarlet Briar unites mercenaries, mechanical armies, and other factions to attack Tyria, culminating in the destruction of Lion’s Arch. Its main limited-time story was rebuilt into five permanent episodes released from April to November 2022.
Living World Season 2: Glint’s Prophecy Requires the base game
Jul 2014–Jan 2015 · 8 episodes · 200 gems per episodeAfter Scarlet’s defeat, her true goal of awakening the Elder Dragon Mordremoth becomes clear. A world summit, revelations about the sylvari, and the pursuit of Glint’s egg set up the events of Heart of Thorns.
Living World Season 3: Glint’s Legacy Requires Heart of Thorns
Jul 2016–Jul 2017 · 6 episodes · 200 gems per episodeAfter Mordremoth’s defeat, ley-line magic surges across Tyria. The White Mantle plots a return, Primordus and Jormag stir, and Glint’s egg hatches into Aurene. This season also sees the formation of Dragon’s Watch.
Episode 3, “A Crack in the Ice,” gives access to Bitterfrost Frontier. Gathering Fresh Winterberries there is an accessible route to ascended trinkets.
Winterberry nodes can be harvested again roughly once per day per character, on a timer separate from the daily server reset. Run the same route on another character to gather more. The trinkets sold here let you select their stats after purchase.
| Item | Slot | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Black Ice Band | Ring | 200 Fresh Winterberries + 2,000 Unbound Magic |
| Black Ice Earring | Accessory | 300 Fresh Winterberries + 4,000 Unbound Magic |
| Icebrood Horn Backpack | Back item | 400 Fresh Winterberries + 5,000 Unbound Magic |
Vendor: Slooshoo in Sorrow’s Eclipse Sanctuary. If you have not unlocked Unbound Magic gathering, complete Reaper of Magic in Season 3 Episode 1 or buy an Unbound Magic Gatherer here for 5 gold. You do not need to pay if it is already unlocked. A home-instance Winterberry Bush Node costs 10,000 Unbound Magic plus 50 gold and provides five extra berries per day.
Living World Season 4: Rise of Kralkatorrik Requires Path of Fire
Nov 2017–May 2019 · 6 episodes · 200 gems per episodeEmpowered by a god’s magic, the Elder Crystal Dragon Kralkatorrik ravages Elona. Palawa Joko’s plague spreads through Tyria, and the Commander and Aurene face a final battle in the Mists. The last episode introduces the skyscale unlock journey.
The Icebrood Saga (Season 5) Requires Path of Fire
Sep 2019–Apr 2021 · 6 paid releases: prologue + Episodes 1–5 · Visions of the Past costs 0 gems · Champions has 4 chaptersAfter Kralkatorrik’s defeat, a new threat emerges in northern Tyria. The charr descend into civil war as Bangar Ruinbringer tries to control the Elder Dragon Jormag. The story ends with Jormag and Primordus destroying each other.
Main rewards by season
| Season | Main rewards | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Five fractals, including Aetherblade and Molten; Lion’s Champion weapons | Exotic |
| Season 2 | Mawdrey / Mawdrey II: a back item and a bloodstone-dust converter | Ascended |
| Season 3 | Aurora, the first legendary trinket; ascended trinkets bought with Unbound Magic | Legendary |
| Season 4 | Vision, the second legendary trinket; skyscale and roller beetle mounts; Volatile Magic trinkets | Legendary |
| Icebrood Saga | Raid Encounter rewards; Raven and Bear armor sets | Exotic ~ Ascended |
Legendary accessories such as Aurora and Vision are a higher rarity than ascended items but have the same maximum stats. You can change their stat combination for free while out of combat, which is useful when switching builds often.