Why map completion matters
Why Map Completion Matters
It is optional, but exploring makes travel easier, earns rewards, and helps you learn the world.
What is map completion?
Maps have objectives to complete. Open the map to see the five types of objectives that count toward map completion.
| Objective | Description |
|---|---|
 Renown heart |
Help local NPCs to fill the heart. Completing it opens a karma vendor. |
 Waypoint |
Travel to an unlocked point. You cannot use it while in combat or while the destination is contested. |
 Vista |
A scenic viewpoint. Approach and press F to interact and play the cinematic. |
 Point of interest (POI) |
A notable location. It is discovered automatically when you visit. |
 Hero challenge |
A challenge that awards hero points for training skills and specializations. |
See the map objectives guide for how each one works.
Core Tyria world completion requires 303 renown hearts, 189 hero challenges, 486 waypoints, 226 vistas, and 653 points of interest.
Explore as much as you like, wherever you like. It is optional, and each unlocked destination makes future travel easier.
Three reasons to complete maps
More waypoints put more of the world within reach
Select an unlocked waypoint on the map to travel there. You cannot use waypoints while in combat or travel to a contested destination.
- If a friend calls you to a map where you have no waypoints, you may have a long walk ahead.
- Unlocking more waypoints lets you arrive closer to your destination and spend less time walking. Travel fees depend on distance and your character’s level.
- Think of waypoints as a travel network: unlock them now to make later trips easier.
Earn a chest and materials as you complete maps
Completing a typical core explorable zone awards experience, two equipment items, crafting materials, coin, and either a Transmutation Charge or a Black Lion Chest Key. Cities and expansion zones have different rewards.
- Maps with key rewards: lower-level zones can also award keys. To receive a key from a level-80 map, your character must be level 80. Cities do not award keys.
- Complete a heart to unlock its karma vendor, which may sell consumables, recipes, or equipment.
- Complete all required core Tyria objectives for world completion to earn two Gifts of Exploration, needed for first-generation legendary weapons.
Discovering a place is part of the reward
Reaching a vista can be satisfying in itself: many require a little jumping or climbing.
- Joining an unexpected dynamic event can give you a feel for what makes Guild Wars 2 enjoyable.
- You may stumble across hidden areas, mini-dungeons, or jumping puzzles.
- Some maps have multiple layers, such as the ground, treetops, and underground areas of Heart of Thorns.
What you learn while exploring
Map completion is more than filling a percentage bar. Exploring is a quick way to get to know Guild Wars 2.
- Terrain and routes: find your way more easily when returning for a meta event.
- NPC conversations and heart stories: learn about the setting as you play.
- Movement skills and enemy attacks: practice your profession against different enemies.
- Recommendation: pick one area you want to know better and complete its map. Use that goal to learn the terrain and travel routes.
Stuck at 99%? Press M to open the world map. Hover over an objective-type icon, such as a heart or waypoint, in the completion panel on the left. Incomplete objectives of that type will flash on the map.
Map completion and world completion
Completing one map and completing the world are different goals. Here is how they compare.
| Aspect | Map completion (one map) | World completion (core Tyria) |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Complete every required objective on that map. | Complete the 31 core Tyria maps and the POI inside the Chantry of Secrets. |
| Rewards | Vary by map. Typical core explorable zones award experience, equipment, materials, coin, and a charge or key. | Two Gifts of Exploration (legendary crafting materials) |
| Achievements | Explorer achievements are separate: they require discovering every area. | “Been There, Done That” title |
| Shared between characters? | Completion is tracked separately for each character. | Gifts of Exploration are earned per character; the title and achievement are account-wide. |
There is no need to rush world completion. You can work on it after level 80, at a pace that lets you enjoy exploring.