#gw2 guide

Every player should pick a different zone to focus on, so that there's no need to struggle for resources and the whole map gets covered by clusters of catapults! Here's a map of the best spots:

The areas in red are secondary spots where you can expand or move to if an area is already covered. You CAN cover a whole map with properly built Labyrinth, Hoelbrak and Village, so you can team up to do those!

You want to pick spots that are close enough to be in reach of other people's catapults, but not so close that you have to fight for resources. See what your party is doing and act accordingly.

For your own zone, you want to pick a good spot to build your Catapults (high, good view over the map) and then surround them with a few Snowmen and the occasional Ballista. Soon, your Catapults will be able to nearly one-shot enemy waves that spawn close enough, while the rest will take care of those that get too close during reload.

Properly set up clusters are more effective than randomly placed toys! Clusters focus enemies in a few spots and catapults' barrages can clear them even at their spawn. Stray toys will spread enemies around the map and Catapults may not even reach them :(

There's a cap AND a decay timer for siege toys! Old toys will despawn if you place too many or after 15 minutes with no upgrading! Try to place them with intention from the start, then after round 4 it's best to start upgrading what you've already placed.

Your strategy should be to aggro enemy waves away from the center and clear them fast! While you want to drop a few toys on the central platform to defend the dolyaks (pretty useful in the first waves and for extra security), only place them on the outer edges and don't overdo it! Enemies will aggro on siege toys, and if they're too close to the dolyaks... well, that kinda defeats their defensive purpose, and it'll hurt a lot if it's Toxx's turn.

Focus on Toxx as soon as she spawns (every 2 rounds, after a few waves of regular toys) and try to break her CC bar asap! You don't want her to destroy your hard work, but be careful of her attacks, especially the one where she spins and reflects projectiles (you can get oneshot if you use the rifle).

Siege Toys and Weapons

Catapults are your best friends and Snowmen are their buddies! Let the Snowmen do damage, aggro and chill enemies, so that Catapults can reach them over long distances by firing in an arc. (a full barrage from is extremely satisfying to witness)

Ballistas and Walls are not bad, but should be used sparingly. Ballistas attack faster than Catapults, but unlike them they are single-target and can only hit enemies that are in a straight line in front of them. Walls should be used only as a way to block or bottleneck specific areas, as toys will usually ignore them if something else is around.

Siege toys do more than any weapon skill! Pistol is kinda useless after the very first wave, while Rifle and Smasher are overall better. They mostly matter during Toxx fights.

Remember: a few upgraded toys are better than many base toys.

While you can build in a cluster, you're better off leaving at least some space between them so that you can have an easier time upgrading them later. (This example for the two points above is a bad example: FAR too many toys for one spot + extreme lack of space between them)

If you know spawn points, you can place a single sacrificial Snowman (you'll have plenty of snow anyway) in there to immediately aggro enemies and give your Catapults extra time to clear the wave where it spawns.

Tips & Tricks

When holding Snow or Scraps, you can use your 3rd skill to run faster!

You can gather extra gifts after every Toxx on the left side of the map! (Round 2, 4, 6 and 8. Round 10 gives its own reward in the bouncy chest.)

You can regen health by hanging out with the dolyaks for a few seconds, and if they're hurt you can heal them using Hay!

If you want extra security for the dolyaks, there are 4 Skritt Mercenaries on the sides of the map that can be hired for 3 Scraps each.

Resources respawn after a few rounds, so do try to use your first round of resources responsibly! If you're doing fine with your numbers, upgrade early or maybe even bring some of your Scraps to party members that are struggling to set up!

Siege toys are built right on the spot your camera/mouse cursor is aiming, and you can take advantage of it to build more precisely! Also, if you're building against a wall, it'll be placed above it! (In this example of my fave Labyrinth configuration: toys are built by aiming on the pole at the intersections and end up on top of them + walls block the entrances)

Overview:

map

1. Bitterfrost Frontier:

Start from the Sorrow’s Eclipse WP and dive down! You’ll find a quaggan city and some corals! You can also loot all the chests gathered on the ice lake and maybe farm a bit of Winterberries if you feel like it. If you are finished you can leave through a portal to Frostgorge Sound and travel to the Earthshake WP and move on to the next step! 

2. Fireheart Rise:

On this map are two cool places! The first one is in Highland Thaw (upper left corner of the map), to reach it you have to start at the Rustbowl WP (Portal from Frostgorge Sound) and move up/north. You’ll find a lake with some underwater ruins and if you’re lucky a rich platinum vein. But be aware, there is sometimes a group event to kill an ice worm, at least 3-4 players are required to finish it.

The second place is further down on the map, you can travel to the Severed Breach WP and swim in dirty water and travel up/ north again until you reach a cool spot where some lava rivers hit the water. Looks really beautiful. Also, if you’re feeling extra fancy, there is one jumping puzzle and a hidden mini dungeon near the lake you can complete.

To reach the next destination leave the map over the Sati WP to the Iron Marches and travel south to the Dew Claw WP and leave the map.

3. Plains of Ashford:

Start from the Ascalon City WP and go east to Foefire’s Heart (poi) and if you glide down with your skimmer you’ll reach a blue cave with a cool hidden spot for some roleplaying!

To reach the next step, travel to Lion's Arch with the portal in the Black Citadel and go through a portal there to the Southsun Cove.

4. Southsun Cove:

Start from the Pearl Islet WP and go down/south to the beach where you can roleplay a bit and then move west to Sawtooth Bay where you will find some cool sunken ships and lots of sharks. Sometimes there even is a group event to kill a shark! Also a cool fun fact, you can enter the Privateer's Moorage and go down to the  cargo bay/the heart of the ship! Which is also a cool spot for some roleplaying as there are only some craps inside.

5. Rata Sum:

Go to the Port WP. There is nothing special in the water except some Triopen and weird electrical fishes but if you travel north you’ll reach a dam (wall) which you can climb onto with your Springer but be aware if you dare move further north you’ll land in Asura Jail, and I am not joking about that, try it out with your friends! To reach the jail like a normal person go to the Research WP and go north to the Peacemakers HQ where you can go down the stairs and you will enter the cell block of Rata Sum. Very cool for some roleplaying, if you are into that. (jk)

6. Draconis Mons:

Wow, have you ever wanted to swim in the sulphuric water of the volcano without dying? Now your time has come, mount-up and dive down. But not to deep or the game will threaten you with murder! You can start from the Mariner Landing WP and go wild. You won't see much anyways.

7. Ember Bay:

Start from the Promontory WP and travel south to the Sulfurous Deep, you’ll find a seaweed farm spot, some corals and if you feel like it, go farm some lotus on the nearby island/shore as well.

8. Malchor’s Leap:

There is much to explore here! It’s best if you start from the Lights WP and move west. You’ll find some cool statues from Malchor, an abandoned quaggan village, sunken ships and weird orrian architecture! Near the sunken ships is a group event where you have to kill a captain and her pet and in the big ship is something weird??? I haven't figured it out yet, but if you enter the bridge of the Harbinger (poi) there is like a veteran creature and some corpses swimming around, from there you can go deeper into the ship and you’ll find a door with some weird dialogue, idk man. Something cursed is going on there. Also The Harbinger has some cool lore, you can check out the Marriner Plaque on deck. If you move south from there you will find some weird swimming architecture and a group event with three bosses no one does, like ever.

9. Sirens Landing:

Okay, soo this one might be interesting for some of you! You can start from the Camp Reclamation WP and lo and behold, there are some shirtless Sylvari volunteers in the bay area! Yeah, moving on… you can find some orrian oysters and corals in the water and if you move east you’ll find The Buoyant Bough (poi) which has some nice plants on deck and if you put two and two together you’ll find some implied bouncing mushroom (HoT mastery) lore. Overall a good spot for some roleplaying! You can move up/north afterwards and do the jumping puzzle on the island, if you feel that's necessary. Otherwise there are more orrian oysters in the water and if you swim into the direction of the Choking Depths (what a cool name, you guys) you’ll find some very big and awesome sea urchins on the ocean floor!

10. Thunderhead Peaks:

Start from the Revolution’s Heart WP and move down to the Shattered Bay (poi in the bottom left corner), collect Volatile Magic and some Dragon Crystal Nodes on the way and if you finally reach the bay, there is a clam farming spot deep down in the water. From there you can move east to the Ice Floe and on the ground of the ocean you’ll find a seaweed farm. But be aware, both farming spots are guarded by some dangerous creatures.

11. Desert Highlands:

Start from the Brightwater WP and move west to the Transcendent Bay, if you have the Jackal portal mastery you can collect a chest in the giant vases, otherwise swim further east and you’ll find an underwater farming spot for clams!

12. Crystal Oasis:

Start from the Amnoon WP and take your Raptor on a walk and travel west to the harbor area, you can dive down and visit the old city of Amnoon, some sunken ships and a few corals. Afterwards swim south, you can make a stop at the swimming party boat for rich kids, do some roleplaying and move on. In the furthest bottom left corner of the map, like really far down you’ll find another clam farming spot. If you are lucky like me you’ll see a salomon and a shark fighting and a whale between the giant seagrass pillars. (Which was really beautiful, I cried a little bit.) And if you feel extra fancy and want to challenge yourself, you can climb on the weird cliff structure where the mastery point is. On top of the rocks are some Scarab Caches where you can get a Mini Scarab (small drop chance) if you’re lucky!

13. Domain of Vabbi:

You can start from the Market Ruins WP and move up/north or you follow the river down/south. Really far down in the south is a small chest, you tell me if it's worth it or nah. However, if you move up/north you can enter a cave right next to the red raid portal. The cave is super pretty and if you make it over a small wall you can enter a jumping puzzle of some sort, but there are super many branded elementals wandering around and at the end chest spawns a giant Volatile Magic man, whom you need to defeat for an achievement. (forgot which one though, sorry!) This one’s really dangerous, it's best if you do it with some friends. But I mean if you’re feeling especially daring like me you can do it alone too, I guess. I warned you though!

14. Domain of Kourna:

This one’s not really all that special, I just wanted to include it because I really like the meta on that map and would totally recommend it to you! I somehow like the map i.g., idk don’t question me. It’s best if you start from the Allied Encampment WP and follow the river and move down south, the water there is slimy but you’ll find some mussels on the shore! You can travel until you reach the bottom left corner where you’ll discover cute coelacanths swimming around and about. (Honestly, f*ck you Joko for polluting the water, have some Respect.)

15. Domain of Istan:

Phew, you have reached the last step! Start from the Champion’s Dawn WP and follow the river into the ocean. There is like a small empty fishing boat, cool, cool, great spot for some roleplaying. When you’re moving on, dive down to the ocean floor and travel further south until you reach Mehtani’s Blade, there is like an awesome anchor in the water, 10/10 would recommend. Also, more coelacanths in the water and in a much better and healthier environment. I am happy for them, this is what they deserve. Whoop, getting off track here, soo the bigger ship, the Mehtani’s Blade has some cool lore, you can speak to the ghost captain! (Also, a good inspiration for a character's story/backstory!) And to finish your trip on a good note, go west to the entrance of the Grotto of the Defeated where you can read some funny notes on the wall, really, go check them out!

So recently, we have been graciously gifted with a wonderful program called Augmented Tyria. But what is it? Simply put, its an external program that is “hooked” onto GW2, creating a real-time overlay with the game, allowing you to see the paths to take in-game for more efficient map completion. This guide utilizes this program and each and every one of the maps mentioned in it are guaranteed to have pre-programmed paths designed for them. You can get Augmented Tyria here (also I HIGHLY RECOMMEND looking at the README page for correct installation and other info you may need). There is also a useful video here describing and demonstrating how it works.

Alongside of AT, I have also prioritized these maps according to the amount of items needed for map complete. Most of us know how much of an absolute horrible pain Lornar’s Pass is to complete, which is why I’ve hand-picked maps of each level that have the least amount of POIs, WPs, and etc. items to discover or finish. This saves you time and puts more keys in your wallet, which further promotes a happier you! Let’s get started, shall we?

=== Skip this section if you’re only here for keys!! ===

All cultural cities are easily accessed via Asura gates within the Coriolis Plaza in the Eastern Ward area of Lion’s Arch. Unfortunately for these, they do not reward keys but only Transmutation Charges. Still, they should help get a head start on leveling. To prevent backtracking, I would highly recommend completing your character’s cultural city first before moving on with the others. For the AT paths, I will list the starting node waypoints next to the according map, as well as the codes so you can copy-paste them into the chat window for easy access.

Black Citadel - Ligacus Aquilo Waypoint [&BKkDAAA=] Rata Sum - Magustan Court Waypoint [&BBQEAAA=] The Grove - Upper Commons Waypoint (North at the portal) [&BLoEAAA=] Divinity’s Reach - Palace Waypoint (South at the portal) [&BCkDAAA=] Hoelbrak - Peeta's Waypoint [&BI8DAAA=] Lion’s Arch - Trader’s Forum Waypoint (Northwest at entrance) [&BBAEAAA=]

=== Now for the key giving maps!! ===

For the rest, it’s all a matter of how many previous maps you’ve decided to finish, plus any food/utility/booster items you’ve used to help with leveling up (which are all optional, of course). I’ve listed these in the same order, and you should technically be able to follow these and get to level 80 if completing them with no XP items. Again waypoints will be listed in the same format, though the starting points of the nodes will begin at the map entrance portals closest to the waypoints.

Level 1-15 Plains of Ashford - Smokestead Waypoint [&BIABAAA=] Caledon Forest - Astorea Waypoint [&BDQBAAA=] Wayfarer Foothills - Horncall Waypoint [&BHQBAAA=]

Level 15-25 Diessa Plateau - Charrgate Haven Waypoint [&BNkAAAA=] Kessex Hills - Sojourner’s Waypoint [&BAcAAAA=] Brisban Wildlands - Mrot Boru Waypoint [&BHUAAAA=]

Level 25-35 Gendarran Fields - Cornucopian Fields Waypoint [&BOMAAAA=]

Level 30-40 Fields of Ruin - Hawkgates Waypoint [&BNMAAAA=] (Can also easily access via Asura gate Southeast of Rurikton Waypoint in Divinity’s Reach [&BCsDAAA=])

Level 35-45 Harathi Hinterlands - Shieldbluff Waypoint [&BKYAAAA=]

Level 40-50 Blazeridge Steppes - The Last Whiskey Bar Waypoint [&BPkBAAA=]

Level 45-55 Bloodtide Coast - Archen Foreland Waypoint [&BKMBAAA=]

Level 50-60 Timberline Falls - Krongar Waypoint [&BFICAAA=]

Level 55-65 Sparkfly Fen - Braggi’s Stead Waypoint [&BMYBAAA=]

Level 60-70 Mount Maelstrom - Govoran Waypoint [&BMgCAAA=] Note: This has a lot of items to complete, so this map may be optional. If you need another map around this level, Fireheart Rise is another viable option, but does not have an AT route as of yet.

Level 70-75 Straits of Devastation - Bramble Pass Waypoint [&BOwCAAA=]

Level 75-80 Malchor’s Leap - Pagga’s Waypoint [&BKYCAAA=]

And then you should be at level 80! But also of course have a few keys in your pockets as well ;)