In my opinion, if you are a new player, just try the Free version. Then, if you feel you really like the game, then save up and just buy the complete Elder Dragon Saga collection, with all the expansions and living world. That way you get 10 years of content, you can do it all in order, and you get all the advantages of the Living World maps (Winterberry farm, the achievements for the Prismatic Amulet, etc.)
As a newer player that started a couple months ago, I started with the HoT and PoF bundle (It was $30 when I got it, it's half right now, rip) and I'm still making my way through it. Can't go wrong there since you get two expansions and having access to the mounts permanently after unlocking them was a game changer. Super fun to use though I only have raptor, springer, skimmer, and jackal right now.
EXTRA NOTE: While EoD does get you Gliding, it will only get you BASIC Gliding. For Masteries related to Gliding (leaning, invis, infinite stamina, etc) you will need HoT!
Nice guide. My recommendation is to buy either "ELDER DRAGON SAGA-COLLECTION" which is 3 expansions just for 33.5 EUR, or "ELDER DRAGON SAGA-COMPLETE COLLECTION" + "SECRETS OF THE OBSCURE" which is literally all the content that is available in the game now and will be available for the next year and a half.
NOTE: Good news, it’s now confirmed that Secrets of the Obscure WILL include the Basic Raptor mount AND Basic Gliding! Main thing you’ll miss out on then are elite specs :)
only started playing the game a few days and feels like this video actually helps me in choosing which expansion is worth to buy when i do want to dive in to the game. Great Video and Guide Thanks
If you get EoD, you will be able to unlock Springer, for much less hassle than in PoF. Raptor is pretty much automatic, you'll have it by the time you complete the opening mission; but springer is locked behind a jump you can only make with a Lv 3 Raptor, so a bit of a pain. Especially if like me your not a big lore guy and find story missions a chore.
It's kinda important that cross-specialization weapon access being only meaningful if you have expansions other than SOTO is emphasized. This degree of dependency on past expansions is kind of novel in the genre and new buyers should be aware of the kind of value they would actually get out of buying SOTO alone.
great video for new folks who are looking to jump into the game👍 also a reminder that the base game is free, so anyone can dip their toes into guild wars 2 without spending a dollar💵🚫
Should really try to put more content out. I personally feel as a lot of the other but GW2 content creators Mukluk/MightyTeapot/Nike! always have a slight elitest angle. Yours seems much more grounded. I remember that Podcast you did where you spoke about the LFG in GW2 needing a rework and how quickly everyone else quashed that idea. Anyway, nice content mate.
The new expansion (SOTO) has a bit of unclear information between the news announcements and the website with the initial news stating 3 maps but the website states "The adventure continues through three major story and content releases to follow." as there will be 3 major story updates with each of the updates following the initial launch. Likely new zones to explore as one announcement put "with major releases planned every few months that introduce new locations". I believe this will be similar to Icebrood where there were 3 maps but also more areas that were instanced story to explore and/or Gayala Delves where the new zones opened up with the added story chapters.
THe expansion will launch with 2 zones and a hub area, as well as 2 normal mode Strike missions, and of course all these new features they announced. The updates to follow will include 1 new map, most likely released over two updates like IBS did maps, as well as a new fractal with a challenge mode and the challenge mode for the expansions Strikes.
Hey Bloom, something I've been thinking about lately: Do you think it could be a good idea for Anet to release a standalone expansion like they used to back in the GW1 days but use this one to really flesh out a new player experience for? I mean sure, base game is free and helps bring some new players in but the base game story is one of the weakest stories in the series so far and the way it's designed leaves a lot of new players feeling lost on what to do, how to get their gear, the impact of their abilities, how leveling up their traitline works, and etc etc... New players who go through the base game tend to also be very disappointed by the big Zhaitan fight even. Now, in theory Anet "could" go and give the whole base story the kind of remaster they did for LW season 1, but that's both unlikely and also maybe even a waste of their time and resources so what if there was just a whole new starting area and onboarding zones included in an upcoming expansion?
I think they could just implement a smoother on-boarding experience within one of these yearly expansions tbh! Since they’re self contained stories already it’d work out great - basically just need a mini tutorial island where those systems are taught. Tbh I’m still holding out hope for a new playable race ((Tengu)) that new players can pick, where their starting zone would be that proper tutorial! Would love them to just convert old bosses into Strikes at some point (Zhaitan, Balthazar, etc) but that’s mostly a pipe dream haha
Great Video! Newbie player here only a week in, got an expac for my birthday. now i’m just trying to save up eventually so i’ll have living world 3 and 2 i heard those are fun
...Okay, it's going to be bother me if I don't ask: Could you tell me what pieces you used in the outfit on your Charr Engi in the KO Strike around 6:35? The pieces look like something I'd like to experiment with and I can't really quite place what pieces those are with the camera zoomed out so much and looking at your Charr from behind.
Wow i wish i would have seen this before. I just started olsying again,band got the 50$ package, realized theres and expansion and living world, so got the 80$ pack so i could use gems to unlock living world episodes i didnt have
i didn’t know about them either. won’t be able to afford for a while unfortunately since my b-day passed, i’ll have to wait to get living world 3 and icebrood saga. once i get those too i should be good!
UPDATE: Guild Wars 2: Elder Dragon Saga-Complete Collection now available on steam. Includes 3 items: Guild Wars 2:Heart of Thorns™ & Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire™ Expansions, Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons™ Expansion, Guild Wars 2 - Living World
so "elder dragon saga complete collection" for $99.97 USD on Steam is all the expansions, everything available? I won't have to buy anything else? I already bought some skins since I really liked the game, I want to keep playing the story that I started with the free base game but at 7:05 he mentions that these do not include story stuff content? I'm so confused, I don't want to buy something just to find out that I bought the wrong thing.
Correct - the 'COMPLETE Collection' ($100) contains literally everything, except the most recent expansion. The 'Collection' ($50) only includes the expansions, none of the in-between living world stuff :)
If you're on a budget - the HoT & PoF bundle! If you're especially keen though I would highly recommend the $33 bundle on the website that contains all 3 expacs :)
I have gw2 on steam but logged into my Original account from back in the day before steam. So if i now want to buy the latest expac do i need to buy it on steam or the website? And if i have POF and HOt but not EOD and SOTO will i still be able to get endgame gear and the best asended gear smply having the first 2 expacs
Guys I have a question… I appreciate anyone who can help me, I started playing gw2 about a week ago, I have no idea at all but im enjoying it… I’ve started watching guides (some here) and all of them talk about getting exotic gear so I checked my gear and I got exotic gear from the package I bought… my question is, is that gear different from the one you can get in game? Or should I just go for legendary now? Thanks a lot.
Exactly how "free" is that mount? They said they streamlined the unlock process, not that they made it easy, let alone free. Beyond that, we don't know anything yet.
I think it doesnt really matter,like its kinda easy in the first place anyway,this skyscale thing is starting get out of control,its been couple days im doing my vision collection on lw4map and theres always people moaning about it,like heck even yesterday when iam doing dragonstand meta,this 1 guy keep moaning about skyscale the whole squad literally have to change subject and pretend he doesnt exist until he shut up
@@joyboy6067 I don't understand that kind of behaviour, either. You have an objective, you have to do tasks to achieve it. I think most people who have a problem with lengthy lists of things to do try to do them as fast as possible and then end up feeling overwhelmed and/or bored by it. There are so many people who hate the skyscale collection that whenever there is a conversation going on, I just shut up. And, like many others, did it when it took considerably longer than it does now. Draconic Mons is a favourite of moaners, simply because of the Ascended Backpiece collection that is needed for the Legendary Trinket and which takes about three weeks of doing the hearts there. It's amusing to read their angry "Never again" and "I'm so done with this map now" type of messages. It's as if someone is forcing them to mindlessly grind these collections...
@@khymaaren yup ,they argument is always like that,its too hard or too long for new player,say what?its actually very good introduction to game time gate design for new player because later on almost everything is time gated,and this is coming from a guy who very much hate gw2 time gate setting and yet still doing it anyway,just make it like daily objective and be done with it,now im working my 4th legendary vision. i am a bit guilty about wayfere henge,and i think what makes people despise and me personally is the doing all of heart over2 again,not the duration/difficulty but lacking varieties ,but end the end of the day it is what it is,just do it,it easy and move on,thank god i dont have anyone to raids with,lord knows how many self harm i'll go thru just to finish coalescences and full envoy if i do lmao
Great video. One thing that i noticed though. The Raptor is unlocked in the base game permanently in the base game if you buy any expansion. Which mean that probably the same will be true with SotO. So the raptor skin will not go to waste even if you only have SotO.
Heart of thorns imo really needs groups to play. But PoF storyline is soloable and you can pick up all the mounts easily. I struggled with the final boss fight and had to come back to it after watching RUclips videos. It was worth it so I could get the griffin. Living Season 4 will open the Skyscale which I would recommend so you can level up the masteries before playing Soto. But remember, you do you! Good luck and welcome to GW2!
I forgot the order or expansions when I came back to GW2 so I did PoF first which did make HoT much easier as I have all the mounts(including Skyscale). Otherwise I found the HoT map a mess.
Im officially subbed to Bloom after months of being unsubbed from SkillUp. I want some reviews from you on your own channel man. Your reviews are so much better. Keep em coming you could be a star
I was looking to play this game on steam , and i calculated it will costs me a whooping 85€ to buy all the expansions. 100€ with the additional story quests ( why the hell they charge for story quests , lmao ) This is ridiculous. This costs more that recent AAA games like Baldur's Gate 3. Those devs are really greedy.. Huge pass for me.
This is honestly worthless (not the video). As a new player, going into this game, even if i like it, i will NOT be able, and even if i was able to, i would not buy so many expansions. And if i dont i miss out on alot of the game. You should get all when you buy the latest one, tbh. This makes you feel like its pointless to even start playing.
![Which Guild Wars 2 EXPANSION Should you Buy? [Late 2023!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zS_n7sa9cg8/mqdefault.jpg)
In my opinion, if you are a new player, just try the Free version.
Then, if you feel you really like the game, then save up and just buy the complete Elder Dragon Saga collection, with all the expansions and living world. That way you get 10 years of content, you can do it all in order, and you get all the advantages of the Living World maps (Winterberry farm, the achievements for the Prismatic Amulet, etc.)
As a newer player that started a couple months ago, I started with the HoT and PoF bundle (It was $30 when I got it, it's half right now, rip) and I'm still making my way through it. Can't go wrong there since you get two expansions and having access to the mounts permanently after unlocking them was a game changer. Super fun to use though I only have raptor, springer, skimmer, and jackal right now.
Brilliant guide for new players - these bundles are insane value, welcome to Tyria anyone who decides to give it a go :)
I joined because of this video. Guild wars 2 is amazing!
EXTRA NOTE: While EoD does get you Gliding, it will only get you BASIC Gliding. For Masteries related to Gliding (leaning, invis, infinite stamina, etc) you will need HoT!
Same for Raptor and Springer.
Hey most important rhing eod dont give you autoloot mastery
Nice guide. My recommendation is to buy either "ELDER DRAGON SAGA-COLLECTION" which is 3 expansions just for 33.5 EUR, or "ELDER DRAGON SAGA-COMPLETE COLLECTION" + "SECRETS OF THE OBSCURE" which is literally all the content that is available in the game now and will be available for the next year and a half.
NOTE: Good news, it’s now confirmed that Secrets of the Obscure WILL include the Basic Raptor mount AND Basic Gliding! Main thing you’ll miss out on then are elite specs :)
I didn't realize how convoluted the whole thing must be for new players now damn. Great guide!
only started playing the game a few days and feels like this video actually helps me in choosing which expansion is worth to buy when i do want to dive in to the game. Great Video and Guide Thanks
Thanks! Got the PoF and HoT for $7.49 black friday sale! Stating my journey new! Hope that "living world stuff" Wont hold my progression later on.
Damn i want to buy the expansions right now but the next sale isnt gonna be in months....
Being new to Tyria, this guide is very helpful. Grabbed the Path of Fire & Heart of Thorns bundle....
If you get EoD, you will be able to unlock Springer, for much less hassle than in PoF. Raptor is pretty much automatic, you'll have it by the time you complete the opening mission; but springer is locked behind a jump you can only make with a Lv 3 Raptor, so a bit of a pain. Especially if like me your not a big lore guy and find story missions a chore.
It's kinda important that cross-specialization weapon access being only meaningful if you have expansions other than SOTO is emphasized. This degree of dependency on past expansions is kind of novel in the genre and new buyers should be aware of the kind of value they would actually get out of buying SOTO alone.
You get the raptor permanently at lvl 10 if you have any dlc now
great video for new folks who are looking to jump into the game👍
also a reminder that the base game is free, so anyone can dip their toes into guild wars 2 without spending a dollar💵🚫
Should really try to put more content out. I personally feel as a lot of the other but GW2 content creators Mukluk/MightyTeapot/Nike! always have a slight elitest angle. Yours seems much more grounded. I remember that Podcast you did where you spoke about the LFG in GW2 needing a rework and how quickly everyone else quashed that idea.
Anyway, nice content mate.
The new expansion (SOTO) has a bit of unclear information between the news announcements and the website with the initial news stating 3 maps but the website states "The adventure continues through three major story and content releases to follow." as there will be 3 major story updates with each of the updates following the initial launch. Likely new zones to explore as one announcement put "with major releases planned every few months that introduce new locations". I believe this will be similar to Icebrood where there were 3 maps but also more areas that were instanced story to explore and/or Gayala Delves where the new zones opened up with the added story chapters.
THe expansion will launch with 2 zones and a hub area, as well as 2 normal mode Strike missions, and of course all these new features they announced.
The updates to follow will include 1 new map, most likely released over two updates like IBS did maps, as well as a new fractal with a challenge mode and the challenge mode for the expansions Strikes.
Hey Bloom, something I've been thinking about lately:
Do you think it could be a good idea for Anet to release a standalone expansion like they used to back in the GW1 days but use this one to really flesh out a new player experience for? I mean sure, base game is free and helps bring some new players in but the base game story is one of the weakest stories in the series so far and the way it's designed leaves a lot of new players feeling lost on what to do, how to get their gear, the impact of their abilities, how leveling up their traitline works, and etc etc... New players who go through the base game tend to also be very disappointed by the big Zhaitan fight even. Now, in theory Anet "could" go and give the whole base story the kind of remaster they did for LW season 1, but that's both unlikely and also maybe even a waste of their time and resources so what if there was just a whole new starting area and onboarding zones included in an upcoming expansion?
I think they could just implement a smoother on-boarding experience within one of these yearly expansions tbh! Since they’re self contained stories already it’d work out great - basically just need a mini tutorial island where those systems are taught.
Tbh I’m still holding out hope for a new playable race ((Tengu)) that new players can pick, where their starting zone would be that proper tutorial! Would love them to just convert old bosses into Strikes at some point (Zhaitan, Balthazar, etc) but that’s mostly a pipe dream haha
Great Video! Newbie player here only a week in, got an expac for my birthday. now i’m just trying to save up eventually so i’ll have living world 3 and 2 i heard those are fun
...Okay, it's going to be bother me if I don't ask:
Could you tell me what pieces you used in the outfit on your Charr Engi in the KO Strike around 6:35?
The pieces look like something I'd like to experiment with and I can't really quite place what pieces those are with the camera zoomed out so much and looking at your Charr from behind.
You should still get access to revenant and the raptor mount as long as you have any expansion, unless they will be changing the current behavior
Wow i wish i would have seen this before. I just started olsying again,band got the 50$ package, realized theres and expansion and living world, so got the 80$ pack so i could use gems to unlock living world episodes i didnt have
i didn’t know about them either. won’t be able to afford for a while unfortunately since my b-day passed, i’ll have to wait to get living world 3 and icebrood saga. once i get those too i should be good!
My plan is to play through core game, POT, and HOT then play SOTB and EOD at the same time
UPDATE: Guild Wars 2: Elder Dragon Saga-Complete Collection now available on steam.
Includes 3 items: Guild Wars 2:Heart of Thorns™ & Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire™ Expansions, Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons™ Expansion, Guild Wars 2 - Living World
so "elder dragon saga complete collection" for $99.97 USD on Steam is all the expansions, everything available? I won't have to buy anything else? I already bought some skins since I really liked the game, I want to keep playing the story that I started with the free base game but at 7:05 he mentions that these do not include story stuff content? I'm so confused, I don't want to buy something just to find out that I bought the wrong thing.
Correct - the 'COMPLETE Collection' ($100) contains literally everything, except the most recent expansion. The 'Collection' ($50) only includes the expansions, none of the in-between living world stuff :)
I got the complete collection and it was $99 USD for all content.
Such great content, immediately subbed.
So which one should I buy as a new player now? 😅
If you're on a budget - the HoT & PoF bundle! If you're especially keen though I would highly recommend the $33 bundle on the website that contains all 3 expacs :)
I have gw2 on steam but logged into my Original account from back in the day before steam.
So if i now want to buy the latest expac do i need to buy it on steam or the website?
And if i have POF and HOt but not EOD and SOTO will i still be able to get endgame gear and the best asended gear smply having the first 2 expacs
are you the editor who helps on skill ups channel?
Ich play the steam version. Can i buy dlc in game or only on steam?
Thanks a lot for this video. I need to say it was pretty good!
Cant you just log into the website through steam in order to buy the collection for steam?
Wait, I own the expansion, but how do I access the mount stuff.
Do I have to buy every expansion separately??
I have to ask do buying expansions gets my character instant 80 or? Im now like 52 lvl but i dont wanna buy if it will boost me instant to 80
Guys I have a question… I appreciate anyone who can help me, I started playing gw2 about a week ago, I have no idea at all but im enjoying it… I’ve started watching guides (some here) and all of them talk about getting exotic gear so I checked my gear and I got exotic gear from the package I bought… my question is, is that gear different from the one you can get in game? Or should I just go for legendary now? Thanks a lot.
any idea when there will be another discount on fire and thorns expacs?
should I buy secret of the obscure first or buy EOD first ?
Exactly how "free" is that mount? They said they streamlined the unlock process, not that they made it easy, let alone free. Beyond that, we don't know anything yet.
Given the expansion seems to be based around it, I’d wager it’ll be VERY easy (story unlock most likely) - but of course we can only speculate
I assumed as free as the other existing core mounts were from PoF. Though that is just a guess based on how they worded it.
I think it doesnt really matter,like its kinda easy in the first place anyway,this skyscale thing is starting get out of control,its been couple days im doing my vision collection on lw4map and theres always people moaning about it,like heck even yesterday when iam doing dragonstand meta,this 1 guy keep moaning about skyscale the whole squad literally have to change subject and pretend he doesnt exist until he shut up
@@joyboy6067 I don't understand that kind of behaviour, either. You have an objective, you have to do tasks to achieve it. I think most people who have a problem with lengthy lists of things to do try to do them as fast as possible and then end up feeling overwhelmed and/or bored by it. There are so many people who hate the skyscale collection that whenever there is a conversation going on, I just shut up. And, like many others, did it when it took considerably longer than it does now.
Draconic Mons is a favourite of moaners, simply because of the Ascended Backpiece collection that is needed for the Legendary Trinket and which takes about three weeks of doing the hearts there. It's amusing to read their angry "Never again" and "I'm so done with this map now" type of messages. It's as if someone is forcing them to mindlessly grind these collections...
@@khymaaren yup ,they argument is always like that,its too hard or too long for new player,say what?its actually very good introduction to game time gate design for new player because later on almost everything is time gated,and this is coming from a guy who very much hate gw2 time gate setting and yet still doing it anyway,just make it like daily objective and be done with it,now im working my 4th legendary vision. i am a bit guilty about wayfere henge,and i think what makes people despise and me personally is the doing all of heart over2 again,not the duration/difficulty but lacking varieties ,but end the end of the day it is what it is,just do it,it easy and move on,thank god i dont have anyone to raids with,lord knows how many self harm i'll go thru just to finish coalescences and full envoy if i do lmao
dood thanks i been looking to make my mind you help with that
Great video. One thing that i noticed though. The Raptor is unlocked in the base game permanently in the base game if you buy any expansion. Which mean that probably the same will be true with SotO. So the raptor skin will not go to waste even if you only have SotO.
incredibly useful.
Do you use Reshade or something? Your game is SO much more colorful than mine.
@@Exocraze Yeah I use Reshade :) I just like the more vivid colors
more guides please
i miss the Tesla content :(
pls don’t summon elon back :(
Hey Bloom, how do you get that cuticle in the middle of your screen? the white, circular aim-marker? :D
Hey! Go into your keybinds and bind a key to ‘Toggle Action Camera’ :)
@@BloomHD thanks man !
Just got the expansions and theyre super hard :(
Heart of thorns imo really needs groups to play. But PoF storyline is soloable and you can pick up all the mounts easily. I struggled with the final boss fight and had to come back to it after watching RUclips videos. It was worth it so I could get the griffin. Living Season 4 will open the Skyscale which I would recommend so you can level up the masteries before playing Soto. But remember, you do you! Good luck and welcome to GW2!
for HoT you might want to give condition based builds a try the mobs have more toughness as in the core game
I forgot the order or expansions when I came back to GW2 so I did PoF first which did make HoT much easier as I have all the mounts(including Skyscale). Otherwise I found the HoT map a mess.
Austin... that you?
Im officially subbed to Bloom after months of being unsubbed from SkillUp. I want some reviews from you on your own channel man. Your reviews are so much better. Keep em coming you could be a star
So basically you need the entire saga to get everything from the game. 80$ saga when its on sale. 😅
Man, I really wanted to try the game but after seeing it's 80 bucks I think I'll just not do it.
There’s no reason u have to buy it all right now u can play through base game completely free
@@Vampeos For me it seemed like almost all the fun stuff was restricted for the expansions. (From the website)
@@Vampeosyep its free until the 10hrs raptor mount expires lol
I was looking to play this game on steam , and i calculated it will costs me a whooping 85€ to buy all the expansions. 100€ with the additional story quests ( why the hell they charge for story quests , lmao ) This is ridiculous. This costs more that recent AAA games like Baldur's Gate 3. Those devs are really greedy.. Huge pass for me.
You can try ESO just buy the base game and farm gold to buy dlcs
man gw2 really hates new player or?
why not just "buy the newest addon and get the rest for free like wow or ff14.
$15 dollar monthly sub fee just whoosh over your head?
This is honestly worthless (not the video). As a new player, going into this game, even if i like it, i will NOT be able, and even if i was able to, i would not buy so many expansions. And if i dont i miss out on alot of the game. You should get all when you buy the latest one, tbh. This makes you feel like its pointless to even start playing.
Is this austin from skillup?