In preparation for the release of its latest expansion pack, End of Dragons, Guild Wars 2 has been steadily revealing new information about locations players will visit across Cantha. Guild Wars 2 has recently revealed footage of the Echovald Wilds–the rampant evolution of the petrified Echovald Forest zone from the Guild Wars: Factions.
During the original Guild Wars era, Echovald was a thick forested area inhabited by the gothic theocratic oligarchy known as the Kurzicks. A catastrophic event known as the Jade Wind swept through the continent of Cantha, petrifying the massive trees of the Echovald Forest, transforming them to stone
After the events of Guild Wars: Factions, and the 250 years between it and Guild Wars 2, the Echovald Forest has had life return to it in abundance. Known as the Echovald Wilds in Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons, it has become a chaotic land of life and death, growth and decay. Though the Kurzicks are gone, their descendants can still be found amidst the overgrown ruins and imperious trees that make up the area, as can the bird-like tengu, magnificent creatures like the kirin, and several dangerous gangs who wish to claim the unclaimable woods for themselves.
The Echovald Wilds are not the first area Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons has revealed, nor will it be the last. A few weeks ago, Guild Wars 2 showed off footage of Shing Jea Island, another zone to be visited in the expansion, recognizable by players as the starting zone for new Guild Wars: Factions characters. Guild Wars 2 will be showing off the Jade Sea later this month, and New Kaineng City in late January, leading up to the expansion’s launch in late February.
Players were understandably excited to see how the Echovald Wilds had changed in Guild Wars 2. The Kurzicks were one of two factions players in Guild Wars: Factions could align themselves with. While players may be disappointed to learn the Kurzicks are no more, there are bound to be many of their secrets and ruins to discover as they explore the towering forests and discover how history has shaped it. The Echovald Wilds will be full of twists and turns, whether players are new to Guild Wars 2 players or veterans of the series.
Despite its age, Guild Wars 2 still has a passionate and active community. With over 400 thousand active players, its population is still thriving, with players frequenting areas across Guild Wars 2's dozens of sprawling zones, completing content both old and new. With End of Dragons only a few months out, and with new areas, systems, and nine new elite specializations to come with it, now is a good time to check out what Guild Wars 2 has to offer.
Guild Wars 2 is available now on PC, with End of Dragons releasing in February 2022.
Source: Guild Wars 2