Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds Goes Back to Its Roots in…

In the original Guild Wars, the White Mantle were a major group of antagonists for the heroes of Tyria. However, after completing the ritual of Ascension and gaining the gift of True Sight, they finally saw the cult’s true masters: the Mursaat. Also known as “The Unseen Ones,” these beings hid unfathomable cruelty behind gilded armor and angelic appearances, and only by infusing one’s armor could one hope to withstand their Spectral Agony magic. Though few remain in Guild Wars 2, the legacy of the Mursaat can still be found all across Tyria.

Now, the story of the Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds expansion is tapping into that history in a big way in the Repentance update. The Best War Games recently went on a guided tour led by ArenaNet, delving into the dark corners of the Mistburned Barrens, the new zone added in the update. From the twisted battlefield of the Valley of Agony to the haunted ruins of Bava Nisos, these grim sites are steeped in lore two decades in the making.

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By Mark Smith

The Mistburned Barrens – New Mursaat Zone in Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds

Over the last 12 years, Guild Wars 2 has implemented dozens of explorable zones across several continents and five expansions. While plenty of these places contain ancient ruins, few evoke the otherworldly, unsettling evil that pervades the Mistburned Barrens. Altered wildlife and magic-scarred trees give way to breathtaking ruins that become more horrifying the closer one looks – much like the Mursaat who built it.

The Mistburned Barrens are separated into three major areas, two of which are within the ruins of Bava Nisos, the ancient city of the Mursaat on the Isle of Janthir. This hidden city is where Saul D'Alessio founded the White Mantle before the Titans destroyed it in the first game, and has been associated with some of the greatest mysteries in Guild Wars lore. Players can join three expeditions heading into the region from the Alliance Staging Grounds, each containing an event chain with unique challenges, themes, rewards, and world buffs.

The Valley of Agony – Mistburned Barrens Northern Survey

The northernmost region is dominated by the Valley of Agony on the outskirts of the city ruins. Described as “one of the most dangerous places in all of Tyria,” this yawning chasm is awash with the red mist indicative of the Mursaat’s specialized Agony magic. The Wayfinder cannot venture here without the assistance of powerful magic, such as that of Isgarren the Curator, one of the last Seers–ancient enemies of the Mursaat.

The Grand Athenaeum – Mistburned Barrens Central Survey

The central team presses into the heart of Bava Nisos where the Grand Athenaeum can be found. This region contains dark libraries full of knowledge thought lost with the city's destruction 250 years ago. Haunted by Mursaat ghosts, the Wayfinder must use caution in this area – though not all the spirits they encounter will be hostile.

The Laboratory – Mistburned Barrens Southern Survey

The southernmost path leads to the Laboratory. Visually inspired by Castlevania, according to the developers, these twisted halls are full of Bloodstone – a magic ore used by the Mursaat to contain and manipulate souls. The tormented spirits of people sacrificed by the Mursaat to keep the Titans sealed behind the Door of Komalie flood this region alongside Bloodstone Elementals, and Manikaz–a Mursaat ghost fans discovered in the Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds Godspawn update–awaits them at the end of the expedition.

While navigating the Mistburned Barrens, players will find Mursaat Mirrors that enable one to teleport to hidden locations via the Mursaat Shadowcraft Mastery. Vistas, Mastery Points, and mysteries unlocked with the Guild Wars 2 Warclaw mount are just a few of the things that may be found in these secret spots.

Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds Mursaat Shadowcraft Mastery

Mastery	Cost	Description
Mursaat Mirror and Movement	2	Use Mursaat Mirrors to reach secret locations and Mistburned Beehives to refresh cooldowns
Mursaat Ruins Delving Improvements	3	Gain extra Curious Mursaat Ruin Shards from Mistburned Barrens events
Barrens Survey Result Augmentation	4	Earn extra rewards from completing Mistburned Barrens Survey event chains