self>Toeri at 13:41, 24 September 2026

2026-09-24T13:41:36Z

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[[File:NightfallHeros.jpg|frameless|right|upright=1.5]]
{{otheruses 2|a type of [[NPC]]|the account-based [[PvP]] [[title]]|Hero (title)|the unrelated locations|Heroes'}}
{{clear|right}}{{TOCright}}

A [[hero]] is an NPC who can be added to a [[party]] to act in place of a player. They can be considered as an enhanced, fully customizable version of a [[henchman]].

Heroes are often characters that take an active part in the storyline. As such, they become available at the end of specific missions or quests, usually in ''[[Guild Wars Nightfall]]'' or ''[[Guild Wars: Eye of the North]]'', and some are required to be in the party (or absent from it) to start quests and missions, notably in Nightfall.

A hero can level up. Players can [[customize]] a hero's [[skill]]s (using the pool of skills [[unlock]]ed on the account), their [[attribute]] points investment, and their [[equipment]]. Players also retain some level of control over the activation of skills, the positioning of the hero, and can choose their default behavior.

There are 31 heroes available, somewhat evenly distributed among the ten professions.

Although heroes can be [[unlock]]ed for [[PvP]] characters similarly to [[rune]]s or [[skill]]s, they are only usable in the [[Training Arena]].

== Acquisition ==
To add a hero to a party, they must first be recruited by completing specific, storyline [[quest]]s.

=== List of heroes, with profession and recruitment quest ===
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Hero acquisition by region and campaign
|-
! scope="col" | Region
! scope="col" | Hero
! scope="col" | Recruitment quest
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | [[Guild Wars Nightfall|Nightfall]]
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Istan]]
| {{w}} [[Koss]]
| [[Into Chahbek Village]] (Nightfall characters); talk to Kormir during [[Battle Preparations]] (for others)
|-
| {{mo}} [[Dunkoro]]
| [[Leaving a Legacy]] (Nightfall characters); talk to Kormir during [[Battle Preparations]] (for others)
|-
| {{d}} [[Melonni]]
| [[Signs and Portents]] (Nightfall characters); talk to Kormir during [[Battle Preparations]] (for others)
|-
| {{r}} [[Acolyte Jin]] or {{e}} [[Acolyte Sousuke]]
| [[Student Jin]] or [[Student Sousuke]] 1, 2
|-
| {{mo}} [[Tahlkora]]
| [[Big News, Small Package]] (Nightfall characters); talk to Kormir during [[Battle Preparations]] (for others)
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Kourna]]
| {{e}} [[Zhed Shadowhoof]]
| [[Centaur Blackmail]]
|-
| {{r}} [[Margrid the Sly]] or {{n}} [[Master of Whispers]]
| [[No Me, No Kormir]] 1 or [[To Kill a Demon]] 1
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Vabbi]]
| {{w}} [[Goren]] or {{me}} [[Norgu]]
| [[Dasha Vestibule]] or [[Dzagonur Bastion]] → [[Brains or Brawn]] 2 → [[Goren's Stuff: Part 1]] 1, 2 or [[The Role of a Lifetime]] 1, 2
|-
| {{p}} [[General Morgahn]]
| [[Grand Court of Sebelkeh]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Realm of Torment]]
| {{w}} Goren, {{r}} Acolyte Jin, {{r}} Margrid the Sly, {{n}} Master of Whispers, {{me}} Norgu, {{e}} Acolyte Sousuke
| Completion of the Nightfall campaign → [[Gain Goren]] 2, [[Gain Jin]] 2, [[Gain Margrid]] 2, [[Gain Master of Whispers]] 2, [[Gain Norgu]] 2, [[Gain Sousuke]] 2
|-
| {{any}} 3 [[Razah]]
| Completion of the Nightfall campaign → [[Finding a Purpose]] 2
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | [[Guild Wars: Eye of the North|Eye of the North]]
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Far Shiverpeaks]]
| {{mo}} [[Ogden Stonehealer]], {{e}} [[Vekk]]
| [[The Beginning of the End]]
|-
| {{me}} [[Gwen]]
| After watching [[The First Vision]]
|-
| {{rt}} [[Xandra]], {{d}} [[Kahmu]]
| Defeating them randomly during [[The Norn Fighting Tournament]] 2
|-
| {{w}} [[Jora]]
| [[Curse of the Nornbear]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Charr Homelands]]
| {{r}} [[Pyre Fierceshot]]
| [[Warband of Brothers]]
|-
| {{a}} [[Anton]]
| [[The Missing Vanguard]] → [[Failure to Communicate]] 2 → [[The Imploding Past]] 2 → [[The Assassin's Revenge]] 2
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Tarnished Coast]]
| {{p}} [[Hayda]]
| [[Frogstomp]] 2 → [[Give Peace a Chance]] 2
|-
| {{n}} [[Livia]]
| [[Finding the Bloodstone]]
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | [[Guild Wars Prophecies|Prophecies]] and Nightfall
|-
| [[Kryta]]
| {{n}} [[Olias]]
| [[All for One and One for Justice]] 2
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | [[Guild Wars Factions|Factions]] and Nightfall
|-
| [[Kaineng City]]
| {{a}} [[Zenmai]]
| [[Chasing Zenmai]] 2, 4
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | Prophecies and Eye of the North
|-
| Far Shiverpeaks
| {{p}} [[Keiran Thackeray]]
| Completion of [[War in Kryta]] 2 and [[Hearts of the North]] 2
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | Factions
|-
| rowspan="2" | Kaineng City
| {{a}} [[Miku]]
| [[Winds of Change]] (completion of the Normal Mode version) 2
|-
| {{rt}} [[Zei Ri]]
| [[Winds of Change]] (completion of the Hard Mode version) 2
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | Prophecies
|-
| [[Ascalon (pre-Searing)]]
| {{w}} [[Devona]]
| [[Across the Wall]] 2, 5 → [[A Bastion In the North]] 2 → [[Long Thought Forgotten]] 2 → [[Charr in the Tunnels]] 2 → [[The Scourge Beneath]] 2 (Requires {{reforgedmode}})
|-
| [[Ascalon]]
| {{me}} [[Ghost of Althea]]
| [[The Duke's Daughter]] 2 → [[Althea's Ashes]] 2 → [[Elegy for Those Left Behind]] 2 → [[The Cost of Survival]] 2 → [[The Dreamer and the Zealot]] 2 (Requires {{reforgedmode}})
|-
| Kryta
| {{w}} Devona
| [[The Hero From Ascalon]] 2 (Requires {{reforgedmode}})
|-
! scope="colgroup" colspan="3" | Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall
|-
| Kryta, Kaineng City, or Istan
| {{d}} [[M.O.X.]]
| Talk to M.O.X. in [[North Kryta Province]], [[Bukdek Byway]], or [[Plains of Jarin]] 2
|}
: 1 The quests are mutually exclusive.
: 2 This quest is optional.
: 3 [[Razah]] starts off as a Ritualist, but can change profession. See the hero page for more details.
: 4 The recruiting quest can help significantly for [[vanquish]]ing purposes.
: 5 This quest must be marked as completed, but does not need to be turned in for the reward to claim the next quest.

; Acquisition notes
* In PvE, characters must complete the requisite quests to unlock each hero.
** [[Factions]] heroes require completion of [[Winds of Change]] to be unlocked, which are considered to be among the most challenging quests in the game.
* Heroes can be [[unlock#Unlocking|unlocked]] for a player's [[account]] by using [[Balthazar faction]] via a [[Priest of Balthazar]] (if not already unlocked by any [[Player versus Environment|PvE]] [[character]] recruiting the hero during the storyline). This makes them available for all [[PvP-only character]]s on the player's account; however, heroes can no longer be used in PvP (with the exception of the [[Isle of the Nameless (PvP)]] and [[Training Arena]]).
* Recruiting heroes unlocks a number of skills for the account (specifically, those the hero begins with).

=== Adding to a party ===
A hero can be added to or removed from the party in an [[outpost]] or [[town]] using the "Add a Hero" drop-down list on the [[party window]] or the "Heroes" tab on the [[Party Search panel]] (both of which sort heroes by [[profession]]). A character can add up to seven heroes to the party, depending on the party's maximum size and how many other players are in it.

If a hero of the same name is added twice, only one of the NPCs gets the unique name; any others are renamed to a generic title. For example, if [[Koss]] is added to a party twice, one Koss would be renamed to "Sunspear Warrior;" the Koss which retains the name is used for quest and mission dialogue.

== Customization ==
{{see|Hero armor}}

Players can [[customize]] heroes in four ways:
* By choosing the [[inventory]] used by the hero, specifically [[rune]]s, [[insignia]]s, and [[weapon]]s.
* By choosing the [[skill]]s the hero uses.
* By customizing any offensive weapon, so that it deals 20% more damage.
* By upgrading the armor of the hero.

; Inventory
Player characters and heroes share the same inventory. Equipment can be changed in a similar manner to a player character's equipment: opening the inventory panel, selecting the hero's portrait, and dragging the appropriate weapons and/or double-clicking the desired runes/insignias applies them to the hero's paper doll. For some heroes, their default weapons cannot be placed into storage.

; Skills
Opening the [[Skills and Attributes]] panel and selecting the hero's portrait allows updating skills and attributes similar to a player character. Skill [[template]]s can also be saved and used for heroes; however, similar to PvP-only characters, heroes only have access to skills that are unlocked on the account, including elite skills. Similarly, they cannot use [[PvE-only skill]]s.

; Customization
Heroes can use weapons customized to the character that controls them, but not those customized to any other character (not even [[Mercenary Hero]]es named after that character). By default, heroes come equipped with weapons customized in this way. Mercenaries are like any other hero: they can only use the weapons customized to their ''owner'', but not to the character after which they were named.

; Armor
Hero armor does not need to be crafted or replaced. It is set at an [[armor rating]] suitable for the hero's [[level]] and automatically increases in armor rating as the hero levels up. The armor cannot be destroyed by [[Salvage|salvaging]], so any [[rune]]s or [[insignia]]s applied to the armor will always be recoverable.

=== Cannot be customized ===
* The primary profession (except for [[Razah]]).
* The color of the armor.
* Heroes cannot wear [[costume]]s.
* The hero's name or their [[animal companion]]'s name.
These properties can be customized for Mercenary heroes upon creation, but not afterwards.

== User interface ==

=== Hero control panel ===
{{main|Hero Control panel}}
[[File:Hero Commander.png|right|300px]]
Basic information on a hero can be accessed when outside a town or outpost using the [[Hero Control panel]]. This panel can be used to set the combat mode and control skill usage of the hero.

Clicking on a skill in a hero's skill bar instructs the hero to use that skill as soon as possible, on the currently selected [[target]], if applicable. Holding down the Control (Ctrl) key while clicking calls out the targeted skill to the chat window. The hero control panel can be opened and closed from the party window by selecting the button to the left of the hero name. The panel can be moved by dragging it to a new position; the state and position of the panels are saved by the game client.

The hero panel displays:
* The hero's name and picture.
* The hero's [[health]] and [[energy]].
* A means to select and see the combat modes of the hero.
* A small skill bar for the character. This displays skill activation and recharge.
* A crosshair icon that can be used to lock the hero's target. If the hero is holding a [[bundle]], the crosshair is replaced with a "drop" icon, which commands the hero to drop it instead.

Directly under the panel, players can see the hero's [[Morale Boost]] or [[Death Penalty]] and any [[condition]]s, [[hex]]es, [[enchantment]]s, [[chant]]s, [[shout]]s, or other skills affecting that hero. Ctrl-clicking these effects will also call them out to the chat window.

=== Formation ===
{{see|Positioning}}
* Heroes will change formation when the controlling player changes from a melee weapon to a ranged weapon or a ranged weapon to a melee weapon.
* Heroes holding bundle items will stand in the front with melee characters.
* Heroes will not always line up ranged characters at the rear with melee characters in front, as one might expect.
{{clear}}

=== Combat modes ===
{{see|User interface}}
{{main|Hero behavior}}

:[[File:Fight.png|25px|link=]] <big>'''Fight'''</big>
Heroes will aggressively confront enemies:
* They will attack (in priority order) called targets, selected targets within [[spirit range]] of the hero, non-selected enemies actively engaged with the party, and non-selected enemies within the hero's aggro range.
* They prefer attacking foes with the lowest [[armor rating]], and will prioritize foes with the lowest health over foes above 50% their [[maximum health]].
* They will separate from the flag or the controlling player, if necessary.

:[[File:Guard.png|25px|link=]] <big>'''Guard'''</big>
Heroes will guard the area near a flag or the controlling player (whichever is closer and within [[earshot]]), refraining from combat until actively engaged.
* They will not attack enemies unless (in priority order) forced to use a skill, the selected target is called, the selected enemy actively engages the party, or the non-selected enemy enters the party's aggro circle.
* They will not move beyond the guarded area unless forced to use a skill and the target is out-of-range.
* They will return to the guarded area after using a forced skill or if the enemy moves far beyond [[spirit range]].
* They will often go out of their way to attack a [[spirit]], despite being in "Guard Mode".

:[[File:Avoid Combat.png|25px|link=]] <big>'''Avoid Combat'''</big>
Heroes never attack and will attempt to avoid enemies when attacked, [[kite|kiting]] as needed. They will not attack selected or called targets unless forced to use a skill.
* They generally will not use skills that directly target foes or cause [[point blank area of effect]] damage:
** Non-lethal skills, such as [[Signet of Lost Souls]], will not be used.
* They will use skills that indirectly affect the enemy:
** Damaging skills that target [[ally|allies]], such as [[Smite Hex]], [[Balthazar's Aura]], or [[weapon spells]].
** [[Ward spell|Ward]] and [[well spell]]s that inflict detrimental effects on foes.
** [[Trap]] skills.
** Summoning skills that bring forth [[minion]]s or [[spirit]]s, such as [[Aura of the Lich]] and [[Signet of Binding]].
** [[Item spell]]s that require activating urns and dropping them.
** They will use damaging [[Flash Enchantment Spells]] such as [[Heart of Holy Flame]] or [[Zealous Renewal]] if an enemy is in the area of effect.
{{clear}}

[[Animal companion|Pet]]s belonging to heroes will use the same combat mode as their heroes.

=== Target lock ===
{{see|Priority target}}
{{section-stub}}
Targeting a foe and clicking on the crosshair in the left bottom of the hero control panel locks the hero onto it until the target gets killed.
{{clear}}

=== Forced skill use ===
{{see|Hero behavior}}

; Force{{anchor|force-hero-skill}}
Heroes can be ordered to execute skills by clicking on the appropriate skill on the hero skill bar. The skill is prioritized and a green check mark appears on the skill until it is activated.

The hero will cancel the activation of any skill they were currently using, and will not use any other skills until successfully using the forced skill. The hero will, however, still attack. If the hero was already using the skill, they will consider the execution done and the green check will disappear.

When activating the skill, the hero will attempt to use it on the selected target, foe or ally, if appropriate, bypassing any target lock the hero might have. Without an appropriate target (such as having an ally selected for a hex spell), the hero AI will choose one, but when forcing a hero to use a skill against a hostile NPC which can't be targeted by this skill (such as using a hex spell against spirits, or any spell against a foe enchanted with [[Spell Breaker]], [[Shadow Form]], or [[Obsidian Flesh]]), the hero will not switch targets and attack the foe instead.

Heroes can also be ordered to drop their current [[bundle]] by clicking on their monitor and can be ordered to dismiss [[upkeep|maintained enchantments]].

; Suppress{{anchor|suppress-hero-skill}}
Players can prevent a hero from using a skill automatically by shift-clicking on the skill icon in the hero's skill panel. This marks it with a stroke-through red circle. The hero will never use a suppressed skill unless forced to by the player. This does not prevent the player from activating that skill manually.

Any [[upkeep|maintained enchantment]] will not be dismissed as long as the enchantment is suppressed.
{{clear}}

=== Flags ===
{{main|Hero flag}}
The [[compass]] for a player controlling a hero features four flag controls; one for each of the first three heroes and an "all heroes and henchmen" flag. Any heroes beyond the third can be flagged with the "all" flag. On the party window, each hero is given a number to the left of their name; this corresponds to the numbers on the compass. Individually flagging the remaining heroes is possible through keybinds (from the control options, select Action: Command Hero 4/5/6/7).

A player can select the flag control from the bottom of the compass by clicking once, and then click on the compass area, [[Mission Map]], or on the terrain to instruct the hero or heroes to move to the given location. The heroes will return to the player character's location when the player removes the flag by double-clicking on the flag control or clicking the red "x" on the compass control.

Flag usage is introduced in the quests [[Command Training]] and [[Hero Tutorial]].

== Optimized walkthrough ==
{{see|Guide to Hero Basics and Optimization}} ''for a detailed walkthrough''

== Notes ==
* In dialogues, ''hero'' almost always refers to a ''heroic person'', e.g., the player's character.
* Heroes gain [[attribute point]]s at the same rate as a player character, except they receive 15 additional points at level 10 and at level 15.
* The 31 standard heroes are somewhat evenly divided across professions:
** ''One hero:'' Variable profession
** ''Two heroes:'' Ritualist
** ''Three heroes each:'' Ranger, Monk, Mesmer, Elementalist, Necromancer, Assassin, Dervish, and Paragon
** ''Four heroes:'' Warrior
* Some heroes are non-human:
** [[Ghost of Althea]] - Ghost
*** Although the Ghost of Althea is not considered human in lore, the game treats her as a human for all game mechanics; in particular, she will transfer disease to humans.
** [[Jora]] - Norn
** [[M.O.X.]] - Golem
** [[Ogden Stonehealer]] - Dwarf
** [[Pyre Fierceshot]] - Charr
** [[Vekk]] - Asura
** [[Zhed Shadowhoof]] - Centaur
** [[Razah]] - Protomatter from the Mists
*** Although Razah is not considered human in lore, the game treats it as a human for all game mechanics; in particular, it will transfer disease to humans.
* A dialogue message will appear in [[Chat window|team chat]] for each hero in the party that has over half of their total attribute points unspent when adding those heroes to the party or [[Zone|zoning]] into an [[outpost]] or [[town]]:
:'''<Hero name>:''' ''"I have <number> unspent attribute points. Open the [[Skills and Attributes]] panel (<key assigned to "Panel: Open Skills and Attributes">) and select me to spend my attribute points and increase the effectiveness of my skills."''
* Whenever a hero has a line of dialogue, if that hero is dead, they will resurrect at 100% Health and Energy.

== Trivia ==
* The [[Game updates/20091029|October 29, 2009 update]] removed heroes from [[PvP]] (with the exception of [[Isle of the Nameless (PvP)]] and [[Training Arena]]). According to [[Andrew Patrick]], removing the ability to have heroes in the party for [[Zaishen Challenge]] and [[Zaishen Elite]] ''"was an unintended side-effect of removing them from other PvP formats."'' ([http://wiki.guildwars.com/index.php?title=Feedback:Bug_reports/Miscellaneous_bugs&diff=prev&oldid=1862538#Can.27t_use_Heros_in_the_Zaishen_Challenge_and_Zaishen_Elite_areas source])
* Prior to the [[Feedback:Game updates/20110303|March 3, 2011 update]], each character was limited to adding three heroes to their party.
* [[Zei Ri]], [[Devona]], and the [[Ghost of Althea]] are the only heroes without an [[Everlasting Tonic]].

== See also ==
* [[Hero skill trainer]]
* [[Mercenary Hero]]

{{Heroes nav}}

[[Category:Heroes|*]]

Hero - Revision history

self>Toeri at 13:41, 24 September 2026