Feedback:Game updates/20260205

Update, February 5, 2026

We have two updates today. One is a skill update and the other is that we are going to start rolling out the Steam-based in-game store.

The first is a special surprise. As some of you know, as a studio we've avoided skill balance updates because doing a good job takes a lot of time, concentration, and knowledge of the complete database of skills.

It turns out a former ArenaNet staff member, Isaiah Cartwright, still had all the knowledge in his head to make balance changes, and, on his own initiative, volunteered to do a balance pass for us! Our strategy was to data mine the least popular skills and improve many of them which increases the number of viable skill options. That way the main ‘meta’ of the game remains the same (well, mostly) and the net effect is that the game has more useful skills. Richard Foge partnered on this update to help roll it out. Here are the details:

Balance pass - February 2026

Warrior

• File:"I Meant to Do That!".jpg "I Meant to Do That!": increased adrenaline gain to 1...5...6 (from 1...4...5).
• File:"You Will Die!".jpg "You Will Die!": increased health threshold to 90% (from 50%).
• File:Charging Strike.jpg Charging Strike: increased damage bonus to +10...74...90 (from 10...34...40).
• File:Headbutt.jpg Headbutt: reduced recharge to 15 seconds (from 20); daze duration reduced to 5 seconds (from 5...17...20).
• File:Rage of the Ntouka.jpg Rage of the Ntouka: decreased duration to 8 seconds (from 10); decreased recharge on adrenal skills to 3 seconds (from 5).

Ranger

• File:Arcing Shot.jpg Arcing Shot: reduced recharge time to 3 seconds (from 6); increased damage bonus to +10...30...35 (from 10...22...25).
• File:Marauder's Shot.jpg Marauder's Shot: decreased energy cost to 5 (from 10); increased damage bonus to +25...49...55 (from 10...30...35); decreased disable on non-attack skills to 5 seconds (from 10).
• File:Marksman's Wager.jpg Marksman's Wager: decreased activation time to 1 second (from 2).
• File:Practiced Stance.jpg Practiced Stance: increased preparations duration increase to 30...246...300% (from 30...126...150%).
• File:Splinter Shot.jpg Splinter Shot: now deals damage to foes in the area (previously adjacent).

Nature rituals

• File:Brambles.jpg Brambles: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150).
• File:Conflagration.jpg Conflagration: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Edge of Extinction.jpg Edge of Extinction: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Equinox.jpg Equinox: increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150).
• File:Famine.jpg Famine: increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...126...150); increased damage to 20...60...70 (from 10...30...35).
• File:Fertile Season.jpg Fertile Season: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 15...75...90 seconds (from 15...39...45); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Frozen Soil.jpg Frozen Soil: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Greater Conflagration.jpg Greater Conflagration: increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Infuriating Heat.jpg Infuriating Heat: increased duration to 30...102...120 seconds (from 30...54...60); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Lacerate.jpg Lacerate: increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150).
• File:Muddy Terrain.jpg Muddy Terrain: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Pestilence.jpg Pestilence: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Predatory Season.jpg Predatory Season: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Quicksand.jpg Quicksand: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Roaring Winds.jpg Roaring Winds: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...54...60).
• File:Symbiosis.jpg Symbiosis: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Toxicity.jpg Toxicity: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...150...180 seconds (from 30...78...90); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Tranquility.jpg Tranquility: decreased activation time to 3 seconds (from 5); increased duration to 30...102...120 seconds (from 30...54...60); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).
• File:Winter.jpg Winter: increased duration to 30...198...240 seconds (from 30...126...150); range increased to 3500 (from 2512).

Monk

(Monk elites are so good we need to buff other elites to see any play)

• File:Amity.jpg Amity: reduced recharge time to 20 seconds (from 45); reduced duration to 4...10...12 seconds (from 8...18...20).
• File:Boon Signet.jpg Boon Signet: reduced recharge time to 6 seconds (from 8); increased bonus healing to 20...84...100 (from 20...68...80).
• File:Divert Hexes.jpg Divert Hexes: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
• File:Mark of Protection.jpg Mark of Protection: reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1); reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 45).
• File:Pacifism.jpg Pacifism: reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 30); reduced duration to 4...7...8 seconds (from 8...18...20).
• File:Scourge Sacrifice.jpg Scourge Sacrifice: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
• File:Smiter's Boon (PvP).jpg Smiter's Boon (PvP): reduced duration to 4 seconds (from 5).
• File:Word of Censure.jpg Word of Censure: increased damage to 30...110...130 (from 15...63...75); increased target health threshold to 50% (from 33%).

Mesmer

• File:Confusing Images.jpg Confusing Images: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
• File:Feedback.jpg Feedback: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
• File:Fevered Dreams.jpg Fevered Dreams: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
• File:Fevered Dreams (PvP).jpg Fevered Dreams (PvP): reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
• File:Hex Eater Vortex.jpg Hex Eater Vortex: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1); now deals damage to foes in the area (previously nearby).
• File:Hypochondria.jpg Hypochondria: reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1).
• File:Ignorance.jpg Ignorance: reduced energy cost to 10 (from 15).
• File:Mantra of Signets (PvP).jpg Mantra of Signets (PvP): added functionality of "you have +3 armor for each signet equipped". (This skill now functions the same in PvE and PvP.)
• File:Persistence of Memory.jpg Persistence of Memory: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
• File:Shared Burden.jpg Shared Burden: now affects foes in the area (previously nearby).
• File:Shared Burden (PvP).jpg Shared Burden (PvP): now affects foes in the area (previously nearby).

Necromancer

• File:Jagged Bones.jpg Jagged Bones: reduced recharge time to 10 seconds (from 15); increased duration to 60 seconds (from 30).
• File:Jaundiced Gaze.jpg Jaundiced Gaze: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); increased duration to 1...16...20 seconds (from 1...12...15).
• File:Order of Apostasy.jpg Order of Apostasy: reduced maximum health loss to 10...4...3% (from 25...17...15%).
• File:Spinal Shivers.jpg Spinal Shivers: decreased triggered energy cost to 8...4...3 (from 10...6...5).
• File:Ulcerous Lungs.jpg Ulcerous Lungs: reduced energy cost to 10 (from 15); reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).

Elementalist

• Energy Blast: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
• Ether Renewal (PvP): increased duration to 10 seconds (from 7).
• Magnetic Aura: increased duration to 1...7...8 seconds (from 1...4...5).
• Mind Freeze (PvP): increased conditional damage to 10...50...60 (from 10...34...40).
• Slippery Ground (PvP): reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 20).
• Swirling Aura: increased duration to 3...6...7 seconds (from 5).
• Teinai's Prison: increased duration to 1...7...8 seconds (from 1...5...6).
• Ward Against Elements: reduced energy cost to 10 (from 15).
• Ward of Weakness: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).

Assassin

• File:Dark Apostasy.jpg Dark Apostasy: reduced triggered energy cost to 10...4...3 (from 10...5...4).
• File:Expose Defenses.jpg Expose Defenses: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
• File:Hidden Caltrops.jpg Hidden Caltrops: reduced disable of non-assassin skills to 3 seconds (from 10).
• File:Mark of Death.jpg Mark of Death: increased healing reduction to 50% (from 33%).
• File:Sadist's Signet.jpg Sadist's Signet: increased health gain per condition to 10...38...45 (from 10...34...40).
• File:Shadow Meld.jpg Shadow Meld: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
• File:Signet of Shadows.jpg Signet of Shadows: reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 30).
• File:Shroud of Silence.jpg Shroud of Silence: increase duration to 1...5...6 seconds (from 1...3...3).
• File:Signet of Twilight.jpg Signet of Twilight: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
• File:Siphon Strength.jpg Siphon Strength: increased critical hit chance bonus to +50% (from 33%).

Ritualist

• File:Consume Soul.jpg Consume Soul: reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1); increased life steal to 5...57...70 (from 5...49...60); now deals conditional damage to foes in earshot (previously in the area) of the target .
• File:Doom.jpg Doom: increased damage to 10...50...60 (from 10...34...40).
• File:Dulled Weapon.jpg Dulled Weapon: increased duration to 5...17...20 seconds (from 5...13...15); increased damage reduction to -3...17...20 (from 1...12...15).
• File:Feast of Souls.jpg Feast of Souls: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
• File:Ghostly Haste.jpg Ghostly Haste: increased duration to 5...25...30 seconds (from 5...17...20).
• File:Pure Was Li Ming.jpg Pure Was Li Ming: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).
• File:Restoration (PvP).jpg Restoration (PvP): reduced activation time to 3 seconds (from 5).
• File:Wailing Weapon.jpg Wailing Weapon: reduced recharge time to 15 seconds (from 25); increased duration to 3...12...14 seconds (from 3...8...9).
• File:Weapon of Quickening.jpg Weapon of Quickening: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
• File:Weapon of Renewal.jpg Weapon of Renewal: increased duration to 5...17...20 seconds (from 4...9...10).
• File:Wielder's Zeal.jpg Wielder's Zeal: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); increased duration to 10...34...40 seconds (from 10...26...30).

Dervish

• File:Arcane Zeal.jpg Arcane Zeal: increased energy gain to 2 (from 1); increased maximum energy gain to 2...6...7 (from 1...6...7).
• File:Dwayna's Touch.jpg Dwayna's Touch: changed heal per enchantment amount to 60 (from 15...51...60); changed maximum heal to 60...204...240 (from 150).
• File:Ebon Dust Aura.jpg Ebon Dust Aura: increased earth damage to 3...25...30 (from 3...13...15).
• File:Featherfoot Grace.jpg Featherfoot Grace: increased condition expiration speed to 50% (from 25%).
• File:Grenth's Grasp.jpg Grenth's Grasp: increased maximum number of conditions transferred to 1...3...3 (from 1).
• File:Mystic Corruption.jpg Mystic Corruption: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10); increased duration to 1...8...10 seconds (from 1...2...2).
• File:Natural Healing.jpg Natural Healing: reduced activation time to 1 second (from 2).
• File:Pious Restoration.jpg Pious Restoration: increased maximum number of hexes removed to 1...3...3 (from 1...2...2).
• File:Signet of Pious Restraint.jpg Signet of Pious Restraint: reduced recharge time to 10 seconds (from 20); now affects foes in the area (previously nearby).
• File:Test of Faith.jpg Test of Faith: reduced adrenaline cost to 5 (from 7); increased cold damage to 15...63...75 (from 15...55...65).
• File:Winds of Disenchantment.jpg Winds of Disenchantment: reduced energy cost to 5 (from 10).

Paragon

• File:"Make Your Time!".jpg "Make Your Time!": reduced recharge time to 10 seconds (from 30).
• File:Angelic Protection.jpg Angelic Protection: reduced incoming damage per second threshold to 250...114...80 (from 250...130...100).
• File:Anthem of Guidance.jpg Anthem of Guidance: reduced adrenaline cost to 2 (from 4).
• File:Energizing Chorus.jpg Energizing Chorus: reduced adrenaline cost to 3 (from 4).
• File:Energizing Finale.jpg Energizing Finale: increased energy gain to 1...2...2 (from 1).
• File:Hasty Refrain.jpg Hasty Refrain: increased duration to 3...13...15 seconds (from 3...9...11).
• File:Inspirational Speech.jpg Inspirational Speech: increased adrenaline gain to 1...7...8 (from 1...3...4).
• File:Leader's Zeal.jpg Leader's Zeal: increased energy gain to 2...4...4 (from 2).
• File:Purifying Finale.jpg Purifying Finale: reduced activation time to 0.25¼ seconds (from 1); reduced recharge time to 5 seconds (from 10).
• File:Song of Power.jpg Song of Power: reduced energy cost to 15 (from 25).
• File:Song of Purification.jpg Song of Purification: reduced adrenaline cost to 3 (from 5); increased number of activations to 1...5...6 (from 1...3...3).

60/60 Exploit

A bug in the PvP Equipment panel allowed for non-PvP items to be customized, and in some cases would apply item upgrades that were incompatible with the customized item. This resulted in items being created that couldn't be obtained through natural play (this includes what the community refers to as 60/60 items). This change fixes the bug, and a later update will remove invalid item upgrades from items previously created via the bug.

New Steam-based In-Game Store Rolling Out

We've built an in-game store that integrates with the Steam Wallet / Billing System. The code is shipping today but disabled. Over the next few days we'll be testing it on the live systems and then steadily increasing access to all Steam players. To use the new store, you need to log into the game via Steam (i.e., not with an email address). You'll know the store is enabled for you because a prompt will appear in the upper right corner of the character select screen. The new store is tightly integrated with Steam and does not support our first party site – players who login with an email address will still need to use the web store. During this testing phase you might see the store button but the store might be in 'maintenance mode'. You'll be notified as soon as you press 'Enter Store' if that's the case. Oh, and the store button might disappear even after you've seen it, if we decide to reduce the number of players accessing the store, as we evaluate the performance.

Guild Wars Wiki Notes

These skills were also changed:

• File:Magehunter Strike.jpg Magehunter Strike: Bonus damage increased to 7...21...25 (from 5...17...20).
• Mind Freeze (PvP): The unconditional damage was also increased to 10...50...60.
• File:Shivers of Dread.jpg Shivers of Dread: Decreased triggered energy cost to 8...4...3 (from 10...6...5).
• File:Signet of Mystic Wrath.jpg Signet of Mystic Wrath: Now deals a flat 25 holy damage per enchantment on you. Maximum damage now scales to 30...86...100 holy damage.
• File:Signet of Pious Restraint (PvP).jpg Signet of Pious Restraint (PvP): Also had its recharge reduced to 10.
• File:Sloth Hunter's Shot (PvP).jpg Sloth Hunter's Shot (PvP): Decreased unconditional damage to 5...13...15; increased conditional damage to 5...17...20.
• File:Word of Censure.jpg Word of Censure: The health threshold is actually 20%, and it is checked after the damage occurs.
  • This was fixed in a later update.
• Though the update notes stated that the range of many nature rituals were increased, this change did not occur in game.