As the first expansion for Guild Wars 2 (released 2015), Heart of Thorns requires the base game to access its content, significantly enhancing the Role-Playing Game experience. You journey into the vertical, multi-layered Heart of Maguuma jungle to confront the Elder Dragon Mordremoth. Key additions include the entirely new Revenant profession, account-wide Mastery progression for new abilities, and Elite Specializations that overhaul existing classes with new skills and weapons, deepening character customization within the existing level structure.
The expansion transports players into the deep jungle, presenting a setting designed around verticality. The maps are structured as three-dimensional volumes, encouraging exploration from the canopy heights down to the jungle floor and deep below into the roots. This new region introduces players to unique cultures and races residing within the jungle biomes, offering substantial new areas to discover and interact with as the story progresses.
A core feature of this expansion is the introduction of the Mastery System, an account-wide progression mechanic that unlocks new abilities and utility outside of traditional character leveling. This system allows players to gain access to new traversal methods and environmental interactions within the new zones and beyond, enhancing long-term character development across the entire account.
The most significant addition is the introduction of an entirely new profession: the Revenant. This class channels the power of legendary figures from the Mists, offering a distinct playstyle compared to the existing character options. Furthermore, existing professions gain access to Elite Specializations, which grant access to new weapons, skills, and traits, fundamentally altering how established classes can be built and played.
This expansion provides a substantial narrative continuation, focusing on the direct threat posed by Mordremoth. Beyond the story, the introduction of the Mastery system and Elite Specializations offers deep, long-term character progression paths that integrate seamlessly with the existing level cap and gear structure of the base game. The scope of this content represents a major overhaul and expansion of the core gameplay loop and world exploration.
The narrative centers on the Pact forces crashing into the deep jungle while attempting to confront Mordremoth. Players must uncover the secrets of this ancient, hostile environment, meet its inhabitants, and actively work to halt the dragon's spread and its attempts to control the sylvari race.