Take on the Cryptis in "Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure"
On August 22nd, "Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure" begins, taking us to great heights and telling a new story within ancient mysteries. Last week, we heard from the narrative team about the transition from the Elder Dragon saga, which began with the release of "Guild Wars 2" in 2012, to a brand new adventure. On this adventure, new enemies await you.
At the start of "Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure," you will discover rifts – fractures in reality – scattered throughout Tyria, from which strange demonic forces emerge. These enemies are the Cryptis. It's enough to know that the Cryptis are cunning and powerful, and it's up to you and some new allies to find a way to stop their attacks from the mists.
Beings from the Mists
Your new allies include members of the Astral Ward (an organization you will learn more about as you play the story). After joining forces with them, you gain access to the Heart of the Obscure (a mysterious and powerful ancient artifact) and its associated mastery track - crucial components in your quest to hunt down and close rifts. The story continues from there, but rift hunting will be a constant option for open-world content.
Rift Hunting
Using the Heart of the Obscure, you will discover emerging rifts throughout Tyria. Fully opening a rift will reveal Cryptic Intruders who have been hiding in Tyria. Defeat enough of them, and a more powerful champion will appear. Once you defeat the final Cryptic target, you can close the rift and receive Cryptic Essence: a powerful material for crafting weapons, armor, and bait to attract more dangerous Cryptics.
At launch, you can find rifts in multiple explorable zones in "Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure", Central Tyria, Cantha, and the Crystal Desert. The activity of the rifts will rotate weekly. In a future update, you can engage in even deadlier hunts designed for larger groups of players.
The enemies that emerge from a rift scale with the size of the group fighting them. This means you can team up with friends for rift hunts or even lend a hand if you see a stranger attempting to close a rift.
We will reveal more details about "Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure" leading up to its launch on August 22nd.
