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Wintersday 2022: A Beginner's Guide



Happy Wintersday, Tyria! Our yearly holiday festival is now live and available until January 3, 2023. You can check out all the details in the full release notes on our official forums. Read on for a quick rundown of the activities you can take part in during this festival and the rewards you can earn!

This festival is accessible to players of any level. Even if you're brand new to the game, you can easily take part in our Wintersday activities and earn new cosmetic unlocks, utility items, and more!

Rewards


Wintersday activities award Wintersday Gifts containing an assortment of holiday treats and surprises. Festival currency includes snowflakes, Snow Diamonds, and karma, which you can exchange for new minis, guild hall decorations, recipes, tonics, and more.

Speak to one of the Charity Corps Seraph at the Crown Pavilion in Divinity's Reach to exchange your snowflakes for Snow Diamonds, and your Snow Diamonds for unique Wintersday rewards.
Many unique rewards—such as the new Wintersday Snow Boots and the Snowdrift weapon set—are obtained by completing achievements. You'll find more information on the Wintersday achievements and their rewards in your Hero panel under the Daily and Festivals categories.

Where to Go

Divinity's Reach is the hub for Wintersday festivities. Check your mail for a letter from Tixx containing an Invitation to Wintersday, which you can use to travel instantly to Divinity's Reach. Portals leading to Divinity's Reach will also be available in Lion's Arch, the Black Citadel, Hoelbrak, Rata Sum, and the Grove.

Visit locations marked by peppermint candies on your map to participate in Wintersday activities. Don't forget to visit Wintersday trees and Toymaker Tixx himself each day to collect gifts.

You'll also receive a letter from Orphan Laine, who needs your help with a scavenger hunt. The hunt will require you to travel to some areas intended for level 80 players, but once you've unlocked it you can complete it at any time, even after Wintersday ends.

For the duration of the festival, massive Mysterious Presents will appear in the open world in Central Tyria maps. They explode when unwrapped, so take care! Fight off hostile skritt and collect the Wintersday Gifts that fall out.

Activities

[h2]Bell Choir Ensemble[/h2]
Speak to the Bell Maestro near the Royal Terrace in Divinity's reach to enter the Enchanted Snow Globe and take part in the bell choir ensemble! In this rhythm game, work together with your fellow Tyrians to reproduce songs from Guild Wars 2 and earn karma, Wintersday Gifts, and more!

[h2]Donation Drive[/h2]
Speak with the Charity Corps Seraph in the Crown Pavilion to purchase Rolls of Wrapping Paper. These rolls can be combined with various items earned from Wintersday activities to create Wrapped Gifts. Give these gifts to orphans throughout Divinity's Reach and get some well-earned karma for your good deeds.

[h2]Mount Racing[/h2]
Race around Divinity's Reach! You don't need to have any mounts unlocked to take place in this race—a nearby rental service is available to rent a raptor for just 10 silver.

[h2]Snowball Mayhem[/h2]
Use a unique set of snow-themed skills to defeat other players in this capture-the-flag-style game mode! Speak with the Festive Lionguard near the Royal Terrace in Divinity's Reach to enter, then choose from three professions: supporter, heavy gunner, or scout. The first team to bring 500 points worth of Wintersday Gifts back to their base wins!

This content has no level requirement and can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels.

[h2]Strike Mission: Secret Lair of the Snowmen[/h2]
Enter the portal southwest of the Crown Pavilion to take on the legendary Freezie! Form a squad of up to 10 players and mend Freezie's frozen heart. This content is exclusively available to players who have reached level 80.

[h2]Tixx's Infinirarium[/h2]
Enter Toymaker Tixx's airship from the candy cane portal just west of the Crown Pavilion to assist the asuran craftsman in producing enough Wintersday presents for every resident of Tyria.
Take on the haywire machinery and malfunctioning toys throughout the workshop with a party of up to 5 players. This Wintersday-exclusive dungeon is accessible to players of any level and will dynamically adjust your attributes to those of a level 80 player if you are below that level.

[h2]Toypocalypse[/h2]
Defend the gift dolyaks from Tixx's malfunctioning toys! Speak to the Toy Captain just south of the Crown Pavilion in Divinity's Reach to enter this tower-defense-style game mode with a party of up to 5 players. This Wintersday-exclusive activity is accessible to players of any level and will dynamically adjust your attributes to those of a level 80 player if you are below that level.

[h2]Winter Wonderland[/h2]
Jumping puzzle lovers rejoice! Dodge exploding Wintersday gifts and jump across giant melting snowflakes in this holiday-themed jumping puzzle. Speak to the Festive Youth at the Crown Pavilion to enter the Winter Wonderland and take on one of three available paths through the snow, each offering its own difficulty. This content is available to players of any level.

Gem Store Update: Plush Siege Turtle Skin & Wintersday Gifting Rewards Campaign

Plush Siege Turtle


Dominate the pillow-fighting fields with a set of cannons that can outgun any hostile toys you encounter. Just try not to fall asleep in that plush driver's seat.

This item will change the appearance of your siege turtle mount. This item will also permanently unlock this appearance in your account wardrobe.

Wintersday Gifting Rewards Campaign

For the next week, the Knife Tail Gang Hunting Bond will once again be available in the Gem Store, and we're offering a reward for spreading the holiday cheer!

Gift at least five Knife Tail Gang Hunting Bonds to other players and you'll receive four Black Lion Chest Keys in return! Help your friends unlock exclusive Black Lion Trading Company items and earn some keys for your generosity.

Black Lion Chest keys will be rewarded via in-game mail in January of 2023.

Free and Discounted Items

[h2]Free Transmutation Charges and Wintersday Mini Gift[/h2]
Log in to Guild Wars 2 within the next three weeks and claim ten free Transmutation Charges and a Wintersday Mini Gift from the Gem Store!

[h2]Black Lion Weapons Voucher and Black Lion Chair Voucher[/h2]
Unlock Black Lion exclusive weapon and chair skins with these discounted items. Available now at a 19% discount!

[h2]Bag Slot Expansions[/h2]
For this week only, get 40% off Bag Slot Expansions (limit of two per account). We've also raised the maximum per-character bag slot limit from ten to twelve.

Black Lion Chest Update

[h2]Black Lion Exclusive: Festive Iceberg Skiff Skin[/h2]


Fancy some ice fishing? Spread the holiday cheer across the oceans with an iceberg propelled by Wintersday hopes and dreams!

This skin is available exclusively as an uncommon find when opening Black Lion Chests. It will permanently unlock a new appearance for your skiff in your account wardrobe.

[h2]Black Lion Guarantee: The Evon Gnashblade Wintersday Gift[/h2]
In every Black Lion Chest you open for the next four weeks, you'll find the Evon Gnashblade Wintersday Gift. Open this gift box for a chance at up to seven random items from a massive list of goods that includes rare crafting materials, infusions, and more!

Returning This Week

[h2]Cuddly Cat Jade Bot Skin[/h2]
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Take advantage of the new Mini Jade Bot and carry this cuddly cat with you everywhere! For a limited time, the Cuddly Cat Jade Bot Skin is back!

This item will change the appearance of your jade bot. This item will also permanently unlock this appearance in your account wardrobe. Equipping a jade bot mini while a jade bot skin is equipped will change the appearance of the jade bot mini to match your current skin. You can acquire a Mini Jade Bot of your own by trading Research Notes to a Xunlai Jade Sales Associate in Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons explorable zones. When summoned, this mini will inherit the appearance of your currently equipped jade bot skin.

[h2]Knife Tail Gang Hunting Bond[/h2]
The Knife Tail Gang have broken into the Black Lion Trading Company vaults!

Use this bond to hunt Knife Tail Gang members. While bonded, any kill worth experience points has a chance to reveal one of the Knife Tail Gang! Each bond will allow you to loot a piece of Recovered Black Lion Goods, which are yours to keep. Recovered goods will always unlock a cosmetic option from the Black Lion Trading Company in your wardrobe—weapon skins, exclusive dye colors, and even mount skins!

Seasonal Swap

Starting this Friday, look for the following items to be added to the Gem Store at a 20% discount:
  • Ancestral Outfit
  • Arcane Outfit
  • Braham's Wolfblood Outfit
  • Crystal Arbiter Outfit
  • Crystal Nomad Outfit
  • Dwayna's Regalia Outfit
  • Dynamics Exo-Suit Outfit
  • Eve's Prophecies Outfit
  • Frostfire Outfit
  • Imperial Guard Outfit
  • Imperial Outfit
  • Jungle Explorer Outfit
  • Kasmeer's Regal Outfit
  • Magical Outfit
  • Mursaat Robes
  • Noble Count Outfit
  • Pharaoh's Regalia Outfit
  • Primeval Dervish Outfit
  • Rox's Pathfinder Outfit
  • Shadow Assassin Outfit
  • Shrine Guardian Outfit
  • White Mantle Outfit

Prepare your raid teams and join the Ready Check Cup



We are excited to support the Ready Check Cup, a raid tournament organized by Hardstuck and members of our Partner Program to raise funds for the Cure Rare Disease charity.

Save the date! The tournament will begin on Saturday, December 17 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. UTC) and sign-ups will close 24 hours prior to the event.
During the tournament, teams will compete in four rounds of fast-paced, 30-minute matches in Spirit Vale, Salvation Pass, Stronghold of the Faithful, and Bastion of the Penitent.
The victorious teams will be rewarded with the Community Hero Title, Community Chests, gems, and gold!

Our partners Snebzor and MightyTeapot will be streaming the spectacle on Twitch at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. UTC) on December 17, so be sure to tune in!

If you are eager to join the competition with your friends and guildmates, be sure to check the requirements and learn how to enter on the Ready Check Cup page.

The Guild Wars 2 Art Show: End of December



The festive season is upon us. Curl up with new Guild Wars 2 Art Shows during this magical time of year!

Our ArenaNet Creative Partners will show their latest Guild Wars 2-inspired work, discuss art techniques, and hang out in chat. Let's celebrate art together!

[h2]Upcoming Guild Wars 2 Art Shows[/h2]

🔹 Wednesday, December 14 at noon Pacific Time (UTC-8) with Reixart
🔹 Wednesday, December 21 at noon Pacific Time (UTC-8) with Yuikami
🔹 Wednesday, December 28 at noon Pacific Time (UTC-8) with Gears2Gnomes

Gem Store Update: Battlelord's Cape and Hood & Toy Duck Fishing Rod Skin

Battlelord's Cape Hood Combo


Everyone knows about the dashing rogue sitting mysteriously in the corner of the tavern: hood pulled up to obscure their (probably handsome) face, traveling cloak coated with dust from a long and unknown journey. Now it's time to be that dashing rogue.

These items will change the appearance of your helm and back item. They will also permanently unlock these skins in your wardrobe. The package also includes a Lambent Battlelord's Hood Helm Skin variant with glowing eyes. These items are only available as a package and cannot be purchased individually.

Toy Duck Fishing Rod Skin


Tired of losing your bobbers all the time? Sounds like you need an upgrade. A squeaky, bright-yellow upgrade. Go ahead—the world is your duck pond.

This item will change the appearance of your fishing rod. This item will also permanently unlock this skin in your wardrobe.

Wintersday Choose Your Own Appearance Package


Make your own Wintersday getup with this full-featured package! The Wintersday Choose Your Own Appearance Package contains the following items:
  • Wintersday Outfit Voucher
  • Wintersday Accessories Voucher
  • Wintersday Weapon Voucher
  • Wintersday Dye Voucher
  • Total Makeover Kit

Each of the vouchers contained within this package can be exchanged for a variety of Wintersday-themed items! Put together your own unique look and try out the brand-new Snow Garden weapon skin collection. (Limit one package purchase per account.)

Discounts

For the next week, we're offering a 20% discount on Character Slot Expansions! This item will add one additional character slot to your account, allowing you to try out new playable races and professions.

Returning This Week

We're bringing back some Wintersday-themed goods this week, including:
  • Arctic Explorer Outfit
  • Cryomancer Glider Skin
  • Fancy Winter Outfit
  • Glacial Glider
  • Ice Encasement Outfit
  • Winter Monarch Outfit
  • Winter Solstice Outfit


Seasonal Swap

Starting this Friday, look for the following items to be added to the Gem Store at a 20% discount:
  • Aurene's Crystalline Claws
  • Aurene's Crystalline Diadem Skin
  • Conjured Starlight Hat Skin
  • Dragon Mask Skin
  • Etherbound Greaves
  • Etherbound Gauntlets
  • Etherbound Pauldrons
  • Fuzzy Leopard Hat
  • Fuzzy Panda Hat
  • Ghost of the Deep Spaulders Skin
  • Glint's Gaze Mask
  • Lion's Mask Skin
  • Magical Unicorn Horn Set
  • Raven Gloves Skin
  • Raven Helm
  • Raven Mantle
  • Sailor's Beanie
  • Salvaged Forged Gloves
  • Salvaged Forged Helm
  • Shadow of the Dragon Gloves Skin
  • Shadow of the Dragon Helmet Skin
  • Shadow of the Dragon Shoulder Skin
  • Shrine Guardian Ears Package
  • Stylish Shoes Skin
  • Swaggering Boots Skin
  • Swaggering Hat
  • Top Hat
  • Vermilion Vambrace s
  • Wizard's Hat
  • Xera's Mask


[h2]Available Now in the Gem Store![/h2]
Log into Guild Wars 2 and press 'O' to access the Black Lion Trading Company for these great offers and more!