Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire is the second expansion for the award-winning game, Guild Wars 2. As the balance of magic comes undone, lead y...
Path of Fire is the second expansion for Guild Wars 2, released in September 2017. It takes players to the Crystal Desert and the northern reaches of Elona to confront the rogue god Balthazar. The expansion's defining feature is its mount system, which redefined how mounts work in MMOs by giving each one unique traversal abilities rather than simple speed boosts.
Path of Fire is included with the purchase of any later expansion and is essential for unlocking the mount system used throughout the entire game.
Five mounts are unlocked through the expansion's story and achievements, each with a distinct movement ability. The Raptor leaps horizontally across chasms, the Springer jumps vertically to reach high ledges, the Skimmer hovers over water and hazardous terrain, the Jackal blinks through sand portals, and the Griffon dives and soars through the sky with momentum-based flight.
Every mount has its own mastery track that upgrades its abilities over time. The system is so well-designed that it became the template for Guild Wars 2's approach to exploration, with later expansions adding new mounts including the Roller Beetle, Skyscale, and Siege Turtle.
Path of Fire introduced nine new elite specialisations, one per profession. The Holosmith gives Engineers a photon forge, the Scourge transforms Necromancers into support-oriented shade casters, and the Firebrand turns Guardians into tome-wielding support powerhouses. Each elite spec opened new build options that remain relevant years later.
The story campaign follows Balthazar's quest to kill the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik, taking players through Elona's desert cities, ancient ruins, and branded wastelands. The open-world bounty system introduced a structured way to hunt champion and legendary enemies across all Crystal Desert maps.