Should you Play Guild Wars 2 in 2021?

Even after nine years, Guild Wars 2 is still running strong, and it promises to do so with a third expansion that's in development. The game is a fresh take on the MMO genre. It breaks away from the norms of other games and promises a new and enriching experience even to new players joining the game nine years after its initial release.

So, is Guild Wars 2 worth playing in 2021? Let’s find out!

Combat

The combat and movement system in GW2 feels smooth and intuitive. You don't require mana to cast spells. All of your skills are cooldown-based, creating a unique combat experience. You also don't need a target to cast skills. So, if an enemy goes all invisible on you, you can activate the skill and keep swinging until you eventually hit them.

Downstate

A similar mechanic to Borderlands. When you get knocked down in combat, you enter a downstate. You have access to a set of damaging abilities based on your class. MMOs usually don’t have this mechanic. Downstate can be extremely helpful for beginners and provides for a great gaming experience.

Relevant Mounts

In most MMOs, the mounts are categorized based on their HP and speed boost. So, if you get a powerful mount, there is no incentive for going back to your old buddy. In GW2, however, each mount is unique. Some mounts can jump high and scale mountains, while others can traverse long distances in a single leap. Some mounts can fly while others can swim underwater. Therefore, you can switch mounts to get a tactical and positional advantage over your enemies.

Unique and Flexible Classes

Tanks, DPS, and healing used to be the holy trinity of any MMO game, but not Guild Wars 2. In the game, you can pick any class and play them however you like. Warriors are not meat shields, and mages aren't glass canons. You can quickly build a DPS warrior provided you pick the customizations, like +power, +precision, and +ferocity. If you're more into defense pick toughness and vitality instead of precision and ferocity.

PvP Content

The PvP in GW2 is on a totally different scale. In the World vs World mode, you fight against other servers in massive 50v50 battles. Conquest is like the battlegrounds of GW2. In Conquest, you fight other players in 5v5 teams. The first team to score 500 points wins the game. However, as a new player, you won't have to worry about fighting against OP spells and legendary characters. While playing Conquest, you can access all talents and gears, ensuring a level battlefield for everyone, both veterans and rookies.

End Game Loot

There is more than one way you can farm for legendary loot in GW2. You can go on Raids, Fractals, Conquest, Strike Missions, Achievements, and Crafting. The game makes it possible for new players to farm for end-game legendary items even without a powerful endgame character. So, what if you're not strong enough for raids? Play conquest to earn tokens for legendary weapons. And if you're short on time, you can also buy legendary weapons online.

Is Guild Wars 2 worth playing?

The fact that the game has survived nine years only proves the love and dedication gamers harbor towards this masterpiece. GW2 is not only a fresh take on the MMO genre. It provides a fun-filled gaming experience, and the fact that even after all these years, it still welcoming to new players, makes a game worth playing in 2021.