Crystal Desert

Lore & Background

The narrative begins after the Pact, led by the Commander, defeats Mordremoth, the elder dragon of the jungle. Following this victory, a massive surge of magical energy caused another elder dragon, Kralkatorrik, to fly south into the densely populated areas of Elona. The deposed God of War, Balthazar, returned to Tyria 1,329 years after the six Gods left during the Exodus. However, dragons are essential to the world's equilibrium; as noted in the Guild Wars 2 Wiki, their function is to keep magic balanced by periodically awakening and drawing it into themselves from the ley lines. Killing Kralkatorrik would destroy the world's magical balance and allow Balthazar to claim that power for himself. Consequently, the expansion's central aim is to stop Kralkatorrik's rampage and prevent Balthazar from absorbing the Elder Dragon's magic.

In Their Own Story

The storyline unfolds shortly after Mordremoth's death, tracking the path of Kralkatorrik as he flees south toward Elona. The deposed god Balthazar arrives in Tyria with a singular purpose: to hunt and slay the dragon. While his goal appears noble on paper, the stakes are higher than a simple conquest; dragons are vital for maintaining the flow of magic through the world's ley lines. If Balthazar succeeds in killing Kralkatorrik, the resulting disruption would destroy the world as it is known while empowering the god with stolen magic. The narrative drives players to intervene, preventing this catastrophic event and preserving the magical equilibrium of Tyria.

Reader's Guide

To access the Crystal Desert, players must have Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire installed, which launched on Microsoft Windows and macOS on September 22, 2017 after a pre-purchase period starting August 1, 2017. The region is located in Elona, south-east of Tyria, and serves as the backdrop for Season Four of the Living World. Gameplay features include new mounts that fundamentally change traversal, elite specializations for all professions, and a bounty system for defeating specific enemies. Players will engage with the storyline to stop Balthazar from killing Kralkatorrik, navigating through this historically significant area first introduced in Guild Wars Nightfall.

Did You Know?

• The Crystal Desert is located in Elona, an area previously accessible in the original Guild Wars: Prophecies campaign.
• Path of Fire was released on September 22, 2017, and made available for pre-purchase starting August 1, 2017.
• Balthazar returned to Tyria 1,329 years after the six Gods left during the Exodus.
• The expansion takes place approximately 255 years after the events of the original Guild Wars story (Nightfall in 1075 AE).
• Killing Kralkatorrik would destroy the world's magical equilibrium because dragons draw magic from ley lines to keep it balanced.