We took a look at Visions of Eternity previously and learned that a fresh set of elite specializations is one of the big selling points of the upcoming Guild Wars 2 expansion. Last time not all new elite specs were revealed yet, but now all nine are out in the open. Players even got to try them out during the Elite Specialization Beta!
I’m usually very hesitant when it comes to investing a lot of time into a beta, because I don’t want to get too attached to a certain playstyle when developers can still shake things up. I still decided to try out the beta to get a general feel of the new elite specs and to be able to share my initial thoughts with you here at NERDSHOCK HQ.
Let’s get into it!
Troubadour, Galeshot & Luminary
The first set of elite specializations that got an official trailer are the Troubadour, Galeshot and Luminary. I love the lore of the Troubadour, but when I finally got the chance to try it out.. it felt pretty clunky. I think I didn’t enjoy the Troubadour, because I’m too attached to my Virtuoso which feels so much more focused and streamlined.
I’m a double bow user on my Soulbeast, I know.. I know.. that’s not meta. When I saw the Galeshot, I thought the elite spec was something I would skip. Who needs a third bow? I still wanted to try it out during the beta and I have to admit.. I actually quite like it a lot! As a player who wields a short bow and long bow, I guess it was to be expected I would totally dig the Cyclone Bow too. I’m not sure if I will change my main to Galeshot, but I definitely plan on playing the new elite spec on one of my alts.
Core Guardian is one of my favorite professions and I’ve stuck with it 10+ years. When I learned that the Luminary keeps access to the Virtues of the Core Guardian, the new elite spec peaked my interest. After trying it out during the beta, I’m still unsure about the skills we get during the Radiant Shroud and if I would enjoy that type of playstyle in the long run. I’m still open to playing Luminary, but will keep an eye on the changes the elite spec will go through after the beta.
Antiquary, Ritualist & Paragon
Next up are the Antiquary, Ritualist and Paragon. When I first saw the Antiquary, I instantly got hit with Indiana Jones vibes. I love that you team up with Skritt to steal artifacts to use in combat. I’ve never been a good Thief, so I wasn’t super good at playing as an Antiquary during the beta. With it’s RNG elements and rather unusual mechanics, I do wonder if it will be a useful elite spec. I still think it would be fun to master this elite spec someday, just for the fun of it.
I don’t play Necromancer during my daily Guild Wars 2 adventures and I haven’t played the original Ritualist class in Guild Wars. I do think Ritualist is an elite spec players can easily get into, but playing it during the beta didn’t capture my heart as I had hoped. Since I’m already not a player that is into Necromancer, I probably won’t be spending much time with Ritualist once the new expansion goes live.
I also don’t play Warrior much during my regular gaming sessions, so at first I planned on skipping Paragon all together. Since I already tried out Ritualist, I thought I should give Paragon a shot too. I actually quite enjoyed it, even though I still don’t like the Adrenaline system of Warrior. I’m looking forward to mastering Paragon and yes.. I will bring my spear into battle! *roaaars*
Evoker, Amalgam & Conduit
The set of new elite specializations is completed with the Evoker, Amalgam and Conduit. Who doesn’t want to summon a familiar that will aid you in battle? I love the lore of the Evoker and having a familiar on your side looks pretty cool. I’m quite a basic Elementalist player in Guild Wars 2, so I would love to be able to stick to an Element. I do think the developers will make a bunch of changes to the new elite spec before the launch of the expansion. I’ll just wait and see if it will be worth to master the Evoker or stay a very basic Elementalist.
The elite specialization that truly surprised me the most is the Amalgam. I never expected I would like dig this new elite spec. I love how it looks, I love how it feels, I love how it plays. I only scratched the surface, but I’m eager to dive deeper and fully master being an Amalgam. It’s slime time!
The Revenant profession never managed to fully click with me. The Conduit, its new elite specialization, looks reallllly cool.. thematically, but I personally don’t think I can make it work. That’s just me not being a Revenant player.
Final Thoughts
I only spent a short time with the new elite specializations during the beta. As mentioned before I don’t quite like diving into a beta, knowing things can change.. a lot. I’m glad to have been able to get a general feel of the new elite specializations.
I’ve been hesitant about the addition of new elite specializations to Guild Wars 2, I will always be a casual player who prefers experiencing story over gameplay. I’m happy the beta has helped me get me more excited about the new elite specs, even surpising me in a good way e.g. the Amalgam. I’m eager to get out of my comfort zone and return to them once the new expansion is released.
The new elite specializations will still undergo change before Visions of Eternity officially releases on October 28th, 2025. I will definitely keep an eye on updates and see which interesting builds are crafted before committing 250 Hero Points to unlock one of the new specs.
Journey Through Tyria
To celebrate my love for Guild Wars 2, I’ve decided to go on a Journey Through Tyria with Basil The Wanderer. Always wanted to try out a MMORPG, but still feel a little hesitant? Join Basil on his adventure right here at NERDSHOCK HQ ⚡