Greetings, Tyrians! For the past few weeks, we've been teasing information about our expanded weapon proficiency feature, which will be arriving early next year for everyone who owns [i]Guild Wars 2™ : Secrets of the Obscure™[/i]. Each of our nine professions will have access to at least one new weapon and a smattering of new skills, which you can preview today! The Expanded Weapon Proficiency beta event begins today and runs until 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time (UTC-8) on December 3. [b]Please keep in mind that since this is a beta test, there will be placeholder UI, art, and audio for some of the weapon skills.[/b] Today we have also introduced a host of balance updates for all of the professions, which you can read all about in our [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140611-game-update-notes-november-28-2023/]update notes[/url]. [url=//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/10afbenUS-gw2-ex4-soto-new-wep-beta-1920x1080.jpg][img]//d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/10afbenUS-gw2-ex4-soto-new-wep-beta-1920x1080.jpg[/img][/url] [h1]How Can I Participate?[/h1] Every [i]Guild Wars 2[/i] account in good standing, including Play-for-Free accounts, will automatically get character slots marked "Beta" when the beta event begins. Clicking on one of these slots will allow you to create a character using any of the nine [i]Guild Wars 2[/i] professions. From there, explore the open world or try a game mode dedicated to group play. You'll find options to join World vs. World and structured Player vs. Player in the bar located at the top-left corner of your UI. To tackle the Fractals of the Mists instanced group content, visit Fort Marriner in Lion's Arch and enter the portal. Please note that the beta characters will disappear on December 3 at 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time (UTC-8) at the end of the event, and any gameplay progress earned while playing on them—including rewards and currency—will not be saved. We've created a thread in each profession's subforum for feedback from this beta. After you've had a chance to play, we'd like to hear what you think—what you enjoyed, what you think could be improved, and what you liked or disliked about the beta. Please visit the threads for [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140604-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-elementalist/]elementalist[/url], [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140603-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-engineer/]engineer[/url], [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140602-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-guardian/]guardian[/url], [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140601-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-mesmer/]mesmer[/url], [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140600-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-necromancer/]necromancer[/url], [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140599-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-ranger/]ranger[/url], [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140597-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-thief/]thief[/url], [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140598-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-revenant/]revenant[/url], and [url=https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/140596-expanded-weapon-proficiencies-beta-feedback-warrior/]warrior[/url] to share your feedback. [h1]Which New Weapons Can Each Profession Use?[/h1] Here is a handy list of the new weapons you can try out in the beta event. These will be fully released when the second major update for [i]Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure[/i] goes live early next year. Click the links below if you missed any of our recent expanded weapon proficiency preview blogs: [list] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/armed-with-dual-pistols-guardians-rain-down-bullets-of-justice]Guardian[/url]: Pistol (main and off hand)[/*] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/create-otherworldly-bonds-when-revenants-brandish-scepters]Revenant[/url]: Scepter (main hand)[/*] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/staff-warriors-bring-frontline-support-to-the-heat-of-the-battle]Warrior[/url]: Staff[/*] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/set-off-chain-reactions-with-the-engineer-short-bow-proficiency]Engineer[/url]: Short bow[/*] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/become-a-force-of-nature-with-the-dual-wielding-mace-ranger]Ranger[/url]: Mace (main and off hand)[/*] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/hurl-venomous-axes-with-the-thiefs-expanded-weapon-proficiency]Thief[/url]: Axe (main hand)[/*] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/pistols-grant-elementalists-the-choice-between-greater-damage-and-defense]Elementalist[/url]: Pistol (main hand)[/*] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/rifle-mesmers-direct-allies-to-the-nearest-emergency-exit]Mesmer[/url]: Rifle[/*] [*][url=https://www.guildwars2.com/news/sword-wielding-necromancers-are-gluttons-for-punishment]Necromancer[/url]: Sword (main and off hand)[/*] [/list] Until next time: be safe, have fun, and game on!