Account

This article is about Guild Wars 2 accounts. For other uses, see Account (disambiguation).

Accounts are collections of characters associated with a single set of login credentials. All characters within an account share any account-wide unlocks, such as achievements, masteries, and mounts.

As of August 29, 2015, all players can access the entire base (core) game for free. To fully access expansion and Living World content, players must make a one-time purchase for the respective paid content upgrade. Different account types are also introduced, with free accounts having the most restrictions.

As of August 23, 2022, players can create new accounts using their Steam account. These accounts are standalone and completely separate from accounts created via ArenaNet.

As of November 12, 2024, players can create new accounts using their Epic Games Store account. These accounts are standalone and completely separate from accounts created via ArenaNet and Steam.

Account creation

Players must create an account through either ArenaNet, Steam, or Epic Games Store. Each are completely separate accounts and not are linked to each other:

• Players must purchase all paid content upgrades using the same distribution platform as their account, i.e. Steam accounts must purchase all paid content upgrades through Steam.
• Paid content purchases made on a platform are not transferable to accounts created on a different platform, i.e. purchasing an expansion on Steam will not transfer over to an ArenaNet account.

Account types

All newly created accounts are free accounts by default, with the ability to upgrade to a full account. In order of decreasing access to content, the different account types are:

Full

• Full, unrestricted access to all content (including Living World content), after one-time purchases of all current expansions () and Living World episodes ().
• Full, unrestricted access to all content (sans Living World content), after one-time purchases of all current expansions.
• Full, unrestricted access to any owned expansion and Living World content after their one-time purchase.

Core

• Guild Wars 2 (core), unrestricted access to the core game, but no expansion features, free to play after purchase.

Free

• Free Account, restricted access to the core game, no expansion features, unlimited time, totally free.
• Steam Account, same access as a free account, but with restrictions regarding account management and serial code redemption.
• Epic Games Account, same access as a free account, but with restrictions regarding account management and serial code redemption.

Additional details on the differences between account types can be found on the Guild Wars 2 Account Types page and in the table below. Refer to the Limitations section for more detail.

Features	Account Type
	Free	Core	Full
	Purchases
Requirements	Default	Purchase the Guild Wars 2 Starter Pack ArenaNet accounts only: Redeem either a Guild Wars 2 Heroic Edition or original Guild Wars 2 game key (both no longer available for purchase)	Purchase any expansion: ArenaNet accounts only: Serial codes from ArenaNet Store or approved third-party retailers (Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate) Steam accounts only: Steam Store (Standard1) Epic Games accounts only: Epic Games Store (Standard1)
Gems	400  earned in-game per 5000 In-game purchase with real-world money ArenaNet & Epic Games accounts only: Gem cards	400  earned in-game per 5000 In-game purchase with real-world money Currency Exchange ( to ) ArenaNet & Epic Games accounts only: Gem cards	400  earned in-game per 5000 In-game purchase with real-world money Currency Exchange ( to ) ArenaNet & Epic Games accounts only: Gem cards
Currency Exchange	to	to to	to to
Gem Store	Limited	1	1
World Transfer	Limited (1-time service only via customer service)	1	1
	Game Features
Content	See Expansion for content unlocked based on owned paid content upgrades
Base Game Content	Limited by character level	1	1
Level Cap	80	80	80
Masteries	0	0	1
Character Slots (Total)	2 More purchasable with	5 More purchasable with	5 More purchasable with
Bag Slots (Per Character)	3 More purchasable with	5 More purchasable with	5 More purchasable with
Trading Post	Limited	1	1
Guild Hall Features	Limited	1	1
Wizard's Vault	Limited	Limited	Full with most recent expansion
	Communication
In-Game Mail	Limited	1	1
Whisper	Limited	1	1
Map Chat	Limited	1	1
Squad Chat	Account-wide unlock at level 30	1	1
PvP Chat	Limited	1	1
Custom Emotes	0	1	1
Looking for Group	Account-wide unlock at level 30	1	1
Forum Posting Access	0	1	1

¹ Non-ArenaNet accounts cannot purchase deluxe and ultimate editions of expansions outside of the game. However, all accounts that own the standard edition of an expansion can perform an in-game purchase of the corresponding deluxe edition upgrade for 2,400 .

Upgrade

Free accounts Upgrade prompt

An account can be upgraded to an expansion account by purchasing any expansion.

Accounts that redeemed an original Guild Wars 2 or Guild Wars 2 Heroic Edition serial code are upgraded to a Core Account. Both are no longer purchasable, however Heroic Edition keys (occasionally issued during special promotions) are still redeemable only by ArenaNet accounts.

Expansions can be purchased by ArenaNet accounts:

1. by clicking the upgrade prompt always visible in the upper-left corner of free accounts;
2. by purchasing via the official website shop or an approved third-party retailer, and then logging into the ArenaNet website to redeem the serial code;
3. by redeeming a serial code provided directly by ArenaNet (such as from special promotions).

Non-ArenaNet accounts are more limited in purchasing options:

1. by clicking the upgrade prompt always visible in the upper-left corner of free accounts;
2. by purchasing via Steam for Steam accounts only;
3. by purchasing via Epic Games Store for Epic Games accounts only.

Support

• ArenaNet accounts can create a support ticket or use the in-game support panel for account-related issues.
  • If an account is compromised, then an Account Restoration can be requested.
• Non-ArenaNet accounts must contact their platform's support for issues with account access, management and store/wallet purchases. For in-game issues and in-game gem store purchases, contact the Guild Wars 2 support team.

Linking a Guild Wars account

Guild Wars Reforged account linking flowchart

ArenaNet Accounts, and some Steam accounts, can be linked to an original Guild Wars account and gain bonuses through the Hall of Monuments. This service is available in the Game Content section on the official My Account website.

“

Unlock access to your earned achievements and rewards by linking your Guild Wars account with your ArenaNet account. Enter your original Guild Wars account name and password below to link your accounts. To calculate your achievements and rewards, visit the Hall of Monuments.

Linking is irreversible. Once both accounts are linked, your ArenaNet account information will be used to log in to both Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2.

— My Account website

Characteristics

Many characteristics are associated with an account and shared by all characters on an account.

Server region

Primary article: Server region

Upon first launch, a server region has to be selected to determine the location of the game servers your characters will connect to.

Account vault

Primary article: Account vault

• Bank (30-slot) — additional Bank Tab Expansions can be purchased from the Gem Store
• Material Storage (250 per item) — additional Material Storage Expanders can be purchased from the Gem Store

Items

• Account Bound items
• Items that are stored in the Account Vault
• Currency stored in the Wallet

Progress

• Achievements and titles
• Wizard's Vault objectives
• PvP Rank and PvP Reward Tracks
• World Experience and WvW Reward Tracks
• Account bonuses
• Masteries

Upgrades and unlocks

• Wardrobe skins (Level 6 Unlock)
• Outfits (Level 6 Unlock)
• Miniatures (Level 6 Unlock)
• Dyes (Level 6 Unlock)
• Finishers (Level 2 Unlock)
• Mail carriers (Level 10 Unlock)
• Mounts (Level 80 Unlock)

Player interactions

• Contacts are shared across the entire account.
• Whispers and group invites can be sent using any character name on an account, and are received on the online character.
• Mail sent by another player can be read and deleted by any character in the account. However, selected game-generated mail can only be read and deleted by one character.
• Guilds are associated with an entire account, with all character being members of the same guilds. Each character can choose to represent different guilds, and must each individually press the "represent" button to use certain guild perks.

Limitations

Certain limitations apply to all accounts depending on level and account age, with additional restrictions applying only to free accounts.

Core accounts

Guild Wars 2 (core) accounts do not have access to expansion features. In particular, they are not able to use gliding, skiffs, fishing, or unlock mastery points in central Tyria. They are not able to buy any expansion-related items in the Gem Store and Wizard's Vault, but they can buy and use the items from other expansions on Trading Post.

Character level requirement

Some content is restricted until at least one character on the account has reached the minimum level requirement, after which all characters in the account have access, regardless of level.

Mail

Cannot compose mail until level 2, but may receive mail.

User interface

^{[verification requested]}

• Map completion icons on World Map - hidden until level 2.
• Structured PvP icon — hidden until level 3.
• World versus World icon — hidden until level 31.
• Wizard's Vault icon — hidden until level 80.

These game modes can still be accessed through the asura gates in Lion's Arch or key binding the panels.

Bug:

Squad chat (and party chat in a squad) is locked on any character below level 32, no matter their account type and other character levels on the account. This limitation extends to Squad Broadcasts as well, and applies no matter if you are the commander of the squad or not.

Game mechanics

Hero challenges unlocked at level 11.

Time requirement

Some content is restricted until sufficient real-world time has passed. The timer starts once a code for an expansion or the core game gets applied to the account.

Three day

• Currency Exchange in the Gem store after account creation to combat botting and scams.
• All deposits and withdrawals to the Guild Vault after joining a Guild for verified accounts. The time remaining is shown on the Guild Vault display and the entire vault is "grayed out". This timer is reset if you leave and rejoin a guild. It is not affected by either Guild Rank or Vault permissions.

Five day

• The trading post limits (ability to buy or sell certain items) are removed 5 days after code application.
• Access to the Guild Vault regardless of Guild Rank will become available 5 days after code application.

Seven day

There is a restriction of 500  per week on the total amount any account may receive from a Guild Vault or via in-game mail. If this is exceeded using the Guild Vault then the "withdraw" button is "greyed out". If exceeded using in-game mail then when you hover over the "Take All" button", you may see:

“

This would exceed the value allowed to be received by this account this week. Each account can only receive 5,000,000 coins per week through in-game mail or the Guild Vault. Please wait and try again later.

— In-game message

First month

The first 30 days following creation, a new account is limited as follows:

• Amount of coin or item with assigned value that can be mailed. However, any amount can be received.
• Value of items both deposited into and withdrawn from a Guild Vault.

The amount you are allowed increases by approximately one gold every 10 hours. The exact amount of the coin limit is determined by the level of the highest level character of the account. When this amount is exceeded, the error message that appears is:

“

This transfer would exceed the total value of transfers allowed for new accounts. As you continue to play, your account will be allowed to transfer higher values. New account limits are necessary to protect your online experience from fraud and illegal trading. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience.

— In-game message

Anomalies:

• An unlimited amount of items that have no assigned value can be transferred by new accounts regardless of their price on the Trading Post.
• Multiple small amounts of gold can be transferred by new accounts even though equivalent large, single transfers are blocked.

Free accounts

3 of 5 character slots locked out

Free accounts have a number of additional restrictions placed on them, with the intent of preventing malicious persons from using them to disrupt the game and to encourage purchase of the game.

• Initial character slots (2). The other 3 of 5 initial slots are locked.
• Bag slots per character (3): 20 slot Starter Backpack plus 2 expansion slots, initially empty.
• In-game mail limited to mutual friends; prohibits sending coin and items, but they can both be received.
• Guild hall features: Guild Vault, Guild Enhancements and Guild Portal are unavailable, but full access to all other guild features.
• Gem Store limited to items usable by free accounts.
  • Free gifts can be claimed, but cannot be gifted.
• Currency Exchange — gems to gold exchange available, gold to gems exchange unavailable.
• Transferring to different worlds is unavailable, except through customer service. (Customer service will, as a one-time service, assist free players who initially chose the wrong server.)
• Official forum posting unavailable.

Character level requirement

Character specific

• Only starter maps can be accessed until character level 10.
  • There is one waypoint in every starting area automatically available for transport before level 35.
  • Attempting to leave the starting area will give the following message: "You must be level 10 to enter this area. You can open your map by pressing M to travel to other starting zones. Upgrade your account with a Guild Wars 2 expansion to access this area immediately."
• Lion's Arch is unlocked at character level 35.
  • Attempting to enter Lion's Arch before level 35 will give the following message: "You must be level 35 to enter this area. You can open your map by pressing M and travel to other starting zones. Upgrade your account with a Guild Wars 2 expansion to access this area immediately."

Account wide

• PvP is unlocked once any character reaches level 3.
• Looking For Group is unlocked once any character reaches level 30.
• World versus World is unlocked once any character reaches level 60.

Chat

• Map chat messages are rate-limited.
• Whisper chat is limited to mutual friends and people in the same map. Mentors can talk to players via whisper.
  • For non-friends, can only whisper one new person every 30 seconds.
• Players cannot use custom emotes. (/e, /me, etc., but can still use emotes such as /talk, /dance, etc.)
• Squad chat unlocked at character level 30.
• PvP chat:
  • team chat available
  • PvP Lobby chat unlocked at PvP Rank 20
  • emotes, map chat, and say chat disabled during matches

Trading Post

Trading Post is limited, either for buying or selling, to items from a selected list, which are as follows:

• fine, masterwork, rare and exotic crafted armor, crafted weapons (including Destroyer weapons) and trinkets, but only:
  • Single attribute: Mighty, Precise, Resilient, Vital, Malign, Healing
  • Dual attribute: Hearty, Honed, Hunter's, Ravaging, Rejuvenating, Strong, Vigorous
  • Triple attribute: Apothecary's, Assassin's, Berserker's, Carrion, Cleric's, Knight's, Rampager's, Valkyrie
• orbs, crystals, shards etc. with the above-mentioned stats (incl. Passion Flower)
• Agony Infusions
• unrefined common crafting materials (no pigments)
• fine crafting materials: blood, bones, claws, dust, fangs, scales, totems, venom sacs, karka shells, watchwork sprockets
• nearly all cooking materials
• some food and utilities: Plate of Truffle Steak, Bowl of Lemongrass Poultry Soup, Bowl of Poultry and Leek Soup, Orange Cake, Mango Pie, Glazed Peach Tart, Strawberry Ghost, Master Tuning Crystal, Superior Sharpening Stone, Master Maintenance Oil
• Globs of Ectoplasm, Mystic Coins, Quartz Crystals, Pieces of Ambrite
• Unidentified Dyes
• Trick-or-Treat Bags
• Wintersday Gifts
• Black Lion Chests
• some bags: 10 Slot Thin Leather Pack, 15 Slot Rugged Leather Pack, 18 Slot Mithril Box, 18 Slot Silk Bag, 18 Slot Thick Leather Pack

Not allowed items will be grayed-out with a locked symbol in the lower-left corner.

Non-ArenaNet accounts

Accounts can be created through Steam or Epic Games, but will have additional account management limitations.

• Deluxe and Ultimate editions of expansions cannot be purchased on the storefront. However, Digital Deluxe Upgrades can be purchased in-game with for all owned content.
• The specific storefront's support handles issues with account access, management and store purchases. For in-game issues and in-game gem store purchases, contact the Guild Wars 2 support team.

Steam accounts

Primary article: Steam

Steam accounts have the following additional restrictions:

• Guild Wars 2 accounts created via Steam must log in via Steam. Accounts created on other platforms are completely separate and cannot be transferred over.
• Authentication options are through Steam and not ArenaNet.
• Gem codes or expansion game codes cannot be redeemed (must be purchased via Steam).
• With Guild Wars Reforged, some accounts can be linked if they use the same login system. See #Linking a Guild Wars account.

Epic Games accounts

Primary article: Epic Games Store

Epic Games accounts have the following additional restrictions:

• Guild Wars 2 accounts created via Epic Games must log in via Epic Games. Accounts created on other platforms are completely separate and cannot be transferred over.
• Gem codes can only be redeemed in-game via the Black Lion Trading Company and not the website. Item codes can be redeemed using either method.
• Guild Wars accounts cannot be linked.

Trivia

• Trial accounts were available during some special events before being made obsolete by free accounts, and had similar restrictions. Old accounts were reactivated with each event.
  • November 15-18, 2012 (The Lost Shores world event) — Refer-a-friend
  • April 19-21, 2013 — Partner websites
  • August 23-25, 2013 — Open registration
  • September 25 - October 1, 2014 — Open registration