What is the difference between ascended and exotic gw2 WvW?
As a Guild Wars 2 player with over 1600 hours split across PvE and WvW, exotic and ascended gear are concepts I‘m intimately familiar with. Whether you‘re new to GW2 or a seasoned commander, understanding the differences between these gear tiers is key to succeeding in WvW.
Exact Stat Differences
Here‘s a comparison of the raw stats on a level 80 exotic Berserker greatsword versus an ascended one:
| Stat | Exotic | Ascended | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 1587 | 1743 | +10% |
| Precision | 1587 | 1743 | +10% |
| Ferocity | 1587 | 1743 | +10% |
- As you can see, ascended weapons and armor provide about a 10% stat increase over exotic
- For the three main DPS stats, this comes out to around +150 extra for ascended gear
- That stat bump equates to ~12.5% more damage dealt and damage mitigation
So while the advantage is small, it can make a difference in close WvW fights and PvE raids. However, having the right build is much more important – exotic berserker gear will still outdamage ascended cleric gear.
Acquiring Ascended Gear for WvW
Obtaining a full set of ascended gear is a lengthy grind. Here are some methods available in WvW:
- Mistforged Hero‘s Weapons – Purchase with skirmish claim reward tickets earned in WvW. Prioritize these.
- Reward Tracks – Complete repeatable tracks to receive ascended weapon and armor boxes. Slow but guaranteed progress.
- WvW Rank Up Chests – Grants ascended rings and accessories at higher ranks.
- Liquid WXP – Spend excess WXP on ascended gear crafting materials.
Infusions & Agony Resistance
For high-tier fractals, you need Ascended gear with infusion slots for compulsory Agony Infusions. This extra stat called Agony Resistance reduces incoming damage.
Agony becomes deadly in tier 4 (scale 76+) fractals. The maximum resistance needed is 150 AR at scale 100. So while exotic trinkets are fine for WvW, you need ascended to progress further in fractals.
The Cost: Craft Vs Buy Ascended
Besides the steep time investment, crafting a full set of ascended weapons, armor, and trinkets also has a heavy gold cost:
- Weapons – 50-100g per piece
- Armor – 150-300g for the set
- Trinkets – 20-70g per accessory
Which comes out to a total of 200-400 gold if crafting an entire ascended set!
Alternatively, you can purchase ascended gear outright from the trading post. But it‘s very expensive:
- Greatsword: 50-150g
- Helm: 50-100g
- Amulet: 50-150g
So crafting ascended gear is slow but considerably cheaper than buying it pre-made.
Legendary Gear Convenience
Legendary gear offers the same stats as ascended gear, but with a unique feature: You can freely change the stats and upgrades on legendary weapons and armor!
For example, you could swap a legendary berserker greatsword to viper stats before an encounter, then back to berserker afterwards. This flexibility makes legendary items extremely convenient – but they are very difficult and expensive to obtain.
Legendary trinkets also have this selectable stat feature, albeit slightly cheaper to acquire than armor and weapons.
Is Ascended Gear Necessary for WvW?
There‘s an ongoing player debate around whether ascended gear in GW2 offers too much of a hardship/advantage given the modest stat increase over exotic gear.
For open world and casual WvW, exotic gear is perfectly fine. But organised groups may expect players to have full ascended gear to pull maximum DPS in fights. So while not always necessary, it depends on your goals in WvW.
As a passionate GW2 player and WvW enthusiast, my advice is to work towards unlocking ascended trinkets and weapons first from the methods mentioned earlier. The small boost they provide is relatively accessible, especially the mistforged armory tickets route. But exotic armor sets are enough for most players.
With smart upgrades over time, you can slowly close that 12.5% gap without needing to break the bank. Let me know if this breakdown helps you determine your own GW2 ascended gear goals!
