ArenaNet Makes Fishing a Lot More Accessible in Guild Wars 2 Latest Update

Guild Wars 2 developer ArenaNet just launched a pretty massive update which includes changes to fishing to make the activity more accessible, as well as adjustments to most professions in the game.

Fishing Now More Accessible

Players who enjoy fishing in Guild Wars 2 will be ecstatic to find out that the company has made changes to make the activity readily available to beginners and pros alike. First of all, the recommended fishing power levels in certain fishing spots found in the Horn of Maguuma have been adjusted. For example, the recommended fishing power for Fractured Channel Fish in the Skywatch Archipelago has been reduced from 650 to 250.

For those who are new to the game, fishing power is an attribute in Guild Wars 2 that improves one's ability to catch fish of higher rarity. It increases the size of the fishing marker as well.

In addition, the drop rates for higher rarity fish, including the Empress Fish and Codmander, have been increased. Players are more likely to acquire them now if they fish diligently in the Skywatch Archipelago.

Profession Adjustments

Professions in Guild Wars 2 are akin to character classes in other MMORPGs. That being said, the latest patch implemented a ton of adjustments to some professions in the game.

The Engineer's rifle and pistol weapons have been buffed with the intention of making them a bit more compelling to use. The pistol, in particular, now fills the role of a hybrid damage off-hand that can be used in conjunction with a sword or another pistol on the main hand for maximum damage.

ArenaNet also made improvements to the Mesmer's Chaos and Inspiration specializations. For one, Chaotic Transference has been reworked in that it now grants chaos aura to the player and to nearby allies as well. Allies who are granted the chaos aura also receive regeneration. Moreover, Temporal Enchanter now increases the duration of superspeed and resistance from two to three seconds in both PvE and PvP.

Here are the other notable adjustments to professions that are made in this patch:

GENERAL

Relic of Leadership: Increased the number of conditions converted to boons from 3 to 5 in PvE and from 2 to 3 in PvP and WvW.
Relic of the Centaur: Increased the stability stacks granted from 1 to 2 in all game modes. Increased the stability duration from 2 seconds to 3 seconds.
Relic of Resistance: This relic now grants its effect to allies in a radius of 360.
Relic of the Citadel: Fixed an issue that caused this relic to have infinite range.
Relic of the Sunless: Fixed an issue that caused this relic to have infinite range.
Relic of Peitha: The dagger is now launched from the ending location and fires faster. The damage increase now remains for a duration instead of ending after the first hit. Reduced the duration of the damage increase from 10 seconds to 4 seconds. Increased the torment duration from 4 seconds to 7 seconds in PvE only.

ELEMENTALIST

Hammer: Orbs will now be removed when swapping weapons.
Cauterizing Strike: Increased the angle of this skill's hit box.
Lightning Orb: Fixed an issue that prevented this skill from targeting large bosses such as Conjured Amalgamate.

GUARDIAN

Executioner's Calling: Increased the power coefficient of the initial strike from 0.75 to 1.25 in PvE only. Increased the angle of this skill's hit box.
Advancing Strike: Increased the power coefficient per hit from 0.75 to 1.25 in PvE only. Increased the angle of this skill's hit box.

SCOURGE

Sand Cascade: Reduced the healing power coefficient from 2.0 to 1.0 in WvW only.
Sandstorm Shroud: Reduced the pulse healing power coefficient from 0.65 to 0.35 and the final healing power coefficient from 1.3 to 0.7 in WvW only.
Desert Empowerment: Reduced the healing power coefficient from 1.2 to 0.65 in WvW only.

RANGER

Unleashed Wild Swing: This skill is no longer interrupted early by other skills.
"Strength of the Pack!": Reduced the cooldown from 75 seconds to 60 seconds.

The patch notes can be found on the game's official website.

With the recent changes to the fishing power level requirements in Guild Wars 2, will you go fishing in the Horn of Maguuma anytime soon?