“It’s beginning to feel like Wintersday,
Frigid weather is here.
The snowflakes fall in the Reach,
While the choir bells never cease,
And Toymaker Tixx is spreading holiday cheer!
It’s beginning to feel like Wintersday,
Gifts and joy abound!
With races through the snow,
And snowballs to throw,
Wintersday magic’s all around!”

As the year winds down and a crisp chill fills the air, Divinity’s Reach transforms into a snowy wonderland for our favorite holiday tradition: Wintersday! From now until January 2, Tyria welcomes everyone—whether you’re a seasoned hero or just taking your first steps into adventure—for a celebration brimming with joy, laughter, and just the right amount of snowball mischief. Check out the full release notes for all of the details on today’s update.

New Treasures Await

This year’s Wintersday introduces a host of delightful rewards! Wrap your hands in cozy Winter Mittens once you complete the (Annual) Wintersday Traditions meta-achievement. You’ll also be able to add whimsy to your arsenal with the Ginger Shortbread Short Bow, the Wintersday Bash Hammer, or the Gingerbread Speargun. For collectors, the new Mini Plush Fox is an irresistible and adorable companion. You and your guildmates can enhance your halls—or even personal homesteads—with new Wintersday-themed decorations.

The highlight of this year’s rewards is the amazingly cute (but deadly) Plush weapon set, earned through the (Annual) Wintersday Traditions meta-achievement. These weapons bring a cuddly-yet-fierce charm to your battles, making them a must-have for any adventurer!

Where to Begin

A letter from Toymaker Tixx should already be in your in-game mailbox, offering a handy invitation that will teleport you straight to Divinity’s Reach. Portals in major cities like Lion’s Arch and Hoelbrak also lead to the bustling heart of the festival.

Visit locations marked by peppermint candies on your map to participate in Wintersday activities. Don’t forget to visit Wintersday trees and Toymaker Tixx himself each day to collect gifts.

You’ll also receive a letter from Orphan Laine, who needs your help with a scavenger hunt. The hunt will require you to travel to some areas intended for level 80 players, but once you’ve unlocked it you can complete it at any time, even after Wintersday ends.

And for adventurers roaming Central Tyria, keep an eye out for enormous, mysterious presents that hide holiday surprises—and sometimes mischievous skritt!

Festive Activities for All

Bell Choir Ensemble

Join the bell maestro in the enchanted snow globe for a collaborative rhythm game! Play iconic songs alongside fellow Tyrians to earn karma, Wintersday gifts, and more. Speak to the Bell Maestro near the Royal Terrace in Divinity’s Reach and enter the enchanted snow globe to take part!

Donation Drive

Speak with the Charity Corps Seraph in the Crown Pavilion to purchase rolls of wrapping paper. These rolls can be combined with various items earned from Wintersday activities to create wrapped gifts. Give these gifts to orphans throughout Divinity’s Reach and get some well-earned karma for your good deeds.

Mount Racing

Speed through the snowy streets of Divinity’s Reach in the mount race! Even if you don’t own a mount, you can rent a raptor for just 10 silver.

Snowball Mayhem

Enter a snow-covered battlefield for a capture-the-flag-style brawl. Choose your role—supporter, heavy gunner, or scout—and help your team collect Wintersday gifts to claim victory. Speak with the festive Lionguard near the Royal Terrace in Divinity’s Reach to enter and choose your role!

Strike Mission: Secret Lair of the Snowmen

Assemble a squad and enter the portal southwest of the Crown Pavilion to take on Freezie himself! Heal his frozen heart in this epic Strike Mission, available to players at level 80.

Tixx’s Infinirarium

Help Toymaker Tixx keep his workshop running smoothly in this dynamic dungeon. Team up and work together to tackle malfunctioning toys and haywire machinery. Enter Toymaker Tixx’s airship from the candy cane portal just west of the Crown Pavilion to assist the asura craftsman.

Toypocalypse

Team up with friends to defend Tixx’s gift dolyaks from waves of mischievous malfunctioning toys in this tower defense-style challenge. Speak to the toy captain just south of the Crown Pavilion in Divinity’s Reach to enter this game mode.

Winter Wonderland

For jumping puzzle enthusiasts, Winter Wonderland offers a frosty challenge. Choose one of three paths, dodge exploding presents, and leap across melting snowflakes to claim your reward! Speak to the festive youth at the Crown Pavilion to enter.

Wintertime Raiding

To go perfectly with the Wintersday celebrations, we’re making it easier for you to gather your squad and tackle the eighth Guild Wars 2 raid wing, Mount Balrior! Starting December 10, Emboldened mode and Call of the Mists will be enabled for Wing 8, just in time for the holiday break. The Emboldened effect gradually increases your squad’s strength as you persevere through the raid, making it the perfect opportunity for newcomers and seasoned adventurers alike to dive in and explore the challenges. And Call of the Mists makes raiding more rewarding, so it’s a great time to attempt to tackle some bosses.

For now, Emboldened will remain active for Mount Balrior until it joins the global Call of the Mists and Emboldened rotation, expected later next year. And don’t worry—if your squad craves the thrill of a challenge, you can disable Emboldened at any time.

Happy Holidays

It’s a time for generosity, friendly competition, and the small joys that bring people together, whether through a shared snowball skirmish or the satisfaction of giving back to those in need. So wrap up warm, bring your companions, and make memories that will linger long after the snow melts. Wintersday is calling, and Tyria’s heart beats a little brighter this time of year. We sincerely hope our wonderful community enjoys Wintersday and the holiday season. Be safe!