Living World Season 3 Ascended Gear: A Complete Guide

Hey guys! Ready to dive deep into the world of Living World Season 3 and get your hands on some seriously awesome ascended gear? You've come to the right place! This guide is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about acquiring and crafting the best gear available in Season 3. We'll cover everything from the basics to the nitty-gritty details, ensuring you're well-equipped to tackle the challenges ahead. So, buckle up, because we're about to embark on a journey filled with powerful weapons, resilient armor, and the coveted ascended trinkets. Get ready to elevate your game and dominate the battlefield! Throughout Living World Season 3, ascended gear is a significant step up from exotic gear, and offers a noticeable power increase, especially in end-game content like raids and high-level fractals. The investment in ascended gear is often worth it for players who want to maximize their character's effectiveness. This guide is designed to make the process as clear and straightforward as possible, no matter if you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the Living World story. We'll break down the different types of gear, how to obtain them, and the best ways to craft them. Let's get started!

Understanding Ascended Gear in Living World Season 3

Alright, first things first: What exactly is ascended gear, and why should you care? Basically, ascended gear is the second-highest tier of equipment in the game, sitting just below legendary gear. It offers stats that are slightly better than exotic gear, and most importantly, it's the only tier that can equip agony infusions, crucial for high-level fractals and other challenging content. Ascended gear comes in several forms: weapons, armor, and trinkets (amulets, rings, accessories, and backpieces). Each type has its own acquisition methods, crafting requirements, and benefits. The key advantage of ascended gear is its ability to equip infusions. Infusions provide resistance to conditions like agony, which is necessary for higher-level Fractals of the Mists. They also provide other stats like power, precision, and ferocity. This gear is typically the goal for players who want to optimize their builds for difficult content.

The Importance of Ascended Gear

Why should you put in the effort to get ascended gear? Well, besides the slight stat boost over exotic gear, the main reason is agony resistance (AR). Agony is a nasty condition found in Fractals of the Mists, and without enough AR, you'll take massive damage. Ascended gear allows you to slot agony infusions, which directly counter this effect. This is absolutely essential for progressing through higher-level fractals. It also provides a significant edge in other end-game content, such as raids and some open-world events. Having a full set of ascended gear can dramatically improve your survivability and damage output. Therefore, if you're aiming to take on challenging content, ascended gear is a must-have.

Types of Ascended Gear

• Weapons: These come in various types, like swords, staves, and rifles. You can craft them or obtain them through specific Living World Season 3 achievements and story rewards. Ascended weapons offer a significant stat boost and are a cornerstone of any effective build.
• Armor: Just like weapons, you can craft ascended armor. Armor also drops from certain raid and fractal bosses. Different armor pieces have their own stats and bonuses. Ascended armor offers enhanced protection, making you more durable in combat.
• Trinkets: This category includes amulets, rings, accessories, and backpieces. Trinkets are usually obtained from specific achievements, Living World Season 3 story rewards, or crafting. Trinkets often provide valuable stat combinations.

How to Obtain Ascended Gear: A Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: how do you actually get this ascended gear? There are several methods, each with its own requirements and challenges. We'll break down each method step-by-step so you can choose the best approach for you.

1. Crafting Ascended Gear

Crafting is a reliable way to get ascended gear, but it requires a significant investment of time, resources, and gold. You'll need to level up a crafting discipline (like weaponsmithing, armorsmithing, or jeweler) to the maximum level. Then, you'll need to gather specific materials, including: refined materials (like orichalcum ingots and silk scraps), ascended crafting components, and other unique items. Specific crafting recipes are acquired through various means, often requiring completion of the Living World Season 3 story and associated achievements. It’s also important to note that the cost of crafting can vary depending on the fluctuating market prices of the materials. So, it's wise to keep an eye on the Trading Post. The required materials include specific crafting components, such as vision crystals (for weapons), charged quartz crystals, and other special items specific to the type of gear you are crafting. Crafting ascended gear gives you control over the stats and prefixes of your gear, allowing you to tailor your build to your specific needs. This makes crafting a popular choice for those who are focused on min-maxing their characters. Ascended crafting can be an investment, but the rewards are well worth the effort!

2. Earning Ascended Gear through Living World Season 3 Achievements

Playing through the Living World Season 3 story and completing specific achievements often rewards you with ascended gear or crafting materials. Each episode in Season 3 has its own set of achievements, some of which directly award ascended trinkets or crafting components. Keep an eye out for achievements that offer ascended gear. Many of these achievements are tied to completing specific story missions, gathering resources, or defeating certain bosses. The rewards vary, so make sure to check the achievement details to see what's on offer. These achievements not only reward you with gear, but also provide a fun way to experience the story. For example, completing certain episodes might award you with an ascended amulet. The story achievements are generally a great starting point for acquiring some early ascended gear.

3. Purchasing Ascended Gear from Vendors

Some vendors in the game sell ascended gear, often in exchange for specific currencies or tokens. These currencies are typically earned by completing certain activities, such as: fractals, raids, or specific Living World Season 3 content. These vendors provide a convenient way to acquire specific pieces of gear, especially if you're not interested in crafting or farming. However, the prices and requirements can vary. For instance, the Fractal Reliquary vendor offers ascended rings and other items in exchange for fractal currencies. Keep an eye on the vendors in Lion's Arch and other major cities, as they often have items for sale. This approach allows for a direct exchange of specific currencies for gear, saving you time if you have the required currencies.

4. Drops from Fractals and Raids

Fractals of the Mists and raids are end-game activities that have a chance to drop ascended gear. The drop rates vary depending on the content. Generally, higher-level fractals and raids have a better chance of dropping ascended gear. If you're looking for a specific type of gear, focusing on the appropriate content is important. Raids, for example, have a high chance of dropping ascended armor and weapons. Fractals offer a chance to drop ascended rings and other useful items. Participating in these activities is a great way to acquire gear and enjoy some challenging gameplay. For instance, completing specific raid encounters can reward you with chests containing ascended weapons or armor. This is often the most rewarding method for players who enjoy these types of activities.

Essential Tips for Acquiring and Utilizing Ascended Gear

Now that you know how to get ascended gear, let's talk about some tips and tricks to make the process smoother and more efficient. These tips will help you make the most of your time and resources.

1. Prioritize Agony Resistance

As mentioned earlier, agony resistance (AR) is the primary reason for obtaining ascended gear, especially for fractals. Make sure to equip agony infusions in your gear. These infusions come in various levels, with higher levels offering more resistance. Start with lower-level fractals to acquire AR infusions and gradually increase your level as you gain AR. The amount of AR you need depends on the fractal level, so do your research to find out how much you need for each fractal level. It's often recommended to start with a minimum of 50 AR to comfortably do the higher level fractal content. This will allow you to clear higher-level fractals with ease.

2. Choose the Right Stats

Ascended gear offers a variety of stats and prefixes. Choose the stats that best suit your build and playstyle. For example, if you're a power-based damage dealer, you'll want gear with power, precision, and ferocity. If you're a support class, you might prefer gear with healing power, concentration, and boon duration. Research the optimal stat combinations for your chosen profession and build. This can significantly affect your character's performance. Many builds in the game have been optimized by the community. Researching these builds can help you find the stat combination that suits your needs. Consider the stat needs based on what content you are running. For instance, if you are planning to run raids, you can find the best stats for the type of build you use by researching them online.

3. Plan Your Crafting and Acquisition Strategy

Crafting ascended gear requires planning. Research the crafting recipes and gather the necessary materials beforehand. If you're relying on specific achievements or vendors, know what you need to do to unlock the rewards. Make a checklist of the gear you need, and plan your farming activities accordingly. Some players prefer to craft weapons and armor, as the stats are very important. While others focus on earning the trinkets first. For instance, you could start by completing the Living World Season 3 story to earn some ascended trinkets, and then start crafting the weapons and armor. Create a clear roadmap to keep track of your progress.

4. Stay Updated with Game Updates

Guild Wars 2 is constantly evolving, so stay informed about any changes to the game. ArenaNet often introduces new content, changes to existing content, and balance adjustments. Keep an eye on patch notes and community forums to stay up-to-date. This includes new methods of obtaining gear, crafting recipes, and changes to the stats or prefixes. Always be aware of any adjustments to the game that might affect your build or the gear you need.

Conclusion: Gear Up and Conquer Living World Season 3!

There you have it, guys! This guide covers everything you need to know about ascended gear in Living World Season 3. By following these tips and strategies, you'll be well on your way to obtaining the best gear, boosting your character's power, and tackling even the most challenging content. Remember to prioritize agony resistance, choose the right stats, and plan your acquisition strategy. And most importantly, have fun! The world of Tyria awaits, so go out there and make the most of your ascended gear! Good luck, and happy gaming!