Picture from https://guildjen.com/harvest-temple-temple-strike-mission-guide/
END OF DRAGONS STRIKE MISSIONS! (GW2 EoD STRIKES)
Hey folks, welcome back! How are you all doing, my lovely readers? So, quick update before we jump into today’s spicy content. As of August 1st, the website has officially been live, and so far we’ve hit over 800 visits, with about 82 of you coming back every single week. Now, I have no clue who my “secret readers” are, but I seriously appreciate every single one of you.
I’ve slowly started working on the build pages you’ve been asking for. But remember, I’m doing all of this solo, so it takes a bit of time. Don’t worry, eventually all the core builds will be there, and they’ll be super handy for new players until they unlock their elite specs. Honestly, these classic builds never get old – even years later you can still run around Tyria, join events, and have fun with them.
By the way, just to keep things transparent: right now the site is averaging about 10–15 daily visits, which is awesome… but, here’s the catch. Most people come in, check my YouTube Yusking, and then just bounce out. Guys, c’mon! We’re just getting started here – a subscribe or a like on the channel, or even spending a couple extra minutes reading the posts on the site, makes a HUGE difference for me. It motivates me to keep going. Seriously, it costs you nothing but it means the world to me. And in a couple of weeks, I’ll also start recording long-form videos, which I’m super excited (and a little nervous) about. At the end of the day, I’m pouring a ton of effort into this – but whether it’s valuable or not, that’s something only you, the readers and viewers, can decide.
Now, let’s be real – constantly writing purely “informative” content can get boring, both for you and for me. I don’t want this to feel like you’re reading Wikipedia every time you visit. This is a blog, after all, so I’ll share my own thoughts, silly jokes, and little life reflections here and there. If I can make you smile while giving you useful info about Guild Wars 2, then mission accomplished.
Because let’s face it: life is hectic. Work, home, kids, parents, school – it all piles up. And at the end of the day, the most valuable thing we all crave is just a bit of happiness and fun. Think about it: if you asked an 80-year-old billionaire whether they’d rather be 20 years old again and broke, I guarantee they’d say yes. Why? Because you can’t buy time. You can’t rewind it, you can’t fast forward it – it flows with you, at its own pace, no matter what.
Alright, enough philosophy for today. Let’s dive into what you actually came for: End of Dragons Strike Missions.
If you’ve read my IBS5 Strike Missions post (you can find it here), then you know that after a long wait, Guild Wars 2 blessed us with a shiny new set of Strike Missions as part of the End of Dragons expansion. Once again, GW2 nailed it by giving us packed PvE content that keeps us entertained.
But here’s the twist: unlike some of the earlier strikes, EoD Strikes actually require mechanical knowledge, and even in normal mode, your squad might wipe several times before falling apart. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
So today, I’ll walk you through what to expect when you first step into these strikes, introduce the bosses, and share my own experiences. But remember: no matter how many guides you read or videos you watch, the ONLY real way to learn these encounters is by actually playing them yourself.
There are four Strike Missions in End of Dragons, and you access them all from Arborstone (just like how we used to use Eye of the North for IBS strikes). Here they are:
-
XJJ – Xunlai Jade Junkyard
-
AH – Aetherblade Hideout
-
KO – Kaineng Overlook
-
HT – Harvest Temple
Oh, and one more thing: Old Lion’s Court (OLC) is NOT an EoD strike. For the longest time, I thought it was, but turns out it’s actually a Living Season 1 strike mission. If anyone else was confused like me – there you go, mystery solved!
XJJ – Xunlai Jade Junkyard
Alright, here’s the first one. And sorry in advance – spoilers ahead for those who haven’t finished the EoD story yet.
This fight is against Ankka, an Asura scientist who used to be part of the crew but, well… let’s just say she lost it. Tiny but deadly, our dear Ankka throws everything at us. The arena constantly spawns dangerous ground AoEs, and if you don’t pay attention, you’ll fall. And once you’re down here, nobody can revive you – tough luck!
The fight has three phases. In each one, you chase her around after lowering her HP to a certain percentage. As always: follow your commander. Seriously, don’t be a lone wolf here.
During each phase transition, mobs spawn all over the place. You MUST clear them, because Ankka won’t take damage until the adds are dealt with. And watch out for those creepy crawling appendages – arms, claws, whatever they are – they hurt!
Once you repeat this dance for all three phases, you’ll finally defeat her, grab your shiny loot, and wave goodbye: See ya, XJJ!
AH – Aetherblade Hideout
Remember the Aetherblades, that ragtag pirate gang? Yeah, they’re back. Basically, they’re the Tyria version of “we do what we want” mercs.
Here, you’ll be fighting Captain Mai Trin and the Echo of Scarlet Briar. If you’ve played Living Season 1, you know that literally everything bad that happened back then ties back to Scarlet. I won’t spoil it, but… yeah, she’s kind of a big deal.
The fight takes place in a cave hideout. You start with Mai Trin, and as her health drops, Scarlet enters the arena. Watch out for the red circle AoEs – they’re everywhere. Also, you’ll need solid CC skills here because both Mai Trin and Scarlet bring shield phases that can drag the fight out if you don’t break them quickly.
Scarlet especially requires constant CC, while Mai Trin peppers the area with AoE slashes. Pay attention during the separation and merge phases – stick with your commander or risk falling to your doom.
After some chaos, you finally take them both down. The fight is definitely more mechanical than XJJ, so expect to be a little more drained afterwards. But hey, loot’s loot!
KO – Kaineng Overlook
This strike takes place on the rooftops of New Kaineng City, which is absolutely gorgeous. First, you face Li directly, but soon he sends you off to another rooftop where a giant mech, three mini-bosses, and a sniper are waiting.
This is where tank mechanics really come into play. Stick with your commander and stack up during the mech phase or you’ll get wrecked. And of course: avoid those red AoEs on the ground.
After finishing that rooftop challenge, you return to Li. Here’s the tricky part: he constantly spawns circular AoEs under players that explode, so spread out or you’ll nuke your teammates.
Also, pay attention when Li marks three players with numbers (1, 2, 3). If you’re marked, you MUST move away from the group or his special attack will wipe everyone. No pressure, right?
Take him down, grab the loot, and say: Bye bye, Minister Li!
HT – Harvest Temple
Okay, last one – the big boss strike. I won’t go too deep into details because it’s a major spoiler zone, but I’ll give you the basics.
The fight takes place on a massive platform in Dragon’s End, and the concept is wild: you face void-corrupted versions of every Elder Dragon you’ve fought in Tyria. Yep, they all come back for one last dance.
Each dragon has its own unique attacks and mechanics. On top of that, mobs constantly spawn to keep you busy. And in some phases, a giant orb appears in the center of the platform that must be pushed into specific zones. Usually the commander handles this, but trust me – it’s more stressful than it looks.
This strike is the ultimate teamwork test. Staying coordinated with your squad is EVERYTHING here, especially during the orb-pushing phases. If you go in blind, you’ll wipe fast. So my advice: do your homework, watch a video or two, read a guide, and then jump in.
Wrapping It Up
And that’s it – all four End of Dragons Strike Missions. Whew, that was a long post, but I hope it was useful! Whether you’re a new player dipping your toes into strikes for the first time, or a veteran brushing up on mechanics, I hope this guide makes your journey smoother – and maybe gave you a smile along the way.
Thanks for sticking with me, thanks for supporting the site, and as always: stay tuned for more GW2 guides, builds, and videos. See you in Tyria!
"All images on this page are sourced from ArenaNet’s official Guild Wars 2 Wiki. Used for informational purposes only."
Comments
Post a Comment