Which ADD-ONS Should I Use?
Hey there, my lovely readers! How’s it going today? First off, thanks a lot for all the love you’ve shown on my site. We’re slowly wrapping up this three-month journey together, and I really hope I’ve been able to share some useful content along the way. I like to sprinkle a bit of myself into my posts, but honestly, most of what I talk about you can also learn directly in-game from experienced players. That said, veteran players usually don’t care much about the in-game chat. They handle everything over Discord. Or to put it better, they communicate via Discord because it’s just way more practical.
And here’s why: Guild Wars 2 is a game that keeps you glued to the screen. Whether it’s achievements, story missions, or any other content, you always have to watch what’s happening. So reading chat, typing messages, or trying to share stuff can easily fall by the wayside. Only in PvP, WvW, or high-end PvE might commanders write a line or two for information, but if your group is static, even that rarely happens. Basically, Discord cancels out all that in-game typing and reading, which is honestly the smartest move.
Let’s say you just started the game and your close friends did too. That’s the perfect time to create your own group on Discord. While chatting about your day, sharing funny in-game moments, or just venting, you can also discuss what to do next in the game. My GW2King Discord channel is open for questions. Some players don’t like voice chat or feel they can express themselves better in writing, so this works perfectly. You can reach me there with any questions about the game, whatever you’re stuck on, and I’ll help as much as I can. Hardcore players, though, usually just tell you, “Go check YouTube” or “Look it up on the Wiki,” which is fine if you already know what you’re doing. But if you don’t understand why they answer like that, it can get confusing. For example, if you ask, “Do I need to craft this set?” you might just get a cold, “Check Google and craft it yourself.” Instead, it would be way nicer if someone said, “Come do a strike, gather some blue shards, and craft the set step by step.” Much more beginner-friendly, right?
Anyway, my goal here isn’t to target hardcore endgame players—they’re already running CM in PvE or grinding ranks in PvP. Asking distracting questions to them would just annoy everyone. That’s why doing a little research on my site, other sites, or Google first is the best choice.
Today, I want to talk about a few add-on programs that veterans already use, but beginners might not even know about. These are tools that will make your life in the game so much easier. I won’t make this post super long because I don’t want to bore you, but I will give you the essentials in my usual casual way. And if you’ve read this far, I think I’ve already made a good case for why Discord is awesome.
Discord
Yes, let’s start with Discord itself. Joining different channels, especially beginner-friendly ones like mine, and asking whatever you want to learn can really make your journey smoother. While chatting about your day or sharing stories, you can also plan what to do in the game, discuss strategies, or just vent about that one annoying event that keeps wiping your squad.
Use Wikipedia!
You might think, “Wait… Wikipedia? In-game? Are you serious?” Yep, serious. And it’s not complicated at all. The game gives us a super convenient way to get quick info about anything. Items, achievements, lore, you name it—you get detailed info in a few seconds. Some people don’t like it because it feels a bit generic, but honestly, this is exactly what makes GW2 a high-quality game.
When you’re in-game, press Enter to open chat, type /wiki followed by a space, and then type whatever you’re curious about. Press Enter again and boom—Wikipedia pops up with all the info. For example:
Just like that, you instantly see the source and details about whatever you’re looking for. Lore lovers, rejoice—you can even dive deep into the story without leaving the game. No add-on needed; it’s already built into the game.
What is ArcDPS and What Are Its Benefits?
Now, ArcDPS. This is the first real add-on most veterans swear by. You download it, copy the .dll file to your GW2 folder, and activate it with Alt + Shift + T. What does it do? Well, it lets you see whether everyone in your party is doing their job: is DPS normal or low, are supports buffing properly, is everyone using the right skills, is CC broken or used correctly? Basically, it answers that classic question: “I’m doing my stuff, but are my teammates doing theirs?” It’s incredibly helpful if you want to keep an eye on the party’s performance without being annoying. You can download ArcDPS here:ARC DPS
Blish HUD
Blish HUD is a beginner-friendly beast. It shows where to go in jumping puzzles, helps you track achievement coins, reminds you of boss and meta event timers, and even gives you keybindings and build rotation guidance. It has its own compass, double-jump features, and more. Seriously, it makes life so much easier. Almost every veteran uses it, and I strongly recommend it. You can check YouTube for setup tips and tweaks, but trust me—you’ll love this one. You can download Blish HUD here:Blish HUD
Nexus
Nexus offers similar features. You can pick whichever you like, or even use both. I personally stick with Blish HUD, but if you prefer Nexus, that’s totally fine too. You can download Nexus here: NeXuS
Tacho
Tacho used to be standalone and just show map locations, but now both Blish HUD and Nexus include its features. So you don’t need to download it separately anymore.
Guild Wars 2 Kill Proof
KPMe is mainly for endgame content players. It shows who has done which raids, how many fractals someone has completed, and helps you form squads with players who can actually handle the content. Always start with training content first to get a feel for what you can handle. Watching videos and reading guides gives you information, but actual gameplay is where you really learn. You can register here killproof.me
And that’s a wrap, friends! Take care of yourselves and have an awesome week in Tyria!
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