daveross37: If they follow their previous elite specialization teaser order they used in passed expansions, this is probably Guardian. (order: Mesmer, Guardian, Necromancer, Elementalist, Revenant, Warrior, Thief, Engineer, Ranger.)

iamsiwel: Elite specialisations woo!

La.máquina.de.los.sueños: A lute -> Bard, probably mesmer... and valkyrie helmet -> Valkyrie, probably guardian

So far, it's very Euro-centric... it really don't help to guess where we'll go... Kryta is nearly totally explored.

mebrandonb: The spears came out so good imo, I wonder if after they worked on them they revisited the idea of elite specs and were like "wait...we can totally do this."

Draxynnic: I would roll my eyes SO hard if it's an "arcane knight" elementalist specialisation.

Elementalist, despite being presented as a 'prefers ranged' profession in core, has thus far received in elite specialisations:

Tempest: Designed to be used with dagger as a way to play melee elementalist

Weaver: Designed to be used with sword as a way to play melee elementalist

Catalyst: Designed to be used with hammer as a way to play melee elementalist.

Now, there are ways to use those elite specialisations with ranged builds, but elementalist really needs at least one elite specialisation that is designed to be mostly used at range, akin to Virtuoso and Scourge.

spiflication: An expansion of all new elite specs is really exciting. Looks like it’s time to jump back in but I can’t ever settle on a class

scooberz2015: WHAT ME THINKS WE"VE GOT (IM AN ENORMOUS NERD GOOD LORD, ALSO NO NEW WEPS!)

MINSTREL (Mesmer): Shatters are replaced with "chords". Gain access to an instrument (trait dependent) as an alternate weapon set, but lose the ability to weapon swap. Clones now generate "rhytm", which is slowly expended when wielding you're instrument, where you mix "Chords" and 1 - 5 to play various different songs. You gain an F5 skill "Harmonize" which will empower the next "song" you play. Intentional "simplified" trait for Power DPS for those who don't want to remember different songs called "Simple Plan" that will essentially make it an extremely easy to follow Rhytm game when your instrument is equipped. A heavily support centric eSpec that will work similarly to druid, with three very specific, but effective, DPS traits. Gains access to "Shouts" that have unique interactions with instruments.

CHAMPION / SERAPH / VALKYRIE (Guardian): Dodge replacement spec. Dodge now becomes more like "channeled" skills, that drain HP. IE: Tap dodge, you'll gain the effect and your endurance will slowly drain. Default "dodge" will simply increase your move speed and reduce your chance to be hit. When wielding a 2hander, it will drain rapidly and give you a powerful "parry" attack if time correctly. When wielding a shield, you will simply be immune to damage in a cone in front of you, draining at a moderate rate. This will also be a "dual skill" spec ala Thief or Weaver, but only when a Shield is equipped, as I think a specialization that can offensively use a shield is desperately needed. Naturally, there will be support for dealing damage with a shield equipped, as well as Spear support. Outside of that, traits will focus on dodge functionality. Primarily a pure DPS eSpec. Gains access to Stance skills.

WHAT ME HOPES WE WILL SEE (In what I expect to be the release order, based on prior history)

-OCCULTIST (Necro): Deep sea, cthulu "old god" summoner akin to Mechanist. Tentacled monstrosity that chokes and spits ink for condi, or beats things senselessly with an anchor if power. Gains Banner skills that can be traited to be attached to you OR your "Monstrosity" pet.

-NOCTURNE (Revenant): This one's really out there. Day night theme. The new legend you gain access to is a SHROUD style mechanic, and you gain access to it by using energy in your other "legends". Traits to make Scepter the awesome sauce we thought we were getting, not the clunkiest thing ever created.

-ARCHON / AVATAR (Warrior): Very support - centric, a true home for "Staff" (zerker has certianly made strides though). This is the inspiring leader, the unshakeable commander. The face that people will follow into battle and die for, because they know you would do the same. Burst skills are now replaced with commands ala Renegade. Gains access to Spirit skills similar to Ranger, though they will be more akin to invocations of a legendary Phalanx (almost like Renegade's Warband).

-ANIMIST (Elementalist): Golemancer, who will "sacrifice" an entire attunement to create an elemental golem of said type. Another "Mechanist" style spec, with the big bad summon. Will have more support for Elementals / Lesser Elementals as well as bringing some "Conjured" weapons back into the fold. Gains access to "Spirit Weapons" similar to guardian, though they'll naturally have an "animated weapon" aesthetic with unique interactions.

-SWASHBUCKLER (Thief): Avast ye hearty mates! We've found the treasure at last! Some doubloons, the old Gangplank splash art from League AND WHATS THIS? ARGHHH, IT BE A NEW OFF - HAND WEAPON AFTER SO MANY YEARS, GRAB YER SWORDS SCALLYWAGS, WE'VE GOT US SOME NEW DUAL SKILLS! ARGHHH NO NEW WEAPONS YOU SAY? PIRATES ARE ABOVE THE LAW, WE'LL TAKE OUR OFF - HAND SWORDS, BUILD US A BRAND NEW SHIP AND SET SALE! WELL TRADE IN STEALING FOR PILLAGING, A MASSIVE COMBAT BUFF THAT CONTINUES TO DRAIN INITATIVE, BUT WE MUST BALANCE IT WELL MATEYS, FOR OUR NEW DUAL SKILLS, ARE HEAVY HITTERS WITH BIG COSTS! I JUST SPENT ALMOST ALL OF MY INITATIVE ON ONE SKILL, YAHARRRR. "X Marks the Spot!", THAT SWORD I THREW AT YOUR FEAT AND THE BULLET I FIRED INTO THE AIR ARENT FOR SHOW LAND LUBBER. FIRE THE CANNON MATEYS, BURRY THE LAND LUBBER IN CANNONBALLS!..Gains access very powerful Elixirs...that have downsides because...grog. That's like, another word for "alcohol" . I think. Argh.

-CHLOROMANCER / WARDEN (Ranger): Feeeeeeeel the thornssssssss embracccccccccce! Cosplay as Zyra from league, as you plant seeds and "choose" how to grow them for different effects. You're pet isn't gone, but is now a glorified "gardening" assistant. Gain access to "Turret" skills, who gain unique powerful bonuses based on how they were grown (heavily customizable from traits, time based growth, ability usage growth, heal output growth etc.).

DYNAMO / DYNAMIST - (Engineer): Wow. No more tool belt skills? In combat weapon swapping, you say, but...I can't actually weapon swap! This one's also out there, trying to capture the mad genius with a weapon that does, and can seemingly morph at will. You'll essentially create you're own order of ability casts, using one kit, and two sets of weapons, or vice versa, needing to meet specific criteria's to "morph" an ability into the next one its in chain. While its conceptually complex and intended to be for the "Weaver lover" types out there, a lot of its power comes from CONSTANTLY swapping, the more your weapon transform and change shape, the more energy you'll build up, which can be channeled into beams of electricity, and traited to be the primary damage source IE: there will be an accessible variant for people who just want to relax and electrocute fools.

ouroboros02: i believe that WP approach to the faction like skills he suggested a long time ago is the way anet is approaching this, i mean, it looks like we gonna have the oportunity to choose a "faction" and get proficiency in some way to get this new spec or something like that. Why? so far these icons looks like minstrel guild and seraph ( look out the " Mini Seraph Heavy Guard" helmet) but the next reveal might light up more about these criptic teases.

ok_listen: If this turns out to be an espec for like, elementalist or ranger, i wouldnt be surprised at all given how creative Anet is

SirGuavaofLava: When I first saw the icon, the only thing I could think of was a Valkyrie of some sort. I don't have any idea what that could mean, but it could be interesting. I would love to see them try tapping into mythologies as a theme for the elite specs this time. I don't know exactly what the lute symbol would represent in this case, but if they could make it work, that'd be awesome.

ericlochmueller9565: Anyone else think this could be a rev spec, where you commune with Jora?

The helm reminds me a lot of the the norn ice brood, even sharing similarities with jora’s helm from her outfit

curzongaming: here's a theory for you. As you said the other day the colouring in the background reminds you of Elona. Could this icon be a Paragon as they were a class added to Nightfall in GW1

toro_sensei: guardian or warrior i dont care if it ends up being something thats reminiscent of paragon i will play it

5050clown: Nothing is confirmed. Get lost.

pilarmonteiro205: Mukluk made a really interesting point that this could also be a Seraph legend for Revenant to channel, maybe Dylan Thackeray

cyberking824: They just drop the 3rd icon. My guess about the color is. The orange could be somewhere in the west continent and purple could be Dzalana. Maybe, this xpac is bigger than Soto and JW combined.

bigodegamesbr5980: Guardians and warriors fighting tooth and nail for this one

mishking9547: I have always said how bad ass it would be to give warrior the Symbol mechanic from Guardians, since warriors have so many weapons compared to everyone else, they would receive so many Symbols cause of how many main hands and 2 handers they have :D

On the other hand if this was a Revnant elite spec, them channeling a seraph hero would be interesting as well

No idea what this would be if its a guardian elite spec :)

Kiba666: It would be coot for Guardian/Warior or Revenant geting the Paragon class from GW and maybe the Thief/Necro getting the Dervish class. A Thief with a scythe would be awsome :) as well as a winnged warior or guardian

benjaminfast5496: In relation to what weapons they'll get, I think Mesmer may get a short or long bow to fit a bard style. Or maybe a War Horn for a sound based class?

If this is Guardian, perhaps off handed mace or war horn?

If it's warrior... Honestly, maybe short bow? They're running out of weapons, lol.

What do you think Kroof? Or do you think we're not getting new weapons and just getting new trait lines?

sirith9157: Tank Warrior is exactly what this class lacks for sure. Spellbreaker is fun and all, but it's more reactive than proactive. I really wish for it to be shield centered spec with defense and crowd control as a core. Maybe even allow some wacky things like spear shield combo, that would be so cool. Warrior is tanky, but not this tanky...

pizzicat0: Since the background color is the same, do you think it’s a new class with these elite specs?

BloodReaperZ27: I wonder if it could be related to Keiran Thackeray because he's a Paragon. If you can Channel him through Rev... There could be connecting dialogue for Logan or something or even the Ebon Vanguard.

AleBakko: HYPE!!!

MrTomEdo: If I were to pick between Warrior and a Guardian subclass for this one, I'd go Guardian becuase it would be really bad design to have two helmets that are this similar as class icons for the same class. At the same time, Anet made the sin of soulbeast icon being way too close to the ranger icon so yeah.

finnleyjack331: I wonder what the engineer subclass is gonna be like?

Jul 07 2025

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