Strength of the Unseen: New Fashion Revealed
Prior to Secrets of the Obscure, Arena Net had announced more skins available through achievements in the game. I have loved the ones I’ve done for Halloween and other skins (check out these guides by ProjektDyad), so I was really excited to find the new ones to unlock. I was scanning the SOTO achievements for Mastery Points and came across several skins. Strength of the Unseen really caught my eye with its disappearing act.
Starting this achievement requires speaking to any of the three Astral Ward members to recall their memories of Mabon. They can all be found throughout the Bastion of Strength [&BNMNAAA=].
- Callon is easiest to find first, but you can interact with them in any order to start the achievement. They are located behind the tower next to the Waypoint.
- Ithil can be found by walking out to the North of the Training Grounds [&BBoOAAA=] against a rock face.
- Maer is just south of the Spellcraft Workshop [&BLsNAAA=] heading towards the Crystalpool [&BMYNAAA=] in the round room with a Mursaat-looking statue in the middle.
Once we have spoken to the three Astral Ward members, we visit Mabon’s study, located just above Isgarren’s Quarters [&BOoNAAA=] in the Wizzard’s Tower. In the Southwest corner, you will find the journal. While reading a dead person’s journal is a bit morbid, it does give you hints on where to find the missing pieces: Frostgorge Sound and Gendarran Fields.
A Visit to The North is in Frostgorge Sound across from Wathful Waypoint [&BH0CAAA=]. Looking East you will see a little black journal in the ice. A New Threat Emerges is in Gendarren Fields northwest of the vista near Ascalon Settlement Waypoint [&BI8BAAA=]. Interact with each and a dialogue will start. You learn a bit more about Mabon and Isgarren’s history and start with the Astral Ward.
After our brief visit to central Tyria, we return to the Bastion of Strength and visit the Faction Provisioner at the waypoint [&BNMNAAA=]. They will sell you the Essence of Strength for 100 Research Notes and 250 Pinches of Stardust, the new map currency. Research notes are my least favorite currency to get, make sure to check Fast Farming Community for the of most effective ways. Another way I like to get them is by researching Ascended Weapons and Armor drops I don’t plan on using. Stat changing them in the Mystic Forge (Weapon/Armor+Anthology of Heroes+5 Globs of Ectoplasm+Inscription/Insignia of new stat) creates an item that is crafted and can now be salvaged for research notes instead of using an Ascended Salvage Kit for materials.
Finally, communing with the Windy Bluff mastery insight at the top of Mabon’s Tower [&BL8NAAA=] to memorialize Mabon will finish off the Achievement and grant you this fine fine sword! Completing this collection also counts toward the Honorary Astral Ward Achievement, completed by finishing five additional weapon collections. My Friends at ProjektDyad have a guide ready for you to complete Echoes of the Obscure in no time. Completing Honorary Astral Ward grants you a beautiful cape in the style of Isgarren’s. Happy farming and enjoy your new fashions!
