A new patch was released for Guild Wars, unlocking a new feature called Hard Mode, which allows players to turn up the difficulty on all of their favorite missions - experiencing them again, but this time in a more difficult setting.

Hard Mode is designed for level 20 players, and don't go into it expecting to trounce all over your missions like you know them; NPC's and Bosses are harder to kill, and have enhanced AI. But don't hang your head; ArenaNet promises greater rewards for those brave enough to enter a mission on this new difficulty setting.

The sample list of rewards awaiting brave Hard Mode adventurers are:

Increased Title Ranks

• Advance your rank as a Sunspear, gaining powerful new skills tailored to your profession along the way.
• Increase your might against the minions of Abaddon by progressing through the ranks of the Lightbringer title track.

New Titles

• Earn your place as a Guardian of Tyria, Cantha, or Elona by completing all of a campaign's missions in Hard mode.
• Defeat all of the foes in each explorable area to attain the status of a Vanquisher, and track your progress on the World Map.

Increased Rewards

Greater challenges mean greater rewards.

• You will find a larger number of both rare and uncommon items in your Hard mode adventures.
• You will also acquire more experience points, and even more gold!

New Items

Testing your mettle in Hard mode will also give you the opportunity to find exciting new items.

Elite Tome

Double-click on the Elite Tome while in a town or outpost to learn any elite profession skill already unlocked on your account.

Non-Elite Tome

Double-click on the Non-Elite Tome while in a town or outpost to learn any non-elite profession skill already unlocked on your account.

Passage Scroll

Double-click this Passage Scroll to teleport your party to the Underworld. This item can only be used in the Temple of the Ages, Zin Ku Corridor, or Chantry of Secrets.

Passage Scroll

Double-click this Passage Scroll to teleport your party to the Fissure of Woe. This item can only be used in the Temple of the Ages, Zin Ku Corridor, or Chantry of Secrets.

Lockpicking

Opening locked chests in Hard mode can be done using lockpicks. Why carry a dozen different keys when a lockpick can do the trick? Lockpicks aren't perfect, though; they may break. However, the ranks you earn in the Treasure Hunter and Lucky title tracks will increase both the chance that the lockpick will work, and that it will remain intact after each use.

Head over to the Hard Mode Fact Sheet page to find out more.