Guild Wars 2

Featured Welsh Content

Guild Wars 2 features a race called the sylvari, which are heavily based on Arthurian mythology and have Celtic inspirations. Many of these characters feature Welsh names, with some being words from Cymraeg, the Welsh language.

Examples include Afon, Branwen, Carys, Ceridwen, Cerys, Eira, Eirys, Glyndowr, Gweithwyr, Gwilym, Heulwen, Iorwerth, Lowri, Mabli, Meinir, Morwyn, Owain, Tegwen, Tonwen, Wyn.

One of the sylvari settlements is the Hamlet of Annwen, which is likely a reference to the Welsh Otherworld of Annwn.

The boss enemy Legendary Spellmaster Macsen may reference Macsen Wledig, the Welsh name of 4th-century Roman emperor Magnus Maximus. Wledig came to rule Britain and featured in Welsh legends.

Champion Hammermaster Morthwyl takes his name from morthwyl, the Welsh word for “hammer”.

Champion Stavemaster Anwir features anwir, the Welsh word for “false, untrue”.

Mabon can be said to take his name from the Arthurian and Welsh mythical figure Mabon ap Modron.

Rhongomyniad is a weapon that can be obtained in Guild Wars 2. In Welsh mythology, Rhongomyniad (or Rhongomiant) was King Arthur’s spear.

The owl-like enemies known as the gwyl, as well as the smaller gwyldell and the legendary foe Gwyllian, bear strong Welsh language resemblances for their names. Gwyllian could be said to reference the Welsh word gwyllion, meaning “spirits, ghosts”, but is also the plural word for gwyll (“twilight, gloom, dark”), which links back to the gwyl foes in this game.

In Welsh folklore, the gwyllion are fairies akin to witches or hags that haunt and lead travellers astray on Welsh mountain roads.

There is a miniature creature (or mini-pet) that can be acquired called Mini Gwyldell, as well as one with the Welsh-inspired name of Mini Gwynefyrdd.

The Cascade Heeler mount’s fur design is similar to that of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.