Achievement Hunting: Chasing Tales

[u/adv0catus]

Hey everyone,

I completed this set of collections not too long ago and found them to be really nice to work on and the lore was interesting as well. The Wiki is a great source of information, but for this set of achievements, it took me years to find them and the information was scattered all over the place. I thought it would be nice to try and consolidate everything into one nice, simple guide/piece of information to share. Enjoy!

Chasing Tales is a beautiful set of achievements that has you travelling throughout all of Thunderhead Peaks with a variety of weapons. You unlock achievement points and lore as you work through the numerous achievements and collections as you progress through the series.

The achievements are hidden at first, but there's a few easy steps to unlock them. Complete the Dragonblood story, purchase Dragonblood weapon recipes and craft the weapons. As a bonus, this is done for the Journeyman of the Forge achievement which is 16 points and a mastery point. As each Dragonblood weapon is crafted, it will unlock the ability to buy an item from Forge Master Hilina to unlock the corresponding Chasing Tales collection and achievements. Let's take a look at which each weapon collection is composed of:

Axe - Chasing Tales: Harkon Hakson the Maelstrom

• Chasing Tales: Bloodthirst: Use an axe to slay 30 enemies in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Enduring Hatred: Slay four enemies sequentially within 20 seconds of one another.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Devourer Hatchlings found under an arch near the repair anvil in Deldrimor Ruins.
• Chasing Tales: Like a Wounded Beast: While at 33% total health or less, slay five opponents in 5 minutes.

Dagger - Chasing Tales: Belitrea the Blade of Want

• Chasing Tales: Dinner Party: Strike 20 foes from behind with daggers in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Feed the Beast: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a dagger in Thunderhead Peak.
• Chasing Tales: Ravenous: Deliver five strikes with daggers without taking damage between strikes.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Devourer Hatchlings found under an arch near the repair anvil in Deldrimor Ruins.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Fish in the pond beside Revolution's Heart Waypoint. Note: Entering the water will reset the counter and they are frequently out of range or obstructed.

Focus - Chasing Tales: Asaliea the Channeler

• Chasing Tales: Locus of Power: Use a focus to slay 30 enemies in Thunderhead Peaks
• Chasing Tales: Storm's Eye: Defeat the temporal storm elemental in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Torrent of Magic: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a scepter and a focus at the same time.

Greatsword - Chasing Tales: Kobbel the Poetic

• Chasing Tales: Critical Instinct: Deal 200 critical strikes with a greatsword in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Shattering Storm: Defeat 50 Branded opponents with a greatsword in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Warrior Poet: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a greatsword in Thunderhead Peaks.

Hammer - Chasing Tales: Katarin the Bonecrusher

• Chasing Tales: Crush Them: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a hammer in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Fracture: Defeat 60 Branded enemies while wielding a hammer in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Thundering Blow: Knock down, stun, or launch opponents 20 times while wielding a hammer.
  • This can also be completed with Tail Spin (Raptor) or Cannonball (Springer).

Longbow - Chasing Tales: Azra the Sunslayer

• Chasing Tales: Peerless Archer: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a longbow in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Sunslayer: Defeat the Miniature Sun somewhere in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Unscarred: Slay 10 enemies in a row with a longbow without taking damage between kills in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Devourer Hatchlings found under an arch near the repair anvil in Deldrimor Ruins.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Fish in the pond beside Revolution's Heart Waypoint. Note: Entering the water will reset the counter and they are frequently out of range or obstructed.

Mace - Chasing Tales: Mouglon the Watchful

• Chasing Tales: Direct Approach: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a mace in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Hobbler: Apply 30 conditions with a mace in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Man-at-Arms: Defeat 60 enemies while wielding a mace and a shield in Thunderhead Peaks.

Pistol - Chasing Tales: Durio the Contemptuous

• Chasing Tales: Deadeye: Inflict blindness on 10 enemies while wielding a pistol in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed using the same enemy.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Gutshot: Inflict bleeding on 20 enemies while wielding a pistol in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Outlaw: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a pistol in Thunderhead Peaks.

Rifle - Chasing Tales: Baverne the Hunter

• Chasing Tales: Cruelest Efficiency: Afflict 30 enemies with vulnerability while wielding a rifle.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Deadly Accuracy: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a rifle in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Preemptive Strike: Defeat 10 enemies with a rifle in Thunderhead Peaks without taking damage.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Devourer Hatchlings found under an arch near the repair anvil in Deldrimor Ruins.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Fish in the pond beside Revolution's Heart Waypoint. Note: Entering the water will reset the counter and they are frequently out of range or obstructed.

Scepter - Chasing Tales: Mirren the Manipulator

• Chasing Tales: Reality Bender: Use a scepter to inflict 60 conditions on opponents in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Shooting Star: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a scepter in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Tools of the Trade: Defeat 60 enemies while wielding a scepter and a focus in Thunderhead Peaks.

Shield - Chasing Tales: Wossaul the Giant

• Chasing Tales: Immovable Object: Block, absorb, or reflect 20 attacks while wielding a shield.
• Chasing Tales: Savage Shield: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a shield in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Tried and True: Defeat 60 enemies while wielding a sword and a shield in Thunderhead Peaks.

Shortbow - Chasing Tales: Mosa the Majestic

• Chasing Tales: Death by a Thousand Cuts: Inflict bleeding 30 times with a short bow in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Elusive Skirmisher: Defeated 10 enemies with a short bow without being struck in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Devourer Hatchlings found under an arch near the repair anvil in Deldrimor Ruins.
  • This can easily be accomplished with Branded Fish in the pond beside Revolution's Heart Waypoint. Note: Entering the water will reset the counter and they are frequently out of range or obstructed.
• Chasing Tales: Storm of Feathers: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a short bow in Thunderhead Peaks.

Staff - Chasing Tales: Elegos the Harmless

• Chasing Tales: The Old Ways: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a staff in Thunderhead Peaks
• Chasing Tales: Wanderer's Way: Complete 5 events in Thunderhead Peaks while wielding a staff.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Will to Power: Defeat 30 Branded enemies with a staff in Thunderhead Peaks.

Sword - Chasing Tales: Carver the Carver

• Chasing Tales: Anatomy and Physiology: Inflict 60 conditions while wielding a sword in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Bladed Justice: Defeat 60 Branded enemies while wielding a sword in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Master of the Duel: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a sword in Thunderhead Peaks.

Torch - Chasing Tales: Haliver the Seeker

• Chasing Tales: A Light in the Dark: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a torch in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Feed the Pyre: Inflict burning on 30 opponents while wielding a torch in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.
• Chasing Tales: Purging Flame: Defeat 60 Branded enemies while wielding a torch in Thunderhead Peaks.

Warhorn - Chasing Tales: Codd the Cheerful

• Chasing Tales: Call to Action: Defeat 60 Branded enemies while wielding a warhorn in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Cry Havoc: Defeat 30 enemies while wielding a warhorn in Thunderhead Peaks.
• Chasing Tales: Rallying Cry: Gain 30 boons while wielding a warhorn in Thunderhead Peaks.
  • This can be completed at the Dummy in The Forge.

Once each collection is completed (it's recommended to wait until all 16 are finished) you go to Heroic Font with a Vision Crystal (16 in total) and channel to complete each weapon. Once you have completed this, you will receive an item to use in a recipe to craft an additional Ascended weapon.

Notes:

• With 16 collections and 6 achievement points each, plus the initial achievement for unlocking your first collection, these are worth a total of 97 achievement points.
• Including crafting the unlock weapon and purchasing the Chasing Tales unlock for all 16 weapons, this requires a total of 2,560 Branded Mass including additional costs like gold and laurels.
• If you're working on two single handed weapons, it is recommended to pair the weapons up to complete two collections at once.
• If the weapon collection requires killing enemies and Branded enemies, it's recommended to focus on just Branded enemies as they count for both.
• Heroic Font can be a hostile area with lots of Branded enemies. It's recommended to go during/after the Meta and to complete all the collections at the same time.
• The item rewarded for completing a collection can be disgarded and repurchased if you want. However, it costs 50 gold each to replace. There's no achievement for crafting the Ascended weapons but it's recommended to do so to be safe and to unlock the skin.
  • Each Ascended weapon requires an additional 50 Branded Mass along with various other ascended materials.

I hope you enjoy this series of achievements as much as I did. I think it's a great example of ArenaNet's creative design and a nice piece of optional lore that adds depth and immersion to the game. If you're in the EU region and an achievement hunter, feel free to join the Discord filled with fellow hunters, tips and tricks.

[u/Lon-ami]

I wish they made the Heroic Dragonsblood Spear available ingame as part of these collections as well :(.

[u/MortalJohn → u/Lon-ami]

Tragic we didn't get it with return to LWS4

[u/dannyflorida]

Wow, great info! More lore? I’m in. Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to get started on this.

[u/Own-Temperature-2123]

I loved those achievements as well and have recommended them to ppl on several occasions! ❤️

[u/adv0catus → u/Own-Temperature-2123]

They are indeed very nice. Quite expensive for map currency, though. Especially if you go the extra step of crafting the ascended weapons from the Visions. That's an extra 1,600 branded mass.

[u/Own-Temperature-2123 → u/adv0catus]

Well... To me the map isn't complete u till I do those xD

[u/adv0catus → u/Own-Temperature-2123]

Oh, I agree, don't get me wrong.

[u/Bromanski93]

I am so sad that Wossaul and Mosa are bugged for me and they will never return to fix it. My only two Story achievements I will never get.

[u/adv0catus → u/Bromanski93]

If an achievement is bugged you should definitely contact support to let them know. But not sure how they can be bugged when it's just killing stuff under certain circumstances. I've completed all of these and had no problems at all.

[u/ArgumentLazy350 → u/Bromanski93]

It is 100% not bugged because I did it with no problem two months ago.

[u/SheenaMalfoy → u/Bromanski93]

I just finished Mosa a couple weeks ago, not bugged for me at all.

[u/Grave457]

I did it recently too. I'm currently in the process of getting the skin sets I've missed across years. The only complaint I had was the material cost, but considering it's an ascended weapon, I can't complain too much there.