Guild Wars 2 is one of those cool fantasy MMORPGs that is not shy from bringing a bit of modern flare with its selection of weaponry. It takes a break from tradition and includes rifles and pistols to the mix of your standard swords, shields, daggers, and bow variations. The following pistol skins have been selected by the community to be freaking awesome for a variety of reasons, so let us see as to why.

10. Lyssa’s Gaze

The Mesmer is one of the three magic-using classes that focuses on confusing their foes with Phantasms and Illusions. Whenever they use skills that summon clones or phantasms, they may wield special purple spectral weapons like the Lyssa’s Gaze pistol. That very pistol can be yours today without being a Mesmer, folks!

Why they are awesome

• Lyssa’s Gaze is the replica of the pistol that a Mesmer can summon while using their pistol 4 weapon skill, Phantasmal Duelist.
• The design of Lyssa’s Gaze is that of a lavender spectral pistol that emits the same colored mist.
• It takes after the model of the Pact Handgun, which lacks the ghostly appearance, and shares its exact appearance with the weapons Ilya and Lyss.

See Lyssa’s Gaze in action:

Worzonk’s YouTube Video

How to get Lyssa’s Gaze:

Because Lyssa’s Gaze shares its appearance with Ilya, Lyss, and the Perfected Pistol, three methods will be presented.

Illya

• Combine an Eldritch Scroll, 50 Mystic Coins, 250 Ancient Pistol Frame, and 250 Glob of Ectoplasm in the Mystic Forge
• Purchasable from the trading post for roughly 118-200 gold.

Lyss

• Combine an Eldritch Scroll, 50 Mystic Coins, 250 Orichalcum Pistol Barrel, and 250 Glob of Ectoplasm in the Mystic Forge
• Purchasable from the trading post for roughly 120-201 gold.

Perfected Pistol

• During the second phase of crafting the precursor weapon, the Chaos Gun, use the item, Recipe: Box of Recipes: Chaos Gun (Second Tier), and combine an Expertise in Pistol Crafting, Spirit of the Chaos Gun Experiment, Jar of Luminesce Polish, and Prismatic Lodestone in the Mystic Forge.

9. Orchestral Pistol

Some of the most awesome skins in Guild Wars 2 do more than just change the appearance of your basic and ordinary weapons. The exceptional ones go out of their way to change the sound effects, turning them into something far better. In the case of the Orchestral Pistol, it turns the humble pistol into a beautiful, yet lethal clarinet.

Why they are awesome

• You can hear the sound of a flute being played whenever the Orchestral Pistol is being wielded or stowed. A rising tone can be heard while wielded, and a falling tone whenever it is stowed.
• The design of the Orchestral Pistol resembles that of a clarinet that has been fashioned into a working pistol.
• The Orchestral Pistol’s coloration lends itself to the aesthetic of the weapon and matches the black and gold colors of the majority of traditional clarinets.

See the Orchestral Pistol in action:

Dulfy’s YouTube Video

How to get the Orchestral Pistol:

• Guaranteed Wardrobe Unlock - random chance
• Guaranteed Weapon Unlock - random chance
• Recovered Black Lion Goods - random chance
• Purchasable from the trading post for roughly 8-12 gold.

8. Pact Fleet Pistol

The Pact Fleet Weapon set has seen it's share of fans and haters over the years. Some players feel that the designs of several weapons don't suit the theme. The Pact Fleet Pistol is one of those skins that are a clear exception. The skin transforms your plain, ordinary flintlocks into sci-fi pewpew machines that will shred your enemies with much gusto.

Why they are awesome

• The Pact Fleet Pistols and the other weapons in the set are all designed with the Glory of Tyria, the flagship of the Pact, in mind.
• If you take a closer look at the parts of the pistol with the circular holes near the bottom of the pistol and next to the trigger, the glowing blue particle effects rotate within it and emulates the ship’s engine.
• The same blue effects can be seen moving along the side of the barrel of the pistol.

See the Pact Fleet Pistol in action:

Dulfy’s YouTube Video

How to get the Pact Fleet Pistol:

• Guaranteed Wardrobe Unlock - random chance
• Guaranteed Weapon Unlock - random chance…
• Recovered Black Lion Goods - random chance
• Purchasable from the trading post for roughly 18-32 gold.

7. Super Pistol

In the past, whenever you wanted to play light gun shooter games, you had to visit your local arcade and put coins into machines. It was always a fun time in the arcades and blasting away the bad guys on the screen with your friends and family. The Super Pistol gives players that nostalgic feeling of us as young kids playing in the arcades.

Why they are awesome

• The Super Pistol replaces the standard pistol firing sounds to a more video game-like sound effect, similar to those from shoot-em ups.
• The design of the Super Pistol resembles a low polygonal render of a video game pistol with the handle being solid and metal, while the barrel is a blueish hologram. It can also be said that it resembles the Nintendo Zapper accessory for the NES.
• There is a very subtle floating particle effect that you can see on the holographic part of the Super Pistol.

See the Super Pistol in action:

Dulfy’s YouTube Video

How to get the Super Pistol:

• Guaranteed Weapon Unlock - random chance
• Purchasable from the Super Adventure Box Weaponsmith on either Hooligan’s Route in Lion’s Arch or Creator’s Commons in Rata Sum for 35 Bauble Bubble and 1 gold.
• Purchasable from the trading post for roughly 7-12 gold.

6. Ebonhawke Crossbow Pistol

Sometimes, the best skins in Guild Wars 2 are those that change everything about the weapon. The Ebonhawke Crossbow Pistol replaces loud bullets for silent bolts. Whether you use them as you roleplay a sneaky assassin or not, these crossbows will make sneaky characters seem smart as they forego pistols for something quieter.

Why they are awesome

• The Ebonhawke Crossbow Pistol skin transforms your pistol into a crossbow and even replaces its sound effects.
• It has different sound effects and replaces the firing sound of the pistol to a crossbow bolt being shot, although others think it sounds more like a bow.

See the Ebonhawke Crossbow Pistol in action:

Lordbobomb’s YouTube Video

How to get the Ebonhawke Crossbow Pistol:

• Purchasable for 45 Black Lion Statuettes from the Black Lion Chest Merchant in the major cities and Arborstone, the Black Lion Representative at the Thousand Seas Pavillion, and by clicking the Black Lion Statuette.

5. Aetherized Pistol

The Aetherized Pistol is one of the more realistic looking, albeit steampunk revolvers and has garnered tons of fans. Its sleek design and classic aesthetics leave much to the imagination of players, and the moving bits and pieces are simply a joy to behold. 

Why they are awesome

• The Aetherized Pistol emits a bit of steam near the base of the barrel of the revolver.
• One fun detail the devs put into this weapon is that the chamber of the revolver continues to spin despite not being fired.
• While ordinary revolvers are decently sized firearms, the Aetherized Revolver is like a supersized version of one and is more like a hand cannon.

See the Aetherized Pistol in action:

Dulfy’s YouTube Video

How to get the Aetherized Pistol:

• Combine four random weapons (preferably exotic pistols) into the Mystic Forge - random chance
• Purchasable from the trading post for roughly 18-24 gold.

4. Hardlight Pistol

The Super Adventure Box weapons may have been the staple of the festival's rewards with the other color variations, but many players have been wanting a change for the longest time. The Hardlight weapon set is the culmination of their wishes and features a brand new design of the fun, arcade-like weapon designs. The Hardlight Pistol in particular has become a massive hit for lots of players.

Why they are awesome

• The Hardlight Pistol features a very subtle particle effect that becomes obvious whenever the player moves the weapon while it is being carried.
• While the Hardlight Pistol is being wielded, you can see the purple trail effect which may have a slow-mo effect added onto it.
• The design of the pistol is that of a holographic lavender hand cannon that phases continuously into reality.
• The Hardlight Pistol borrows the same sound effects of the Super Pistol.

See the Hardlight Pistol in action:

nzmoey’s YouTube Video

How to get the Hardlight Pistol:

• Super Loot Bag - random chance
• Purchasable from the trading post for roughly 72-99 gold.

3. Leyline Pistol

The Ley Line weapons have always been a rather cool weapon set that incorporates the world and the lore into the designs. The Ley Line Pistol in particular has become a sleeper hit for resembling a magical, craggy flintlock. Eliminate your foes and blast em all to bits with your magic bullets, Commander!

Why they are awesome

• The blue particle effects that flow through the weapon resembles the flow of magic that all Ley Line weapons share.
• When the Ley Line Pistol is unsheathed, the distinct sound of magic surging in a ley line can be heard.
• The design of the Ley Linie Pistol resembles the ley line structures found underneath Tyria.

See the Ley Line Pistol in action:

Dulfy’s YouTube Video

How to get the Ley Line Pistol:

• Guaranteed Wardrobe Unlock - random chance
• Guaranteed Weapon Unlock - random chance
• Purchasable from the trading post for roughly 28-50 gold.

2. Mythic Pistol

If a weapon set could pass of as a legendary, which would you put on your list? The Mythic weapons have always been one of the coolest weapon sets that players can’t seem to get enough of. 

Why they are awesome

• The Mythic Pistol is adorned with ornate gold that sweeps across the entire weapon and is simply an awesomely designed firearm.
• The weapon becomes shrouded in a bright blueish light while you wield it. 
• This weapon set is one of the most expensive one to collect since you can only get them by collecting Black Lion Statuettes currently.

See the Mythic Pistol in action:

The Krytan Herald’s YouTube Video

How to get the Mythic Pistol:

• Mythic Weapon Choice - Purchasable for 150 Black Lion Statuettes from the Black Lion Chest Merchant in the major cities and Arborstone, the Black Lion Representative at the Thousand Seas Pavillion, and by clicking the Black Lion Statuette.

1. HOPE

Now that is a legendary pistol, folks! HOPE surpasses the appeal of the majority of pistol skins with its legendary status and sheer usefulness. With this powerful pistol skin at your command, there will literally be no hope for your enemies to survive.

Why they are awesome

• Aside from the fact that it is a legendary weapon with all the abilities they all share with one another, as a skin, HOPE is designed to look like an overly complicated sci-fi laser pistol as bolts of electricity surges on the lethal weapon.
• When HOPE is wielded, the sound of electricity fills the air as rays of light stream from the pistol. HOPE then supercharges and becomes electrified, regularly showing electric particle effects on the weapon and on your character’s arms.
• Gunfire sound effect is replaced with a more sci-fi effect that resembles that of a laser. As you continue to fire shots, you may notice the subtle sound of the gun shorting out or overheating but it is only for show. Continue blasting away your enemies to your heart’s content.
• Majority of the projectiles that come from this weapon are changed from the standard model to being that of a powerful electrified red laser.
• The arm that carries this weapon is enveloped in surging electricity.

See HOPE in action:

Stainless’ YouTube Video

How to get HOPE:

Unlike the 1st and 3rd generation legendary weapons, HOPE can only be crafted in the Mystic Forge, as well as its precursor, Prototype. Combine the following in the Mystic Forge:

• Prototype
• Mystic Tribute
• Gift of HOPE
• Gift of Maguuma Mastery

Closing Thoughts

Pistols may be the little brother of the two handed rifle, but they pack quite a lot of punch. Just like that one little brother of ours that wants nice things, sometimes it's fine to spoil them with nice things. Add any of these pistol skins to your collection and dominate the battlefield with both guns blazing.

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