Season 2 of Highguard is here, and it’s a big one. Episode 2 launched Feb 6, bringing the game’s first new Warden, a brand-new map, a Ranked Mode, and sweeping quality-of-life and balance changes across the board.

From competitive progression to a direwolf-shapeshifting monster hunter, here are the biggest changes in the Highguard Season 2 update.

Ranked Mode Added

Ranked Mode officially arrives in Episode 2, giving competitive players a structured ladder to climb and rewards to earn. Ranked uses the 3v3 format, which the developers say best fits Highguard’s tactical core, and introduces a full RP system with win/loss modifiers, solo queue bonuses, and protection against unfair matchmaking.

Players will start in Bronze 3 and can work their way through seven ranks — from Bronze (Hare) all the way to Grandmaster (Leviathan). Each Episode features two Ranked Splits, rotating maps, bases, and balance changes to keep the meta fresh. To unlock Ranked, players must first win 10 matches of 3v3 Raid Mode, with progress carried over from Episode 1.

New Warden: Ekon

Episode 2 also introduces Ekon, the game’s first post-launch Warden. A legendary monster-slayer and last survivor of the ancient Wildwalkers, Ekon brings a predator-style kit built around tracking and finishing wounded enemies.

His passive, Dread, reveals the heartbeat of low-health enemies, while Wolf Spirit sends a spectral wolf across the map to hunt and mark targets. His ultimate, Fearsome Howl, applies Dread to all enemies and boosts movement speed. Ekon’s signature ability is his Wolf Form, transforming into a direwolf with unmatched speed, scent tracking, and a deadly bite attack that transitions seamlessly back into human combat.

New Location: Skydrift

Far west of Headwall, beyond the vast, uncharted lands of Highguard, where the maps go blank, and expeditions go missing, lies the lost city of Skydrift.

You can ride across colossal chain bridges and through remarkable Sky Jumpers to reach Skydrift’s highest point — a palace above the clouds.

Skydrift is added to the map rotation in 3v3 and 5v5.

Be sure to check the full Highguard Season 2 patch notes for every detail.