What are these icons?

[Sunsetter]

https://i.imgur.com/ziVVuiy.jpg

The pink, red and green icons I see on the map, what are they?
Also, what's the shimmering thing hovering in the air?

Thanks

[MightyGrue]

They are other players that have a commander designation unlocked. Usually they know enough about the game to organize a bounty in the desert or coordinate a mega event like the one in Auric Basin. The icons are on the map to help you easily find them and then the event if there is one. Also, very useful in WvW mode.

[Sunsetter]

Originally posted by bm3173:

The icons are on the map to help you easily find them and then the event if there is one.

Ok but, these are the only ones visible globally even if I'm nowhere near them, and on the minimap as well (??). Seems weird to force them onto my minymap. Any way to switch them ?

[Angoril]

The red icon is a mentor tag. You get that in one of the mastery tracks. Almost everyone has it in the game and it is mainly used for the player to show their location on the map for whatever reason.

The pink and green icons are commander tags. Purchased in WvW they give access to markers that can be placed freely and are visible to all squad members, extend squads to up to 50 people and a few more things. In open world, it's mostly used so that one can organize HP trains, bounty trains etc. Rarely needed for events as well but most of those don't require any coordination.

There is no way to disable them, at least none that I know of. In time you'll learn to ignore them really, I know I have.

The purple thing is a reality rift. Those are connected to the Skyscale (the dragon mount) and are useless for anyone that doesn't have one.

[Sunsetter]

Ok, thanks guys