Player versus Player

From Guild Wars Wiki

This article is about the gameplay type. For the effect given in pvp outposts, see PvP (effect).

Player versus player (PvP) is a style of gameplay that pits players against each other in a competition. The objective in PvP is to defeat the opposing team(s), which can be accomplished by one of several different means, depending on the format. This could be capturing control points, defeating the opponent's Guild Lord, scoring a higher kill count or just regular deathmatch.

In addition to using PvE characters, another choice is to create a PvP character. PvP characters have unlimited access to any character options that have been unlocked on that account: runes, weapon modifications, skills, insignia, etc. These can be unlocked by finding them in PvE or by spending Balthazar faction, or by spending real money to purchase unlocks. Many guilds that focus on PvP play "require" a PvP-only character for membership because of the flexibility in changing configurations that they provide, as a strong PvP player is expected to be able to play multiple classes and multiple builds well.

Since ArenaNet wanted to add high-powered skills for PvE play without concern for play balance, many skills behave differently in PvP. An example is Energy Drain.

The PvP arenas, in roughly ascending order of organization and prestige, are:

• Alliance Battles -- six organized teams of four, allied three-three against each other and randomly matched up compete for capture points
• Fort Aspenwood/Jade Quarry -- two random teams compete in a mini-mission
• Codex Arena -- two organized teams of four compete using only a limited pool of skills; the Codex.
• Random Arenas -- two randomly-selected teams of four compete in a deathmatch
• Heroes' Ascent -- two organized teams of eight compete in a variety of trials, ending in the Hall of Heroes
• Guild Battles -- two organized teams of eight attempt to kill each other's Guild Lord

In the organized PvP formats, the use of Ventrilo or Teamspeak for voice communication is essentially mandatory for success.

PvP tactics and strategy differ between the formats, but in general, PvP differs from PvE in the following ways:

• There are no "tanks" -- everyone in the party can expect to take damage. Thus, characters with high intrinsic durability (Warriors) should generally not waste skill slots on self-survival skills, while softer characters need some combination of good kiting skills and defensive equipment/skills.
• Mobility and positioning are far more important.
• All characters other than dedicated healers should carry a resurrection skill that activates quickly (in all formats without rapid auto-res).
• Most teams will have healing, and any offensive strategy must have a way to overcome it. Thus, skills that disable other skills, knock down targets, etc., are stronger in PvP. Examples are Bull's Strike and Diversion -- useless for mainstream PvE, but very strong in many PvP formats. A typical Guild vs. Guild team may only feature two characters of eight who are primarily damage-dealers, with the rest as support.
• Characters must be able to fight continuously for several minutes without running out of energy, since you cannot "rest between fights". Thus, energy-managing skills are helpful
• Skills which deal focused damage to a single target (i.e. Lightning Orb) are valuable in order to deliver a great deal of damage to a single target quickly, overwhelming healing. See spike.
• Melee characters should carry run-speed buffs in order to catch targets, as kiting will otherwise negate their damage
• Due to the prevalence of disruption, long cast-time skills (Meteor Shower) are very weak.
• A high maximum health is far more important. Superior runes are almost never used, and even the use of major runes is considered a bold choice.

[edit] Low-end PvP

In addition, there are low-level PvP arenas only accessible to PvE characters.

• Ascalon Arena in Ascalon City - Level 1 to 10 only.
• Shiverpeak Arena in Yak's Bend - Level 1 to 15 only.
• Shing Jea Arena from Shing Jea Monastery - Level 1 to 10 only.
• Sunspear Arena from Kamadan - Level 1 to 10 only.

[edit] Automated Tournaments

Three times a day, automated tournaments take place for Guild versus Guild. After paying a small entry fee, guilds compete in several round robin matches. Winning matches gives players tournament reward points (used to unlock new skins for items and weapons in PvP) and the top guilds in each tournament receive qualifier points needed to enter a monthly tournament.

[edit] Notes

• Players that were logged in prior to a game update being released cannot enter matches and new matches will not be created until the update is downloaded, which causes consecutive win streaks to end.