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Guild Wars 2 is a fantasy MMORPG beloved for its unique stories, vibrant world, and unique combat. Like so many RPGs, Guild Wars 2 has a PvE (player versus environment) overworld and ways to participate in PvP (player versus player) in isolated areas. In this guide, we'll cover everything that a new player needs to know in order to get started playing PvP in Guild Wars 2.

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GW2 - Screenshot showing the player how to reach the PvP menu

You'll start your PvP journey by exploring the PvP menu! To access it, just click on the symbol of two swords in the top left corner of your screen.

Home

GW2 - Screenshot showing the player the details of the home tab on the PvP menu

The Home tab, which is the first thing you'll see, allows you to do all the basic stuff:

  • Join a random, casual match of PvP
  • Join a random, competitive match of PvP
  • Enter the PvP Lobby

It also provides information about your career as a PvP player:

  • Your current PvP rank
  • Your game statistics (how often you won, which profession you use the most, etc.)
  • Details about the last games you played and who won

League

GW2 - Screenshot showing the player the details of the League tab on the PvP menu

The second tab on this menu will lead you to the "League" information. As a beginner, you probably won't spend much time here.

When you start playing competitive PvP in Guild Wars 2, your skills will be evaluated by how well you do in your first 10 matches. After that, you'll be ranked among all other competitive players. Playing more matches and winning will cause you to climb up the ranks.

A few things to know about this menu:

  • As you participate in Ranked PvP, you'll earn rewards from that chest in the bottom right
  • The details in the top right will tell you which season of PvP is going on; rankings are reset at the end of seasons
  • The Skill Rating section will give you a brief overview of how well you're doing, once you're ranked

Tournaments & Special Events

GW2 - Screenshot showing the player the details of the Tournaments tab on the PvP menu

If you're looking for a bit of fun, you can come to the "Tournaments" tab! These are PvP matches with special rules and special rewards.

There are a number of Tournaments that open on a regular basis, but sometimes there may be special/seasonal events to be found here!

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Rewards Tracks

GW2 - Screenshot showing the player the details of the Rewards Track tab on the PvP menu

Guild Wars 2's PvP allows you to determine your own rewards through the fourth tab: "Reward Tracks."

As you play games of PvP, you'll earn PvP experience which will be applied to whichever Reward Track that you have active at that moment. As you fill up the bar, you'll earn chests filled with items that are associated with the theme of the Reward Track.

Details to know about Reward Tracks:

  • Some Reward Tracks can only be completed once, while others can be repeated so that you can get the rewards over and over again
  • When you start, a few Reward Tracks will be locked to you; there will be details about how to unlock them and this may involve buying an expansion, completing an achievement, etc.
  • Filter all your Reward Tracks by using the categories on the far left

Mist Champions

GW2 - Screenshot showing the player the details of the Mist Champions tab on the PvP menu

The "Mist Champions" tab is relevant to a particular type of PvP: Stronghold. See below for details about this game mode. Everyone automatically has access to one Mist Champion: Turai Ossa. The different Champions have different Offense, Defense, and Speed stats which affect the gameplay. To unlock other Champions, you'll need to own the Heart of Thorns expansion and complete the PvP Reward Track associated with the Champion:

  • Grymm Svaard Reward Track
  • Nika Reward Track
  • Tybalt Reward Track

Game Browser

GW2 - Screenshot showing the player the details of the Game Browser tab on the PvP menu

The very last tab is the "Game Browser" menu; it allows players to host their own games of PvP. The player who starts the game has total control over its settings:

  • is the game public or private?
  • which map will it be on?
  • how large will the teams be?

...and more! If you want to play with friends, or just don't want to join random games, this is the place for you.

The PvP Lobby

Guild Wars 2 - Entering the PvP Lobby via the PvP Menu on left, player in the PvP Lobby on right

The PvP Lobby is a place designed for all your PvP needs. To go there, open the PvP menu and click on the "Enter PvP Lobby" button.

Guild Wars 2 - Parts of the PvP Lobby on map

Here, you'll find a number of resources for PvP, including ways to practice and get the right equipment. There are...

  • Bankers
  • Trading Posts
  • Laurel Vendors
  • League Vendors
  • Tournament Vendors
  • Basic Weapon Vendors
  • Areas to practice combat against other players
  • Areas to practice combat against NPCs
  • Areas to practice using siege weapons

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Creating Your PvP Build

Guild Wars 2 - PvP Equipment on left, Standard Equipment on Right

Your character's build in PvP can be totally different than what they'd usually use. This makes sense; there are completely different priorities in PvP!

To start working on your PvP Build, you can click the little button in your Equipment menu, next to your headgear. This will toggle what you're seeing: your standard equipment, or your PvP equipment.

The essential thing to know when working on your PvP build is that Guild Wars 2 evens out the playing field quite a bit. Everyone's stats are basically the same, and only the Sigils, Amulets, and Runes can alter it. That's the reason you don't have armor for PvP - it just doesn't matter.

Guild Wars 2 - Equipping Amulets, Runes, and Sigils in PvP

For PvP, you're given free access to just about every sigil and rune in the game! Just click on the sigil or rune and choose one from the list on the left. This is so that players don't have to incur the cost of buying expensive, better runes or sigils. In the same way, it also provides access to a number of amulets.

Guild Wars 2 - PvP build weapons on left, PvP lobby Weapons Vendor on right

As far as weapons, you will need to get your own staff, sword, bow, or another weapon to fight with. However, since Guild Wars 2 evens out the stats anyway, there's no reason to purchase the very best equipment from the Trading House! That's what the Weapon Vendors are for in the PvP Lobby. Go to them and just purchase whatever kind of weapon you need to get the right skills.

GW2 - Screenshot showing the player the Build Menu

Finally, you'll consider your Specializations, Skills, and Traits. There's no toggle button like there is for your gear, so you should consider using one of the build slots (the tabs along the top) or the save slots (the tabs along the side) to save the Specializations, Skills, and Traits you use for PvP.

Game Types

Team Deathmatch

GW2 - Screenshot of player playing Team Deathmatch PvP
via Hogwarts Zebra on YouTube

Team deathmatch is as basic as PvP gets. The goal is just to kill as many enemies as you can as quickly as you can! The game is divided up into five rounds.

Conquest

GW2 - Screenshot of players playing Conquest PvP
via guildwars2.com

Conquest requires the teams to take and hold control of points on the map. You'll earn points according to how long your team holds the point and which points your team holds. Some points are also awarded for killing other players - not many, but just enough to be able to win a close match.

Murderball

GW2 - Screenshot of the Courtyard PvP map as seen from above

In Murderball, players fight to take control of an Orb of Ascension. They must be holding it to earn points for their team. You start by acquiring the Orb from the Altar of Doom at the center of the map. Once you're holding it, you'll start to earn points. You earn more points the closer you are to the Altar, since that's an open, hard-to-defend area. If you retreat to the easily defensible spawn area, further from the Altar, you'll earn fewer points while you hold the Orb.

Stronghold

GW2 - Screenshot of the player in Stronghold PvP mode followed by allies

Stronghold is a newer PvP game mode. To win, you need to fight your way through the enemy party's gates and into their stronghold, then kill their "Lord" (a strong NPC), to be victorious. There are several mechanics to help you in this endeavor (such as the Mist Champions we mentioned previously), but the primary one is to gather "Supply" and use it to create allies - Doorbreakers (Skritt) and Archers (Tengu) - that help you get through.

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PvP Ranks

Guild Wars 2 - Split image of Rank Finishers - Rabbit on left, Wolf in centre, Bear on right

As you play, you'll also earn PvP Rank (akin to experience), which fills up the purple bar of experience at the bottom of your screen. Each time it fills up, you earn a rank (rather than a level). Every 10 ranks, you are represented by a different Guild Wars 2 animal and earn a Finisher of that animal. Just like with levels, the maximum is Rank 80.

Animal Symbol

Ranks

Total PvP Rank (Experience) To Reach Max Rank

Rabbit

1-9

8,500

Deer

10-19

54,000

Dolyak

20-29

136,500

Wolf

30-39

291,500

Tiger

40-49

491,500

Bear

50-59

691,500

Shark

60-69

891,500

Phoenix

70-79

1,091,500

Dragon

80

1,111,500

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