Each map has different characteristics and even though the objective remains the
same, the way you have to approach each map will differ from one to the next. In
some, you’ll get an advantage for taking down strong NPCs hidden around the map,
while in others your team will have access to a trebuchet which they can use to
bombard areas on the battlefield to open up new routes of attack.
Guild Wars 2 offers all types of experiences and with this structured player versus
player (sPvP) beginner’s guide, you’ll learn about the most competitive side of the
game. In sPvP, players compete in different multiplayer battlegrounds. Players are
automatically set to level 80 and get access to every trait, skill, and weapon so
that everyone is on an even playing field. This allows sPvP to emphasize skill rather
than gear and the time invested in a character.
As soon as you finish your tutorial mission you can begin sPvPing. To do so, press
“H” to bring up your character screen and press the PvP tab. Select “Enter the Mists”
and you’ll be brought to the PvP waiting area. The Mists is full of sPvP vendors with
different weapons that you can purchase free of charge to bring in to battle with
you. Since Guild Wars 2’s combat is all about weapon switching, it’s important to go
in to battle with the right equipment.
Keep in mind that you won’t earn any experience for your sPvP efforts, only glory,
which can be used to purchase amazing looking cosmetic gear for use only in
structured PvP, and rank, which determines the type of items you can purchase from
Glory Vendors.
Once you’ve spoken to the Glory Vendors and equipped yourself and selected the traits
and skills you want to bring in to battle with you, there are two ways to join sPvP:
Hot Join Play and Tournaments.
To learn more about Guild Wars 2 structured PvP, check after the break.
Hot Join Play: Hot Join Play allows players to join a sPvP match based on the map and
the number of players in the game. You can easily jump in to a match with the “Join
Now” button, or you can select a server for you and your friends to play in together
by using the server list. Once you get in to a game, players are matched based on
their total amount of glory earned.
There are four different Conquest mode maps currently in Guild Wars 2: Battle of
Kyhlo, Forest of Niflhel, Legacy of the Foefire, and Raid on the Capricorn. Conquest
maps follow the tried and true capture and hold multiplayer system, where teams have
to capture a point and kill enemies in order to improve their score. The first team
to reach score limit, or the team with the highest score when the time runs out, will
win the match.
Tournaments: Tournaments allow players to team up in parties of five and compete
against eight teams in a three-round single-elimination tournament and as long as you
win one match, you’ll get a tournament chest. Tournament chests contain cosmetic gear
and tournament tickets and the teams who get to the finals get better chests with
nicer rewards. If you want to try your luck in a tournament but don’t have four
friends, you can even play in a pick-up tournament. If you’re looking for hardcore
competition, tournaments are for you.
Glory Ranks: Glory is the PvP currency used to buy PvP equipment and to unlock reward
chests. There are nine glory ranks, and as you play through sPvP you’ll earn glory by
doing things like interacting with things like the trebuchet in maps, killing other
players, and winning matches. All players start as a rabbit, and every 10 ranks
you’ll be upgraded to a new rank. The maximum rank is fittingly called the Dragon.
Glory vendors sell chests to you based on your glory rank, and the higher your rank,
the cooler looking items you can earn.
