The place to be...for PvP!

PvP: Player versus Player. Man on Man. Class versus Class. Life versus Death.

Want to know the secrets of this masterful, profitable, and deadly skill? Read on...

First Off...

You have to make sure that the server you're on is actually a PvP server. The biggest hotspot is the Harshlands Server, being the largest and most populated PvP server of the games. Just make a mental note BEFORE you start creating a character on a PvP server--

• Do you mind dying a lot?
• Do you mind losing a LOT of items?
• Do you care about being absolutely hated by players?
• Are you willing to train hard to become strong so you don't suck?

If you answered "NO" for these questions, (except for the last one, obviously,) you should be ready to begin.

Choosing a Class

Now, depending on your class, you can be REALLY REALLY GOOD at PvP, or you can REALLY REALLY SUCK. The most common PvP classes are:

• Assassins

Assassins are practically BUILT for PvPing. They can turn invisible with Stealth Mode, and then they can essentially take out any robed class with a few decent hits. This makes them a HUGELY hated class. (You could say Assassins are the new Venomancers of the game.) The fact that they can also be hard to hit is also a MAJOR pain in the rear. Be wary of these unseen killers when you go out.

• Barbarians

They tank bosses, and they can tank you, too. Barbarians can easily one hit any robed class they want, and that's what makes them such a threat. If you have a knockback ability, (Archers, you're in luck,) or if you can stun (Blademasters) or if you can cast REALLY fast (Clerics and Psychics) you should be able to handle one Barbarian at a time, given you use the correct skills and you have the right armor. You have to watch out for those Barbs with weapons that can deal high damage, or damage quickly, as it can be the factor between life and death.

• Venomancers

Most people honestly think it's unfair that Venomancers get their own tanks, but this isn't a protest page. If you have a knockback or stun ability (Archers, Blademasters, Psychics) Venomancers shouldn't be a problem. Just knock back their pets, take care of them, and go in for the kill. Most Venomancers will have robe armor, so once their pet is taken care of, you should easily be able to rid of them. Mind their debuffs, though.

• Psychics

Scary right? You'd think a robe class like Psychics wouldn't be so much of a threat, but you can consider Psychics as a bit of an "Anti-Untamed" Class. Barriers like Soul of Vengeance and Soul of Stunning, as well as knockbacks like Landslide as well as Soulburn (which eliminates pets and usually most of a Barbarian's health) can prove the death of you if you don't take them seriously. Pair them up with debuffing genie skills, or even with their Bubble of Life AoE, and you have big trouble. If you can ignore the pain from the barriers, they should die pretty easily.

• Clerics

Unfortunately, sometimes your best friend the Cleric will abuse the living crap out of their healing abilities and target YOU. It's not bad enough they have Plume Shot, which if leveled enough can easily one shot any heavy armor class, but they can heal themselves and (if they have a good enough build) can actually dodge some of your attacks. If you can get them to panic (like getting up REALLY close OR using Diminished Vigor,) they will easily loose control of a fight. It's not exactly the best idea to pick on Clerics, so be wary when you go after them.

• ----Other Classes----

Unfortunately, the other classes (Wizards, Blademasters, Archers) aren't quite suited for PvPing, or at least the builds are uncommon. The fact is, plain and simple, they die way too easily to other classes. Wizards, for example, may deal the highest damage, but let's face it; their casting time is their demise. Unless you can get items that lessen that time, you're not going to survive through much. Blademasters have their stun skills, but if you're facing Venomancers, Clerics, or Psychics from a long range, you might as well forget it. Assassins? Don't even try it.

- EDIT: The above is very misleading. Archers can amazing at PvP, if you can kite well you will find it easy to deal swift and high end damage. Plus a high crit rate and good accuracy, how can archers not be considered good? Blademasters especially with claws or fists are probably the most feared melee class PvP wise. Especially with threespark pretty much any class (robes might as well stand there) is dropped within seconds. Plus stuns and you have a killer. Wizards have the highest damage in the game, their crits go into 6 digits if you have triple spark and debuffs. This is one of the best classes to go against high HP HA classes like barbs. Especially if you can get channeling time down low. Assassins can sneak attack you and with their fast high damage if they stun you and threespark you can say bye to being alive. They do die pretty fast and need to get fights over with so you have to watch out when playing one you get the fight over with as fast as possible.

Archers have a little more hope, however, if they employ the use of their knockbacks and weapon buffs correctly. If they strike first, and have a good DEX rate, they should have a little easier a time maiming their fellow human beings.

PvP and How It Works

At level 30, you get your name changed from blue to white. This is a little red flag for other players to start smacking you around. Note the green shield on your mini-map. You can change from safe mode (the shield, which means you have to hold down "Control" or "Command" to attack players directly) OR you can switch to free mode (the red swords, which means you attack directly.)

Make a mental note that you have to actually CLICK on your skills to use them in PvP. Pressing buttons won't do anything, and you will be a sitting duck, especially if you are a mage class. Make another note that if you're in free mode, and you're working with classes that tank, you might accidentally target them, causing your party to keel over immediately. THEREFORE, when you're in squads, make sure safe mode is on.

When you attack a player, your name turns PINK. This gives a little beacon that you're aggressive, and most other people will take advantage of that. If you just hit someone, and don't kill them (Like NPCs who can't die) you have a lesser chance of loosing items.

When you KILL a player, your name becomes red. Anybody who is a seasoned fighter on a PvP server will tell you (in a kind of jerk way) "Red name is fair game." Now, DECENT human beings will let you quest if you're red named, but this is a PvP server, so humanity is difficult to find. Most players will immediately try and take you down if they see you're red named. The best thing to do is hide in a remote location near a safe zone, and kill monsters AT OR ABOVE your level. This will reduce the (THREE HOUR LONG) duration of your infamy.

When you kill a LOT OF PLAYERS, your name becomes dark red. This pretty much signals that you are one really tough cookie, and people shouldn't mess with you. Of course, this also turn you into a HUGE pile of money for anybody who kills you. Show off your pretty red name, just try not to show it off when there's people bigger than you around!

Before You Go Out

• Make sure you have your money in the bank

Otherwise, it's up for grabs. It's bad enough you could loose items. Don't be stupid.

• Make sure you're buffed.

Any self buffs you have, it's good idea to employ them now.

• Make sure you have pots

They can save your life. Really.

• Make sure your genie has full Stamina/Energy

Skills like Second Wind could mean you dying or taking another kill.

• Take friends

You never know if you'll get struck from behind by a group from some jerk RPK faction.

• Make sure you have inventory slots free

The likelihood of you killing red named people is unlikely at the beginning, but later on...

PvP Hotspots

• Silver Pool

When players hit level 30, they usually have to report to the Celestial Recluse at the Great Lake, and then have to travel down to Silver Pool for a mob quest. This is also a great place (when there's nobody around of course) to farm level 2 materials. Of course, this is the number one hotspot, because intelligent people (who are unfortunately unkind to new members of the PvP world) figured out that the easiest bait is weak bait (i.e. anybody who just hit that level 30 sweet spot.) Of course, PvPers also attract other PvPers, who attract more PvPers, so now Silver Pool could be considered more along the lines of a pool of blood.

It's not the best idea to PvP here, since of course with great numbers come not-so-great people who like to gank up in groups on people who are completely alone.

• Secret Passage (AKA: FB 29)

Another not-so-great place to head for PvPing, since a LOT of people head there for Bounty Hunters, and it's not decent to stop people from questing. (NOTE: The rule has chaged! PKing in Secret Passage is now allowed and you wont get banned for it ) The OTHER downside to this of course are all the little hiding places Assassins like to go to and jump out and steal all your items. If you're red named, don't even think about going to the SP, unless you can take a couple of good hits.

• Angler's Village

One of the single most common areas of PvPing is Angler's Village, which sports a group of questers who are JUST about to hit 40. Of course, there's always more than one PvPer in the Village, and the mobs can be nasty if you get more than one on your tail. This is also the most fruitful area for level 2 Materials, so if you're one of those rude people who enjoy preying on helpless farmers, this is the place for you.

• Outer Archosaur

This is probably not the BEST place to PvP, since bigger people like to hang just outside the gates and hunt for small game. (And I'm not talking woodland animals.) Of course, if you're up for a challenge, be my guest. The problem with PvPing here is that people WILL run back to the safe zone. If you're going to PK near Archosaur, do it near the Mines and surrounding areas.

• Sumor Camp, Broken Plain, Windswept Plains

These three areas are commonly populated with questing folks who are about level 40 and above. Although there are actually very few PvPers in the area, there are some times where one will crop up and make havoc on anybody trying to get things done. Most of these questers will have already dabbled in PvPing themselves, and if you're fortunate, you can catch them while they're occupied.

PvP Techniques (Attacking and Escaping)

• ESCAPING- Outrunning/Flying

This is rare, but some PvPers (or PvP targets) will actually have purchased items from the Boutique, making them able to outrun you. Land mounts are obviously much quicker, and more preferred, since races who have been employed longer (like the winged elves, who are uncontested in fast wing equipment) will be able to purchase faster gear than that of newer ones (like the Tideborn, whose fastest wings only go about +3.2).

• ESCAPING- The Juke

Of course, you can't always outrun your opponent, so you just have to outsmart them. If you're flying over water (or any other obstacle which would make targeting you a pain in the behind) you can stop flying and quickly descend downwards. If your enemy decides to chase you, continue downward, then QUICKLY redeploy your wings. Do NOT try to return upwards, as it will only slow you down and give your chaser more time to recover. Immediately move towards the safe zone. If you land in water do NOT proceed into it further, especially when evading Tideborn or Untamed races.

• ESCAPING- The Safe Zone

Probably the most cowardly thing to do is hide in a safe zone once you've discovered you're being attacked, but at least you're not dead. If your would-be killer goes after you, teleport out of the safe zone if possible. If not, waste their time; pretend to be AFK. Go into mediation mode. Eventually, as most PvPers go, they will move on to another target. If you're in Archosaur, head to the West district, and set up a Catshop. In the MILES AND MILES of identical catshops (especially if you get close to another player) your tracker will be unable to locate you.

• ATTACKING- Environmental Advantage

If you haven't figured it out by now, most of the trees, rocks, and bushes are made to be able to stand on. If you're successful in doing this, you can easily eliminate enemies by either sniping them from your cover (which is what mage or ranged classes should do) or leap out and attack; an am-BUSH to say. (Pardon the pun.)

• ATTACKING- M.C. Hammer

If they can't touch you, they can't hit you, ESPECIALLY if you're fighting a melee class. You might be able to kite enemies if you're not fighting a mage class, or a Blademaster who can accelerate their running speed.

• ATTACKING- Hit and Run

A common tactic used by Assassins. Hit, turn invisible, return, and hit some more. Mostly referred to as the "Cowards Method".

• ATTACKING- Creeping

If you're a jerk, you can attack an enemy while it is attacking another monster, or farming. This gives you a one hit advantage over your target, and they have little time to retaliate.