Guild Wars 2

I was wondering how much stronger the legit level 80 characters in pvp and wvw contrasted with say level 16 upgraded to 80 because ive been playing pvp as a 16 elementalist and I tend to let all my allies run in first as I die pretty quickly I need my allies to carry me. Just started playing 2 days ago so I consider myself to be a noob. It could be lack of skill. The legit level 80s seem a lot stronger than me : (

In WvW ‘legit’ 80s do have an advantage over up leveled players because they have all traits unlocked and L80 gear with stats as well. Up leveling in WvW is nice but at L16 you don’t have the traits, slot skills, and gear to have the same potential as a true level 80.

are you talking about WvW pvp?

true level 80s are very much, mure more powerful than up-leveled level 80s.

It’s all about the gear.

So, upscaled char has upscaled damage from current weapons and upscaled stats from current armors ?

Pyrasia.9281:

So, upscaled char has upscaled damage from current weapons and upscaled stats from current armors ?

Pretty much, yes.

That’s why you’ll often not even be able to hit a lvl 32 champion mob if you try to attack it with a lvl 16 (upscaled to maybe lvl 28 or so) character wearing lvl 6 equipment. However, if this character wears lvl 14 equipment, it will be a whole different story.

And yeah, as was said: True lvl 80s will always have the advantage of having all the traits, equip with three stats and a higher rarity (thus higher stats) as well as having more of their skills unlocked. And also, they normally —>should<-- be more experienced with playing their characters already.

In PvP (the matches you go to the Heart of the Mists to start) there is no upscalling, everyone starts at level 80 with all their traits and skills unlocked and level 80 gear. So what level you are makes no difference at all.

But in WvW (the big open maps where big groups take keeps, towers etc.) you’re upscaled. Whilst all your attributes (aka stats) are boosted to what they would be if you were level 80 you’ll still be at a disadvantage because the boost is a simple multiplication of your real attributes and these come from several different places that you acquire as you level up.

For example your traits. At level 80 you have 70 trait points, which most players split between 3 lines, giving them boosts to 6 different stats and unlocking 14 bonuses.
At level 16 you’ll have 6 points. If you’ve put them all into one line that will give you a boost to 2 stats and unlock 1 bonus. If you’ve split them between different lines you’ll have a smaller boost to more stats and no bonuses.

Likewise low level armor and weapons gives you extra points in one attribute (as well as the attack or armor rating of the armor/weapon itself). Level 80 gear gives you points in 3 attributes. So while your one bonus will be scaled up you won’t get any points in other lines like level 80 players do.

You also won’t have all your utility skills or your elite skill unlocked.

For the same reasons down-scaled players in PvE are usually slightly stronger than players who are really that level. (Which is a useful thing to bear in mind, if you’re really struggling to finish something leave it for a bit and come back when you’re a few levels higher, you might find it easier.)

You’re also playing an elementalist which is widely considered the hardest profession to master. They’re not bad (in fact at level 80 if you know what you’re doing they’re extremely powerful) and there’s nothing wrong with playing one as your first character but you will have a harder time than someone playing for example a warrior where combat is much simpler.