Guild Wars 2

I used the exact same build I’d use for PvE/WvW (S/D and shortbow, minimal stealth) and expected to get rocked but after the first 1-2 games, I’ve been consistently scoring top 3. However, points are probably misleading since I get a ton of points from skirmishing which I’m not sure really contributes that much to the success of the match.

Class balance seems to be a lot better however, I still pretty much rock the same classes I can rock in WvW, and have trouble with the ones I have trouble in WvW. Though enemy thieves noticeably are not as much of a threat in sPvP as they are in WvW. They hit a lot softer and can’t really deal sustained damage which makes them not as useful in my opinion. They are still squishy as hell though.

Skill level for players don’t seem to be anything special, at least for HotJoin. Probably around the same as the average WvW player though obviously they are likely using a build more suited for dueling.

Also noticed warriors can’t really get away from me as easily as they can in WvW. Obviously because they can’t use lemongrass to basically make themself immune to conditions.

All in all, pretty fun. Got to r5 and I’ll probably play it to pass some time. Just relieved I didn’t get rocked basically using the same equip and same skillset from WvW in a different game mode.

Only difference in stats for sPvP is I specced slightly more for offensive and became a little bit glassier. I could use celestial amulet to attain the same defensive stats as I have in WvW but I noticed that my power was a lot lower and this made me hit a lot less than I do in WvW, so I use berserker amulet so I actually hit harder than I do in WvW but am a little more glassier, though this trade off is made up by the fact that noone can really spec full berserker in sPvP.

Play until r10 in Hotjoin and then get into Tournies. The skill level is noticeably higher there.

Low stealth builds are typically not that viable, because Thieves have low sustain outiside of stealth. Trying to dance around a Necro when he just puts down his well and you melt is not every effective. But then again… nothing is very effective against a Necro nowadays.

Anyway, game on.

I actually think it’s fair for necromancer to be best at 1v1. they have possibly the worst mobility and one of the worst downed states.

Thief on the other hand can detach at will, and can come back to 2v1 the nec if needed. The difference is the necro can’t get away. That’s why you don’t see that many if any roaming necros.

Played a few more matches. Overall I feel playing sPvP is a very worthwhile experience and can teach you some skills for dealing with certain classes/strategies that you may not run into in WvW.

Already I’ve mastered the shadowstep stomp and have had a lot of experience with identifying the real mesmer. For some reason, both of those are infinitely easier to do in sPvP, probably due to the low amount of distractions in a sPvP environment.

Also feel mesmer and thieves are both a lot easier to deal with in sPvP. Mesmer likely because they can’t use full berserker and I guess thieves also because they can’t use full berserker. But for thieves I haven’t really seen any that detach much because they know anytime they detach is points lost for their team. So it makes predicting them SO much easier. And for battles over the ring you can just attack randomly and ACTUALLY hit them because you know where they need to stand to bunker and contest the objectives.

Some of my top scores so far:
http://i.imgur.com/RJc5rqW.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Z8Io73P.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KuGq5ha.jpg

And I guess here is another area where sPvP does it better. I actually get to know my stats and performance after each game. Know if I did horribly immediately and if I did really well in a game and think about why I did poorly and how I can improve for next game.

This game mode is kind of like alliance battles from guild wars 1 minus the NPCs defending each point. Strategies are a bit different but you can tell sPvP was definately inspired by alliance battles. That was my favorite activity in guild wars 1 and I’m glad they were able to sort of replicate it here.

>Mesmer likely because they can’t use full berserker
> and I guess thieves also because they can’t use full berserker.

…and all other proffesions also can’t use full berserker – those 2 are not the only weaker profesions in spvp because of the fact thac they can’t go full ber
Generally currently pvp is a LOT more balanced than wvw where full tank guardian will just autoattack kill any low helath (thief, ele) glass.
There is no +200 power +-40% condi food, 12k backstab, over 3k power, 120% crit dmg, immortal 1v3 tanks, etc.
Imho wvw should use pvp combat standards instead of pve. Then it will be a lot more skill dependend where now it is proffession/build dependend.

Also the game goals in pvp are clear and you dont have to walk/search for 5-10 min to find someone who gonna 1v1 or 1v2 against you. Its constant battle so in 1h you will have as much duels as in wvw in one day – and in tournaments with good opponents – I still think that 95% wvw players have mob AI (same as 75% hotjons players).
Overal you will improove a lot faster in pvp.