Hey All!

With the introduction of reward tracks there is now a huge incentive to get to Heart of the Mists and play some sPvP. Understanding the basics will go a long way in improving your sPvP skills. I'll include a number of links to help you get started.

PvP Guides/Builds - Use the search tool to search for sPvP builds for the class you want. If you sort by Glory Earned then the highest rated ones will be at the top. These builds will generally have an explanation of the general playstyle.

 http://intothemists.com/guides/

Gameplay Basics  -A reddit post explaining the basics and clearing up some misconceptions (copied below): 

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/23cc9s/to_all_the_new_players_farming_in_pvp_a_guide_for/

1st: get a build

I see tons of people running non-existing builds, such as "bunker mesmer" or zerker staff ele. These are fairly useless specs, along with all 1v1 builds, such as PU mesmers. If you ask around in the mists I'm sure someone gives you the meta builds within a minute.

2nd: always arrive in time.

Seems obvious, but often there are matches where the last 2 players arrive 10 secs before the match starts. This way your teammates must trust the blind luck with team composition, so you may end up having 2 bunkers or no bunker at all, often resulting at rerolling during matches, making it 4v5 for a short period of time, or just simply losing the match before it even starts.

3rd: never freecap in a group

Happens way too often. People do not realize that the capture bar does not fill faster if you have more people standing on the point. Capturing an empty node with multiple teammates makes your team be outnumbered in a teamfight, thus losing it.

4th: never rush into a lost teamfight, and don't be afraid to disengage

Another common mistake. If you see a 3v1 and only you can aid that guy, then don't. You will only make it 2v3, and make 2/5 of your team wipe. Simply just be happy that the enemy can be outnumbered on 2 other nodes, and help those. Or if you are clearly losing a fight, you are outnumbered and your teammate is going down, just escape while you can and help elsewhere/regroup.

5th: help the downed but don't die reviving

It's just not worth it to get yourself downed for tryharding. Try to res asap, but if you are getting focused and bursted, just leave your buddy alone. Grenth will take care of his/her soul.

6th: if you can, give swiftness before match starts

Swiftness is vital, because you get to the point faster at the start, which can really boost your performance.

7th: guard the points you have

It's not hotjoin anymore. 2 capture points = win, if you can defend them, so don't give them up easily. Tho being afk on a point that's not being invaded ever makes your team battle in 4v5. The solution usually is entrusting a mobile profession with defending close point, usually an engineer, warrior, ranger or ele. They can move up to midfights on most maps while still keeping an eye on your closepoint and can run back if they see an enemy approaching or after killing 1-2 guys in the midfight.

8th: the rules of pushing farpoint

Decapping/fullcapping farpoint is always a huge blow to the enemy. However, don't do this if:

1: you make your team lose a teamfight. Not worth it.

2: an enemy is there for the whole match. Be glad he is paranoid. If you let him rot there for the whole match that means your team can 5v4 their team thus keeping 2 points for sure which = win.

Hope this helps :) Gl & hf. Balthazar bless you all.

---

Edit: clarification of some terms and misbeliefs

Hotjoin: it refers to everything that is found under the Game Browser menu, it is unrated. This mode will teach you the opposite of what you should do, use it for daily + to learn the maps, for that it is great. Because of this it was always an issue (newcomers can't learn the game here, and rated should not be for learning).

Personal score and rank points gained:you used to gain rank points and glory for the score you have earned, but this was changed like half a year ago. This is just a simple remnant of that system and won't affect your rank points at all. There is only a winner and a loser team score, and the only thing that can modify those values is the time you spent in the match. 8 mins and above = max reward.

NOTE: Taken from reddit, not my writing.

Now get out there and go earn yourself some loot!!!

Feel free to add anything you feel would be useful!

-Erion

Here is another reddit post with a collection of "Good" builds for each class! I was running the "Power Ranger" (Greatsword variant) for a couple of hours yesterday and it was great for both group combat and 1v1.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/23vbkh/tpvp_build_list_up_to_date_builds_as_of_the_april/

The information keeps on coming. This time is a guide to the basic "roles" of tpvp. I've copied the role explanations down below. The actual post goes on to explain what class/build would be a good fit for the position.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/23yi5w/guild_wars_2_tpvp_meta_roles/

Far-Point Assaulter

Profession/Build Values

• Strong 1v1
• High level of mechanics/options
• Harassing ability
• Good mobility for escapes

Player values

• Intelligent (needs to know what to do against certain enemies. If unable to kill -> de-cap -> harass-> ask for help) & MIND GAMES
• Skill (needs the ability to outperform the enemy - NO THEORY CRAFTERS, back up your talk with high level play)

Role

• The Far-Point Assaulter, as the name states targets the far-point base, which is generally the base closest to the enemy. Since there is no clear cut job for Far-Point Assaulter other then to cap the point, FPA's will often do one of the following. The FPA will either de-cap (which neutralizes the point and denies points), apply pressure to the far point in the hopes of drawing reinforcements from mid or the roamers, or go above and beyond and simply back cap or even kill the BPD which will put the enemy team behind.

----------------------------------------

The Bunker

Profession/Build Values

• High Sustain
• High Survivability/Tanky
• Support/Stability to help win/turn fights

Player Values

• Consistency/Usually holds the game together both in game and out of game
• Game knowledge
• Awareness
• ~ Leadership

Role

• The bunker is the immovable force of middle. They enter the fight at the start of the game and never leave. The bunker generally has great survivability and often also performs the secondary role of support. The bunkers job is to be a great team fighter and one who sways the battle of middle. Please note, your job is not to just soak up damage and act like you're doing a lot. The bunker needs to also be a threat in the sense that he needs to not only be able to soak up damage but be able to either provide CC, support skills (Aegis, Protection, Stability), or damage in order to help your team win against their team in the battle of mid. Bunkers generally don't make fancy plays and is more of a team enabler who allows his party to shine uninterrupted.

----------------------------------------

Back Point Defender (BPD)

Profession/Build Values

• Strong 1v1
• High sustain or tankiness
• High level of mechanics/options
• Tools to help defend/bunkering skills

Player values

• Intelligent (needs to be able to counter the enemy Far-Point Assaulter; he is your virtual mortal rival)
• Skill (your role is arguably the most important of the big three. You provide the foundation points for your team. If you lose the 1v1, your team gets extremely behind unless your FPA can carry hard. It is harder for your FPA to beat their BPD than for your BPD to defend against the enemy's FPA so you must be able to hold your own against their cream of the crop FPA.)
• Humbleness (This is one of the traits that really REALLY sets a part the great BPDs to the mediocre. If you can not handle the FPA, you need to be able to suck up your pride and request help. Often times this will not be the case and you will be fine, but sometimes games are lost simply because of your BPD's 1 death, especially early in the game.)'

Role

• The Back-Point Defender, as the role hints is the for lack of a better term, sole defender of the point closest to your base. The BPD is the foundation of all points earned on your team. He takes the first points for your team in the match and he holds that point so that regardless the outcome of mid or far point, your team's points are always moving forwards. The Back-Point Defender will be under constant attack from the enemy FPA and will often be in the most tough/stressful situations. Your role is to usually react to the enemy's FPA. Back-Point defender play is usually not that fancy where as the enemy FPA is typical the walking highlight reel. You must be able to hold your own in most if not all 1v1s and to keep a cool head as their FPA tries to get in yours.