Guild Wars 2 received a major update for PvP in February. ArenaNet also introduced a “Fun Season” during this time. However, this season turns out to be a real highlight for our author Alexander Leitsch.
What kind of season is this? The Arena PvP in Guild Wars 2 mainly takes place in 5v5 matches on maps that have multiple capture points. There are appropriate queues, leaderboards, and daily tournaments for this mode.
But in February, ArenaNet decided to introduce a “Mini-Season” between two regular seasons. It lasts only 4 weeks instead of 8 and also brings unique rewards.
However, the most exciting part is the mode change. The current season is taking place in a 2v2 Deathmatch until March 23. If a player dies, they stay dead, making the matches not only shorter but also more thrilling. This mode has particularly captivated our author.
How I Rediscovered My Love for PvP
What is my PvP history? Since the release, I have regularly played PvP, and with the first season in December 2015, a system was finally introduced that made PvP worthwhile.
Until Season 18, I consistently played at a Platinum level, but even before that, I felt increasingly that the excitement of PvP was missing. The meta stagnated, the maps were boring, and the rewards became uninteresting.
However, since I was spending too little and too irregular time in the MMORPG, I had stepped back from a fixed team for the 5v5 tournaments. With Season 19, I took a break that I initially did not want to end.
Why does the 2v2 motivate me? At the end of 2019, I wrote about what I wish for GW2 in the new year. There was also talk of new incentives for PvP players. ArenaNet apparently heard my wish and brought the 2v2 season:
- In the 2v2, two players simply face off against two other players in a Deathmatch.
- A match lasts until one of the two teams has won three duels.
- A duel, in turn, lasts until both players are defeated.
While the 2v2 has been around for longer, no official queue or leaderboard for it had been published. That has now changed. And with the 2v2, my gaming enjoyment has also returned.
Of course, the PvP is not balanced for the 2v2. Some classes and builds are significantly stronger than others. But it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes you just play for fun.
I personally love the tight duels I have had multiple times. I love that matches are usually decided in less than 8 minutes and can thus be played casually. I love that builds are played that are rarely seen competitively, like the Core Necromancer.
I also love that many of my friends, who usually shy away from PvP, are currently giving the mode a chance, simply because it is something different, fresh, and interesting.
Additionally, new rewards come in the form of two new titles, new achievements, a new armor skin, and lots of gold. Even players who are still working on their rank can earn progress in PvP.
How are the seasons perceived otherwise? On reddit, many players are just as enthusiastic as I am about the variety. The user Ristillath created a thread titled “2v2 Arenas are the best thing that has happened to PvP in a long time.”
In it, although there is a controversial discussion about the mode and balance, the overall feedback is positive. In-game, you can see from the leaderboards that many well-known PvP players have already completed matches in 2v2.
Mini-Seasons Offer Many New Opportunities
What else excites me about the seasons? Besides the fact that I am currently enjoying 2v2, the mini-seasons also offer many new possibilities. These are not bound to a game mode, unlike the regular ones.
So theoretically, many new constellations are possible:
- One could elevate the 2v2 maps to 3v3, which would change the mode again.
- We already have a 5v5 Deathmatch arena that could be used for a mode like Kill Count.
- On already existing 5v5 maps like Ghostwatch or Enemy Fire, the capture points could be disabled, and instead, points could be earned through side objectives like the Orb or the Lord.
- ArenaNet is currently working on a 15v15 Deathmatch map. Such a season could also pique the interest of at least some GvG guilds.
Mini-seasons have great potential to rekindle my enthusiasm for PvP. Perhaps this will be enough, and with the latest balance patch, even for me to start playing again for Season 21.
