The new MMORPG Lost Ark offers a lot of endgame for its fans. This includes not only events and a ton of PvE content, but also there’s plenty to do for PvP enthusiasts.
What is PvP in Lost Ark? First of all, we need to distinguish which form of PvP we are talking about. The game basically offers you two different versions of player-versus-player combat.
- On the one hand, starting from level 10, you can challenge other players to duels in the open world. These duels must be accepted by the opponent and take place in a designated area.
- Then there is arena PvP, which you unlock at level 26 during the quest line “Rebuilding Luterra.” There you fight in instanced arenas with normalized equipment, and you can enter them from any city.
- The third mode is GvG, where guilds compete against each other. This occurs in four full groups, resulting in a 16vs16 situation on a larger map. However, this mode will not be available to us at launch.
However, the duels in PvP provide you with nothing but fun. You receive no rewards there, but you lose nothing if you die. This form can therefore be understood more as a skirmish among friends.
However, the arenas are the core content of PvP and provide long-term engagement.
Lost Ark shines in arena PvP
How does arena PvP work? Arena PvP is all about your personal skill and how well you know the opposing class. In an arena, neither the environment nor a high gear score provides advantages. Theoretically, you can start at level 26 and allocate just as many skill points as a player at max level.
The equipment will not set you apart from others, as you choose your own gear for the arena. Moreover, your skills in PvP may have different effects and values so that the player-versus-player experience in Lost Ark is not compromised by the balance of PvE content.
To avoid confusion, you can simply save your PvP skills in so-called coordination books. You can then click the required book for each PvP mode beforehand and have your build ready.
Three game modes in arena PvP that fundamentally differ
What modes are there? Fundamentally, Lost Ark’s PvP is divided into “Normal” matches, ranked matches, and even custom matches, where you can team up with friends or compete against them in the official arenas.
The basic 3 PvP modes are:
- Team Deathmatch
- Deathmatch
- Team Elimination
What is Team Deathmatch? In this game mode, you are in a 3v3 setup, meaning with two teammates against three other players. There is a fixed time limit, and if you die, you will respawn after a short cooldown.
The goal is to get as many kills of the opposing team as possible within the time limit while, logically, trying to die as little as possible.
In Team Deathmatch, you can also play together with your friends and build exciting team combinations before the match. But be careful, this is only possible in the normal game mode. More on that later.
What is Deathmatch? Similar to Team Deathmatch, the aim here is to achieve as many kills as possible while you can respawn repeatedly. However, you are not in teams of three, but always playing solo.
In Deathmatch, you can therefore only search for a game solo; this mode is not available for friends. Moreover, the focus of the Deathmatch mode is a little “more fun” than the Team Deathmatch.
In Deathmatch, there are also certain areas where you deal more damage and bullets that you can pick up, giving you a buff to assist in combat.
What is Team Elimination? In this mode, you also play 3v3, but one after the other and without respawn. This may sound strange at first, but it’s the mode that requires the most tactics.
First, you select the order of fighters in your team. The first one starts first, and the second can only begin once the first has been defeated. The actual battles always take place in 1v1 matches.
The one who wins the 1v1 match stays in the field and then fights the next opponent in a 1v1. The survivor cannot heal themselves. At the end, the team that still has players left wins.
You can also enter Team Elimination together with a friend and coordinate a bit better.
Ranked matches offer great rewards
How do you get rewards? Decent rewards in Lost Ark are only available in PvP for the challenging ranked games. Custom matches or normal matches are therefore, for now, nothing but time fillers and training to prepare you for the ranked games.
As rewards, you can expect cosmetic items, titles, silver, and gold, and even crystals. From the max level, you can also earn certain coins in PvP, which can be exchanged for PvE equipment. It is even possible to improve your endgame gear through PvP.
When can you play ranked matches? Basically, this is possible from level 26, although we would advise against it. While you have the same stats as your opponents, even if they are much further along, they probably know their character a little better than you.
Nonetheless, the only requirement to participate in ranked matches is to have completed a certain number of normal matches. Then you unlock the ranked games, and the fun begins.
How do ranked matches differ? Almost not at all. You also have access to the same three game modes in ranked mode that you already know from the normal matches.
The biggest difference is that you can only enter ranked matches alone. No matter which of the three game modes you want to play, your friends will not be included in ranked games. Unfortunately, you will have to take on the challenge all by yourself.
How do the ranked games work? The concept is relatively simple and should be familiar to you from games like League of Legends or Valorant. You play your matches and earn points every time you win. However, if you lose, you lose points accordingly.
During the various seasons, which reset your rank at the end, you will fight through a total of seven different ranks. The higher you climb, the better the rewards.
The ranks start at bronze, which is the lowest rank, and you receive credit for just a single point. Therefore, there are no rewards for bronze.
After that, it goes to silver, gold, platinum, diamond, and master, up to grandmaster. The various ranks then contain better rewards the higher you can climb in the ranks.
For those of you who make it to grandmaster, there will also be an official leaderboard where you can continue to work your way up. So that someday everyone can see that you are the greatest grandmaster of grandmasters.
Total chaos in GvG
The guild versus guild system in Lost Ark is currently a popular scenario on the Korean and Russian servers of the game. In our version of the game, however, GvG will not be available at launch.
In GvG, you play on a separate map with a total of 32 players for important resource points. You try to hold your points while also taking the points from the opposing team. Here, group distribution is especially important.
Since your team consists of a total of 16 people, you are divided into four groups of four players each. The buffs you receive and distribute apply only to your specific group of four. Additionally, in GvG, similar to normal player duels in the open world, you can also rely on special items and bring them into battle.
Are you interested in PvP in Lost Ark, or is the whole topic somewhat irrelevant for you? Do you focus on PvE in the new MMORPG, or are you itching your fingers a bit about the player-versus-player battles? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Furthermore, Amazon recently released a new video about Lost Ark, showing what makes the free MMORPG special.
