Burning Cataclysm

Know the layout of the Battleground before yelling CHARGE!!!

Another trip to the graveyard, and you’re about done with it. You’ve been fighting in the battlegrounds since this morning and they keep wiping the floor with you. Player versus player (pvp) is  not for the timid. Every character you run across has a human brain behind it, which is a huge variable. Here’s how you can survive the battlegrounds and maybe get some street cred while you’re at it.

1. Know thine enemy. You must be acutely aware of the greatest strengths of the class which you are fighting. This will help you to strategize a defense which will help you to endure the fight. Equally important is an understanding of what the enemy is weakest at. Whatever that is, you must exploit it. Before you can do that, you must know your own strengths and weaknesses, which means you should be researching your character’s class. The truth is that your toughest opponent will certainly know what you’re capable of.

2. PvP is all about timing. Don’t just jump into a fight until you know that all of your specials and effects have cooled down. If there isn’t time for that, then learn to

Know your opponent and where to hurt him.

use your buffs and specials at the appropriate time. Don’t fire off all your specials and buffs at the beginning of the match. Again, timing is everything. Learn when to use your skills and when not to. Watching your opponent’s buffs will give you an advantage as well. If their mana, rage or health is running low, then you may have an opportunity to strike. Knowing their state can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

3. Don’t always be offensive. During a fight, especially a long one, there may be times when it is better to focus on defense. Outlasting an opponent can be just as effective as using your favorite dps. As you observe your enemy’s mana, energy, etc, you can determine the best time to take an offensive posture.

Are you wearing the best armor for the mission?

4. Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade! Make sure that your gear, including armor and weapons, are the best you can get for your level and class. Some gear is better for pvp than it is for other types of gameplay. Make sure you research the best type of gear for the mission.

5. Talent trees are important to get right for pvp play. Make sure your character has the properly allocated skill points for the job. Remember, having your skills optimized for pvp will probably cause you to be weaker in other types of gameplay.

6. Watch out for tricks and traps. If your opponent is running away from you, ask yourself “are they running because they are in serious trouble”? If not, then they are probably setting you up for a bad day. Don’t just follow with your legs, think what you would do if you were him.

7. Leave your emotions behind. If you’re not having fun, then it’s not really a relaxing game. Have fun and remember that there nothing wrong with getting wiped if you are learning from it. In fact, you are more likely to develop good pvp skills from the times you are defeated than from the times you are victorious. After a loss, stop and think of what you could’ve done differently. Losing your cool will only cause you to make more mistakes. So, relax and enjoy the challenges that your pvp opponents dish out to you.

PvP and Battlegrounds are an excellent way to gain experience (xp) and prepare for the unexpected encounters that may happen in WoW. Remember, you will always find someone worse than you and better than you. You just need to make sure that there are more people that are worse than better. If you get really good, then maybe you can start practicing your mercy skills. See if you can bring your opponent to within an inch of his life and then let him go. You’ll totally freak him out! Have fun!