Player versus player

Overview
Playing Guild Wars can generally be split into two more or less separate parts: Player versus Player (PvP) and Player versus Environment (PvE).

While in PvE human players fight cooperative together against computer-controlled foes, or they can also compete in the PVP arenas, as long as they have access to the area where the arena is hosted. PvP is a competitive game mode where human players can only fight against other humans. Only in PvP can faction, fame, rank and guild rating be gained.

There are three different PvP modes:


 * Arena battles
 * Global Tournament battles
 * Guild vs Guild battles

Unlike PvE, the PvP part of the game does not have a strict separation along the lines of territories. Regardless of your home territory, you will meet teams and guilds from all territories while playing PvP.

PvP Characters
Each PvE character can take part in PvP matches, providing he has already reached the PvE location where the battle takes place. Player can also create PvP Characters. These Characters are level 20 with customized, maximum damage and protection weapons and armor. They can take part in all PvP matches (except low level arenas), even if no PvE character on that account has reached that location. PvP characters cannot enter explorable areas or cities. PvP Characters can unlock items with Faction, like skills, runes, & upgrades, etc...

For more info, see: PvP character

Arena Battles
Arena battles pit two teams of four players against each other. The winning objectives vary, depending on the map. Losing players are sent back to the lobby area, while the winning team awaits the next opposing team for the next match.

There are two kind of arenas, Random Arenas and Team Arenas. In Random Arenas, players are randomly put together into teams. In the Team Arenas, parties are formed like the PvE part of the game.

Notes:
 * Arena battles are fast paced. Fights usually end in less than three minutes.
 * Random Arenas are often used by many players as a "quick fix" of PvP. Other than a few points of Faction there is nothing at stake and there are no lengthy party forming periods, which can take a huge amount of time in Tournament Battles and GvG.  For these reasons, Competition Arenas are also a good way to try out PvP for new players.
 * Leaving the party after the battle or mission has started is generally considered rude, and will often make players angry. In Arena Battles, missing party members get replaced by a new player between battles. So if you need to leave, do so after your party has won the battle, but before the next map is loaded.

Tournament Battles
The Global Tournament is only accessible through Heroes' Ascent. Teams consist of eight players, with no more than four henchmen. The tournament consists of several consecutive maps. The losers drop out, the winners advance to the next round. Different map types are used, many of them consisting of more than two teams. However, only one team advances to the next round.

For more information, see Heroes' Ascent.

Guild vs Guild Battles
Guild Battles are the highest form of PvP in Guild Wars. Elaborate builds and strategies are used during guild matches. They are the only source of guild rating, which determines the guilds rank on the guild ladder. For more detail, see the article: Guild vs Guild.