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Review of PvP Arenas from a Spectator’s Perspective

So we know most of you are interested in PvP, but do you spend a lot of time watching other people do it? I definitely do. Whenever I watch a friend, I’m known to get cross with them when they “choose” the wrong arena. Yes, there is such a thing as a wrong arena. Any arena that make it hard to survey the area, like the Wysteria one, is a wrong arena. Bad arenas also include the ones that require you to run for hours to your destination (yes, I’m also known for exaggerating), like the Avalon one. So I thought I’d give you my take on which arenas are good and which ones are bad. So, you know, you can stop using the ones I dislike when I’m watching you.

These are the criteria I’ve taken into consideration while ranking the arenas from worst to best:

• Prettiness: While I do mainly focus on watching your match, I do tend to get distracted from time to time. As such, I like to be in an arena that’s pretty. That way, I have pretty things to look at while you turtle for hours on end.
• Theme: These arenas are designed to represent a certain world. If I’m in the Avalon arena I want to feel like I’m in Avalon.
• Amount of running: Having to run to the battle circle is bad. I don’t like running. No running please!
• Visibilty & perspective: I like to have a clean look at the match even when not in spectator view. While I do click the eye button most of the time, sometimes I prefer to look at a match from slightly further away. In addition, it’s important for me to be able to survey the entire area in an instance. I don’t like it when I can’t see who else is watching the match. You never know if Kevin the Noob will show up. I want to see him when he comes!
• Ability to hide: Sometimes I just don’t want to be seen. I feared I would come across as a stalker saying that. However, I asked a girl in game what she finds important in an arena and she mentioned hiding as one of the key factors as well, so I’m not alone!
• Exit areas: While most of the time you can just press the “return to lobby” button, the location of an exit area can be a factor when you ported from a random location to watch a friend. Also, the exit areas are sometimes the most beautiful or interesting part of the arena.

 

Wysteria Arena: 36 points

• Prettiness: 6/10
• Theme: 10/10
• Amount of running: 8/10
• Visibility and perspective: 0/10
• Ability to hide: 5/10
• Exit areas: 7/10

By far the worst arena there is. The main reason for this is definitely the visibility. There is no way to survey the whole arena at once. Finding your friends when you teleport to them can be a problem in this arena. Standing behind bars while watching isn’t very pleasant, and the visibility from way up is bad as well. I don’t know how we managed with this arena before we got spectator view! Hiding from people is both easy and hard. On the one hand people will have trouble finding you, but on the other hand there isn’t any spot that is truly hidden. The exit area with the stairs leading back to the PvP Lobby is beautiful but not very practical. The limited amount of running is a plus and they did nail the theme on this one. This arena couldn’t be any more Wysterian.

 

Avalon Arena: 36 points

• Prettiness: 9/10
• Theme: 10/10
• Amount of running: 0/10
• Visibility and perspective: 6/10
• Ability to hide: 5/10
• Exit areas: 6/10

The Avalon arena doesn’t get a lot of points from me. In fact, it ties with Wysteria as the worst arena ever. The main issue with it is the running required to get to the battling circle. Could it be any longer? The road from the exit to the actual battle is beautiful, but the magical bridge with the stones floating in the air isn’t really worth the long run. I suppose it makes hiding possible, if you stay near the exit, but you can’t hear what people say from that far away. The colors are beautiful and the area’s Crystal Cave theme fits Avalon well. The visibility is okay near the battle circle, but as I said, there’s a long way to the exit and as such people could be there without you knowing.

 

Wizard City Arena: 37 points

• Prettiness: 5/10
• Theme: 8/10
• Amount of running: 10/10
• Visibility and perspective: 8/10
• Ability to hide: 2/10
• Exit areas: 4/10

 

The Wizard City arena scores low on most factors, sadly. It does fit the Wizard City theme, but that’s a fairly boring theme. They could have made it more interesting. Hiding is hard in this arena. There are two exit, but they’re boring. On the other hand, the visibility is great. You can choose between standing close to the arena or higher up. The lack of running required is also a positive feature.

 

Dragonspyre Arena: 42 points

• Prettiness: 8/10
• Theme: 10/10
• Amount of running: 9/10
• Visibility and perspective: 9/10
• Ability to hide: 3/10
• Exit areas: 3/10

The Dragonspyre arena is clearly Dragonspyre themed with its subdued colors and typical textures. Though it is fairly big, the part you are teleported to when you enter is still the best spot to stand. As such, it doesn’t require much running. The only exit area is a little strange as there is no door or anything, you just run into nothingness. The visibility is excellent and there is plenty of space to stand. The opponents battle on an island surrounded by lava, which gives it a menacing feel. This is perhaps not the best arena to remain unseen in.

 

Zafaria Arena: 44 points

• Prettiness: 9/10
• Theme: 10/10
• Amount of running: 7/10
• Visibility and perspective: 9/10
• Ability to hide: 3/10
• Exit areas: 6/10

This arena excellently fits the Zafarian theme. The waterfalls are beautiful, the wooden ramps are very rural and the green grass and foliage help give the area an outdoorsy feel. The visibility is good and you can choose your perspective by going up the ramps. There is a bit of a run to the battling circle, but it’s not too bad. Having both opponents on an island surrounded by water is a nice feature that makes the battle more intimate. Hiding is fairly difficult in this arena, but you could always stay in the exit area. However, the exit area is – plainly said – boring.

 

Krokotopia Arena: 48 points

• Prettiness: 5/10
• Theme: 10/10
• Amount of running: 8/10
• Visibility and perspective: 10/10
• Ability to hide: 8/10
• Exit areas: 7/10

 

This is another arena with great visibility. While there are some places to hide, most of this arena is easy to survey. Granted, this is a small arena, but you still have options. You can stand both near ground level and higher up, so you aren’t limited in any way. There is some running down the slope to get to the battle circle, but it’s by no means a long run. The battle circle is surrounded by a deep fall, which is a nice touch. The exit area is pretty with the pilars and allows for some hiding space as well. The overall feel fits the Krokotopian theme nicely. While Krokotopia as a world IS a little boring, this arena is easily one of my favorites.

 

Marleybone Arena: 48 points

• Prettiness: 5/10
• Theme: 9/10
• Amount of running: 10/10
• Visibility and perspective: 7/10
• Ability to hide: 8/10
• Exit areas: 9/10

The Marleybone arena is very simple. It doesn’t come with multiple levels to stand on, but it allows for a clear view from every side. The dark colors are stylish and they nailed the Marleybonian theme pretty well. The most fancy part of this arena is the exit area, which contains both a planning room and a bar area, which you can hide in while still hearing what everyone says. This arena requires no running at all. All in all, a solid choice for any battle.

 

Celestia Arena: 48 points

• Prettiness: 6/10
• Theme: 10/10
• Amount of running: 8/10
• Visibility and perspective: 9/10
• Ability to hide: 6/10
• Exit areas: 9/10

This circular arena is simple but practical. It’s fairly small, but the visibility is great. The exit area is once again magnificent, with a small gazebo and plenty of running water. While it’s a good area to hide in, you sadly can’t hear what is being said closer to the battle circle. The theme has been executed very well: the circling celestial writing above the battle circle is a nice touch and so is the water pooring off the sides of it. This arena requires virtually no running, which is another plus.

 

Grizzleheim Arena: 48 points

• Prettiness: 9/10
• Theme: 10/10
• Amount of running: 9/10
• Visibility and perspective: 9/10
• Ability to hide: 4/10
• Exit areas: 7/10

This arena is one of my personal favorites. It’s not especially large, but you can both spectate from ground level and from the higher platform. The visibility is excellent. The area is as Grizzleheim themed as is possible with the viking boats, the huskarls guarding and the little islands towards the exit area. The blue sky with stars and whispy clouds is stunning. Hiding is fairly hard here, but there’s the boat to stand on. There’s very little running required to get to the battle circle. If you want to exit through the exit area, you do have to run quite a bit though.

 

Mooshu Arena: 53 points

• Prettiness: 6/10
• Theme: 9/10
• Amount of running: 10/10
• Visibility and perspective: 9/10
• Ability to hide: 10/10
• Exit areas: 9/10

 

The Mooshu arena is a solid arena that has nothing really wrong with it but nothing special about it either. The visibility is great and there’s no running required. The arena is clearly Mooshu themed, though the only part that really stands out is the exit area with its little bridge, waterfall and potted plants. You can hide in this beautiful area, which is close enough for you to still hear what is being said in the match. 

 

Azteca Arena: 56 points

• Prettiness: 10/10
• Theme: 10/10
• Amount of running: 10/10
• Visibility and perspective: 9/10
• Ability to hide: 8/10
• Exit areas: 9/10

The Azteca Arena is a great Arena for multiple reasons. For one, it doesnt require any running! You get teleported to a spot fairly close to the battling circle and there are three ways to exit it as well. The visibility is another great factor. No matter where you stand, you can see people and the battle circle very well. Nevertheless, there are spots where you can hide if you’re so inclined, because this is a large Arena. There is a “secret” part near the back that teleports you upwards, which is pretty fun. The battle circle is surrounded by bubbling water, which separates the opponents from the spectators. Additionally, it’s a beautiful arena. It fits the Aztecan theme perfectly with the decor and with the boulders falling out of the sky.

 

 

Time for some new arenas!

I’m sure many of you agree when I say we want more arenas! Time for a Khrysalis, Polaris, Mirage and Arcanum arena!

Another cool thing Sierra thought of would be to have fish added to the arenas with water, like the Celestia and Azteca arena. Maybe if people are fishing they won’t be talking trash so much! And wouldn’t it be cool if you could fish for chests with actual PvP items? I’d love to fish for the Dragonclaw Blade — Duelist101’s official wand — for example! And maybe some PvP themed fish? The Jade Juju fish? Or doodle fish shaped as popular PvP spells?

 

Which Arena is your favorite
and which one do you like the least?
Let us know in the comments!

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