Player versus player

In certain modes, characters can fight against each other instead of monsters (Player versus Environment, or PvE).

Setting up a pvp match
Setting up a pvp match against a random player is done simply by clicking on the interesting pvp format, the player will be put in a queue while the matchmaker finds a suitable opponent. Dueling a certain person or group can be a bit tricky due to the matchmaking system. To smoothly set it up with higher success rate start by
 * 1) Contacting like minded people, for example from friend lists, chats or forums.
 * 2) Invite the interested players you want to specifically duel to the same party.
 * 3) Meet up in the party leaders hideout.
 * 4) Split the team and create two parties inside the same hideout. Keep in touch with the opponents via the local chat.
 * 5) Start a pvp match.

Dueling
Dueling is a 1v1 PvP mode.


 * Right click on another player and select "Challenge to Duel".
 * If they accept, you'll immediately be teleported to a PvP arena.
 * If you challenge another party, the parties will fight each other.
 * If you challenge someone in your party, only the two of you will fight.

Capture the Flag
Themed around Act 2's bandit lords who vie for control of the Phrecian Forest, players enter Capture the Flag events in teams and score points by capturing and returning a flag from their enemy's war camp. Fighting alongside their bandit lord and his followers, teams must carefully plan both their party build composition and strategy for defending their flag while claiming their enemy's. We are also experimenting with three-way Capture the Flag events (with up to 18 players at once).

Sarn Arena
The Sarn Arena is a free-for-all PVP zone adjacent to the Sarn Encampment. The area is strewn with obstacles and corpses, with an elevated space in the middle that includes a shrine.

Cut-Throat
A competitive race in which players are allowed to enter others' instances at will and attack non-party member characters. Equipped items are dropped on death. The death experience penalty is increased by 30% on all difficulty levels. Killing a player awards their death penalty experience to the killer. Player capacity in non-town instances is doubled. This does not increase the maximum party size.

Tournaments
A tournament is a short duration event that you enter with a specific character. You play rapid-fire PvP rounds against other entrants, with matchmaking occurring within the tournament only. The goal is to accumulate as many wins as you can during the event, so you're encouraged to play aggressive characters that get decisive victories. Based on your overall placing in the tournament, you'll win PvP points which allow you to unlock various PvP-specific item rewards throughout a season. Tournaments can be 1v1, 3v3, FFA Arena or CTF.

PvP seasons
Seasons typically last about a month and consist of various PvP events players can participate in to win prizes. Every season has two leaderboards (one for EU and one for US) and a special set of alternate art prizes.


 * PvP season 1 ran from December 20, 2014 to January 18, 2015.
 * PvP season 2 ran from February 15 to March 16, 2015.

PvP Damage scaling
The scaling algorithms are

$\left(\frac{D}{T*90}\right)^{.57}*90*T$ for physical and chaos damage, and

$\left(\frac{D}{T*150}\right)^{.55}*150*T$

for elemental damage, where
 * “D” is the damage of an individual hit.
 * “T” is the attack or cast time of the skill it comes from, or the assumed attack or cast time we have determined for that skill (see below).

For skills that don’t fit this algorithm due to a lack of attack time or due to some other innate advantage they provide we use a series of time assumptions and/or manually reduce or increase the damage further.

Damage Multipliers
Labyrinth Enchantments deal 80% less damage against players.

Astral Projector's ranged nova effect now deal 30% less damage against players.

T Overrides
Skills that override PvP scaling on their damage over time components:

Ground effect PvP scaling:
 * Ground Fire: Fire Damage Per Minute scaled with an assumed T of 24.0 seconds.
 * Desecrated Ground: Chaos Damage Per Minute scaled with an assumed T of 24.0 seconds.
 * Poison Cloud: Chaos Damage Per Minute scaled with an assumed T of 24.0 seconds.

Passive skills PvP scaling:
 * Clever Construction: prevents traps and mines from being destroyed by players for 2.5 seconds, down from 5.

Version history

 * has an attack time override of 0.5 seconds.
 * has an attack time override of 2.0 seconds.
 * has an attack time override of 1.5 seconds.
 * no longer has a damage penalty.
 * no longer has a damage bonus.


 * now has an attack time override of 3 seconds.
 * Fixed a bug where premade Templar characters wouldn't be able to equip the gem.
 * Fixed a bug where premade Duelist characters wouldn't have a fully allocated Passive Tree.
 * Fixed a bug where the Duelist's premade character build was incorrectly named "Whirling Blade" (now Double Strike).


 * no longer has an attack time override. The skill's actual cast time is now used to calculate damage scaling against other players.
 * now has an attack time override of 0.5 seconds (from 0.2 seconds).
 * now has an attack time override of 0.5 seconds (from 0.2 seconds).
 * Fixed a bug which caused PvP ratings to stop decaying.
 * Fixed a bug where Flame Wall's debuff would ignore PvP scaling against other players.


 * 's primary burning effect now has an attack time override of 1 second, and its secondary burning effect now has an attack time override of 0.2 seconds.
 * Burning Ground created by the unique belt has an attack time override of 5 seconds.
 * now has an attack time override of 0.25 seconds.


 * To ensure Heist and the new skills receive the necessary QA time, we will be providing PvP balance changes in a followup patch shortly after the launch of 3.12.0


 * Fixed an instance crash that could occur in Free for All PvP when using Minions.


 * now deals 30% less damage against players.
 * has an attack time override (T-override) of 0.2 seconds.
 * deals 70% less damage against players.
 * Skills triggered by deal 70% less damage against players.
 * Blessed Rebirth is now disabled in PvP areas.
 * Fixed a bug which caused Auto-Spectate in PvP to stop working.


 * Fixed a bug introduced in 3.10.0 where ’s reflected damage was not scaled down correctly in PvP combat.


 * Skills affected by 's ranged nova effect now deal 30% less damage against players.
 * Skills supported by deal 20% less damage against players.
 * Spider minions created by now deal 85% less damage to players (from 70% less damage).
 * The attack time override (T-override) for is now 0.6 seconds, matching its actual duration (from 0.4).
 * and the skills it triggers deal 50% less damage against players.


 * Fixed a bug where PvP-only characters could enter the Azurite Mine.


 * are no longer targetable in PvP.


 * PvP-only characters can no longer appear on League ladders.
 * now applies a 20% damage penalty against players to skills it supports.
 * Support now applies a 25% damage penalty against players to skills it supports.
 * now applies a 25% damage penalty against players to skills it supports (this was the case previously when it existed solely on Reach of the Council, too).
 * now has a 30% damage penalty against players.
 * Fixed a bug where, if you were not the first player to enter a PvP area, you could use on a pet. It would, unfortunately, not transform you into the pet.
 * Fixed a bug where the from Coward's Legacy would not be reapplied after dying and reviving in PvP.


 * The formula for calculating damage in PvP has changed.
 * Mine skills now use the Throwing time as the basis for PvP scaling.
 * now has a 30% damage penalty against players (from 50%).
 * now has a 40% damage penalty against players (from 25%)
 * now causes supported skills do deal 40% less damage against players (previously no penalty).
 * now has a Time override of 0.2 seconds (from 0.5).
 * now has a Time override of 15 seconds for the burning damage it deals.
 * now causes supported skills to deal 50% less damage in PvP (from 15% less).
 * The Caustic Ground on Death effect from Siegebreaker now has a Time override of 5 seconds.


 * Skills socketed in now deal 40% less damage to players.
 * Skills supported by now deal 15% less damage to players (previously no penalty).
 * Skills supported by now deal 10% less damage to players (previously no penalty).
 * The reflected damage dealt by is now affected by PvP scaling.
 * The reflected damage dealt by Impale is now affected by PvP scaling.


 * now deals 30% less damage against players (previously dealt 5% more).
 * Spectral spiders summoned by 's Raise Spiders now deal 70% less damage against players (previously no penalty).
 * Fixed a bug where, , and  were all bypassing PvP scaling when triggered from a trap or mine.


 * Spells triggered from and  now have their damage scaled based on your attack speed.
 * Skills supported by now deal 20% less damage against players (from 15% less).
 * Skills supported by now deal 20% less damage against players (from 15% less).
 * Skills supported by now deal 30% less damage against players (previously no penalty).
 * Skills supported by now deal 15% less damage against players (previously had no penalty).
 * Skills supported by now deal 25% less damage against players (from 15% less).
 * Skills supported by now deal 20% less damage against players (previously had no penalty).
 * Skills supported by now deal 10% less damage against players (previously had no penalty).
 * now deals 25% less damage against players (previously had no penalty).
 * now deals 30% less damage against players (previously had no penalty).
 * now deals 30% less damage against players (previously had no penalty).
 * 's hit now deals 30% less damage against players (previously had no penalty).
 * The new skill has an attack time override of 0.5 seconds applied to its Damage over Time.
 * The new skill has an attack time override of 0.4 seconds applied to its Damage over Time.


 * While in PvP areas, the Invisible Buff Effect microtransaction no longer applies to Banner skills, auras and Herald skills, Phase Run, Blood Rage, Arctic Armour, Tempest Shield, Molten Shell and Vaal Molten Shell.


 * The capacity to create PvP-only characters is now unlocked after freeing the Scion.
 * ,, , , and the  gem now scale the damage of triggered spells based on the attack time of the triggering attack. They no longer have an 80% damage penalty across all triggered skills.
 * The has been adjusted.


 * Added a PvP T-value of 1 to.


 * The player vs. player damage-scaling algorithm has been updated.
 * You can no longer gain flask charges during a PvP round. This includes both active sources of flask charge gain (such as the Surgeon's prefix), and passive sources (such as the Ryslatha Pantheon power). You will still gain a number of flask charges between rounds.
 * Enemy players are now hidden from the minimap.
 * Enabled 2v2 PvP queues.
 * Trigger supports, triggered skills (including Labyrinth Enchantments), and skills triggered by an item effect (such as Poet's Pen) all now deal 80% less damage against players.
 * Skills supported by now deal 35% less damage against players.
 * Skills supported by, , , or now deal 15% less damage against players.
 * now deals 50% less damage against players (down from 25% less).
 * now deals 50% less damage against players.
 * now deals 30% less damage against players.
 * now deals 25% less damage against players (down from 15% more).
 * now deals 40% less damage against players.
 * now deals 80% less damage against players.
 * 's Time-override has been lowered to 0.5 seconds (from 1.5 seconds).
 * 's Time-override has been lowered to 0.5 seconds (from 1.5 seconds).
 * now has a T-override of 1 second.
 * now has a T-override of 1 second.
 * now has a T-override of 1 second.
 * You can no longer target another player's.


 * Updated premade PvP characters to have the correct gems and gem levels.
 * Fixed a bug where damage over time from Cold Snap was not removed between PvP rounds or on death.
 * Fixed a bug where teleporting from the spawn area to the base area did not place players randomly in the Capture the Flag PvP mode.


 * Due to the removal of the cooldown, the gem no longer has a scaling override. Skills supported by the Trap Support will undergo scaling based on trap throwing speed. The same is true of other trap skills whose cooldowns have been removed.
 * Due to the significant damage buff and capacity to hit more targets, and  now have a 25% damage penalty against players, in addition to the default PvP scaling (up from 5%).
 * no longer has a 10% damage boost against players.
 * and use a T-override of 24 seconds for its damage over time component.
 * 's T-override is 1.5 seconds, matching.
 * 's T-override is 15 seconds.


 * Lowered the T override (used to determine damage) of to 1.5 seconds (down from 4 seconds)
 * Set the T override of to 1.5 seconds
 * Fixed a bug where your spectres could vanish after a PvP battle.
 * Fixed a client crash when entering a PvP match.


 * PvP-only characters can no longer activate the map device.
 * Bleeding, Ignite and Poison now undergo PvP scaling based on the attack or cast time of the ailment's source. For skills with time override, the ailments use that.


 * PvP premade characters have been updated to work with the current Passive Skill Tree.
 * Skills linked to now do 70% less damage in PvP.
 * now assumes a cast time of 4 seconds for calculating damage in PvP, down from 30 seconds.
 * Fixed a bug where PvP-only characters could get bandit reward books stuck in their inventory.
 * Fixed a bug where more than the allowed number of players could spectate a PvP match.
 * Fixed a bug where you could force other players into a PvP match.


 * Fixed an issue where PvP loading screens showed 6 vs 6 matches for 3 vs 3 events.


 * PvP spectators can no longer use flasks or perform triggered actions.


 * Fixed various problems with PvP preconstructed characters, such as their passive trees and items.


 * Added a "Join PvP" talk option to Leo.


 * Fixed an instance crash related to team PVP.


 * PvP T-values have been set for, and.


 * Fixed an issue where buff auras from passive skills did not re-apply in PvP arenas.


 * PvP preconstructed characters now have 35 skill points (instead of 34) as they are assumed to have completed the "An Indomitable Spirit" Act 4 quest.


 * Lowered 's damage in PvP by 1% per gem level up to level 10, then 2% per gem level (damage reduced by 10% at level 10, and by 30% at level 20).


 * PvP-only characters can now access the Sarn Arena from their Hideout. Talk to Leo, Master of the Arena to do so.


 * Fixed a bug where the PvP daily mission could disappear from the quest tracker.


 * Daily Missions from Leo no longer include team based PvP (Such as 3v3 or Capture the Flag).


 * 's damage has been reduced in PvP. Its attack time override is now 200ms (from 400ms).


 * Fixed a bug where cancelling a PvP queue could sometimes prevent you from joining in the future.


 * Due to the projectile shotgunning changes, and  no longer have lower damage in addition to the PvP scaling.
 * now deals 20% less damage in addition to the PvP scaling.
 * now deals 15% more damage in addition to the PvP scaling.
 * now deals 10% more damage in addition to the PvP scaling (down from 15%).
 * now deals 30% less damage in addition to the PvP scaling.
 * now deals 15% less damage in addition to the PvP scaling (up from -20%).
 * Skills supported by deal 85% less damage in addition to the PvP scaling.
 * Skills supported by deal 30% less damage in addition to the PvP scaling.
 * Fixed a bug where on-kill flask charges were still awarded in a PvP event that had flask charges disabled.


 * Fixed a bug where players would lose their party when entering cross-league PvP events from the Hardcore and Bloodlines leagues.


 * Added support for our second PvP season.


 * Added PvP Spectate Following functionality.
 * Using /spectate no longer requires the player you are attempting to spectate to be in a PvP match.
 * damage has been reduced by a further 10%. The total reduction is now 30%.
 * damage has been reduced by 15%.
 * damage has been reduced by 10%.
 * T-override has been reduced to 0.9 seconds (from 1.1 seconds).
 * T-override has been reduced to 0.9 seconds (from 1.1 seconds).
 * damage has been increased by 10%.
 * damage has been increased by 5%.
 * damage has been reduced by a further 5%. The total reduction is now 25%.
 * damage has been increased by 5%. The total reduction is now 5% (up from 10% reduction previously).
 * damage has been increased by 10%.
 * damage has been reduced by 30%.
 * damage has been increased by 5% to a total reduction of 20%.
 * Spells triggered by have had their damage reduced by 25%.
 * The Clever Construction notable now only prevents traps and mines from being destroyed by players for 2.5 seconds, down from 5. This has no change for monsters.
 * Fixed a bug where you could get stuck dead if you tried to respawn while queued for PvP.
 * Fixed a bug where pressing escape cancelled your PvP Queue.
 * Fixed a bug where the name of the portal which returns you from PvP areas to a Hideout was incorrect.
 * Fixed a bug where players could get permanently stunned if they were stunned during the revive/round change in PvP matches.
 * Fixed a bug where you couldn't respawn at a checkpoint while in a queue for PvP, if the checkpoint was in a different zone.


 * Quest Tracker information is no longer displayed when spectating PvP matches.
 * When players enter PvP matches, their name and team is no longer announced to their enemies in chat.


 * PvP-only characters are now able to travel to other players' hideouts so that they can play in party events.


 * Skills supported by now deal 75% less damage when triggered in PvP.
 * The PvP arena based on the Industrial Docks tileset has had its collidability markup improved.


 * has been given a PvP damage penalty of 30%
 * The T-override for has been changed from 1 second to 0.4 seconds
 * A "Leave" button has been added for PvP spectators.
 * Fixed a bug where draws were being treated as losses for both parties.
 * Fixed a bug where the "Team has won the Match" banner can show up after you have left a PvP arena.
 * Fixed a bug where the PvP results screen could persist into the next area.


 * Fixed cases where players were sometimes kicked from multiplayer PvP matches.
 * Fixed a bug where people on the Australian gateway couldn't see upcoming PvP events.


 * New Forsaken Master: Leo Redmane, Master of the Arena
 * You're now able to make PvP-only characters in a league once you've talked to Leo Redmane
 * Guildmates can now be spectated in PvP.
 * PvP Arenas have been improved so that they're more symmetrical and fair for different builds.
 * Multi-fight matches are now best-of-seven. The arena changes layout (without a loading screen) every three matches for fairness.
 * Some shrines such as the Acceleration Shrine have been removed from CTF arenas.
 * PvP damage scaling has been adjusted
 * PvP durations for shock, freeze, chill, bleed and Viper Strike have been cut in half.
 * 's PvP damage has been increased by 15%.
 * 's PvP damage has been increased by 5%.
 * 's PvP damage has been reduced by 20%.
 * 's PvP damage has been increased from -30% to -20%.
 * 's PvP damage has been reduced by 20%.
 * ' PvP damage has been reduced by 30%.
 * 's effective PvP duration used for damage scaling has been reduced from from 1.4 to 1.2 seconds.
 * 's effective PvP duration used for damage scaling has been reduced from 0.8 to 0.7 seconds.
 * The gem's effective PvP duration used for damage scaling has been increased from 1.4 to 1.1 seconds.
 * now has 40% reduced effectiveness against other players.


 * Local chat has been disabled for spectators of PVP.


 * Fixed a bug where would not work in PVP.


 * Fixed various issues with PvP queue UI.


 * Added PvP Spectator mode.
 * Flasks now refill when entering a PvP area, unless you're in a Famine league.
 * In 1v1 duels and 3v3 PvP, no longer affects players.


 * Fixed a bug in PVP where the winner of a round would not get their life, mana and energy shield restored.


 * Added a new Dexterity/Intelligence Support Gem -
 * now has specific PvP raw scaling, so that it does 30% less damage in PvP situations.


 * Fixed a bug where your could return from the dead during a PvP match.
 * Fixed a bug where no monster corpses would spawn in PvP areas in the Invasion league.


 * Fixed a bug where monsters' Righteous Fire was affected by player PvP scaling.


 * Free-for-all PvP is available in the Sarn Arena
 * Adjusted the PVP scaling of and


 * You can now challenge another player or party to a duel!


 * We've added a Capture the Flag PvP mode.
 * Merciless PvP is now handled by Maramoa rather than Greust.
 * You can't drop items in PvP areas any more.


 * Fixed a bug where the aura from Death's Oath would activate when a player was revived in a PvP match even if the item was disabled.


 * Fixed a bug that caused a client crash when PVP matches reached their tenth round.


 * Fixed a bug where the Death's Oath aura did not work correctly in PVP after the first round.


 * All minion corpses, traps, totems, mines and player buffs are destroyed between PvP rounds.
 * If you die after a PvP match ends, you now get the resurrect button, rather than having to log out.


 * Restored the PvP arena that uses the Ship Graveyard tileset, now that bugs with it are fixed.
 * Fixed problems with the PvP announcer voice occuring at the same time as death screams.


 * Added a new 3v3 PvP arena. One of the other arenas has been disabled temporarily while we fix a problem.
 * Added PvP announcer audio for various events in matches.


 * Rebalanced PvP damage scaling so that players generally have more survivability.


 * Fixed a bug where the Merciless PvP arena did not have the correct player resistance penalty applied.
 * Fixed a bug where you could get around mods like "Cannot be Frozen" in PvP by using.
 * Portals are now greyed out in your inventory during arena PvP matches.


 * Fixed a client crash that could occur in PvP when using.
 * Fixed a server crash that could occur in PvP.


 * We've added support for PvP arenas.


 * Dead players are no longer shown on the minimap. This was a problem in hectic PvP situations.


 * Changed damage reflection and the PvP damage multiplier to both be linear.


 * Added PvP damage multiplier of 1/(1+(attacker_level/8)) for now.
 * }