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PvP servers add an element of fun to the game like no other. Lurking within the world isn’t just scripted enemies but people as well. People who can think and react to many situations that computers can’t even come close to. It’s an element of surprise and fun that can make World of Warcraft even more fun than it currently is for many. However, there are some areas in the game where it can become frustrating.

The recently added Isle of Quel’danas (Sunwell Isle) is a location where both the Horde and Alliance are jammed together on one tiny island with a slew of new daily quests that grant tons of gold. This creates a scenario where everyday members from both factions pile into the island to work their way towards a new enchant, an epic flying mount, or something else entirely. With the island brimming with players there is a very likely chance that someone from the opposing realm is within arm reach of you at any given moment.

This creates a hostile environment where tension is high. An AoE spell too close to someone and you might find a few daggers in your back. Not paying attention and you could be on a long trek back to your corpse. This can become frustrating especially when there is much gold to be had from very simple quests. However, you don’t constantly have to fall to someone’s blades in order to get your quests done. There is hope!

There is no way to predict how a player will react but you can apply some simple logic. Most players on the island are there for one reason and that reason is gold. They simply want to get their quests done and move on. This means they don’t want to get into a long drawn out fight or be camped for a long while. Most players have a high sense of pride as well. They want vengeance if someone interferes with them. So the best advice one can give is simply: don’t attack anyone.

Hunters who use Multi-Shot for additional DPS should be cautious of what’s near their target. Traps like Frost Trap, Explosive Trap, and Snake Trap will attack nearby players who enter their radius. Mages use Frost Nova only when they’re sure no one is near. Paladins have consecrate which can make someone awfully mad if they step in it. Totems do attack players so Shamans should be very careful. Basically any spell or ability that can more than one target should be used with a little bit of caution.

Of course, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t attack other players outright. If you do have some bloodlust in you then wait for players who are below 20% and kill them from behind. Everyone is generally too lazy to look at the combat log and if they don’t see you then they’re not going to hunt you down. If someone is at full health then it’s best to ignore them.

Some areas are more dangerous than others. The Sin’loren (that’s the ship you land on for killing Dawnblade Reinforcements) has no nearby guards and is an area where people are constantly racing one another for enemies to slay. However, the quest on that ship is worth your time still since both members are tightly packed. When someone goes after someone else then members of one faction will generally aid their allies. So everyone behaves on the ship.

The Greengill Coast is where the majority of PvP deaths happen. It’s a large sprawling area with a quest that takes a long time to grind. No guards are anywhere close to it so if someone attacks you and you can’t fight back then you’ll fall and have to walk for a very long time to get your corpse back. That’s why “Making Ready”/“Don’t Stop Now” is often avoided by many players.

The rest of the areas around Sun’s Reach are generally safe. Most players will fear the guards that will tear through most level 70 players. Anyone involved in any PvP combat (that means you’ve done damage or casted a spell/ability on another player) will have the Shattered Sun Peacekeepers and Sentries turn hostile towards them. This means if you’re attack and don’t fight back then the guards will kill your aggressor.

However if your stray too far from town towards the coast then there isn’t enough time to run towards the guards. If you’re also ganked by someone who can immobilize you long enough (say a Rogue while your low) then there is little you can do here as well. Which brings up another point: don’t stay low on health. If you’re below 50 go ahead and splurge on some Naaru Rations. At friendly with the Shattered Sun Offensive you can buy Naaru Rations which will restore your health and mana. Not a bad deal honestly.

Overall if you remain alert, keep to yourself, and avoid straying too far from civilization you should find yourself not having to run to your corpse too many times. Remember, everyone is there to complete quests as well. They want to get theirs done as well. Well, there are a few exceptions.

Ganking people on the island is also good honor. With a well equipped duo or trio you can gain a good deal of honor by patrolling around and ganking people who are far enough away from town that you can safely kill them. You’ll need a good combo that should include either high DPS (say double Rogue) or at least include a healer (Paladins and Druids work really well). The Greengill Coast is an excellent spot along with anywhere along the coast. Avoid the packed areas where you might have 4-5 of your target’s allies coming down on you.

Overall Sunwell Isle is an excellent source of income and adventure. Be alert and remember the key to PvP: deaths in WoW are nothing but a minute or two of downtime. Don’t sweet it even if you’re killed. Just get back up and get on with your business!


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Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

About The Author

Get in the bush with David "Xerin" Piner as he leverages his spectacular insanity to ask the serious questions such as is Master Yi and Illidan the same person? What's for dinner? What are ways to elevate your gaming experience? David's column, Respawn, is updated near daily with some of the coolest things you'll read online, while David tackles ways to improve the game experience across the board with various hype guides to cool games.

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