PvP season

From Warcraft Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

PvP seasons or arena seasons are periods in which rated PvP combat may occur. Each season has its own name (i.e. season 13 is called Tyrannical) and rewards. A season usually starts one week after the release of a major patch and ends when a new major patch is released. These seasons also usually coincide with PvE seasons. While the length of time between seasons varies, there is a PvP season active most of the year. With the release of Burning Crusade Classic, seasons returned but they usually launched with the release of a new patch (or Phase).

During a PvP season, players can join rated arenas and battlegrounds in order to obtain [Conquest Points] which can be used to buy powerful PvP gear.

Once the latest season has ended, arena and rated battleground matches will be unavailable for one week, and all Conquest Points will be converted to [Honor Points]. Any Honor above the 4,000 cap will be converted into in-game currency at a rate of 35 silver per point.[1] Those characters eligible for end-of-season rewards (see below) are then determined, and rewards are typically awarded within one or two weeks of the end of the corresponding season.

Conquest window between two seasons, telling players that there is currently no active PvP season.

When a new season begins personal ratings are reset. Matchmaking ratings are sometimes also reset at this time. With each new season, the available PvP rewards are also refreshed, although the exact details of this process vary. Typically, the previous season's non-elite Conquest Point PvP rewards are made available for Honor Points, while a new tier of items is made available for purchase with Conquest Points. In this way, players are encouraged to once again begin gathering points with which to purchase new, more powerful gear.

Rewards

At the end of each arena season, players that rank among the highest ratings within their respective arena brackets (2v2, 3v3, 5v5) are awarded titles marking their accomplishments. Team members who have been in at least 20% of a top arena team's matches and are within 100 personal rating of the team's rating, in each Battlegroup, will receive a title according to their standing (highest to lowest). Those who were in the Top 0.5% would also receive that season's unique PvP mount, with the first season awarding the  [Swift Nether Drake].

Starting in Wrath of the Lich King, earning the Gladiator mount would also get you a Feat of Strength achievement in the same name of the mount (example: Swift Nether Drake). This was changed in Warlords of Draenor, where you would earn a Feat of Strength achievement and that achievement would award you with both the mount and title (example:  [Gladiator: Warlords Season 1]). You would still get a second Feat of Strength for earning the mount itself (example: Primal Gladiator's Felblood Gronnling). A second change that was made is that you had to win at least 50 games to be eligible for the rewards.

Starting with Legion Season 3, the number of games you had to win was increased from 50 to 150 (for the seasonal Gladiator title) and be with your current faction. A warning was added to every season ending announcement to not faction change as you may not get the rewards if you currently are eligible. An example is if you won 150 games on a Horde character, but you faction changed to the Alliance before the end of the season. You would need to win another 150 games as an Alliance to earn the reward before the season ended.

With Battle for Azeroth, the ranking system was changed from percentage-based to formal ranks in a bracket format. As you rose in rank, this unlocked PvP gear that you could buy. Several changes were made in order to obtain PvP titles and the seasonal mount:

  • To earn the new Combatant and "the Elite" titles, you just needed to obtain their associated rank
  • To earn the Challenger, Rival and Duelist titles, you just needed to obtain their associated rank
  • To earn the Gladiator title & the seasonal PvP mount, you needed to win 50 3v3 games while at the Elite rank
  • To earn the seasonal Gladiator title, you needed to place in the top 0.1% of the 3v3 ladder and winning at least 150 games on your current faction

With Shadowlands, the ranking system had its values slightly changed for the brackets. Combatant would now range from 1000-1399 (down from 1400-1599) and Challenger would now start at 1400 (down from 1600) while all other ranks remained the same from Battle for Azeroth. The ranks of Combatant, Challenger & Rival were further broken down into two rankings of I & II. The rank of I would range the first 199 of Combatant, Challenger & Rival while rank of II would range the second 199 of Combatant & Challenger and the last 99 of Rival. Each rank would unlock PvP gear and be able to upgrade that gear to higher item levels. The rank titles are awarded when you reach rank I of the associated rank since there are achievements for reaching both ranks I & II.

With Dragonflight, no major changes were made to the ranking system. A new title and two achievements were added: Legend title for 100 Rated Solo Shuffle wins and seasonal Legend title for top 0.1% of the Solo Shuffle ladder with at least 50 games played. The Legend achievement rewards the title and a pennant which is learned as a toy. Due to the introduction of Dragonriding, you get both the seasonal mount and a glyph to customize your drake to have the same appearance, if you earn the seasonal Gladiator title, mount, and achievement. That way you are able to ride it both as a normal mount and a Dragonriding mount. Solo Shuffle saw an introduction to achievements and rewards this expansion since the introduction of Rated Solo Shuffle.

With the release of Burning Crusade Classic, rewards were awarded similar to how they are in retail than how they were during the expansion's original release. If you placed in the Top 0.5% (Gladiator & Season Gladiator titles), you also would receive that season's custom mount.[2] The titles would last until the end of the following season (example: if you earned it with Season 1, you would have the title until the end of Season 2). In Wrath of the Lich King Classic, the rewards were mostly kept the same from BC Classic but you are required to participate in at least 50 games during the Season and not be disqualified for breaking the Blizzard EULA.[3]

Standing Title Percentile (BC - MoP) Percentile (WoD - Legion) Rating (BfA) Rating (SL - DF) Classic Percentile
1 <Season name> Gladiator

<Season name> Legend

Top in the bracket Top 0.1% Top 0.1% Top 0.1%

Top 0.1% (Solo Shuffle)

Top 0.1%
2 Gladiator* / Elite Top 0.5% 0.1% - 0.5% 2400+ 2400+ 0.1% - 0.5%
3 Duelist 0.5% - 3.0% 0.5% - 3.0% 2100-2399 2100-2399 0.5% - 3.0%
4 Rival 3% - 10% 3% - 10% 1800-2099 2000-2099 (II)

1800-1999 (I)

3% - 10%
5 Challenger 10% - 35% 10% - 35% 1600-1799 1600-1799 (II)

1400-1599 (I)

10% - 35%
6 Combatant N/A N/A 1400-1599 1200-1399 (II)

1000-1199 (I)

N/A

Seasons

Season Title Gladiator mount Start date (NA) End date (NA) Duration Notes
Bc icon.gif Season 1 Gladiator  [Swift Nether Drake] January 30, 2007 June 19, 2007 20 weeks Began two weeks after the launch of The Burning Crusade
Ended with patch 2.1.2
Bc icon.gif Season 2  [Merciless Gladiator]  [Merciless Nether Drake] June 20, 2007 November 26, 2007 23 weeks Began with patch 2.1.2
Bc icon.gif Season 3  [Vengeful Gladiator]  [Vengeful Nether Drake] November 28, 2007 June 23, 2008 29 weeks
Bc icon.gif Season 4  [Brutal Gladiator]  [Brutal Nether Drake] June 24, 2008 October 14, 2008 17 weeks
Wrath-Logo-Small.png Season 5  [Deadly Gladiator]  [Deadly Gladiator's Frost Wyrm] December 16, 2008 April 14, 2009 17 weeks Began four weeks after the launch of Wrath of the Lich King
Ended with patch 3.1.0
Wrath-Logo-Small.png Season 6  [Furious Gladiator]  [Furious Gladiator's Frost Wyrm] April 21, 2009 August 25, 2009 18 weeks Began one week after patch 3.1.0
Wrath-Logo-Small.png Season 7  [Relentless Gladiator]  [Relentless Gladiator's Frost Wyrm] September 1, 2009 January 19, 2010 20 weeks End corresponded with the opening of the Crimson Hall in Icecrown Citadel
Wrath-Logo-Small.png Season 8  [Wrathful Gladiator]  [Wrathful Gladiator's Frost Wyrm] February 2, 2010 October 12, 2010 37 weeks Began with patch 3.3.2
Ended with patch 4.0.1
Cata-Logo-Small.png Season 9  [Vicious Gladiator]  [Vicious Gladiator's Twilight Drake] December 14, 2010 June 28, 2011 28 weeks Began one week after the launch of Cataclysm
Ended with patch 4.2.0
Cata-Logo-Small.png Season 10  [Ruthless Gladiator]  [Ruthless Gladiator's Twilight Drake] July 5, 2011 November 29, 2011 21 weeks Began one week after patch 4.2.0
Ended with patch 4.3.0
Cata-Logo-Small.png Season 11  [Cataclysmic Gladiator]  [Cataclysmic Gladiator's Twilight Drake] December 6, 2011 August 28, 2012 38 weeks Began one week after patch 4.3.0
Ended with patch 5.0.4
Mists-Logo-Small.png Season 12  [Malevolent Gladiator]  [Malevolent Gladiator's Cloud Serpent] October 2, 2012 March 5, 2013 22 weeks Began one week after the launch of Mists of Pandaria
Ended with patch 5.2.0
Mists-Logo-Small.png Season 13  [Tyrannical Gladiator]  [Tyrannical Gladiator's Cloud Serpent] March 12, 2013 September 10, 2013 26 weeks Began one week after patch 5.2.0
Ended with patch 5.4.0
Mists-Logo-Small.png Season 14  [Grievous Gladiator]  [Grievous Gladiator's Cloud Serpent] September 17, 2013 February 18, 2014 22 weeks Began one week after patch 5.4.0
Ended with patch 5.4.7
Mists-Logo-Small.png Season 15  [Prideful Gladiator]  [Prideful Gladiator's Cloud Serpent] February 25, 2014 October 14, 2014 33 weeks Began one week after patch 5.4.7
Ended with patch 6.0.2
WoD-Logo-Small.png Warlords Season 1
(Season 16)
 [Primal Gladiator: Warlords Season 1]  [Primal Gladiator's Felblood Gronnling] December 2, 2014 June 23, 2015 29 weeks Began three weeks after the launch of Warlords of Draenor
Ended with patch 6.2.0
WoD-Logo-Small.png Warlords Season 2
(Season 17)
 [Wild Gladiator: Warlords Season 2]  [Wild Gladiator's Felblood Gronnling] June 30, 2015 November 10, 2015 22 weeks Began one week after patch 6.2.0
Ended with patch 6.2.2
WoD-Logo-Small.png Warlords Season 3
(Season 18)
 [Warmongering Gladiator: Warlords Season 3]  [Warmongering Gladiator's Felblood Gronnling] November 17, 2015 July 19, 2016 35 weeks Began one week after patch 6.2.2
Ended with patch 7.0.3
Legion-Logo-Small.png Legion Season 1
(Season 19)
 [Vindictive Gladiator: Legion Season 1]  [Vindictive Gladiator's Storm Dragon] September 20, 2016 December 13, 2016 12 weeks Began three weeks after the launch of Legion
Legion-Logo-Small.png Legion Season 2
(Season 20)
 [Fearless Gladiator: Legion Season 2]  [Fearless Gladiator's Storm Dragon] December 13, 2016 March 28, 2017 15 weeks Ended with patch 7.2.0
Legion-Logo-Small.png Legion Season 3
(Season 21)
 [Cruel Gladiator: Legion Season 3]  [Cruel Gladiator's Storm Dragon] March 28, 2017 June 13, 2017 11 weeks Began with patch 7.2.0
Ended with patch 7.2.5
Legion-Logo-Small.png Legion Season 4
(Season 22)
 [Ferocious Gladiator: Legion Season 4]  [Ferocious Gladiator's Storm Dragon] June 13, 2017 August 29, 2017 11 weeks Began with patch 7.2.5
Ended with patch 7.3.0
Legion-Logo-Small.png Legion Season 5
(Season 23)
 [Fierce Gladiator: Legion Season 5]  [Fierce Gladiator's Storm Dragon] August 29, 2017 November 28, 2017 13 weeks Began with patch 7.3.0
Ended with the release of Antorus, the Burning Throne
Legion-Logo-Small.png Legion Season 6
(Season 24)
 [Dominant Gladiator: Legion Season 6]  [Dominant Gladiator's Storm Dragon] November 28, 2017 March 20, 2018 16 weeks Began with the release of Antorus, the Burning Throne
Legion-Logo-Small.png Legion Season 7
(Season 25)
 [Demonic Gladiator: Legion Season 7]  [Demonic Gladiator's Storm Dragon] March 20, 2018 July 17, 2018 17 weeks Ended with patch 8.0.1
BattleForAzeroth-Logo-Small.png Battle for Azeroth Season 1
(Season 26)
 [Dread Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 1]  [Dread Gladiator's Proto-Drake] September 4, 2018 January 22, 2019 20 weeks Began with the release of Uldir
BattleForAzeroth-Logo-Small.png Battle for Azeroth Season 2
(Season 27)
 [Sinister Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 2]  [Sinister Gladiator's Proto-Drake] January 22, 2019 June 25, 2019 22 weeks Began with the release of the Battle of Dazar'alor
Ended with patch 8.2.0
BattleForAzeroth-Logo-Small.png Battle for Azeroth Season 3
(Season 28)
 [Notorious Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 3]  [Notorious Gladiator's Proto-Drake] July 9, 2019 January 14, 2020 27 weeks Began with the release of The Eternal Palace
Ended with patch 8.3.0
BattleForAzeroth-Logo-Small.png Battle for Azeroth Season 4
(Season 29)
 [Corrupted Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 4]  [Corrupted Gladiator's Proto-Drake] January 21, 2020 October 13, 2020 38 weeks Began with the release of Ny'alotha, the Waking City
Ended with patch 9.0.1
Shadowlands-Icon-Inline.png Shadowlands Season 1
(Season 30)
 [Sinful Gladiator: Shadowlands Season 1]  [Sinful Gladiator's Soul Eater] December 8, 2020 June 28, 2021 28 weeks Began with the release of Castle Nathria.
Ended with patch 9.1.0
Shadowlands-Icon-Inline.png Shadowlands Season 2
(Season 31)
 [Unchained Gladiator: Shadowlands Season 2]  [Unchained Gladiator's Soul Eater] July 6, 2021 February 21, 2022 32 weeks Began with the release of the Sanctum of Domination
Ended with patch 9.2.0
Shadowlands-Icon-Inline.png Shadowlands Season 3
(Season 32)
 [Cosmic Gladiator: Shadowlands Season 3]  [Cosmic Gladiator's Soul Eater] March 1, 2022 August 1, 2022 22 weeks Began with the release of the Sepulcher of the First Ones
Shadowlands-Icon-Inline.png Shadowlands Season 4
(Season 33)
 [Eternal Gladiator: Shadowlands Season 4]  [Eternal Gladiator's Soul Eater] August 2, 2022 October 25, 2022 12 weeks Ended with patch 10.0.0
Dragonflight-Icon-Inline.png Dragonflight Season 1
(Season 34)
 [Crimson Gladiator: Dragonflight Season 1]  [Crimson Gladiator's Drake] December 13, 2022 May 1, 2023 20 weeks Began with the release of the Vault of the Incarnates
Ended with patch 10.1.0
Dragonflight-Icon-Inline.png Dragonflight Season 2
(Season 35)
 [Obsidian Gladiator: Dragonflight Season 2]  [Obsidian Gladiator's Slitherdrake] May 9, 2023 Nov 7, 2023 27 weeks Began with the release of Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible
Ended with patch 10.2.0
Dragonflight-Icon-Inline.png Dragonflight Season 3
(Season 36)
 [Verdant Gladiator: Dragonflight Season 3]  [Verdant Gladiator's Slitherdrake] Nov 14, 2023 Apr 22, 2023 23 weeks Began with the release of Amirdrassil, the Dream's Hope
Dragonflight-Icon-Inline.png Dragonflight Season 4
(Season 37)
 [Draconic Gladiator: Dragonflight Season 4]  [Draconic Gladiator's Drake] Apr 23, 2024 Jul 22, 2024 13 weeks Ended with the release of patch 11.0.0
TheWarWithin-Icon-Inline.png The War Within Season 1
(Season 38)
 [Forged Gladiator: The War Within Season 1]  [Forged Gladiator's Fel Bat] September 10, 2024 TBD TBD

Classic seasons

Season Title Gladiator mount Start date (NA) End date (NA) Duration Notes
3Bc icon.gif Season 1 Gladiator (title)  [Swift Nether Drake] June 1, 2021 September 7, 2021 14 weeks Began with the launch of Burning Crusade Classic
3Bc icon.gif Season 2  [Merciless Gladiator]  [Merciless Nether Drake] September 15, 2021 January 11, 2022 17 weeks Began two weeks after launch of patch 2.5.2 & Phase 2
3Bc icon.gif Season 3  [Vengeful Gladiator]  [Vengeful Nether Drake] January 17, 2022 May 3, 2022 15 weeks Began with patch 2.5.3 & Phase 3
3Bc icon.gif Season 4  [Brutal Gladiator]  [Brutal Nether Drake] May 10, 2022 August 29, 2022 16 weeks Began with patch 2.5.4 & Phase 5
4Wrath-Logo-Small.png Season 5  [Deadly Gladiator]  [Deadly Gladiator's Frost Wyrm] October 4, 2022 January 9, 2023 14 weeks Began one week after launch of Wrath of the Lich King Classic
4Wrath-Logo-Small.png Season 6  [Furious Gladiator]  [Furious Gladiator's Frost Wyrm] January 17, 2023 May 29, 2023 19 weeks Began with patch 3.4.1 & Phase 2
4Wrath-Logo-Small.png Season 7  [Relentless Gladiator]  [Relentless Gladiator's Frost Wyrm] June 20, 2023 October 2, 2023 15 weeks Began with patch 3.4.2 & Phase 3
4Wrath-Logo-Small.png Season 8  [Wrathful Gladiator]  [Wrathful Gladiator's Frost Wyrm] October 10, 2023 April 15, 2024 26 weeks Began with patch 3.4.3 & Phase 4
5Cata-Logo-Small.png Season 9  [Vicious Gladiator]  [Vicious Gladiator's Twilight Drake] May 28, 2024 October 22, 2024 21 weeks Began one week after launch of Cataclysm Classic

References