Arena rating requirement likely 1800 or 1900
by Mike Schramm 
Sep 5th 2007 at 2:00PM
The big news on the forums today is arena weapon ratings-- Blizzard announced last month at BlizzCon that they didn't want players just putting their time in every week to rack up enough arena points to grab the weapons, so they're putting a rating requirement on those next season. Drysc says the exact requirement hasn't been set yet, but it'll likely be around 1800 or 1900.The main problem with this, as many players say, is that it's not those folks who need the weapons. Why give the best weapons to the people who are already winning at PvP. That argument doesn't really hold water (because the whole point of the game is to reward the best players with the best stuff), and the fact is that this change won't really affect that many people anyway-- as of each new arena season, the last seasons' weapons will have the requirements removed and be available for arena points only. So if all you want to do is the minimum number of arena matches and save up your points, you can still do that-- you just can't get the latest and greatest.
Blizzard's said before that they want arena PvP to be the peak of player-versus-player combat skill (or at least know-how), and a change like this makes it clear that they don't want to give out any free rides to the top.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items, PvP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Dotixi Sep 5th 2007 2:15PM
I am going to go out on a limb here and say, Blizzard doesn't care about the casual players or players with small groups of friends.
Jackie Sep 5th 2007 2:17PM
that's just messed up.
Guttermouth Sep 5th 2007 2:18PM
ok sooo....let's say the req. rating is in the 1800's. Do you still use points to buy them or are they all yours? What should happen if you fall below 1800 mid season?
YPEELS40 Sep 5th 2007 2:18PM
wait so if i lose a couple games and my rating goes 1 point below minimum I cant equip the item anymore? or the rating thing is just for purchasing??
this doesnt solve the problem of people selling arena points.. does it?
Trunade Sep 5th 2007 2:19PM
The rating requirement doesn't bother me so much because you'll find the same thing in PVE. You can't down a boss and get the subsequent loot without being a good enough player/raid. In turn, you can't get a weapon without being good enough in Arena either.
Epiny Sep 5th 2007 2:23PM
This is a good idea. However it wont seperate the good players from the bad. Arena is still to dependant on gear for skill to be the factor.
fhornmikey Sep 5th 2007 2:23PM
All the tards who saved up weeks and weeks of 200 points for their 1400 rating teams will complain about how they can't get some unbelievably nice weapon that doesn't fit their skill level as easily, everyone with any real pvp talent or competitive spirit will go on without noticing a thing.
Only affects people who suck at pvp, but why should they get the best stuff anyways? Arena is designed to be competitive after all.
Freehugz Sep 5th 2007 2:23PM
@#1 sure they do. That's why they put in all the quests and rep rewards and heroics. So that if you can't do well in raiding or arena you have easier ways to get loot just for showing up.
You can't make ALL the gear easily accessible because then everyone who plays more than a "casual" player will run out of things to do and stop playing.
Rich Sep 5th 2007 2:28PM
That's just stupid...
Either make the rating for all arena gear or none, not just the weapons.
Jalann Sep 5th 2007 2:29PM
Simply by raiding for 6 months, regardless of skill, you get Epic gear. So why add a requirement now?
Does anyone remember the last time they added a requirement to PVP gear. You had to keep your Grand Marshal or Marshal status to use the weapons you earned. Or, something like that.
Keylight Sep 5th 2007 2:36PM
@10 If thats the case, then pick up 24 different PuG's every week and raid SSC.
Tell me how many epics you will have after 6 months...
Klatz Sep 5th 2007 2:38PM
I doubt it will be a requirement to equip it because what if you decided you were done with the Arena and quit? I'd say it was just to purchase it, like how you had to have a certain rank to buy the old pvp items. (they never had a rank requirement to equip items)
What they need to do though, is to make sure people can't just sell a spot on a >1900 team just to purchase weapons.
Blacklyte Sep 5th 2007 2:41PM
If you fall below the rating you can still use it. Its just like the Warlord and Highwarlord gear back in the day. You need the rank to get the stuff, but after you could drop back down. So keep your shorts all on.
Jchc Sep 5th 2007 2:48PM
LOL
LOL
LOL
LOL
LOL
Good Luck half ass players below the 1900 bracket. Honestly this is a great idea, even if you are casual its easy to get an arena rating that high just get yourself a lock in 2v2. Arena isnt for free epix that's what AV afking is for, oh wait, not anymore, lol. If you are worried about this change then I fee sorry for you and here is the obligatory L2P. Get in a raiding guild and mash the 3 or 4 buttons Dps'ers need to press, and ur phat lootz that way, I play a mage and lock btw. GG Blizz :)
sloegin Sep 5th 2007 2:54PM
Just awesome.
All the PVP grinders with low and average scores will drop out of arena, and everyone else will see their scores plummet as they only have other 'high rating' teams to fight. Ergo, a tiny group gets the rewards.
Go Go Blizz unintended consequences!
ringu0 Sep 5th 2007 2:59PM
Go go Jchc :)
Good luck staying over 1900 when "half ass players" decide to leave for that raiding guild.
Trunade Sep 5th 2007 3:03PM
You guys are aware that people don't play arena solely for the weapons, right? Some lowbie teams will quit, but most want the gear as well.
It won't be a requirement to equip, because what would happen when they reset the ratings again? Nobody can use their weapon? Yeah, right.
Hybrys Sep 5th 2007 3:05PM
Everyone. It'll probably be JUST like the GM weapons, pre-Easy mode PvP Epics. You need the rank/points to BUY it. Then you can equip it at any time.
Aswell, it does make sense. People are commonly using the Arena weapons to further their PvE progress. It's nothing about casuals, because I know one with a 2200 2v2, 1900 5v5 rating. (And having played more than 50% of the games)
If you suck, don't blame Blizz. If you can't get PvE drops, don't blame Blizz.
Jchc Sep 5th 2007 3:06PM
I have all over 2k teams :) I'm not worried in the least bit. I'm not looking for easy points either, its a challenge to keep your rating up and I enjoy it.
Cheabuddy Sep 5th 2007 3:08PM
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