Arathi Basin

Riettalon's Arathi Basin Battleground Stratagy

Ok for those who dont know Arathi Basin is a 15 on 15 pvp match were each team earns
points for each of 5 bases they control. The first team to 2000 resourses (points) is
the winner. The 5 bases are as follows.

Stables (ST) : closest to the alliance starting point and default graveyard. This is
the most important place to control for the alliance and generaly the easiest. The
reason its important is if the hord take it they will bog you down in fights at your
graveyard since you'll likely res only a few at a time they will constantly outnumber
you and you will not be able to make any progress if this happens. This base MUST NOT
FALL.

Lumber Mill (LM): this base is ontop of a cliff to the right and often people like to
take it thinking that it gives them a better view of the battlefield, when in fact its
more of a hinderance as its easy for any hunter to just use humanoid tracking to watch
the enemy. Also people often stand at the edge or down on one of the paths giving away
your position and your numbers. Basicly your telling the hord "hay here we are there is
3 of us come on in if theres 6 of you we wont be able to hold out". For this reason alone
you should just let the hord have it. take it with a ninja from time to time (explained
later) otherwise leave it be its of no real tacticl importance.

Black Smith (BS): This base is in the direct center surrounded by water with 2 bridges.
This is the most crucial base and should be defended heavily at all times. The reason is
simple and often underestimated. It is in the CENTER giving your team a place to res and
regroup up quickly as well as giving them a short distance to any base that needs help.
This means that even if the enemy takes one of your other bases everyone who died will
likely res at the BS and thus able to mount a well numbered counter attack quickly with
full hp and mana.

Gold Mine (GM): the gold mine is down in a canyon to the left and is vastly underestimated
in its importance. One is since its down so far its verry easy to hide weather behind the
building or right up against the cliff. Second is its rarely assulted by the enemy they
will usualy take it last prefering the high ground of the LM making it great for gaining
points. Thirdly is the fact that since its down hill you can take a short cut by jumping.
By cutting the corner you shorten the time it takes you to get there from the BS making it
far easier to reinfoce than the LM (were the hord can easily see you comming).

Farm (FA): the farm is the hord version of the stables its close to thier default
graveyard and if you can take it in force (only in force) you can bog them down there
preventing them from being able to mount attacks on other bases. The longer you can do
this the more of an advantage you'll gain in the points. However its generaly best to only
mount small attacks or ninja it just to keep the enemy buisy trying to retake it so they
arnt moving on the GM or BS.

That is the basics. First priority send 2 people to ST to take the flag and act as scouts.
Second move all forces to the BS and take it at all costs. At this point its best to keep
a large foce at the BS and use a hunter to watch the hords movments. Odds are the hord
broke into 2 groups one for the LM and one for the BS. You killed the ones at the BS. So
if you then take a small force (3 to 4) to take the GM you'll then have the 3 bases you
need to start getting your points faster than the hord. If all has gone well you now have
ST, BS, and GM your next objective is pure defence but dont break up your numbers. Out of
15 people 2 should be at ST and 2 at GM there job is to watch for hord and protect from
enemy ninjas and its best if these defenders are night elves or rouges for thier stelth
wich will invite fewer enemy numbers making them easier to defend. Of the other eleven
three should be dedicated defenders of BS. The other 9 are the rienforcements. Thier job
is to hang around BS and wait for the defenders to call for help wile watching the hords
movments from BS. They should be mounted at all times and ready to leap into action.

Ok heres a recap of the 15 man break down.
4 stealthy scouts to defend from ninjas and call for help when attacked in force.

3 man BS defence team preferably with 1 hunter to watch for enemy numbers and to
call back the rienforcements when under heavy attack.

9 man moble raiding party to reinfoce bases that get attacked by outnumbering and
overpowering the enemys divided forces. BS takes priority followed by ST then GM.

Now for a small explination of ninjas. Generaly this is just one person usualy a rouge or
cat druid that can stelth thier way to an undefended or lightly defended base and take it
quickly. This will help to lower the enemys point gain. Any bases gained by way of a ninja
should be left alone trying to spread your team out to gaurd this base will only result in
more losses. The ninja should stay and do thier best to slow down the enemys retaking of
the base. The ninja will die but in doing so he will have forced them to waste time and
effort and kept several hord in one place so they arnt moving on another base. The ninjas
will be a part of the 9 man raiding party and should break off only when the hord mounts a
large attack. Generaly this means the farm is lightly defended if defended at all.

One last tactic you can use once you have a decent lead is to send 2 or 3 high armored
people, paladins prefered, into were ever the hord is resing most. This will help to
keep them in that area and may force them to leave extra defenders (say at the LM). This
will weaken thier attack force making it easier to defend the bases and buying you more
time to get more of a points lead.

Now for some notes on individual tactics.
Night elves : should always be stelthed when waiting for anything. Mounting
dosnt take that long and hiding your numbers is key to making the hord
think your weak and move on you with less people. An entirly stelthed
base defence can wait for the hord to start trying to capture the base
then ambush the man at the flag killing him quickly followed by the rest.

Rouges : As with the Night Elves should be stelthed but should be mindful of
the hords movements if you notice a really large force moving on the stables
then break away and move on the farm you may be able to take it. One man
wont make that big of a differance in defence but if you can take a base
you will make a huge impact on the battle. Also because of your high dps
you should aways team up with another melee fighter to drop enemys quickly.
always fight 2 on 1. Every enemy down is less damage everyone takes. So
get a partner (hopefuly another rouge) and drop them like flies.

Druids : No matter what form you chose to fight in stay in stealthed catform on
aproach and hit someone with pounce to stun them. Then if say your a
Moonkin swich and begin casting. This will not only stop one emeny from
hitting anyone for a few seconds but also keep you from drawing hits
as the fight begins. Also you have heal skills make sure to use them
from time to time. Especialy rejuvination as its an instant cast and can be
the differance between someone living and dieing. Another key skill is
Fairy Fire not just for the armor reduction but to stop rouges from stealthign.

Pali's and Worriors : You should always ALWAYs be the first into battle. Everyone
stay back a little and let them soak up the first few hits they have the
HP and armor to deal with it you dont. You guys should focus heavily on
rouges and casters to take them out the fight quickly as they are the
biggest threats to the supportive people like shamen, priests, hunters,
and locks. If you see someone under attack by a rouge go help them.
Otherwise go knock some heads togeather.

Warlocks : You guys have the most tactical positoin in the raid team. You are the
kings of croud control. Make sure you use your succubus and aoe fear. This
will seriously reduce the damage everyone takes. This is way more helpful
than any damage you could possibly do let the others tag team the enemys
you just make sure they cant hit back.

Mages : What can I say. You have probably the easiest and hardest job. Hit em hard
and often with your strongest stuff. If your ice all the better for croud
control but most enemies will have no resistance to your spells so blow out
your mana befor someone kills you.

Shamen and Priests : you guys are the only ones with truly effective healing try
your best to heal from a distance and keep people alive. Your main goal
is to keep the hunters, locks, and worriors healed. The hunters and locks
have great ways to take enemys out of the fight for a wile making them
major targets for enemy rouges. Wile the worriors get the biggest benifit
from your healing because of thier high armor. You can also do your fair
share of damage as we all know. Just dont get so caught up in fighting
that you forget to support the team.

Hunters : You have an ability here that no one can match. Its called STAY. You can
force your pet to stay at the flag and turn him to agressive. Any aproching
ninja will quickly be attacked preventing them from capturing the base. If
your pet is a cat with prowl this is even more helpful as they will aproach
thinking its undefended and then start to attack the cat. If your a Night
Elf you can even ambush. Using your stealth then getting your shots in
befor they can find out were you are. Marks hunters should focus on casters
especialy enemy warlocks to stop them from fearing. Survival hunters should
save Wyvren sting for enemy Druids they can shapshift out of your ice traps
but cant escape sleep. (can you tell im a night elf hunter lol) Also you
should fire as many multi shots as possible. The aoe range of multi shot is
pritty big and the extra damage will help conciderably.

Beyond stratgy there are are few simple common sence rules these may seem silly to even
mention but you'll find some people just dont know.

1. Every enemy down is less damage the team is taking. So dont fight one on one.
team up 2 on 1 or more and take them down fast. You'll take less damage in the
long run if you work this way. Sure some people will die you cant stop that.
But if you only loose 3 of 8 and they loose all 8 then you still have 5 men to
raid a base or come to the defence of another.

2. Watch your target carefuly. If they hit a hunters ice trap, have fallen asleep
or been feared take a second or two to think if you should keep hitting them.
If they are low on hp then kill them if not find someone who is and kill them
instead. Breaking the fear, sleep, or ice just means they can keep doing damage.

3. Do not fight on the bridges or roads between bases only fight near the flags.
Fighting in the roads just puts you closer to the enemys resing graveyard
wasting your time and keeping you away from the flag leaving it open to ninjas.
So always let them get in close to the base befor unloading on them.

4. Do not travel in groups less than 4 or you will quickly get outnumbered and
be picked apart wasting precious time and leaving an opening for them to
exploit. (exception for small 2 man ninja teams)

I have yet to win a match in this battleground were the BS wasnt in control of the winning
side for the majority of the match. So always keep in mind how important BS is even at the
loss of every other base you can always res and attack in any direction from the BS.

(sorry for any spelling or gramer issues niether are things im good at lol)

Another note. The hord have overpowered racials compared to the alliance. Combine this with the fact that people focused on pvp often play the hord for these racials and are genraly well equiped and you'll find yourself out matched in combat. The only real way to win is with supirior skill and stratagy. This is just a general stratagy that if everyone keeps in mind will make things run alot smoother. Even if the hord break up and hit 2 places the defending scouts will relay there numbers so all 9 reinforcements dont come to thier aid for only 3 or 4 hord. Leaving the rest of the raiding group to head to the defence of another area or remain to protect the black smith.

After a few recent matches i've see an intresting combo that worked nicely with small numbers.
Hunter / Mage : as a pair of base defenders the combo is simple and verry effective. The hunter drops a aoe freeze trap near the flag and lets the enemsy get in close. then the mage blasts them down with aoe. If you have entrapment and redyness from survival you can bind the enemys there verry easily and activate redyness to drop a explosive trap adding to the aoe and entrapment time.

Recently won a battle without the BS. Hord were truly hording the BS and our people just wernt grouping properly to take it from them. However thanks to the presure we put on the BS the hord had to keep it well defended wile smaller teams took the GM, LM and occaionaly ninjad the Farm. It was verry hard fought as we couldnt move people from the GM to the LM easily when iether was in danger and camping ST would be a general wast of time as it was rarely attacked and could be supported by iether side (GM or LM). This only proved to me the importance of BS stratigecly. As the hord were able to move and group quickly. We won because the hord were disorganized and trying to keep thier defences up at the BS because of all the pressure we put on it. So they only moved in small groups wich we picked off fairly easily.

last night we won 4/4 AB, we won 3 of those 2000 to 0 and we were a pug group. but it was honestly because all the horde we went up against sucked. i only died once last night in an AB. but it was fun

cool good work apples . I have to say i prefer the AB to the other battlegrounds. But thats probably because of my guildwars alliance battles experience.

I have to say im more of a WSG fan simply because i know the map like the back of my hand. But my second choice is probly AB if you have a nice group.