PvP: Difference between revisions

Wherever you fall on this spectrum, you need to know the rules and regulations of PvP, if you're going to play on Battle.net.

By default, there is no way to damage other players in ''Diablo II''. There is no "friendly fire" in the game, and you can shoot arrows or swing your sword through other players and their minions, or cast spells in every direction, without ever hurting any friendly or neutral players, or their minions. If you want to damage someone else, you have to declare hostility, or have it declared on you. See the [[Multiplayer]] page for full details on that process.

Hostile players can target each other, and each other's minions, just as if they were monsters. Hostile players show up on the minimap as red X's, and the level that hostile players are occupying does not display in the party menu.

Dying to another player is somewhat different than dying to a monster.  There is no experience penalty upon death on the Nightmare and Hell difficulties, when you die to another player. The [[Gold#Gold_Loss|gold penalty]] still exists, and functions just as it does when characters die to monsters.

Ears can not be used for anything other than keepsakes; they are not valuable to sell and there are not any [[Horadric Cube]] recipes that use them, though rumors to that nature pop up from time to time.

*Damage is reduced considerably in PvP combat, and attacks and spells will deal just 1/6th their usual damage. Others are tweaked individually:

** '''Enemies''', then it will work on players and monsters.

** '''Monsters''', it will only work on monsters. (Spells that change behavior, such as the [[Paladin_Combat_Skills#Conversion|Paladin's Conversion]], fall into this group.)

Most characters who are set up to kill monsters are ill-prepared for a fight against a dueler or a PK. Serious PVP players have their characters loaded up with specialized equipment, their builds optimized to kill other players, and they have a lot of practice taking on people, who have very different strengths and weaknesses than do the mindless hordes of monsters.  Most PvE or PvM (Player vs. Environment/Monsters) characters are not interested in dueling PVP characters, and as such PKs range from annoyances in softcore games, to dire menaces in hardcore games. Avoiding such would-be killers is a priority for many players, and there are a few ways to do it.

Even if the above tricks don't work, you should still be able to stay alive with quick reflexes. If a player declares hostility, it's always possible to get back to town before they can reach you, if you're quick with your town portal. Various patches have added delays after hostility is declared, and unless you are standing right on top of a waypoint, you'll never be caught before you can run to the safety of town.  

Dueling in ''Diablo II'' is not controlled by the game rules, but there are many informal and unwritten rules amongst players. Some items are bugged and too powerful, or are considered cheap and their use is not permitted in fair duels. Some tactics are frowned upon, and in many duels drinking potions is not allowed. Other duels are limited by character level, and low-level duels are popular since they limit the potential equipment and skills that can be used.  When joining a dueling game, you may wish to take a moment to establish what the rules are, lest you transgress, or go forth unprepared for what you are about to face.