Arenas
Arenas are instanced PvP scenarios and are not part of open world PvP.[2]
- Arenas will have 1 man, 3 man, 5 man and possibly 20 man Free-For-All (Deathmatch) group sizes.[3]
- There will be an arena ladder system.[3]
- Mayors of military nodes are chosen from citizens through last man standing (gladiatorial arena style) combat.[7][6]
- The arena system may support cross-server combat.[8]
- Arena style combat is instanced but spectators may be possible through an interface.[9]
Contents
Group sizes

The minimum goal is 500 players on a single battlefield. I think we will be able to hit 500vs500 but we shall see.[10] – Steven Sharif
Ashes of Creation is designed for solo players as well as large and small groups.[11][12]
- The party size is eight (8) players for a single group.[13]
- Raids will have 40 man groups.[14]
- Content will be tailored for 40, 16 and 8 person group sizes.[15]
- Arenas will have 1 man, 3 man, 5 man and possibly 20 man Free-For-All (Deathmatch) group sizes.[3]
- Castle sieges are expected to have at minimum 250x250 players to be on a single battlefield, with the possibility of increasing this to 500x500 over time.[10]
The idea behind an 8-person group is to allow us to really amplify party roles, and to create a need for each of the archetypes in every party.[13]
Content isn't locked behind guilds.[16]
- Mechanics exist within larger conflicts for small groups and even solo players to impact the battle.[17]
- This includes systems that will likely focus on single group sized participants while the larger battle is occurring.[17]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse group sizes
Group sizes in Ashes of Creation Apocalypse.[18]
- Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale will have party sizes of up to 5.[18]
- Guild mode will have parties of raids of up to 20.[18]
- Ashes of Creation Apocalypse castle sieges will have parties of 5 within a raid, with 5 raids for each of the two teams.[18]
- Ashes of Creation Apocalypse horde mode will have a party size of 5 with a total of ten groups, making for 50 players.[18]
There will be an option in the lobby where you are capable of joining a guild based match that you can link parties together up to a maximum of twenty individuals.[18] – Steven Sharif
PvP seasons
Performance in various PvP systems (such as Caravans, Arenas, Guild wars) is measured over the course of 6 month PvP seasons. At the end of each season, a player's cumulative score may unlock various rewards.[19]
- Gear enhancement rewards.[19]
- Achievement ranks.[19]
- Purchasing power (Currency).[19]
Arena ladder
There will be an arena ladder system.[3]
- Rewards for arena ladders will be revealed at a later time.[5]
- Titles can be received from arena play.[6]
- Arena points that can be used to buy gear are not currently in the design.[6]
Gear enhancement rewards
Gear enhancements (power stones/runes) can be applied to weapons to add elemental or energy types of damage.[20][21]
We are very likely going to have a rune system and then we'll have the ability to sort of enchant weapons outside of that too... That's not always going to be like a vertical progression... Some of it's going to be giving up something to get something else; so maybe I do less physical damage but more magical damage, that kind of thing.[21] – Jeffrey Bard
- Progression in various PvP systems will unlock enchantment stones that grant temporary PvP-focused benefits to gear (via a socketing system).[22] Performance is measured over six month PvP seasons.[19]
It's not as though you're going to necessarily acquire these once and then you're set for your PvP enchantments, but instead you'll have to continually perform month after month in order to keep having those slotted enchantments.[22] – Steven Sharif
Metrics
Ashes of Creation gathers tracking data to facilitate achievements, titles and other accolades on a server.[23]
- Number of successful siege defenses.[23]
- Number of successful siege assaults.[23]
- Number of PvP kills.[23]
- Raid participation points.[23]
- Number of firsts.[23]
Visibility of those types of things on the server help to promote a competitive atmosphere. If there is an attainable impression that you can work towards, so that others know your success, you have more drive to succeed.[23] – Steven Sharif
Guild ladder
An inter-guild ladder will rank guilds based on their performance within Guild wars and Castle sieges.[24]
When the guild participates in guild wars or they participate in sieges, you'll be able to climb the ranks of your inter-guild ladder as well so you get bragging rights amongst your friends.[24] – Steven Sharif
Leader boards
There will be dungeon and raid leader boards.[25]
Military node arena
Mayors of military nodes are chosen from citizens through last man standing (gladiatorial arena style) combat.[27][7][6]
- An idea currently under consideration is to have players build out a champion that they can then fight in the arena, rather then using their regular characters. These champions can be equipped with gear and skills via quests, along with materials and gold to make the champion stronger.[28]
- The reason for the champion idea is because the game isn't balanced for 1v1 PvP. Utilizing champions makes arena combat more of a level playing ground.[28]
- Arena style combat is instanced but spectators may be possible through an interface.[9]
Server vs server
The arena system may support cross-server combat.[8]
- There may be monthly competitions where the winning server and winning team receive beneficial buffs for the month.[29]
We definitely like cross-server play. I think it's cool because it is something that players get to participate in.[30] – Steven Sharif
When you're talking about Arena play especially, one server might not be able to support that depending on what's going on with it, but across all the servers then we've got a really great pool for matchmaking.[30] – Jeffrey Bard
Esports
eSports is not the main focus, but the game will naturally move in that direction if the game play is compelling, competitive and fun.[31]
If we make the gameplay compelling, competitive and fun, that naturally it will move in that direction; and then we will find the ability to support it afterwards.[31] – Steven Sharif
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse
The standalone prequel to the upcoming epic MMORPG Ashes of Creation - both a testing ground for new systems and content, as well as a unique last-man-standing action game where magic, steel, and chaos reign supreme in a high fantasy, free-to-play experience.[33]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse (also referred to as APOC)[35] was a free-to-play[36] matchmaking-based arena game with three primary modes.[37]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse utilizes action-based combat.[37][38][40]
- Ashes of Creation Apocalypse will be implemented side-by-side with the Ashes of Creation MMORPG.[41][42]
- 6.25 km2 map size.[43]
- The Forest of Erinthia map is roughly 1/5th the size of the original map.[44]
- A Character creator will be available to allow creation and saving of characters for use in the MMORPG.[41]
- Establish Player housing and save Furniture arrangements for use in the full game.[41]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale early access testing ended on March 10, 2020.[45]
- It was previously available for download on the official website and on Steam.[45]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale

In Apocalypse you have a scene where you have a squad in, or are solo or whatever. That scene will eventually become your house. Your freehold, exactly; and you will earn furniture to place in that freehold and you can build out your house and what-not through special achievements.[47] – Steven Sharif

Why did we go with Battle Royale as the first testable arena mode? And the answer for that is honestly, as we're testing and getting people into matches on our servers and testing the replication among players in a battlefield; and making sure that tech is present and capable for hundreds of players on the battlefield: We wanted to have a game mode that was still fun for players to test in: An environment that was fun to test in.[49] – Steven Sharif
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale (also referred to BR mode)[35] was a Battle royale testing mode consisting of up to 100 players.[37][39]
- This is a last man standing PvP combat mode.[50]
- Weapons and armor found in the world have unique skills associated with them. These interact with the terrain from defensive, offensive and utility standpoints.[50]
- Players can build buildings and structures such as watchtowers, defensive pillboxes and arcane structures.[50]
- Everything in the world apart from rocks and trees is destructible.[51]
It's going to have a lot of high octane energy and activity. It's going to be very streamable. It's going to be no NDA. There's going to be a lot of different weapons and skills that were going to be testing. Each of the weapons and armor that you can find in the world are going to have unique spells and skills associated with them that interact with the terrain from a defensive standpoint, from a utility standpoint, from an offensive standpoint. It's going to be able for you to build buildings, complete structures, watchtowers and defensive pillboxes type structures: Arcane structures. You're going to have a lot of fun activity there.[50] – Steven Sharif
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale early access testing ended on March 10, 2020.[45]
- It was previously available for download on the official website and on Steam.[45]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse castle sieges
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse castle sieges are an Ashes of Creation Apocalypse testing mode that aims to test castle siege mechanics.[39]
- Takes place in and around large destructible castles.[55]
- Matches are expected to last thirty to thirty-five minutes. This duration can be modified by control points captured during the match.[56]
- There will be 200 players in a match (100 v 100).[37][39]
- Invite up to 20 guildmates to a match.[55]
- Class kits come into play during the testing of Ashes of Creation Apocalypse castle sieges.[57]
- The ability to host a session and challenge an opponent or guild may be present post-launch of castle siege mode.[58]
The Castle Siege mode is another example of a playable slice of the MMORPG that Apocalypse is providing early testing for. While it’s a somewhat smaller scale experience than the one you’ll have in the MMO, the overall flow of taking and defending a castle will remain similar. There’s some additional systems you’ll see in the final product, like the influence of Nodes over the available defensive emplacements, the crafting and deploying of custom siege weapons, and the summoning of siege monsters. These are all things that we’ll be adding on top of this mode upon our release of Ashes of Creation.[56] – Margaret Krohn
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse horde mode
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse horde mode is an Ashes of Creation Apocalypse testing mode where 50 players defend a city against waves of incoming NPCs and player controlled monsters.[37][38][55]
- Each wave is more difficult than the last.[55]
- Between waves, players collect experience, money and weapons to take back to their hold to defend against the next wave.[39]
- Monster coins enable players to join the game as part of the horde.[55]
Horde mode will include adaptive AI boss mechanics.[38] Rewards are obtained dependent on progress against these NPCs.[59]
Horde mode will absolutely include boss mechanics, so some of the ideas behind that is going to have a wave mode of a variety of NPCs will likely include some achievable cosmetics as well in that mode depending on how far you can get and those cosmetics will include pets of the NPCs that you face, so like a little miniature version of the NPC's and we'll update those as well, that you'll have in the MMO.[59] – Steven Sharif
Horde mode is specifically for testing.[59]
- Testing the blackboard for the AI.[59]
- NPCs with different adaptive AI focuses:[59]
It's a way that we thought it would be kind of fun to implement AI mechanics that we're looking to implement. Testing the you know the blackboard for the AI. Being able to have variable types of NPCs that have roles whether it be like a sniper, ranged, melee, boss, heroic you know kind of different AI focuses for those monsters during interesting situations.[59] – Steven Sharif
Artwork
2017-10-14 2017-10-14
See also
References
- ↑ Livestream, 23 August 2017 (16:44).
- ↑ Livestream, 5 May 2017 (16:53).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Livestream, 26 May 2017 (48:12).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Podcast, 11 May 2018 (52:20).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Livestream, 26 May 2017 (29:13).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Interview, 27 March 2020 (11:04).
- ↑ 10.0 10.1
- ↑ Livestream, 30 November 2020 (1:20:25).
- ↑
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Group dynamics blog.
- ↑ Livestream, 9 May 2017 (34:38).
- ↑ February 8, 2019 - Questions and Answers.
- ↑ Livestream, 8 May 2017 (28:48).
- ↑ 17.0 17.1
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Interview, 17 August 2018 (18:53).
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Interview, 18 July 2020 (16:34).
- ↑ Livestream, 4 June 2018 (1:11:19).
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Livestream, 4 June 2018 (21:37).
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Interview, 18 July 2020 (14:22).
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 Podcast, 4 August 2018 (1:47:21).
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Interview, 29 July 2020 (14:28).
- ↑ Livestream, 18 July 2017 (58:50).
- ↑ Livestream, 15 May 2017 (44:10).
- ↑ Interview, 19 July 2020 (26:54).
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Interview, 27 March 2020 (09:05).
- ↑ Livestream, 8 April 2018 (PM) (36:21).
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Livestream, 26 May 2017 (29:05).
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Livestream, 8 April 2018 (PM) (39:48).
- ↑ Ashes of Creation Apocalypse official site.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Ashes of Creation Apocalypse Early Access.
- ↑ Video, 24 September 2019 (0:10).
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Livestream, 31 October 2018 (35:00).
- ↑ Livestream, 31 October 2018 (38:47).
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 Interview, 24 August 2018 (13:17).
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 39.6 Livestream, 17 August 2018 (30:29).
- ↑ Podcast, 4 August 2018 (1:07:59).
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Livestream, 1 September 2018 (1:05:10).
- ↑
- ↑ Livestream, 27 September 2018 (9:08).
- ↑
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3
- ↑ Livestream, 30 September 2019 (0:10).
- ↑ Livestream, 31 October 2018 (40:44).
- ↑ Video, 27 September 2019 (1:08:29).
- ↑ Livestream, 27 September 2018 (11:03).
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 Livestream, 1 September 2018 (56:11).
- ↑ Interview, 20 October 2018 (3:19:04).
- ↑ Video, 8 March 2019 (0:00).
- ↑ Livestream, 31 October 2019 (11:05).
- ↑
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4 55.5 Livestream, 1 September 2018 (54:06).
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 Castle Siege Overview.
- ↑ Interview, 17 August 2018 (8:16).
- ↑ Interview, 6 December 2018 (38:10).
- ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 59.6 59.7 Interview, 8 August 2018 (4:00).