Editing Guild Wars (section)

=== Combat ===
Apart from fighting with weapons, skills make up the majority of combat interaction. Each skill has a different effect when used, and fall under many different categories. They can range from offensive skills such as setting foes on fire and defensive skills which include resurrection and healing allies. Enchantments that include giving players extra health points or Hexes that drain the enemy's life and add it to your own make up part of the skill selection in ''Guild Wars''. Attack skills are used in conjunction with weapons to augment the damage that they can deal and cause different side effects (such as knocking people to the ground with a hammer, causing bleeding wounds that deal additional damage over time with a sword, or striking multiple foes with an axe).

Most skills have a governing attribute that determines its power and effect. These attributes are assigned using a number of ''attribute points'' similar to the [[Dungeons & Dragons game mechanics#Determining ability scores|point buy ability score generation system]] in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''.

''Guild Wars'' skill system is often compared to [[collectible card games]] such as ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' because of the way the different skills interact.<ref name="IGN_iview">{{cite web|title = Guild Wars Interview|publisher = IGN|author=Butts, Steve|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/400/400429p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030503062840/http://pc.ign.com/articles/400/400429p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 3, 2003|date=May 1, 2005|access-date=2006-12-15}}</ref> While in a town or staging area, a character's skill and attribute selection can be freely modified to construct a "build". Once in a combat zone (such as an explorable area or a PvP arena), the build becomes immutable until the character exits the combat zone and returns to a staging area. Players generally either choose a specific build for a given area or role, or use builds that synergize with the builds of other characters in the party.

A player's ability to help the party is based on the way a player's "build" works. If the skills combine well, such as a hex spell that makes an enemy attack faster and then another one that makes him miss 75% of the time and take damage for each miss, then the build will work effectively.

In [[Player versus environment|PvE]], monsters that are slain will generate gold and loot which can be traded or sold to players or NPCs. Unique or rare weapon designs are often found from defeating powerful monsters, or by opening treasure chests.

In [[Player versus player|PvP]], reputation in the form of "faction" is gained based on how well a player performs. "Balthazar faction" is gained by the number of wins that you and your team achieve, and for each unique kill. Most PvP in ''Guild Wars'' is fast-paced, while the transition period between games may take longer.