View source for Codex Arena

{{Location disambiguation 2|mission=Codex Arena|zquest=Codex Arena (Zaishen quest)}}

The [[Codex Arena]] is a four vs. four [[PvP]] game type where players are limited in their [[build]] creation by a limited pool of [[skill]]s, the ''Codex''. It replaced the old [[Team Arenas]] and [[Hero Battles]] in the [[Game updates/20091022|October 22nd, 2009 update]]. This PvP game type found its roots in "[[Sealed Deck]]" combat, and is considered an in-game implementation of such.

== The Codex ==
{{quotation|[https://web.archive.org/web/20160322213910/http://gw1101.gtm.guildwars.com/gameplay/pvp/pvp_types/codex_arena.php Official website]|
The Codex is the list of skills that Codex Arena players must choose from. To keep things interesting, we'll change the skills in The Codex each day at 12:01 AM Pacific (7:01 UTC). {{sic}} When The Codex changes over, we'll let you know by sending a chat message to all players in the [[Codex Arena (outpost)|Codex Arena outpost]].

If you're playing a match when the daily {{sic}} skills change, you can finish your match. Once the match is completed, you will be sent back to the outpost, and must select from the current day's {{sic}} skills in The Codex before playing again.}}

* The available skills can be viewed from the [[Skills and Attributes Panel]] (default "K") in the Codex Arena.
* The Codex skill pool changes weekly on Monday at 15:00 [[w:Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]/[[w:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] ({{North American daylight saving time|8:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time|7:00 AM Pacific Standard Time}}).

== Objectives ==
Each map will have one of the following objectives that teams need to meet in order to win a match:

===Normal [[Annihilation]]===
Most of these matches contain [[Environmental Effect]]s that are dependent on the map that the team is on. Other than that, it's a straightforward destroy-all-enemies objective.

*Maps: [[Ascalon Arena]], [[D'Alessio Arena]], [[Fort Koga]], [[Amnoon Arena]], [[Shiverpeak Arena]], [[Shing Jea Arena]], [[Petrified Arena]], [[Sunspear Arena]], and [[Churranu Island Arena]].
*Time Limit: 8 minutes
*Victory Condition: All players on the opposing team must be defeated.
*[[Death Penalty]]: Yes
*Tiebreaker: Awarded to team with the least amount of DP after the time limit. If both teams have equal DP, then neither team wins.

===Annihilation with [[Obelisk Flag Stand]]===
In these maps, teams are given a [[Flag]] which is held as a [[bundle]] by players that carry it. When flags are placed on the flag stand, their team gains control over that stand. Enemies in range of the controlled flag stand will take [[Obelisk Lightning]] [[damage]] every so often. When a flag is placed on a stand, or it is picked up by the enemy, the [[item]] will re-spawn at the team's starting point.

*Maps: [[Heroes' Crypt]] and [[Brawler's Pit]].
*Time Limit: 8 minutes
*Victory Condition: All players on the opposing team must be defeated.
*Death Penalty: Yes
*Tiebreaker: Awarded to team with the least amount of DP after the time limit. If both teams have equal DP, then neither team wins.

===Annihilation with [[Priest]]===
The Priest in this map will [[Resurrection|resurrect]] party members whose [[Death Penalty]] is less than 60% every two minutes from the start of the match. 

*Map: [[Seabed Arena]] and [[Deldrimor Arena]].
*Time Limit: 12 minutes 
*Victory Condition: All players on the opposing team, including the priest, must be defeated.
*Death Penalty: Yes
*Tiebreaker: Awarded to team with the least amount of DP after the time limit. If both teams have equal DP, then neither team wins.

===[[Kill Count]]===
There are two [[Resurrection Shrine]]s allocated to each team at different parts of the map. Players that are slain can automatically resurrect at every 30 second interval from when the timer begins.

*Map: [[The Crag]]
*Time Limit: 3 minutes
*Victory Condition: Awarded to the team with the most kills.
*Death Penalty: Yes
*Tiebreaker: Where both teams have an equal number of kills after the time limit, [[Sudden Death]] will commence. Victory is awarded to the team with the first kill during this tiebreaker. Unlike the other matches, there is no time limit during Sudden Death.

== Rewards ==
{{pvp reward
| link-faction = y
| unique = 40
| victory = 50
| flawless = 50
| consec = 50<br/>1 [[Strategist's Zaishen Strongbox]]
}}
{| style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em; border:1px solid silver; text-align:center; font-size:90%;" cellpadding="4"
|- style="font-size:120%;"
! style=" background:#CCF;" colspan="2"|[[Codex Title|Honor points]] after each win
|-
| 2-4 wins || 1
|- 
| 5-9 wins || 2
|- 
| 10-14 wins || 3
|-
| 15-19 wins || 4
|-
| 20+ wins || 5
|- style=" background:#CCF; font-size:120%;"
! colspan="2" | Bonus Honor points
|-
| Every fifth consecutive win || 3
|}
* There is a 100 Honor points cap per day. The cap is doubled during the Codex Arena [[Weekly bonuses|weekly bonus]].
* There is a five Strategist's Zaishen Strongboxes cap per day.
* It takes 27 consecutive wins to reach the daily cap.

==Rules==
* Each team is only allowed to bring one player of each primary [[profession]], but it's possible to have both a player and a henchman with the same primary profession on the same team.
* [[Elite skill]]s from the Codex are only available to the primary profession.
** Assassins, Dervish, Warriors and Paragons will receive 17 non-elite skills and 3 elites.
** Elementalists, Necromancers and Mesmers will receive 20 non-elite skills and 5 elites.
** Monks and Ritualists will receive 16 non-elite skills and 4 elites.
** Rangers will receive 19 non-elite skills and 4 elites.
* [[Resurrection Signet]] is always available.
* [[Aura of Restoration]], [[Blood Renewal]], [[Ether Feast]], [[Healing Signet]], [[Leader's Comfort]], [[Shadow Refuge]], [[Troll Unguent]], and [[Vital Boon]] are skills that are always available in order to facilitate [[self heal]]ing.
* Certain skills are made available for the usage of other skills.
** Rangers will always have [[Charm Animal (Codex)]].
** Assassins will always have one randomly selected [[lead attack]] and one randomly selected [[off-hand attack]].
** Ritualists will always have one randomly selected, non-elite [[binding ritual]].
** Necromancers will always have one randomly selected, non-elite [[minion]]-summoning skill.
* [[Armor of Sanctity]], [[Protector's Defense]], [[Symbols of Inspiration]], and [[Visions of Regret (PvP)]] are on the restricted list, therefore will never be available.
* Skills from the Codex that have not been learned (in the case of [[roleplaying character]]s) or [[unlock]]ed (in the case of [[PvP-only character]]s) can be used. Roleplaying characters are still limited to [[Profession#Changing secondary professions|secondary professions they have unlocked]].
* Skills can always be used regardless of the [[campaign]]s or expansion ([[Eye of the North]]) on an [[account]]. For example, [[Burning Arrow]] may be used regardless of whether or not [[Nightfall]] is on the account.

== Notes ==
* Codex Arena and Random Arenas share the same maps, except for [[Deldrimor Arena]] which is only for Codex. 
* [[Priest]]s in Codex Arena have 800 health and lack [[Heal Area]].
* Teammates who leave after a victory will be replaced by [[Zaishen Henchmen]], who are much more powerful than regular Codex Henchmen as they each possess an elite skill.
* Victories achieved in 60 seconds or less (counting from the moment the match was created) do not give any rewards. This includes honor points, zaishen strongboxes, and even quest progression. Players however will still receive credit during the game for kills in form of Balthazar faction and experience.
* According to [[Robert Gee]], the skill selection is random ([http://wiki.guildwars.com/index.php?title=Feedback_talk:Regina_Buenaobra&diff=1744896&oldid=1744872 source]).
{{bug| If an elite skill of another profession than your Primary is added to your skill bar in combat (from skills like [[Arcane Mimicry]] or [[Arcane Thievery]]), it will be locked due to Codex rules. However, the skill is still usable the first second.}}
{{bug| Kills in Codex Arena award double Balthazar faction and XP during [[Random Arenas]] [[weekly bonuses|bonus weeks]].}}

== Trivia ==	
* The Codex was changed four times daily from [[Feedback:Game updates/20100128|January 28, 2010]] until [[Feedback:Game updates/20110602|June 2, 2011]], when it was reverted back to once daily.
* Since the [[Feedback:Game updates/20130516|May 16, 2013 update]], the Codex changes weekly on Mondays instead of daily.

== See also ==
* [[/Statistics|Current statistics]] on pooled skills. (outdated)
* [[List of codex skills subpages]], for previous Codex skill pools.

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160322213910/http://gw1101.gtm.guildwars.com/gameplay/pvp/pvp_types/codex_arena.php Webpage on old version of GuildWars.com]

{{Locations in the Battle Isles}}
[[Category:Arenas|+]]