gww>Dmitri: Changed archive link to a source with the missing images for "Drop Rates SoJ vs. SV" Guru article

2026-09-11T13:06:30Z

Changed archive link to a source with the missing images for "Drop Rates SoJ vs. SV" Guru article

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[[Anti-farm code]] is the part of Guild Wars software used to reduce the benefits of repeatedly [[farming]] a single location, quest, or other objective. [[ANet]] has published few details about how it works; what little players know is based on limited experimentation and speculation.

== Official facts ==
Since the [[Developer_Updates/20070420|first implementation]]:
* Farming alone will yield fewer total items than farming with a full [[party]], though more items per individual [[character]].
* The following are affected by loot scaling:
** [[Item rarity|Common]] (white) items
** Gold
* Certain items are not affected:
** [[Skill tome]]s
** [[Scroll]]s
** [[Dye]]
** [[Rare crafting material|Rare material]]s, such as [[Glob of Ectoplasm|Ectoplasm]]
** [[Gemstone]]s from the [[Domain of Anguish]]
** All [[Item rarity|rare]] (gold colored) items
** All [[unique]] (green) items
** [[Special event]] items
* Repeated map entry does not reduce loot ([[Game_updates/20070419#Miscellaneous|source]]).

== Player tests ==

; Accepted
''These theories have been repeatedly tested by multiple players performing a variety of tests under a variety of conditions.''

* The drop rate from the first foes killed in the area is less than normal; after several kills, the rate returns to normal.
** Some believe that the governing factor is time; some believe it is both time and number of kills.
** Player researchers speculate that this was implemented to limit [[boss]] farming near [[outpost]]s, but it can be seen near any portal (even if there are no bosses).

; Disputed
''These hypotheses have strong advocates, but others point to contradictory evidence or insufficient data.''

* Killing too many foes too quickly results in lost drops.
** Advocates of this theory recommend spike over AoE damage, to limit the number of simultaneous or near-simultaneous deaths.
** Critics point out that not every foe drops an item and that, necessarily, some of those missing drops will occur during simultaneous kills.

* The drops are ''seeded'' when the party enters an area.
** This [https://web.archive.org/web/20150424045130/http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/drop-rates-soj-vs-sv-t10225077.html was tested] by having multiple parties enter the same zone at the same time. Researchers counted drops and also looked at drops from specific foes. Their results flew counter to the previous hypothesis.
** Others have not been able to replicate these results (possibly due to the difficulty in synchronizing entry).

* Repeated farming of the same area results in a progressive reduction of drops.
** Players that farm [[raptor]]s and/or [[vaettir]]s are the strongest proponents of this theory.
** Although there are plenty of anecdotal reports, there are very few published results that show the total drops at the beginning of a series of farming runs and the totals late in the series.

; Speculative
''These hypotheses persist despite the fact that testing would take hundreds of players farming under controlled conditions for dozens of hours each. This does not make them untrue, just unconfirmable.''

* The drop rate is affected by external factors:
*# Too many players farming the same area.
*# Time of day (e.g. peaking or hitting minimums every three hours).

* The drop rate decreases if your character or account does a lot of farming.
*# This clearly affects drop rates for [[Treasure]].
*# This cannot be confirmed for foe drops (see above).

== Suggestions ==
Using these suggestions can mitigate the effect of the anti-farm code:
* Avoid killing several foes at once; try to limit the usage of [[AoE]] and mass [[DoT]] skills. Make a reasonable pause between kills.
* When possible, try to add [[leech]]ers to a party. With proper planning of a farming route, you will get more drops while they will get points/bounties from resurrection shrines. There is controversy as to the effects (if any) of leechers on drop rates.
* After entering the area, avoid rushing to a foe with a valuable drop like a boss. Kill some unimportant foes to be sure that the normal drop rate is restored.

== See also ==
* [[ArenaNet:Developer updates/20070420]]
* [[Loot scaling]]
* [[Farming]]

== External links==
* Loot research on Guild Wars Guru:
** [https://archive.guildwarslegacy.com/thread?id=10225077 "Drop Rates SoJ vs. SV" by Skinny Corpse], suggesting drops are determined by a time-based instance seed.
** [https://archive.guildwarslegacy.com/thread?id=10329475 "Drop rates - A synthesis" by Nechtan Thaumaturge], suggesting loot scales inversely with time between kills.
* Videos of different tests and analyses:
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvxBBQrsaKU "What is the Anti-Farm Code in Guild Wars?" by Péter Kádár, March 31, 2026].

Anti-farm code - Revision history

gww>Dmitri: Changed archive link to a source with the missing images for "Drop Rates SoJ vs. SV" Guru article