Progression

so do new players get assigned to an Arena and then everyone progresses together? Therefore if lots of others are paying to play, i will fall behind and if i paid on one of mostly free players, i would surge ahead...makes sense a bit now!

Annoying though. When i first started doing the GW, i could normally get to nodes 8-11. Yesterday i had to give up at node 2 because of an impossible team.

I suppose it doesn't help that i am not seriously optimising characters/teams etc. Rather just getting the characters i like!

thanks for the advice, i will try that!

"bottg;d-170317" wrote:

My player level is 82, and i have about 14-16 characters of level 68 and 6-7 stars with lvl 15 mods and lvl 8+ gear. And the Arena missions are a damn sight harder than they were when my characters were lvl 30. Back then i averaged about position 2700 or so, now i struggle to stay in the low 3000's. Same for the Ship Arena.

If your best characters trail by 14 levels (level 68 instead of the potential level 82) then it shouldn't be surprising to you, that you drop in arena instead of climb since your opponents upgrade their teams more than you.

"bottg;d-170317" wrote:

So, what is the point in them getting better if the arena enemies at my rank get better faster?

If you want to compete with them you need to find a way to get better even faster. One way could is to get your arena team to leve 82 and upgrade their skills along the way as fast as possible.

"bottg;d-170317" wrote:
I kind of assumed that as your team got better you would advance up the Arena Rankings?

If your opponents get better faster than you, then they will advance — not you. For new players the arena(s) are really a race to get to level 85 as fast as possible while developing a good team along the way. Other level 82 players on your shard with arena teams at level 82 will of course wipe the floor with your level 68 team. They earn better rewards and improve even faster than you. However, you can still catch up to them but it will require a continuos good effort to develop your roster and arena team. If you prefer to play the game the gotta—catch—'em—all style then that's fine too. Do whatever you enjoy the most. There's no right or wrong way to play the game, but your decisions of course influence your results.

Oh, and one last thing, @Bottg, how is your guild? If you happen to be in a both active and friendly guild, then I'm sure your guild mates will gladly help and guide you. Otherwise you should find a friendly and active guild :—)
Perhaps the new update to guilds — introducing levelling guilds — will make things easier for you. At least I hope it will help you.

Moving to proper forum.

Great communication and feedback fellas.

Other posters gave good advice. Here’s why it’s good advice: energy refreshes. Energy refreshes allow you to upgrade characters faster, and you buy them with crystals. You get crystals from either spending real money or by getting rewards in arena and fleet arena. Going from rank 3000 to rank 200 or better in arena would get you double the crystals you’re getting now, and going from rank 200 to rank 50 or better would double your crystals again, allowing you to refresh energy much more often. Getting to top 20 in fleet arena also gets crystals.

You also get app. 100 crystals daily by doing all daily challenges, GW and from login rewards. Even at arena rank 3000 it will be enough for 3 energy refreshes most days.

@bottg , this game can often seem like one long pointless grind punctuated by moments of great and fulfilling progression.

The progression requires slog. Or cash, of course. For me though, slog. But you can and will achieve if you put the time and the work in. I guarantee you that.

I'd recommend - focus on a character you want - single-mindedly grind to get that character. Don't be put distracted by bright and shiny things that come and go.

Also, grind a squad (with synergy) you really want but there seems no apparent use for. Just for fun. I guarantee it will have it's use in time.

Work hard. And you will get there. You will achieve, I promise.


Oh, and ask lots and lots of questions here. I did and the answers kindly provided were invaulable.