What Are Settlement Wars?

Settlement wars are sanctioned PvP events where one settlement may declare war on another. These wars are organized by the Mayors of each node and require a significant level of preparation and resources. Most players engage in settlement wars for a mix of rewards, reputation, and the sheer thrill of large-scale PvP.

In practice, settlement wars are structured events rather than spontaneous skirmishes. The system ensures that war isn’t always-on PvP—there are costs and requirements to declare war. As Chris Justo explained, the intention is to prevent Mayors from permanently flagging the world into combat, making resource management an important part of the decision to go to war.

Declaring War and Preparing

A Mayor can declare war on another settlement if the target’s settlement-to-settlement reputation is low enough. Declaring war requires resources, which can usually be gathered through special mayoral commissions tied to war preparations. In Alpha-2 testing, some of these reputation restrictions were lowered, so wars occurred more frequently than they are expected to in the final game.

Once a war is declared, all citizens of the involved settlements, including allies in some war types, become flagged as combatants. This means players can be attacked anywhere during the war, though the events themselves typically spawn during server prime-time for maximum participation.

Structure of Settlement Wars

Settlement wars are divided into phases, and each phase contains specific events. Understanding this structure is key to effective participation:

• Events: These are individual objectives within a phase. Completing events grants immediate rewards and contributes to long-term benefits for your settlement.

• Phases: Winning a phase provides broader rewards and affects your overall standing in the war.

• War Outcome: The ultimate goal is to win the war itself, which may change settlement reputation and influence the political landscape of the server.

Most players focus on completing objectives efficiently, supporting their Mayor, and coordinating with other players to ensure success during each phase.

Objectives and Roles

Settlement war objectives often involve controlling points of interest (POIs), defending key structures, or disrupting enemy progress. For example, during the Harness the Godspike event, Scholars spawn at POIs across the map. Players can interact with these Scholars to increase the time required for the enemy to channel the Godspike, while also collecting materials needed for their own channeling efforts.

Participation isn’t limited to combat alone. Crafting, gathering, and supplying unique weapons, shields, armor, and siege vehicles can enhance a settlement’s war preparedness. While these activities don’t maintain the war directly, they increase the effectiveness of your side’s defenses and offensive capabilities. Some players even choose to buy Ashes of Creation gold from U4N to help fund these preparations more efficiently.

Respawns, Points, and Special Roles

Players who die during a war can respawn at their War Camp, Home shrine, or the nearest Attuned shrine. Key targets, such as the enemy Mayor or leaders of social and religious organizations, are worth more victory points when defeated. These leaders often have unique abilities, making them high-priority targets during sieges.

Most experienced players focus on understanding the roles of these leaders. Targeting them at the right moment can turn the tide of a war, while protecting your own leaders ensures your side remains competitive throughout the event.

Scoring and Participation

Player contributions in settlement wars are tracked, though visibility may vary based on opt-in settings. Metrics like KDA, damage dealt, healing done, and objectives completed help participants understand their impact on the war. In general, actively participating in objectives rather than only focusing on kills is considered the most effective way to contribute.

Reputation and Long-Term Impact

Settlement wars don’t just provide immediate rewards—they also influence the relationships between settlements. Friendly settlements may engage in trade or form alliances, while hostile settlements become enemies for future conflicts. The outcome of wars can therefore shape the political landscape of a server for an extended period, affecting how settlements interact in both PvP and PvE contexts.

Tips for New Participants

1. Coordinate with your settlement: Joining group chats or using external communication tools helps you react to dynamic objectives.

2. Know your role: Whether you’re a frontline fighter, support crafter, or objective runner, understanding your contribution matters.

3. Prepare resources: Collect materials in advance to craft gear or upgrade fortifications.

4. Time your participation: Events spawn during prime-time, so plan your play sessions accordingly.

5. Learn from each war: Observing winning strategies and enemy tactics provides valuable insight for future events.

Most players find that the combination of preparation, teamwork, and strategic targeting of objectives makes settlement wars one of the most rewarding PvP experiences in Ashes of Creation.

Settlement wars are not just battles—they are complex political events that combine combat, crafting, and strategy. By understanding how wars are structured and how players typically engage, you can improve your effectiveness and enjoy the unique challenges that these large-scale events offer. Whether you’re rallying citizens to your Mayor’s banner or supporting your settlement from behind the lines, there’s a role for everyone in these epic conflicts.