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WorldMap-ArathiBasin

The Arathi Basin in-game map; for locations see below tactical map.

Arathi Basin

Tactical Map of Arathi Basin

Arathibasin

As it appears on the minimap.

Located in Arathi Highlands, Arathi Basin is a fast and exciting battleground. The Basin itself is rich with resources and coveted by both the Horde and the Alliance. The Forsaken Defilers and the League of Arathor have arrived at Arathi Basin to wage war over these natural resources and claim them on behalf of their respective sides. It is similar to "King of the Hill," "Conquest," or "Domination" modes in other games.

Overview[]

The goal is to control locations on the map ("Resource Nodes"). While a node is controlled, it generates resources for your side, and the first side to gain 1,600 resources wins the contest. Prior to Patch 3.2, 2,000 resources were required for victory.

Maps[]

Basic Rules[]

  • Each side has up to 15 players.
  • There are five Resource Nodes on the map: the Farm, the Stables (ST or sometimes called stabs or SB), the Blacksmith (BS), the Lumber Mill (LM), and the Gold Mine (GM).
  • A node only earns resources when it is captured (see below). With the exception of strategic value, there is no difference between the nodes in terms of resource production.
  • The rate of resource accumulation increases non-linearly as more nodes are captured. That is, if a side owns 2 nodes, it will not accumulate resources 2x as fast as when it only has 1 node. See the Strategy section below for more info.
  • Arathi Basin is banded by level, just like Warsong Gulch. The minimum level to join is 10, and different instances will spawn in brackets covering 10 levels each. Players will be scaled up to the max. level in their bracket, i.e. bracket 100-109 every Player will be scaled to level 109.

Entering Arathi Basin Battleground[]

  • The entrances to Arathi Basin are located in the Arathi Highlands zone.
  • For the Alliance, the entrance is located inside Refuge Pointe.
  • For the Horde, the entrance is just outside of Hammerfall on the north side.
  • Either side may also enter the Battleground queue through Battlemasters located in each capital city.
  • As of patch 3.1.0, you can enter the queue anywhere through the battlegrounds tab in the Player vs. Player window.
Arathi Basin TCG

"Controlling vital resource points is the key to victory. Control all five, and you are virtually guaranteed it." - Loraala.

Winning Arathi Basin[]

Strategy and Tactics[]

Accumulating Resources[]

Resources accumulate at the rates shown in the table below.

Nodes
Captured
Resources
Per Tick
Tick Length
(sec)
Resources
Per sec
1 10 12 0.8
2 10 9 1.1
3 10 6 1.7
4 10 3 3.3
5 30 1 30.0

So if your team has three nodes, their team has two nodes, and they lead 1400 to 1300, you can still win if no nodes change hands. But if your team is at 1200 you cannot win unless you gain control of four nodes.

Honor Rewards[]

The game awards bonus honor to everyone on your side of the match for reaching certain goals. Those goals are:

  • Collecting multiples of 260 resources (at 260, 520, 780, ...), rewards 20 honor each (at level 60).
  • Winning the match rewards 20 honor (at level 60).

Honor for lower level matches scales down from the amounts given. Other scored events are not granted honor. These include: killing blows, assaulting a node, capturing a node, and defending a node. Honor is awarded for honorable kills as normal.

Winning a complete match (1600 resources and the win bonus) gives 140 honor (at level 60). It also awards 3 Arathi Basin Mark of Honor.

Losing a match gives you less bonus honor depending on how many resources your side managed to collect before the loss. You will still accumulate some honor from honorable kills. You will receive 1 Arathi Basin Mark of Honor at the end of a loss.

On the Battlegrounds Holiday weekend for Arathi Basin, the bonus honor goals are:

  • Collecting multiples of 160 resources (at 160, 320, 480, ...), rewards 20 honor each (at level 60).
  • Winning the match still rewards 20 honor (at level 60).

The total honor for the winning team on the holiday weekend is 200. The losing team only earns honor for resources collected; there is no additional bonus for a loss on the holiday weekend.

Quests[]

There are a number of quests involving fighting in Arathi Basin, some of which need reputation with the battleground faction. You can get them from one of the NPCs near the battleground entrances in Hammerfall or Refuge Pointe.

The first quest will usually be The Battle for Arathi Basin!, for which you need to assault four different bases.

Alliance[]

Horde[]

As of the 2.3 patch, there is a daily quest available requiring a win in one random battleground, which awards experience, honor and coin. The AB version of this quest is N [70P] Call to Arms: Arathi Basin.

Reputation[]

Doing battle in Arathi Basin improves your reputation with The Defilers (Horde) or The League of Arathor (Alliance).

  • Collecting multiples of 160 resources (at 160, 320, 480, ...) = 10 rep (total 100 rep if you win)
  • Excluding you lose matches, and you don't play during the holiday you would need 320 Wins to be exalted with the faction.
  • Quests in Arathi Basin give reputation too

On the Battlegrounds Holiday weekend for Arathi Basin, the Reputation rewards are:

  • Collecting multiples of 150 resources (at 150, 300, 450, ...) = 10 rep (total 130 rep if you win)

Rewards[]

Arathi Basin items are available by spending honor accumulated. The Alliance vendor for these items is Samuel Hawke <League of Arathor Supply Officer> near the Alliance Arathi Basin battleground entrance in Arathi Highlands. The Horde vendor for these items is Rutherford Twing <Defilers Supply Officer> outside the Horde Arathi Basin battleground entrance in Hammerfall in Arathi Highlands.

Though some of the Arathor and Defiler factions items have different names and artwork, equivalent items' bonuses and equip effects are identical. Highlander's items are Arathor items.

The bulk of the items are belts, boots, and shoulders tailored to various classes. More powerful versions of some items can be purchased as you gain levels, allowing higher level players to receive faction rewards with better equipment bonuses. However, the exalted rewards are only available at level 60.

See Honor rewards for other items which can be purchased with Honor points.

Item (Alliance/Horde) Type Level #:   Honor point   Arathi Basin Mark of Honor Classes Description
[Talisman of Arathor] /
[Defiler's Talisman]
Trinket Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 38: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
30 Unrestricted Absorbs a fixed amount of physical damage for 15 seconds
[Highlander's Chain Girdle] /
[Defiler's Chain Girdle]
Waist (Leather/Mail) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 40: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Hunter, Shaman Stamina bonus
Improves chance to crit by 1%
Increases attack power
The level 58 version of this belt is part of The Highlander's Determination or The Defiler's Determination set.
[Highlander's Cloth Girdle] /
[Defiler's Cloth Girdle]
Waist (Cloth) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 38: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Mage, Priest, Warlock Stamina and intellect bonuses
Improves chance to crit with spells by 1%
Increases healing done by spells and effects
The level 58 version of this belt is part of The Highlander's Intent or The Defiler's Intent set.
[Highlander's Lizardhide Girdle] /
[Defiler's Lizardhide Girdle]
Waist (Leather) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 38: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Rogue, Druid Stamina and intellect bonuses
Improves chance to crit with spells by 1%
The level 58 version of this belt is part of The Highlander's Will or The Defiler's Will set.
[Highlander's Leather Girdle] /
[Defiler's Leather Girdle]
Waist (Leather) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 38: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Rogue, Druid Stamina bonus
Increases chance to crit by 1%
Increases attack power
The level 58 version of this belt is part of The Highlander's Purpose or The Defiler's Purpose set.
[Highlander's Lamellar Girdle] Waist (Mail/Plate) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 40: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Paladin Strength, stamina and intellect bonuses
Improves chance to crit by 1%
The level 58 version of this belt is part of The Highlander's Resolve set.
[Defiler's Mail Girdle] Waist (Leather/Mail) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 40: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Hunter, Shaman Stamina and intellect bonuses
Improves chance to crit with spells by 1%
The level 58 version of this belt is part of The Defiler's Fortitude set.
[Highlander's Plate Girdle] /
[Defiler's Plate Girdle]
Waist (Mail/Plate) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 40: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Warrior, Paladin Strength and stamina bonuses
Improves chance to crit by 1%
The level 58 version of this belt is part of The Highlander's Resolution or The Defiler's Resolution set.
[Highlander's Chain Greaves] /
[Defiler's Chain Greaves]
Feet (Leather/Mail) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 40: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Hunter, Shaman Agility, stamina, and intellect bonuses
Run Speed increased slightly
The level 58 version of these boots is part of The Highlander's Determination or The Defiler's Determination set.
[Highlander's Cloth Boots] /
[Defiler's Cloth Boots]
Feet (Cloth) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 38: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Mage, Priest, Warlock Stamina and intellect bonuses
Run Speed increased slightly
Increases healing done by spells and effects
The level 58 version of these boots is part of The Highlander's Intent or The Defiler's Intent set.
[Highlander's Lizardhide Boots] /
[Defiler's Lizardhide Boots]
Feet (Leather) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 38: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Rogue, Druid Agility, stamina, and intellect bonuses
Run Speed increased slightly
Increases attack power
The level 58 version of these boots is part of The Highlander's Will or The Defiler's Will set.
[Highlander's Leather Boots] /
[Defiler's Leather Boots]
Feet (Leather) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 38: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Rogue, Druid Agility and stamina bonuses
Run Speed increased slightly
Increases attack power
The level 58 version of these boots is part of The Highlander's Purpose or The Defiler's Purpose set.
[Highlander's Lamellar Greaves] Feet (Mail/Plate) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 40: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Paladin Strength, agility, stamina, and intellect bonuses
Run Speed increased slightly
The level 58 version of these boots is part of The Highlander's Resolve set.
[Defiler's Mail Greaves] Feet (Leather/Mail) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 40: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Hunter, Shaman Agility, stamina, and intellect bonuses
Run Speed increased slightly
Increases chance to crit with spells by 1%
The level 58 version of these boots is part of The Defiler's Fortitude set.
[Highlander's Plate Greaves] /
[Defiler's Plate Greaves]
Feet (Mail/Plate) Lvl 28: 175
Lvl 40: 258
Lvl 48: 382
Lvl 58: 2805
20 Warrior, Paladin Strength, agility, and stamina bonuses
Run Speed increased slightly
The level 58 version of these boots is part of The Highlander's Resolution or The Defiler's Resolution set.
[Highlander's Chain Pauldrons] /
[Defiler's Chain Pauldrons]
Shoulders (Mail) Level 60: 8415 40 Hunter, Shaman Agility, stamina, and intellect bonuses
These shoulders are part of The Highlander's Determination or The Defiler's Determination set.
[Highlander's Epaulets] /
[Defiler's Epaulets]
Shoulders (Cloth) Level 60: 8415 40 Mage, Priest, Warlock Stamina and intellect bonuses
Restores 5 mana every 5 seconds
Increases healing done by spells and effects
These shoulders are part of The Highlander's Intent or The Defiler's Intent set.
[Highlander's Lizardhide Shoulders] /
[Defiler's Lizardhide Shoulders]
Shoulders (Leather) Level 60: 8415 40 Rogue, Druid Agility, stamina, and intellect bonuses
Increases attack power
These shoulders are part of The Highlander's Will or The Defiler's Will set.
[Highlander's Leather Shoulders] /
[Defiler's Leather Shoulders]
Shoulders (Leather) Level 60: 8415 40 Rogue, Druid Agility and stamina bonuses
Increases attack power
These shoulders are part of The Highlander's Purpose or The Defiler's Purpose set.
[Highlander's Lamellar Spaulders] Shoulders (Plate) Level 60: 8415 40 Paladin Strength, agility, stamina, and intellect bonuses
These shoulders are part of The Highlander's Resolve set.
[Defiler's Mail Pauldrons] Shoulders (Mail) Level 60: 8415 40 Hunter, Shaman Agility, stamina, and intellect bonuses
Restores 4 mana every 5 seconds
These shoulders are part of The Defiler's Fortitude set.
[Highlander's Plate Spaulders] /
[Defiler's Plate Spaulders]
Shoulders (Plate) Level 60: 8415 40 Warrior, Paladin Strength, agility, and stamina bonuses
These shoulders are part of The Highlander's Resolution or The Defiler's Resolution set.
[Cloak of the Honor Guard] /
[Deathguard's Cloak]
Back Level 60: 4590 20 Unrestricted Agility and stamina bonuses
Increases Attack Power
[Ironbark Staff] Staff Level 60: 15300 40 Unrestricted Intellect and stamina bonuses
Improves chance to crit with spells by 2%
Increases damage and healing from spells and effects
[Sageclaw] /
[Mindfang]
Dagger Level 60: 8160 40 Unrestricted Stamina bonus
Improves chance to crit with spells by 1%
Increases damage and healing from spells and effects

Old Faction Reward System[]

Prior to patch 2.01, you had to improve your reputation with the Arathi Basin faction to be eligible for rewards.
See Old Arathi Basin Rewards for details.

Experience in Arathi Basin[]

  • Players are awarded ~0.8% of a level for completing a Match.
  • Players are awarded ~0.8% of a level per 260 Resources.
  • Players are awarded ~0.8% of a level for a Victory.
  • The specific % of exp does vary per level, but it should amount to just under 16 Victories per level.

Achievements[]

Note
Note: Meta achievements are located in a seperate table at the bottom of this section.

Media[]

Videos[]

An Arathi Basin live commentary in patch 4.2 w/ Selfs3rve Rogue PvP and more
Wow_Cataclysm_Battlegrounds_Arathi_Basin_Live_Commentary_4.2_Sub_Rogue_PvP_-_Selfs3rve
An Arathi Basin live commentary on Machinima w/ Selfs3rve Rogue PvP and more
World_of_Warcraft_Cataclysm_Arathi_Basin_Live_4.0.6_Sub_Rogue_PvP_(WoW_Gameplay_Commentary)
A Second Arathi Basin live commentary on Machinima w/ Selfs3rve Rogue PvP and more
World_of_Warcraft_Cataclysm_Arathi_Basin_Live_4.0.6_Ep_2_Sub_Rogue_PvP_(WoW_Gameplay_Commentary)

Patch changes[]

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. Patch 3.3.3 (2010-03-23): Battlegrounds will no longer award Marks of Honor.
  • Players with existing Marks of Honor can still turn them in to their respective faction's quest givers, including individual marks for those who may have more marks for one Battleground than another.
  • Items which previously required Marks of Honor will have their costs adjusted to remove these requirements.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. Patch 3.2.0 (04-Aug-2009):
    • When standing at a capture point that you control, you will gain a buff called Honorable Defender. This buff grants +50% honor gained from kills.
    • The time it requires to capture a base has been reduced to 8 seconds, down from 10 seconds.
    • The game now ends when one team reaches 1600 victory points, down from 2000.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. Patch 1.8.1 (25-Oct-2005): Certain geometry exploits in Arathi Basin have been fixed.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. Patch 1.7.1 (22-Sep-2005): Altered geometry in Arathi Basin to prevent a possible exploit.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Inlinegfx/img_link_data.json' not found. Patch 1.7.0 (13-Sep-2005): Added.

See also[]

External links[]

Strategy
Previews
Humor
  • Who's Arathi MP3, a parody by anim5 of International Detective Dragons From Outer Space of Abott and Costello's "Who's on First?" skit.


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