Many factors can be considered when one enter PvP in Wurm. All combat skills are used while PvPing, and these including your shield skill, weapon skill, fight skill, fighting stance skill, bow skill, archery skill, and player characteristics. Having higher in any of these can attribute to your success, however it is generally advised to be trained in at least one shield skill, weapon skill, and fighting stance of your choice. Overall fight skill is considered to be the most important skill in PvP, as it adds greatly to your overall combat rating. Having higher fight skill will allow the player to hit more, but so will having greater weapon and fighting sub skills. Having a higher shield skill is important to block both blows in up close pvp, and arrows for long ranged. Fighting stances are another choice the player must make. Currently, they can choose between Defensive, Aggressive, and Normal fighting modes, which all have their specific advantages and disadvantages. In long ranged combat, both bow and archery skill are considered important. Most frequently players use Long Bows, although Medium and Short Bows are considered to have their tactical advantages and lower ranges.
Beyond skills the other major character attribute that effects PvP are the player characteristics. Body Strength, Body Stamina, Body Control, Mind Speed, Soul Strength, and Soul Depth all have some effect on PvP. Having higher body strength will allow you to hit harder, while having higher body stamina will increase your stamina. The over all body skill increases a player's "toughness", and therefor is also considered important, although it levels on its own with your other skills. Body control is believed to increase the players chance dodge and perform critical strikes. While the effects of Mind Speed are not entirely documentedlet's you cast more spells before becoming overheated, it is considered to make focusing easier, and perhaps increase chance to hit, aim, and perform special moves. Soul Strength and Soul Depth factor into spell resistance and ability to cast spells. For priest, having a high Soul Depth and Soul Strength means the ability to cast stronger spells, while for normal players it will improve their resistance to said spells, as well as to the effects of the Orb of Doom. Because of characteristics important roll in PvP, crafters who decide to fight have a notable advantage in combat, assuming they train their skills to certain standards.
== Player Death ==