Arena Wars - What is Skill Level exactly?

[Classique]

Skill Level and Arena Points

What do they do, and what do they unlock? 

 

 

 

Arena Points (AP):

 

What is Arena Points?

AP is something that is granted to a player, like RP, after a round of Arena Wars, but only if you have an Arena Workshop. If you do not own an Arena Workshop, RP will be awarded instead. Everytime you level up with AP, you get a "sponsorship reward", which will grant you a random "discount" for a random outfit, random vehicle or random vehicle upgrade from the Arena Wars update. The discount varies depending if it's a vehicle, outfit, or a modification to a vehicle. You still get AP from losing Arena Wars, but around ~30% less than what you could get if you win.

 

 

Can you get Arena Points in another way? 

Yes you can! But it may cost ya'. In most Arena Modes, when you die to an opponent, or commit suicide, you sometimes get a free "Spin to Win", which is a randomizer that awards you anything between Power Ups, AP, RP, and even GTA dollars. Tunables also affect Spin to Win, so that means if Rockstar has made Arena Wars pay double money and RP, it will also be applied to the Spin to Win feature.

Once you're at the Spectator Room, you can play Spin to Win again at the big round table, but this time it will cost you $5000 in-game dollars to do. Either you win more than you paid ($6000-$10000), some RP, some AP, or Power Ups. 

 

 

Wait, isn't that borderline gambling?
Technically, yes, yes it is. Moving on...

 

 

 

 

Skill Level (SkL)

 

What is Skill Level exactly?

Skill Level is also a progress bar, but it's semi-hidden from the player. It works in another... odd way. 

You start as Skill Level 0 at the very start after you've purchased an Arena Workshop. After you've won your first Arena War, it will permanently increase to Level 1, and will stay at Level 1, and cannot decrease from there. You can see your current Skill Level middle-right on the board inside your office in the Arena Workshop. You cannot view your progress to your next level - only your current level. 

Also, to avoid confusion; The Skill Level you see when another player wins an Arena War is THAT persons' Skill Level, NOT yours!

 

 

How do you level up more?

Simple; win Arena Wars. Or, well... Not that simple, actually. 

Your level determines how many matches (NOT rounds!) you need to win to level up your Skill Level.

Here's the math if you start at Skill Level 1:

 

(xLevel + 1) = Won matches needed to next Skill Level

 

Where xLevel represents your current Skill Level. 

 

Simplified:

2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14+15+16+17+18+19+20 = 209 (+1 if you go from Level 0 to 1 after you've freshly bought the Areana Workshop).

 

The max Skill Level there is is Level 20. 

So with that being proven; you need to win 209 (or 210) times in a row to unlock Skill Level 20 the fastest. 

 

Playing rounds of Arena War does not contribute directly to your Skill Level progress, but will help you win the match, which does count towards it. 

 

 

Can my Skill Level decrease?

Unfortunately, yes.

Everytime you lose a match, your Skill Level will decrease. It will also count as a loss if you leave an Arena War round or match mid-game. This means that it's borderline impossible to reach Skill Rank 20 in a legit way. 

As explained above, there's a "hidden" progress bar for the Skill Level. So if you lose a match, you have to win another match to get to the progress you were on before. So it literally goes like this:

 

Winning a Match = +1 point towards the maximum 210 points

Losing a Match = -1 point towards the maximum 210 points

 

In theory, "Skill Level" doesn't mean anything. If you reach 210 points out of 210, you will obtain Skill Level 20.

 

 

If I have more teammates on my team, will I earn/lose more SkL points if we win/lose?

Unfortunately (and fortunately), no. Skill Level is an individual stat, and cannot be multiplied if there are mutiple players on your team. However, if you all win/lose, all your teammates will have their Skill Rank progress increased/decreased, depending on the outcome of the game. 

 

 

Does Skill Level actually prove how good I am, and not how lucky I am to be with a team that plays good?

lmao no.  

 

 

Is there an easy way I can boost my Skill Level up quicker, so that I don't have to socialize with animals in Arena War?

There is! But you need to have a friend with you. Your friend let you win matches over him 209 (or 210) times in a row (remember, rounds does NOT count! It has to be matches). It will likely take several upon several hours or days to complete, so only do this if you have the patience.

But to be honest, how else can you unlock Skill Level 20 without stumbling upon a team riddled with AFK'ers, suiciders, and pay-to-win user vehicles? Screw that. 

Start grinding. If you wish, you can drop your PSN/XBox/Social club name here, if you wish to hook up with someone willing to help out. Just remember, don't be "that guy" who gets to Rank 20 and then deletes their partner without helping them. Don't do that. That's sh*tty. Extremely sh*tty. 

 

 

 

 

What's the rewards for reaching a specific AP Level or Skill Level?

These are the rewards for unlocking Skill Levels:

 

• For each Skill Level, you will get awarded a Platinum Award and a small amount of cash that increases for each level.
• Being able to purchase the Go Go Monkey Blista for free once you reach Level 20. The option to buy the Go Go Monkey Blista will permanently be added to the in-game website SouthernSanAndreasSuperAutos.com, and will still stay if you drop below Skill Level 20 again.

 

These are the rewards for unlocking AP Levels:

 

• For each AP Level (also called "Sponsorships") you get, you will unlock a trade-price for a random Arena War vehicle, Arena War outfit, or an Arena War modification to a specific vehicle. The discounted prices vary a lot. 

 

When you get to AP level X, you will unlock:

• Level 25 - Taxi
• Level 50 - HVY Dozer
• Level 75 - Clown Van
• Level 100 - Trashmaster
• Level 200 - HVY Barracks Semi
• Level 300 - HVY Mixer
• Level 500 - Space Docker
• Level 1000 - Tractor (the rusty old hag. Yeeeah, that tractor.)

 

 

 

Is this otherwise a stupid mechanic that should actually have proven your actual skill in Arena Wars, and not be determined of how many wins you get in a row?

Should it? Possibly.

Should R* change it? Maybe. 

Hotel? Trivago.

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to thank @irish.chr, @WildBrick142, @Fun 2, @StangOne50 and the people brave and hungry enough to find out the secrets behind the stats for Skill Level and AP Levels. You're all awesome!

Edited August 8, 2019 by Classique

[alkaline_]

after 6 hours of playing i'm still fluffy skill 1 hihihi (and rank 17 ((including some 5000 dollar spins on this uncrunchy wheel))). i feel blah.

[Nyamber]

From what I can tell, it increases when you win, and decreases when you lose.

 

So unless you are exceptionally good, and win every time, you're gonna want to grind it out with a friend to unlock that Go Go Blista.

Edited December 11, 2018 by irish.chr

[jdv95]

It also gets a negative effect when you leave the match before completion.

 

 

[alkaline_]

1 minute ago, irish.chr said:

From what I can tell, it increases when you win, and decreases when you lose.

so i never get that No Go Blista... blah, meh and ugh! hihihi

[Geisterfaust]

Somehow, I don't even want to get into this. These rewards are not worth it IMO. They are so not worth it, that I don't even want to understand these double ranks. 

Unlock Pegasus vehicles by increasing your Sponsorship Tier Level / AP Tier Level.
Tier 25 - Taxi
Tier 50 - HVY Dozer
Tier 75 - Clown Van
Tier 100 - Trashmaster
Tier 200 - HVY Barracks Semi
Tier 300 - HVY Mixer
Tier 500 - Space Docker
Tier 1000 - Tractor

Do you really want this crap in your Pegasus list? All these vehicles are available in SP and worthless in Online. Space Docker in 2018? No thanks.

Edited December 12, 2018 by hei3enberg

[jdv95]

Just now, hei3enberg said:

Somehow, I don't even want to get into this. These rewards are not worth it IMO.

Some are ok some are just boring.

 

so far carnage is the only one I really can enjoy. 

 

[Geisterfaust]

1 minute ago, jdv95 said:

Some are ok some are just boring.

 

so far carnage is the only one I really can enjoy. 

 

Oh I don't mean the activities per se, I meant rewards. Activities could be fun with a right approach and especially good with friends, but rewards are actually laughable. 

[jdv95]

4 minutes ago, hei3enberg said:

Somehow, I don't even want to get into this. These rewards are not worth it IMO. They are so not worth it, that I don't even want to understand these double ranks. 

Unlock Pegasus vehicles by increasing your Sponsorship Tier Level / AP Tier Level.
Tier 25 - Taxi
Tier 50 - HVY Dozer
Tier 75 - Clown Van
Tier 100 - Trashmaster
Tier 200 - HVY Barracks Semi
Tier 300 - HVY Mixer
Tier 500 - Space Docker
Tier 1000 - Tractor

Do you really want this crap in your Pegasus list? All these vehicles are available in SP and worthless in Online.

The biggest rewards are the trade prices on all the new content. But it's ofcourse  a random unlock system.

[555-We-Tip]

How in the world did they decide on what vehicle was unlocked in which tier? Who truly believes the tractor is somehow a coveted vehicle? It makes no sense to me.

[Lonely-Martin]

Yeah, do want the toys, and I'm sure I'll get there. But this really reminds me of the crate statue, only longer, lol.

 

Can confirm we lose points for quitting. That'll be the kink. Winning and consistent top 3's, most likely 'last kill' too. Do assists count?

[Classique]

8 minutes ago, hei3enberg said:

Somehow, I don't even want to get into this. These rewards are not worth it IMO. They are so not worth it, that I don't even want to understand these double ranks. 

Unlock Pegasus vehicles by increasing your Sponsorship Tier Level / AP Tier Level.
Tier 25 - Taxi
Tier 50 - HVY Dozer
Tier 75 - Clown Van
Tier 100 - Trashmaster
Tier 200 - HVY Barracks Semi
Tier 300 - HVY Mixer
Tier 500 - Space Docker
Tier 1000 - Tractor

Do you really want this crap in your Pegasus list? All these vehicles are available in SP and worthless in Online. Space Docker in 2018? No thanks.

While true, I think you're talking about Arena Points (AP). AP gets awarded like RP, and cannot decrease.

 

Skill Level, however is another case. 

[Lonely-Martin]

Just now, 555-We-Tip said:

How in the world did they decide on what vehicle was unlocked in which tier? Who truly believes the tractor is somehow a coveted vehicle? It makes no sense to me.

Maybe that unlocks the Kifflom outfit too. (In story that tractor was a possibility after the last mission for them).

[555-We-Tip]

Also, the idea that skill level factors into this is pretty unfair. There is so much outside of your control in most of these modes. 

[alkaline_]

3 minutes ago, 555-We-Tip said:

Also, the idea that skill level factors into this is pretty unfair. There is so much outside of your control in most of these modes. 

for example that one player who trolled our own flippy team, by capturing the enemies' flag and just don't deliver it for the whole match! 

Edited December 12, 2018 by alkaline_

[Nyamber]

I just came second place in a race, after a streak of coming first, and lost 3 entire levels.

 

So yeah. Grind it with a friend, because you're not doing this legit lmao.

[jdv95]

1 minute ago, 555-We-Tip said:

Also, the idea that skill level factors into this is pretty unfair. There is so much outside of your control in most of these modes. 

I'm pretty sure you Will lose points if you time out from the server even if you are not to blame aswell.

[alkaline_]

Just now, irish.chr said:

I just came second place in a race, after a streak of coming first, and lost 3 entire levels.

 

So yeah. Grind it with a friend, because you're not doing this legit lmao.

this is unflippy ridiculous! 

 

"buy a stinky fish card to increase your skill level" maybe soon will be an option

[Mach1bud]

21 minutes ago, 555-We-Tip said:

How in the world did they decide on what vehicle was unlocked in which tier? Who truly believes the tractor is somehow a coveted vehicle? It makes no sense to me.

That's the joke. Just like in story mode. Trust me they know it's not worth it.

[555-We-Tip]

Just now, Mach1bud said:

That's the joke. Just like in story mode. Trust me they know it's not worth it.

True. They have been getting a laugh from us for some time now. 

[thepiebaker]

I havent gotten into this yet. Are there 1v1 matches I can cheese through this using 2 systems and a dummy acct?

[Nyamber]

1 minute ago, thepiebaker said:

I havent gotten into this yet. Are there 1v1 matches I can cheese through this using 2 systems and a dummy acct?

Yes, you should be able to.

[555-We-Tip]

1 minute ago, thepiebaker said:

I havent gotten into this yet. Are there 1v1 matches I can cheese through this using 2 systems and a dummy acct?

Should be, yeah. All the modes I’ve seen only require 2 players. 

[Lonely-Martin]

40 minutes ago, 555-We-Tip said:

True. They have been getting a laugh from us for some time now. 

^ This chap gets it!

 

Genuinely, as true as the sun is hot. And RDRO is just gearing up.

[Non Funkable Token]

1 hour ago, 555-We-Tip said:

True. They have been getting a laugh from us for some time now. 

 

Not releasing the Lost Slamvan even with this update = permalaugh at us.

[Talisman_83]

Thank god for Red Dead Online.

An overblown adversary mode as the entire DLC?

I'd say save your money folks, but at this rate, what are we saving it for exactly?

Do any of you believe we're going to get mansions, casino, cop DLC, street racing, etc next year?

More of this mad max sh*t. You know it and I know it.

[Gaffa]

Gosh this is almost sounding as bad as Forza Horizon's "Ranked Team Adventure" where your personal rank is dependent on team performance. Lol. And, well you can see how that goes. 

[Giantsgiants]

10 minutes ago, Gaffa said:

Gosh this is almost sounding as bad as Forza Horizon's "Ranked Team Adventure" where your personal rank is dependent on team performance. Lol. And, well you can see how that goes. 

Well, this killed any last hype I had for this update. It's bad enough trying to cooperate with rammers and wallriders in Forza Horizon 4 under such a system. I'm not going to even bother with the pain of trying to work with whatever 12 year old squaker tryhards I get on my team.

[StangOne50]

What is max skill level? And do you get anything for getting it up?

[FlacidJack]

3 hours ago, hei3enberg said:

Somehow, I don't even want to get into this. These rewards are not worth it IMO. They are so not worth it, that I don't even want to understand these double ranks. 

Unlock Pegasus vehicles by increasing your Sponsorship Tier Level / AP Tier Level.
Tier 25 - Taxi
Tier 50 - HVY Dozer
Tier 75 - Clown Van
Tier 100 - Trashmaster
Tier 200 - HVY Barracks Semi
Tier 300 - HVY Mixer
Tier 500 - Space Docker
Tier 1000 - Tractor

Do you really want this crap in your Pegasus list? All these vehicles are available in SP and worthless in Online. Space Docker in 2018? No thanks.

ikr! It's like going to your favorite restaurant and ordering your favorite dish so they serve you the same plate you had the first time you ate there.... literally the same plate with petrified bones and fuzzy moldy potatoes.