Century Playtest Basic Tips For Beginners

This guide is intended to give new players some simple tips to improve your performance and increase your odds of winning. Note that I have almost exclusively been playing Windguard so my understanding of the other classes is limited and comes from fighting against them as well as discussions with friend’s who played more of those classes. Of course it’s only the playtest so things are subject to change and no one can have much experience to speak from, however, I have had some early success and managed to reach the top 100 players so hopefully my insights are helpful.

Hopefully this guide is of some use to you. Have fun dragon drifting!
As with the game itself this guide is a work in progress so if there any points you would like me to cover or corrections that need making please leave a comment.

• There is a banner on the bottom-left corner of the home screen where you can claim a free dragon skin.
• The shop has a free gift that rotates daily so make sure you check-in and claim it.
• Remember to activate your free XP boosters when you receive them from levelling up. Not only do you personally get a boost but everyone gets a stacking 2% for each booster in the team. This is especially helpful when hatching dragons for skins as they take half your xp at the end of every match until they hatch so not only will they hatch quicker but you’ll also level up faster.
• I would suggest you don’t spend your gems on XP boosters as you can only earn a limited number of free gems from levelling, so using them on exclusive items in the store would get you better value over converting them to XP.

• Even when locked on there are several ways to avoid Fireballs. You can make wide turns and wait for them to fizzle out, turn quickly into tight spaces or around obstacles so they impact something other than you, often going through tunnels and arches can be enough to get a few of them to collide with the environment.
• Do not ignore power-ups! The Shields and Boost power-ups can give you a substantial advantage against opponents so keep picking them up when you can either between fights or during by drawing the enemy in the direction of the power-ups you want.
• Your flame breath is devastating when close to an enemy and can lock on to enemies in a wide arc around you. When in tight spaces or disorienting dogfights you should activate it to continue dealing damage when you’re unable to carefully aim your other abilities.

Originally posted by Playwing LTD:

Carnage: A 6v6 killing spree with special power ups appearing in the arena to unleash hell on your opponents. It’s Team Deathmatch, Dragon riders style!

• Players accrue bounties (Max: 6) by killing multiple enemies without dying. A kill is worth 1 point for your team, if you kill a player with a bounty they are worth their bounty score so those with large bounties (3+) are going to be targeted more often.
• Work with your team to hunt down enemies with large bounties to score more points for your team. Likewise work to defend your own allies with large bounties to prevent the enemy from scoring.
• Bounties eventually fade so work quickly to hunt marked enemies and defend allies until theirs fade.

Phantoms are quite powerful in skirmishes as their kit allows them to disrupt enemies and easily disengage when in danger.
Mystic Shroud
This allows Phantoms to escape fights or set up ambushes. The shroud can be used when locked-on by multiple Fireballs to prevent them from tracking you. It can also be used when closely pursued to reposition and turn the flow of the fight in your favour, if you attack with a Fireball while cloaked it be empowered dealing more damage while also revealing you. Take note that any attack or ability you use while cloaked will reveal you so make sure you take your time to assess the situation, reposition and grab shields before you drop Mystic Shroud.
Mine
Mine is a tool that is very rewarding when used tactically. It will fire in the direction of your cursor and attach to the first surface it lands on so you can use it to cut off enemies trying to escape. It can also be used to prevent enemies from pursuing you or even to finish an enemy that thinks they have you on the run. A tactic that often proves effective is to position your Mine on tight tunnels and draw the enemy into chasing you through them during a fight. If they were low congratulations on your stylish kill, if not they’re now vulnerable and can be picked off if you wheel around and turn on them and if you’re just too low then they’re likely to peal off and recover health. In all situations you will likely survive the encounter.
Blast: Blast is an excellent tools for disrupting the enemy team from hunting down or even escaping your allies. When used in tight spaces it will often throw enemies into the wall leaving them vulnerable as they have to build up speed and maneuver away from the environment. When an ally with a large bounty is being hunted you can use to give them time to flee. If fired into a pack of enemies you may be able spread them out, allowing you to pick one off before pealing off and coming around again for another attack.

Abilities: Windguard excels at area defence and supporting allies. Blast is a very effective tool but it is also available to Phantoms so I often avoid taking it and only take it if the team had 3+ Windguards all with Smoke Trail.
Salvation Surge: An simple but extremely useful ability. As a Windguard you should always be ready to come to your team’s aid so you can peel enemies off of them and give high bounty allies a shield. They are obviously the enemy team’s main target so apply this as often as you can to keep them healthy. The dash attached to Salvation Surge also allows you to keep pace allies and avoid enemies even when out of stamina. This can be used with Smoke Trail to give you cover or simply to remain close and soak Fireballs on their behalf.
Smoke Trail: Unlike Gates of Fire there is no clear path you can lay your Smoke trail on and you must follow the flow of fights. This will prevent enemies from following directly behind causing them to peel off and giving your carrier a short reprieve from being battered with Fireballs. Any enemies that take too long to change course will also be softened up by your Smoke Trail allowing your rear guard to pick them off if they don’t die outright. If you have recently died or are otherwise separated from your carrier you should fly one or two gates ahead and begin laying down your Smoke Trail along the route so they can fly through without being closely pursued.
When the enemy has the flag I like to fly backwards along the route starting just one or two gates ahead and flying towards the carrier. This way the Smoke Trail runs along the exact path they want to follow so the carrier is forced to choose between taking damage but maintaining their momentum or pulling up and avoiding the Smoke until it clears. If they choose to push through you should cut across the map and cut them off at an upcoming gate as they should be low enough to pick off. If they however choose to wait then all Windguards should circle the gate they missed and deploy more Smoke to delay them further which buys your team time to whittle down the enemy forces and claim the flag for yourselves. At any point you see the enemy carrier has missed a gate and you still have your Smoke Trail you should circle around the gate and use the ability to further delay and disorient them.
Blast: If you do take Blast you should use it right as the enemy flag carrier reaches their next gate. When timed correctly Blast can shove them off course into awkward spots where they will either have to stop completely to turn into the gate or make a large banking turn for another pass. Either way they’re delayed from scoring and vulnerable while they manoeuvre around a small area.

Abilities: An offensive powerhouse. Marauders work best when hunting a single foe. They have abilities that allow them to stick closely to enemies and harry them with powerful attacks.
Hunter’s Mark: This allows the Marauder to mark an enemy and quickly tear them apart with increased damage against them. This should generally be used on high bounty enemies to quickly claim their points before disengaging and picking a new fight. It can also be used to defend your own team when they’re being pursued by a single enemy.
Gust: Is excellent for fighting in the middle of a pack as you can remove the lock-on from enemy Fireballs and become temporarily unlockable. When another class might be forced to leave the pack and recover you can remain in the action and continue to rip and tear.
Frost Bolts: Are effective at tearing down shields on well protected enemies or can be used to hamper the movement of defenceless enemies. Always use this first against enemies with large shields so you’re not wasting damage. If the enemy doesn’t have shields use this freely to slow them down, giving you and your team time to get in range for other attacks.

Originally posted by Playwing LTD:

Survival: A Last Team Standing mode where up to 18 players divide into 3 teams (6v6v6). Respawn is limited and can only be done through ally rescue!

I have been unable to play this mode so far as modes/maps are being toggled on and off during the playtest. Once I get the chance I will update this section.

Originally posted by Playwing LTD:

“Gates of Fire: A unique mode in which two teams clash over possession of the flag. Gain points by flying through special gates around the arena while holding the flag!”

• If you find yourself lagging behind the carrier stop following the track and cut ahead in front of them. You can also use this time to grab the power-ups along your new route to give you a better shot at claiming the flag for your own team.
• Rushing to claim the flag at the beginning of a round is extremely risky as all players will be alive and gathered in the same spot. It’s very likely even if your team does claim it the carrier will be immediately eliminated. Using Blast as the flag spawns can help your team claim it and get some much needed distance to stabilise and score early gates without being eliminated so quickly.
• As the carrier remember you’re vulnerable. You cannot use any abilities so use what you can as you approach the flag.
• As the carrier you should also make every effort to not run out of stamina as once you do you will be torn apart and the flag will likely turn over to the other team. Constant boosting is your only hope so pay attention when you’re down one/two stamina pips and make sure you plan your path through an air jet or boost power-up to prevent yourself from running out entirely.
• If the enemy has the flag do everything you can to disrupt their path and send them off course. If the carrier is allowed to make a straight run through gates then a round can be over within 60 seconds.
• Likewise, if your team has the flag do everything you can to protect them and keep the enemy team from catching up or having clear shots at them. If you can buy them enough time and space they can easily win a round within 60 seconds.
• Change overs are extremely dangerous. It can be hard to recover in Gates of Fire once one team gets ahead so do everything you can to protect your carrier and disrupt theirs.
• If your carrier is low on health you can fly close behind them to force enemies to target you instead or simply to be there to swoop the flag up in case they die anyway.
• When the enemy carrier is low and you can afford to wait you might want to hold off on killing them until your team is positioned well and ready to grab the dropped flag before the enemy team. If you kill them right away when your team aren’t close enough you may end up allowing the enemy to swap the flag to a healthier carrier making it even harder to claim it yourselves.
• If you are on low health as the carrier and your team are too far away to recover it before the enemy does, you may want to buy time for them. You can do this by flying off course or positioning yourself such that the flag will be left against a wall or in a tight space so the enemy struggles to retrieve the flag and get back on the track.

I found that Phantom’s unique ability had little use in this mode as the flag-carrier cannot use abilities so being able to stealth is far less effective than in other modes. Phantom does however have access to both Mine and Blast which are excellent tools for disrupting the enemy team and preventing them from getting a clear run through gates. I would recommend that if you are pre-made with others any phantom players avoid taking the flag unless they are the only one close enough to do so. They are more effective as a rear guard, being able to disrupt pursing enemies and using their Mystic Shroud when hunted to make fights last longer and delay the enemy team from disengaging and catching up to their own carrier.

Abilities: Not only my favourite class but a class with a perfect kit for Gates of Fire. I would strongly suggest taking Smoke Trail as most players will be flying in a very predictable path allowing us Windguards to make the most of our Smoke. Blast is also a very effective tool but it is also available to Phantoms so I would personally only take it if the team had 3+ Windguards all with Smoke Trail. All of Windguard’s abilities work best when leading the pack so always be prepared to swoop up the flag as you will often be in a good position to become the carrier.
Salvation Surge: An simple but extremely useful ability for this mode. As a Windguard you should always be close to the carrier so you can easily buff allied carriers by giving them shields. They are obviously the enemy team’s main target so apply this as often as you can to keep them healthy. The dash attached to Salvation Surge also allows you to keep pace with your carrier even when out of stamina. This allows you to place your Smoke Trail right behind them and continue to soak Fireballs on their behalf.
Smoke Trail: If your team has the flag you should fly just ahead or in tandem with your carrier while deploying your Smoke Trail. This will prevent enemies from following directly behind causing them to peel off and giving your carrier a short reprieve from being battered with Fireballs. Any enemies that take too long to change course will also be softened up by your Smoke Trail allowing your rear guard to pick them off if they don’t die outright. If you have recently died or are otherwise separated from your carrier you should fly one or two gates ahead and begin laying down your Smoke Trail along the route so they can fly through without being closely pursued.
When the enemy has the flag I like to fly backwards along the route starting just one or two gates ahead and flying towards the carrier. This way the Smoke Trail runs along the exact path they want to follow so the carrier is forced to choose between taking damage but maintaining their momentum or pulling up and avoiding the Smoke until it clears. If they choose to push through you should cut across the map and cut them off at an upcoming gate as they should be low enough to pick off. If they however choose to wait then all Windguards should circle the gate they missed and deploy more Smoke to delay them further which buys your team time to whittle down the enemy forces and claim the flag for yourselves. At any point you see the enemy carrier has missed a gate and you still have your Smoke Trail you should circle around the gate and use the ability to further delay and disorient them.
Blast: If you do take Blast you should use it right as the enemy flag carrier reaches their next gate. When timed correctly Blast can shove them off course into awkward spots where they will either have to stop completely to turn into the gate or make a large banking turn for another pass. Either way they’re delayed from scoring and vulnerable while they manoeuvre around a small area.

Abilities: An offensive powerhouse. Marauders work best as rear guard, protecting the carrier by eliminating those that are hunting them. They have abilities that allow them to stick closely to enemies and harry them with powerful attacks.
Hunter’s Mark: This allows the Marauder to mark an enemy and quickly tear them apart with increased damage against them. This should generally-if not always-be used against the enemy carrier or the enemy closest to your own carrier. Your job will be to protect your carrier by killing the enemies that currently pose the largest threat.
Gust: Is excellent for fighting in the middle of a pack as you can remove the lock-on from enemy Fireballs and become temporarily unlockable. When another class might be forced to leave the pack and recover you can remain in the action and continue to protect the carrier or hunt theirs.
Frost Bolts: These really shine in Gates of Fire. Used against a well shielded carrier you can remove their defences and quickly cause a turnover or if used on a defenceless carrier you prevent them from evading your team leaving them extremely vulnerable. Always use this on the enemy carrier or the enemy closest to your carrier.