GUIDE: Role Of A Havoc Squad

What is Havoc?
A Havoc squad, generally, is an extension of the main zerg. A Havoc squad usually numbers around 5-10 people. They run as a small element behind enemies lines with the intention of taking smaller objectives, disrupting supply lines, killing dolyaks, and generally just create havoc.

Why Havoc?
Havoc squads are an integral part of WvW because they have the ability to do the following:

• Starve enemy keeps/towers of needed supplies
• Increase our point per tick (ppt)
• Increase our access to supply
• Create a diversion to the enemy that may cause a split in forces or redirect away from their main objectives

Class Composition of Havoc Squads
Generally, an ideal Havoc squad is a highly mobile, high DPS, unit that is effective as a smaller group. A common Havoc squad setup usually contains Dagger/Dagger or Sword/Dagger thieves, because thieves are ideal due to their utility skills, stealthing, mobility, and burst damage. Any class is viable for running Havoc, providing they all have Increased Movement Speed (IMS).

Example of an Organized Havoc Squad

• Warrior (Hammer/Warhorn): High health and DPS (damage per second) capabilities. Chain knockdowns are possible.
• Guardian (Greatsword/Hammer/Staff): Decent DPS. Increases squad survivability, mobility. Overall party support/meatshield.
• Elementalist (Dagger/Dagger): Excellent utility and DPS.
• Thief (Dagger/Dagger/Sword): Excellent DPS, provides party with possible escape options.
• Engineer (Burst-configured): Excellent DPS, anti-thief build, provides heals and stun capabilities.

Basically this Havoc squad combination relies on every member being somewhat DPS oriented, but offers synergy between builds through boons, healing, stuns, or knockdowns. The idea is that these builds complement each other.

Havoc Squad Requirements:

• Communication (whether it is VoIP or typing in team chat)
• Level 80
• Properly geared (Exotics, accessories, food buffs, etc.)
• Be able to relay scouting reports into map chat
• Proper scouting report: (Location/Direction)(Server)(Approximate Numbers)(Additional Information, siege, swords, etc.)
• Have fun
• Remember communicate!

Havoc Squad Goal Setting
With a havoc squad it is important to set goals within your squad. Identify a main objective during your play time. Then establish secondary objectives.

Example -

• Primary Objective: Flip all enemy supply camps.
• Secondary Objective: Eliminate all enemy Dolyaks.

Always leave the spawn with a goal or target in mind. A more organized Havoc squad will almost always organize with commander(s) on the map to establish goals.

Cooperating with Commanders
Remember to communicate with your commander or a local one. Havoc squads are more than a bunch of people that like to play with Yaks and supply camps. So how can Havoc squads assist a commander?

• Clear enemy siege engines and NPCs prior to the commander's squad engaging.
• Run supply to the commander(s) during siege (this is often overlooked, but extremely effective).
• Cut off enemy reinforcements. The greatest example of this is when a Commander is sieging Hills from the West/South. The Havoc squad of 5-10 can sit at North hills and eliminate any possible enemy reinforcements.
• Scouting - Self explanatory, but relay an information that is relevant to your squad and commander(s) in map/team chat.
• Utilize Supplies - Running by a tower/keep well assist in repairs/building siege. Make your supply count where it is needed.
• Hammer and Anvil Tactics - Utilize your Havoc squad(s) as the Hammer in skirmishes/zerg fights. This creates confusion in the enemy by prompting the question: "Are they still rendering?". Utilizing Havoc squads in this way enables you, the commander, five to ten seconds of breathing room to either push, rally, or portal bomb.
• Siege and Anvil Tactics - Sometimes you may not want your Havoc Squad pushing into their zerg. Maybe there is an effective choke/high ground to place siege. If the situation allows for it have the Havoc squad spike build a ballista/arrow cart and fire into the backs of the enemy zerg. This enables our zerg to have some "breathing room", additional damage, and it will pull off some enemies from their zerg.
• Commander Sniping - Prior to engaging an enemy zerg cycle through targets, "Tab", until the enemy commander has been found. Target him/her, "Ctrl+T" or "Ctrl+LeftClick", and proceed to gank. Call out the enemy commander's guild tag, race, and profession so that other's may join in on the fun. This tactic is extremely effective.
• Ninjaing Keeps/Towers - Commanders have you ever seen a tower that you wanted, but couldn't take it because you kept getting scouted? Solution. Send in the Havoc squad. An organized Havoc squad has the capabilities to ninja any holding, under the right conditions. Ted can vouch me on this statement.
• Diversions - If a ninja attempt fails, well congratulations you now have a successful diversion. While the enemy is chasing down the small Havoc squad capitalize on it.

I hope this guide helps you all! I borrowed this guide from Green Arrow from Helioz [Hel] and made a couple modifications, mostly grammatical. I just want to give credit where it is due!

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