Should You Prestige? Decision Framework for Every Player
Prestige is the most consequential decision you will make in Vampires vs. Werewolves. It resets your level to 1 but permanently increases your power multiplier. This guide gives you the exact math, the time cost analysis, and a clear decision framework so you never prestige at the wrong time.
What Is Prestige?
Prestige is a voluntary reset available to any player who has reached level 80 (the current cap). When you prestige, the following happens:
- Your level resets to 1
- Your equipment is retained (but level requirements still apply — you cannot wear level 80 gear at level 1)
- Your gold and inventory are retained
- Your quest log is reset (all quests become available again)
- Your prestige level increases by 1
- You gain a permanent power multiplier that affects all stats
- You unlock prestige-exclusive content (cosmetics, titles, dungeons)
The Prestige Formula
The core mechanic that makes prestige worthwhile is the permanent power multiplier. Every stat you have is multiplied by:
Power Multiplier = 1 + (prestige_level × 0.02)
This means each prestige level gives you a permanent 2% increase to all stats. This applies to base stats, gear stats, buff stats — everything. The multiplier is always active, even while you are releveling.
| Prestige Level | Power Multiplier | Effective Stat Boost | Total Time Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (no prestige) | 1.00x | Baseline | ~55 hours to 80 |
| 1 | 1.02x | +2% all stats | ~110 hours total |
| 2 | 1.04x | +4% all stats | ~163 hours total |
| 3 | 1.06x | +6% all stats | ~214 hours total |
| 5 | 1.10x | +10% all stats | ~310 hours total |
| 10 | 1.20x | +20% all stats | ~570 hours total |
| 25 | 1.50x | +50% all stats | ~1,300 hours total |
| 50 | 2.00x | +100% all stats | ~2,500 hours total |
Stat Soft Caps: Why They Matter for Prestige
Stats in VvW have soft caps — points beyond which additional investment yields reduced returns. The prestige multiplier applies after soft cap calculations, which means it effectively pushes your stats beyond what is normally possible.
| Stat | Soft Cap | Effect Below Cap | Effect Above Cap | With P10 (1.20x) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 200 | 1 STR = 2.0 physical damage | 1 STR = 0.8 physical damage | Effective 240 STR |
| DEX | 150 | 1 DEX = 0.5% hit + 0.3% crit | 1 DEX = 0.2% hit + 0.1% crit | Effective 180 DEX |
| INT | 220 | 1 INT = 2.5 spell damage | 1 INT = 1.0 spell damage | Effective 264 INT |
| VIT | 180 | 1 VIT = 12 HP | 1 VIT = 5 HP | Effective 216 VIT |
| LCK | 100 | 1 LCK = 0.4% crit + 0.2% drop rate | 1 LCK = 0.15% crit + 0.08% drop rate | Effective 120 LCK |
| WIS | 120 | 1 WIS = 3 MP + 0.5 MP/s regen | 1 WIS = 1.2 MP + 0.2 MP/s regen | Effective 144 WIS |
At Prestige 10, a player with 200 base STR has an effective 240 STR. Since the soft cap is at 200, those extra 40 points yield reduced returns — but they are free points you could never otherwise reach. For competitive PvP, this edge is significant. A P10 Shadow Assassin hits approximately 15% harder than a P0 Shadow Assassin with identical gear.
Time Cost Analysis
The critical question is not whether prestige makes you stronger — it does, always. The question is whether the time spent releveling is worth the stat gain compared to other activities you could do at level 80.
Releveling Speed by Prestige Level
Higher prestige levels make releveling faster because the power multiplier applies during the leveling process. Your kill speed at level 1 with P5 gear in the bank is dramatically faster than a fresh player.
| Prestige Level | Approx. Time to Re-reach 80 | Why |
|---|---|---|
| P0 → P1 | 50-55 hours | Same speed as initial leveling; no multiplier during the grind |
| P1 → P2 | 48-52 hours | 2% multiplier + knowledge of optimal routes |
| P2 → P3 | 45-50 hours | 4% multiplier; can use retained gold for gear upgrades |
| P5 → P6 | 40-44 hours | 10% multiplier; significantly faster kill speed even at low levels |
| P10 → P11 | 35-38 hours | 20% multiplier; mobs melt; dungeon clears are trivial |
| P25 → P26 | 25-30 hours | 50% multiplier; one-shotting most mobs through level 60 |
When to Prestige: The Decision Framework
Use this checklist to decide whether to prestige now or wait:
Prestige NOW if:
- You have reached level 80 and have completed all available quests
- You have farmed your best-in-slot gear (or close to it) at your current prestige level
- You are hitting stat soft caps and want the multiplier to push past them
- You primarily play PvP and need every competitive edge
- You have a duo leveling partner ready to speed through the releveling process
- There are no major events (like Eclipse War) in the next 2-3 days that require you at max level
- You have at least 500 gold banked for gear upgrades during releveling
WAIT to Prestige if:
- A Blood Moon event or Eclipse War is within 7 days — you need level 80 to participate meaningfully
- Your guild needs you for weekly raid boss clears and has no replacement
- You haven't yet obtained your class's best-in-slot weapon — it will be harder to farm at lower levels
- You have less than 200 gold — releveling without a gold buffer is painful
- You are under Prestige 3 and your Arena rank matters to you — you will drop significantly during releveling
- You are burned out on the leveling process — prestige should feel exciting, not like a chore
What You Keep and What You Lose
| Category | Kept | Lost / Reset |
|---|---|---|
| Level | — | Reset to 1 |
| Equipment | All items retained in inventory | Cannot equip items above your current level |
| Gold | 100% retained | — |
| Inventory | All items, consumables, materials | — |
| Quests | — | All quests reset (can redo for XP + rewards) |
| Skills | Skill points reset; must reallocate | Skill levels reset to 1 |
| Reputation | Faction reputation retained at 50% | 50% of faction rep lost |
| Achievements | All achievements retained | — |
| Arena Rating | — | Rating decays 50 points per day while below level 80 |
| Guild Membership | Retained | — |
| Prestige Cosmetics | Unlocked permanently | — |
Prestige-Exclusive Rewards
Beyond the power multiplier, each prestige level unlocks exclusive content:
| Prestige Level | Unlock | Description |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | Title: "The Reborn" | Displayed next to your name; first prestige title |
| P1 | Prestige Aura (Bronze) | Subtle glow effect around your character |
| P3 | Title: "Eternal Warrior" | More impressive title; shows dedication |
| P3 | Prestige Dungeon: Ashenmaw | Exclusive dungeon with unique loot table |
| P5 | Prestige Aura (Silver) | More visible aura effect; intimidation factor in PvP |
| P5 | Prestige Vendor Access | Exclusive vendor selling unique consumables and materials |
| P10 | Title: "Undying Legend" | One of the rarest titles in the game |
| P10 | Prestige Aura (Gold) | Unmistakable golden glow; recognized on sight |
| P10 | Prestige Mount: Shadowflame Steed | Exclusive mount; +15% movement speed |
| P25 | Title: "Architect of Eternity" | Legendary-tier title; less than 50 players server-wide |
| P25 | Custom Name Color | Choose any hex color for your character name |
| P50 | Title: "The Infinite" | Ultimate prestige title; fewer than 5 players per server |
Prestige Strategies by Player Type
The Casual Player (2-5 hours/week)
At this pace, a single prestige cycle takes 10-25 weeks. Recommendation: Prestige once to P1, then stay at level 80. The 2% boost is nice, and you unlock the Reborn title and bronze aura. But spending months releveling when you could be doing endgame content is not a good trade for casual players. Focus on gear, crafting, and enjoying the game.
The Regular Player (10-20 hours/week)
You can realistically complete a prestige cycle every 3-5 weeks. Recommendation: Push to P5 over a few months. The 10% stat boost is meaningful in both PvE and PvP. The Prestige Vendor at P5 sells Elixirs of Focus (+5% XP for 1 hour, costs 25 gold) that further accelerate future prestiges. P5 is the best stopping point for regular players because the Silver Aura and vendor access provide tangible ongoing benefits.
The Hardcore Player (30+ hours/week)
Recommendation: Rush to P10, then evaluate. The 20% stat boost fundamentally changes PvP matchups. The Shadowflame Steed mount saves significant travel time during leveling and daily activities. Beyond P10, each additional prestige is still +2%, but the cosmetic unlocks thin out until P25. Many hardcore players oscillate between "prestige sprint" and "endgame grind" phases — prestige when events are slow, grind endgame when events are active.
The Competitive PvP Player
Recommendation: Prestige as aggressively as possible. In PvP, the prestige multiplier is the single largest power gap between players of equal gear. A P10 player beats a P0 player with identical gear approximately 70% of the time due to the 20% stat advantage. If you are serious about reaching Grand Legend in Arena, high prestige is nearly mandatory at the top ranks.
Optimal Prestige Releveling Strategy
When you do prestige, maximize your releveling speed with these tactics:
- Pre-buy gear sets: Before prestiging, buy cheap blue weapons for levels 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 from the auction house. Store them in your bank. When you hit each level, instantly equip the weapon for a massive DPS spike.
- Stack XP consumables: Buy 10+ XP Elixirs (20% boost, 30 min each). Pop one every session.
- Find a duo partner: The duo leveling guide details how duos gain 30-45% more XP/hour. Prestige with a friend.
- Follow the optimal route: Levels 1-15 quest, 15-35 dungeon grind, 35-55 zone grind + dungeons, 55-80 dungeon repeat. Do not deviate.
- Skip unnecessary quests: On prestige runs, only do quests that are on your grind path. Do not travel to distant zones for mediocre quest XP.
- Use rested XP strategically: Log off in a safe zone between sessions. Rested XP (+50%) accumulates up to 1.5 levels worth of bonus XP.
The Math: Prestige vs. Gear Farming
The most common alternative to prestiging is staying at level 80 and farming better gear. Here is a direct comparison:
| Activity | Time Cost | Power Gain | Permanent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prestige P0 → P1 | ~55 hours | +2% all stats | Yes |
| Farm full epic gear set | ~40 hours | +15-25% stats (from gear) | No (replaced by better gear later) |
| Farm legendary weapon | ~80 hours (avg drop) | +8-12% damage | No (replaced eventually) |
| Prestige P4 → P5 | ~42 hours | +2% all stats (cumulative 10%) | Yes |
| Max out crafting professions | ~30 hours | +5-10% via crafted buffs | Partially (consumable crafts) |
The key insight: gear is temporary, prestige is permanent. Every piece of gear you farm will eventually be replaced by better gear from future content patches. Prestige multipliers never go away. Over a 6-month horizon, a P5 player will always outperform a P0 player, even if the P0 player had a head start on gear farming.
Common Prestige Mistakes
- Prestiging before completing key quests: Some quests reward unique items that are only available once per prestige cycle. Complete the Nightborne Chain and Crimson Pact questlines before prestiging.
- Not banking gold: You need at least 200-500 gold for gear upgrades during releveling. Prestige broke and you will struggle through the 30-50 level range.
- Prestiging right before an event: Check the event calendar. If Eclipse War or Blood Moon is within 7 days, wait. You need level 80 to participate effectively.
- Selling prestige-locked gear: Some gear from Ashenmaw dungeon (P3+) cannot be reacquired easily. Do not sell it for gold before prestiging.
- Expecting instant power: The 2% multiplier per prestige feels small at first. The power curve is exponential over many prestiges, not linear. Trust the math.
- Ignoring the prestige vendor: At P5+, the vendor sells materials that are worth 3x their cost on the auction house. Always check vendor stock before prestiging away from level 80.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a prestige cap?
Currently, no. The highest-prestige player on any server is P62. The developers have stated there is no planned cap, though rewards beyond P50 are purely from the stat multiplier (no additional cosmetics have been announced).
Does prestige affect PvP matchmaking?
No. Arena matchmaking is based on ELO rating only. A P10 player can be matched against a P0 player if their ratings are similar. This is why high-prestige players dominate the upper Arena brackets — the stat advantage is not factored into matchmaking.
Can I prestige before level 80?
No. Level 80 is the minimum requirement. There are no early prestige options or shortcuts.
Do prestige levels carry over between seasons?
Yes. Prestige is a permanent account feature. Season resets affect Arena rating and seasonal rewards, but prestige levels and their multipliers persist forever.