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Parties, Squads, and Subgroups

Party & Squad

At a glance

A party holds five players; a squad can hold up to 50. In the open world, you can fight together without joining a party.

How do I play with other people?

A party is the basic way to group up in Guild Wars 2. It holds up to five players.

Create a party or invite someone

There are three common methods.

  • Right-click: right-click a player's name or portrait and select "Invite to Party"
  • Chat command: enter /invite character name
  • LFG: press Y to find or advertise a group in Looking For Group

Leave a party

Select "Leave Party" in the party panel (P), or enter /leave in chat.

Will joining a party reduce my rewards?

Loot is awarded individually to each player. If party members have attacked the same enemy, you need less damage to qualify for participation, which can make earning credit easier.

If you are on the same map but cannot see each other

Zones can have several map instances. Right-click a party member and select "Join in [map name]". You must be in the same zone; a full instance may place you in a queue.

Open-world participation does not require a party
Join the fight at a world boss or meta event and contribute to earn rewards. Other players do not steal your kill credit, so feel free to help.
Start dungeons and fractals with a five-player party
Dungeons and fractals are designed for five-player cooperation. You can enter alone, but beginners should use LFG (Y) to find a party.

Use /p or /party for party chat.

How is a squad different?

A squad is a larger group used for meta events, world bosses, raids, and other content involving more players.

Party and squad comparison

Feature Party Squad
Maximum size 5 players 50 players when created by a commander
Without a commander tag -- Limited to 10 players
Who can create one? Anyone Anyone for 10 players; commander tag for 50
Typical use Dungeons, fractals, and general play Meta events, world bosses, and raids
Chat command /p /d

Joining a squad

  • Commander tag: select the map or compass icon, then "Join Squad". Some squads require approval
  • Right-click: right-click a squad member's name or portrait and select "Join Squad"
  • LFG: press Y and find an advertised squad
Joining a squad leaves your current party
You cannot belong to a party and squad at the same time. Joining a squad removes you from your party. After leaving the squad, form or join a party again if needed.

Raid mode

Enter normal raids in a squad with Raid Mode (10-Member Limit) enabled. A commander can change this setting; a squad created without a commander tag starts in 10-player mode.

Use /d or /squad for squad chat.

What is a subgroup?

A squad can have up to 15 subgroups. Many boon and healing skills affect five targets, however, so raid groups usually organize players into groups of five.

Why subgroup placement matters

Your party or subgroup has priority for boons and healing within range. Target and range limits still apply, so stay close to the support players in your assigned subgroup.

Its importance depends on the content
Raids and WvW squads usually allocate support roles by subgroup. Difficult open-world metas may also use organized subgroups. Fractals use a five-player party and do not use squad subgroup assignments.

What beginners need to know

  • Stay in your assigned subgroup. If a commander or lieutenant has arranged groups by role, do not move yourself without checking.
  • New members normally join subgroup 1. Move afterward according to the group's instructions.
  • A commander can lock subgroups, preventing members from moving themselves.
  • Within a squad, /p sends chat only to your subgroup. Use /d to address the entire squad.
Changing subgroups in combat
Boon priority does not update after a subgroup change until you leave combat. Arrange subgroups before starting the fight.

Ready checks, markers, and pings

Recognizing these communication tools helps you follow the group, even if you do not use them yourself yet.

Ready checks

In a normal squad, the commander starts a ready check. Answer the prompt to show a check or cross by your name. In raid quickplay, every member can start one. Fractals instead use an entry confirmation prompt.

Markers

Commanders and lieutenants place icons on locations or targets to indicate where to move or attack. Every member can place markers in raid quickplay.

  • Location markers: display an icon and pillar of light at a location. Default shortcuts: Alt + 1–8.
  • Object markers: attach a following icon to a target. Default shortcuts: Alt + Shift + 1–8.

The eight markers are arrow (lime), circle (purple), heart (red), square (blue), star (green), spiral (cyan), triangle (magenta), and X (yellow).

Pings and personal waypoints

All players can use pings and personal waypoints.

  • Ping: Shift + left-click the compass to signal a location to your party.
  • Personal waypoint: Alt + left-click the map to place a marker. Party members can see it, and hovering shows distance. Click the same location again to remove it.
Marking a location with a personal waypoint
It marks a location on your map.

Calling a target

Use Ctrl + T to call your current target. A marker appears over it, and party members can press T to select that target.

Which chat channel should I use?

There are several chat channels, but only a few are needed regularly.

Common channels

Command Name Audience
/m or /map Map chat Players in the same map instance
/p or /party Party chat Your party, or your subgroup while in a squad
/d or /squad Squad chat The entire squad
/s or /say Say Nearby players only

Other channels

Command Name Audience
/g or /guild Guild chat Members of the guild
/w name or /whisper name Whisper One specific player
/r Reply Your last whisper contact
/t or /team Team chat Allies on your PvP or WvW team
Start with /m
Map chat is useful for general questions. Use /p after joining a party and /d when addressing a squad.

Free-account restrictions

Free accounts have some chat restrictions.

  • Map chat: messages are rate-limited.
  • Squad chat: unlocks at character level 30.
  • Whispers: the recipient must be a mutual friend or in the same map. For non-friends, you can contact one new person every 30 seconds.

Do I need voice chat?

Ordinary open-world groups, dungeons, and fractals can use text chat. Raid training, WvW, and guild groups may require voice. Check the listing and ask whether listening without speaking is acceptable.

Feel at home with players who speak another language

Discuss a strategy, join the conversation in guild chat, or celebrate a clear together. Being able to talk makes playing together more enjoyable. CatBridge translates incoming messages into your language and your replies into theirs. You can read and respond while staying in the game, making it easier to get to know the people you play with.

  • Ask questions and have your say. CatBridge translates every chat channel, including say, map, guild, whispers, party, squad, and team. Ask for directions or agree on roles in your own language. Send the translation directly, or check and edit it first.
  • Join in when the conversation moves to voice. Captions translate conversations from the Discord desktop app into your chosen language. Read raid explanations and WvW commander calls while keeping the game in view.
  • Speak your reply when typing is awkward. Hold your assigned Voice to Chat key and speak to create a translated game-chat message. It goes to your selected chat channel, with an option to review it before sending.
  • Watch the fight and listen to the conversation. TTS reads translated chat aloud, helping you keep up with your party while your eyes are on the action.

Start chat translation with a free engine. The guides below cover installation and voice setup.

Install CatBridge · Two-way chat guide · Discord caption setup · Voice input and TTS · API and engine setup