This question might’ve been asked quite frequently, but does using a vpn really helps with your ping? And if so, then which one is recommended?
A VPN creates a Tunnel between your PC and an Exit server that you can select. However, the underlying infrastructure is still the same.
The Ping is the time it takes a single package being sent from your computer to the server and getting a response back and is measured in milliseconds.
Since the Internet is a vast network of different devices that will send your packages to a certain target location it is still the same infrastructure those packages will run over if you use a VPN or not. The difference here is that a VPN is using an exit location. So instead of going
PC → A → B → C → D → Game Server
You would maybe go
PC → A → B → Exit server → D → Game Server
That difference in the route can determine and reduce but also increase the ping you have.
What matters is how close the exit server is to the game servers.
Where a VPN also could help is if somewhere on the Route is an issue with a Hop (a device that processes the packages and sends them further down the “road”) and the VPN is bypassing or taking a different route. What it won’t help with is if the server are having issues with.
Last but not least, be careful with VPNs especially free ones. A VPN could be used to mask some malicious accounts that then get banned. ArenaNet is known to ban “sibling” accounts as well and depending on how they identify them you might get caught in the crossfire. I have, on the otherhand, not heard of someone getting banned incorrectly because of that but nevertheless something to keep in mind.
A VPN generally only helps if your traffic takes a shit route and when there are optimizations possible. But it won’t usually help if you already have a long distance to the server to begin with. A 250 ms ping won’t magically shrink to <100 ms if you’re located half a globe away from the server center. It can however help stabilize the ping and reduce jitter, maybe prevent packet loss.
I’d say, try it, if you can. I have used both WTfast and Pingzapper in the past, both of which are game specific VPN services and only route your game’s traffic. Back then my internet provider had the tendency to route over a bottlenecked node, causing me to experience heavy jitter and incoming packet loss in GW2 only. Using these services i was able to circumvent the bottleneck.
I use ExitLag (from SEA to US). From an average of around 250 I can go down to around 200, lows of 180 sometimes. Though I do get some issues with it at times (disconnects). Generally ok with ExitLag! I used WTFast before but switched when it became too bloated.
when u do use vpn. Select your exit server in or near buffalo, New York. AWS servers located there. I’m using Nordvpn. gl
Given iiNet is usually congested AF around my area at any peak Netflix time, my packet loss goes from 30% loss to 0% loss by using a local VPN provider who actually limits the effects of congestion by providing enough bandwidth and routes accordingly.
It’s day and night in my case, and I would suggest it’s worth a try.
Use the in-game command /ip to find the IP address of the server your client is connected to, then grab something like PingPlotter to trace that IP before and after connecting to a reputable VPN host.
No it doesn’t.
I’ve used PIA and Nord in the past.
So when using a vpn, for example I chose to ‘tunnel’ it to a server in US, would that mean the packets are sent straight to US and then to the server?
Though my internet isn’t too bad, but would wish it to be better. Might as well try it I guess :3
Can confirm Exitlag also worked great for me on gw2. Specially on wvw prime time.
Thx, will sure to check that out!
I’ve had good luck with ExitLag from Tokyo although I rarely use it with GW2 now. (I used to when I was big into WvW)
It most certainly can, but it all depends one’s specific situation.
Wrong kind of VPN’s my dude lol.
Imagine it like a network of highways and streets, cars are the packages
and the VPN is just an intermediate goal that you drive to first.
Lets take an example: You want to drive to your grandma, you get into your car and drive there and back.
The next day you use a VPN to a cousin living in the area. You drive to get to your cousin first and then drive directly (without stopping) to your grandma and then you take the same route back. Because of the different intermediate goal you take parts of the route on different streets while others are the same.
Taking the intermediate goal over your cousin could potentially be faster if there was an accident on the route you usually would take to your grandma but there might be an accident on the route to your cousin or from your cousin to your grandma.
Which means that it can take less or even more time for you to reach your grandma.
They give you 3 day trial… after that if you still want to use it… you can use this 25% off promo code GERFAMILY (you need to purchase with paypal and not credit card to get the discount).
How so?
[EDIT] Actually don’t bother. This is your first reply in two months and looking through your post history you come across as a bit of a twat.
Interesting, thx for the long response :3
They types of VPN’s that help with reducing ping/packet loss in games are commonly reffered to as GPN’s, specifically used for gaming such as noping/wtfast/mudfish etc. A standard VPN like Nord is going to do next to nothing for gaming