I've been playing the game for almost 3 years, and haven't really done pvp except once to unlock it shortly after I started. It lasted about 5 minutes, I spent most of it dead, and I remember my buttons were a bit different.

Lately my FC members were saying how fun it was, that it had gotten some major love.
So I queued up this morning for the first time since then to get a Wondrous Tails sticker. It was a horrible experience.

I had no abilities. None. All slashed out. I was ready for them to be different/changed like they were a couple summers ago. But GONE?

I tried to ask my teammates before the match started. "Unable to use chat."

I tried to ask my FC before the match started. "Unable to use chat."

Well at least the match is short, I thought. I'll run around with my weapon drawn.

I don't pretend to understand or have an opinion on the design decisions that went into the PvP system. But as a long time mostly casual player, I will say that it was NOT a good second first impression.