47 replies to this topic

[dennots]

I run a sword/sword, sword/focus, build, which depending on situation also swap for a GS when needed (ex: group events, dungeons). For utilities: Decoy, Null Field, Feedback, Time Warp. Basics of the build:

• Conditions on target everytime a illusion dies / create another one: that means you dont have to micro manage the clones but actually try to spam them as much as possible.
  
• High stacks of vulnerability and bleeds on single target, since all clones are spamming the #1 ability chain
  
• Good survivavility and utility: 10secs of regeneration on 75% health, and 2secs of protection when you first gain regeneration from any source. Also 3% damage for each illusion up.
  
• Great single target and melee AoE damage overall

The benefit of always running with a sword is that you will be able use Blurred Frenzy everytime is up, which increases your melee dps and your survivavility.

Illusionary Leap/Swap all the time is great for loosing aggro by switching with your clone, immobilizing a target for a blurred frenzy, spamming more clones and also means you will always have access to Chaos Armor if you put a Ethereal Combo Field from the utilities.

Illusionary Riposte will help you mitigate damage when blocking, plus adding damage and a extra clone, which helps this build since you want to keep spamming those clones.

Finally Phantasmal Warden will always to great AoE dmg and utility. You can use him as cover in case a ranged target is away from you. Cast temporal curtain under him and you get Cleansing Bolts, or cast him in a Ethereal Combo Field for AoE Confusion Bolts.

I have lots of fun with this spec, it's amazing for soloing, I've survived some ridiculous stuff I would have never thought surviving. Also its very flexible for other combinations/situations since you can swap the major traits as needed.

[eversilentone]

Yasma, on 10 October 2012 - 09:29 AM, said:

I have played with eversilentone's build for the past day or two now - was reticent at first as I wasn't overly keen on mantras (over utility), but I have to say it is awesome - dps especially in DEs in Cursed Shore has upped considerably and getting plenty of tagged mobs is no longer such an issue.

Time to start farming to make a set of knights armour

Glad you're liking!  I'd like to try a non-Mantra build but just haven't gotten around to planning one yet.

[greenishtea]

any new builds out there after patches?

[Khezial_Tahr]

I'm running a variation of these builds, with s/s and staff. Just a wondering... What do you do during events? I was Going after shatterer and had a tough time of things. My mes is only level 46 right now, but I was just looking for any pointers to handle this stuff. I got bronze for the event, but I know it's possible to do better.

[Swoopeh]

Khezial_Tahr, on 07 December 2012 - 09:36 PM, said:

I'm running a variation of these builds, with s/s and staff. Just a wondering... What do you do during events? I was Going after shatterer and had a tough time of things. My mes is only level 46 right now, but I was just looking for any pointers to handle this stuff. I got bronze for the event, but I know it's possible to do better.

(/stalk )

Personally I just go with GS/staff with a shatter build for events; summon clones + phantasms, let them rip once then mind wrack then create more clones to apply confusion. Does loads of damage and no problem getting gold on any event including tequatl/shatterer/jormag. Sword/sword I find lacking in mobility and you take a ton of damage unless you can keep blur/distortion up. Also lack of range doesn't help tagging in zergs. Then again I think I just suck at melee mesmer even though that was what I originally intended to do.

[heatrr]

Majic, on 01 October 2012 - 07:30 PM, said:

Sword Mesmer For The Rest Of Us

At lvl 64, I'm rolling with 0/29/10/10/5 and it has been serving me very well. I love the Dueling trait line and am actually going up to 30 to slot an additional adept level trait (Phantasmal Fury).

The key traits for me are Deceptive Evasion (first, foremost and forever), Blade Training (likewise), Debilitating Dissipation, Persisting Images (optional but handy) and, of course, Illusionists Celerity -- another mandatory trait, as far as I'm concerned.

For gear, everything is Berserker.

I don't run a particularly smart build, nor do I play a particularly smart Mesmer. By and large, I spend most fights running around swinging my swords like a wild man (though in my mind I'm a Jedi, since I'm using Cabalist skins), hitting the wrong buttons, dodging as much as possible and chopping things to get critical hits to feed my vigor.

It ain't pretty, but I always have three illusions out and tend to take little or no damage, even during heavy DE zergs. Sword AoE for the win.

That's for general PvE. Dungeons are a whole different matter, and I've been putting that and PvP off until later, when I finally (theoretically) learn to actually play responsibly. Heck, I might even clear the cobwebs off my staff (I only use it for nasty champ/AoE spam situations) and start throwing buffs and such. Eventually.

Thing is, for as random and sloppily as I play my Mesmer, I routinely handle things I know none of my other toons (I play all the professions, and most of the others "properly") can handle -- even my Guardian. And I also routinely see other players get their asses handed to them by the same situations.

That's not bragging, because seriously, I suck. But as long as I keep spamming illusions, they keep blowing up spreading conditions and stacking confusion, I keep moving, and my swords keep swinging, I am damn near immortal.

And I really do feel like a Jedi.

I know you, Majic......ATS mean anything?

[Majic]

Never heard of it.

[Khezial_Tahr]

Swoopeh, on 10 December 2012 - 06:04 PM, said:

(/stalk )

Personally I just go with GS/staff with a shatter build for events; summon clones + phantasms, let them rip once then mind wrack then create more clones to apply confusion. Does loads of damage and no problem getting gold on any event including tequatl/shatterer/jormag. Sword/sword I find lacking in mobility and you take a ton of damage unless you can keep blur/distortion up. Also lack of range doesn't help tagging in zergs. Then again I think I just suck at melee mesmer even though that was what I originally intended to do.

LOL, never had a stalker before...

Thanks. I think I just wasn't using my clones enough, figuring they'd drop to fast to  do dmg.

[Sans]

Was having some fun with a GS+Sword/Sword mantra build earlier in WvW,
http://www.twitch.tv...row/b/347824449


Ran full berserker's set armor/trinkets with ruby orbs, Power/Tough/Vit weapons with ruby orbs.
Hits hard, very very squishy though.
http://i50.tinypic.com/3531pvn.jpg

[greenishtea]

Sans, on 14 December 2012 - 06:25 AM, said:

Was having some fun with a GS+Sword/Sword mantra build earlier in WvW,
http://www.twitch.tv...row/b/347824449


Ran full berserker's set armor/trinkets with ruby orbs, Power/Tough/Vit weapons with ruby orbs.
Hits hard, very very squishy though.
http://i50.tinypic.com/3531pvn.jpg

have you tried the build in pve? how's survivability?

[My Sweet Lily]

Hmm, I just realized, that I haven't posted on this topic since I hit lvl 40. I've been lvl 80 for a long time now, and I'm still using the build posted on the first page (20/20/0/0/30). And it's amazing.
   I have almost full exotic Berserker's gear, but I don't feel squishy at all! The amount of spike, defense and support this build gives is awesome. (Spike=shatter and Swordsman. Defense=block, vigor for dodges, Blurred Frenzy and Distortion. Support=GS2 for might, Null Field, Feedback and Time Warp).
   Playstyle:Run in while casting Swordsman. When in range, I cast illusionary leap, dodge (anywhere), and use Swap at the same time the Swordsman hits and I unleash Blurred Frenzy. Now I have 2 clones and phantasm. When Blurred Frenzy ends, I attack the enemy, while waiting for the Swordsman to attack again. When he leaps, I see him hit and use f1, before he jumps away. This results all 4 of us to shatter at the same time for huge damage (one reason I hate pistol is, that 3 of us shatter, and I need to wait for the Duelist to run for shatter). Use block when necessary (another reason I don't like pistol is, that not all mobs can be interrupted, but all attacks can be blocked).
   When I need some range, I swap to GS and use 4, 2, 3 chain and spam 1 while kiting. Skill 5 when necessary.

[greenishtea]

My Sweet Lily, on 15 December 2012 - 10:37 AM, said:

Hmm, I just realized, that I haven't posted on this topic since I hit lvl 40. I've been lvl 80 for a long time now, and I'm still using the build posted on the first page (20/20/0/0/30). And it's amazing.
   I have almost full exotic Berserker's gear, but I don't feel squishy at all! The amount of spike, defense and support this build gives is awesome. (Spike=shatter and Swordsman. Defense=block, vigor for dodges, Blurred Frenzy and Distortion. Support=GS2 for might, Null Field, Feedback and Time Warp).
   Playstyle:Run in while casting Swordsman. When in range, I cast illusionary leap, dodge (anywhere), and use Swap at the same time the Swordsman hits and I unleash Blurred Frenzy. Now I have 2 clones and phantasm. When Blurred Frenzy ends, I attack the enemy, while waiting for the Swordsman to attack again. When he leaps, I see him hit and use f1, before he jumps away. This results all 4 of us to shatter at the same time for huge damage (one reason I hate pistol is, that 3 of us shatter, and I need to wait for the Duelist to run for shatter). Use block when necessary (another reason I don't like pistol is, that not all mobs can be interrupted, but all attacks can be blocked).
   When I need some range, I swap to GS and use 4, 2, 3 chain and spam 1 while kiting. Skill 5 when necessary.

what main stats are you focusing on?

[My Sweet Lily]

greenishtea, on 18 December 2012 - 08:28 AM, said:

what main stats are you focusing on?

Well, like I said, just full Berserker's. For runes, I'm nit that sure, but I guess Runes of Pack work, like they work on my Ranger.

[greenishtea]

any new builds out there? I find using sword/sword difficult in some situations especially when trying to tag on event farming for lack of aoe.

[Swoopeh]

greenishtea, on 06 May 2013 - 10:21 AM, said:

any new builds out there? I find using sword/sword difficult in some situations especially when trying to tag on event farming for lack of aoe.

Sword/focus and GS works for me for tagging as long as you know when to trigger izerker and to use iwarden on mobs that don't die in 2 sec. But then that's outside the scope of this thread.

[greenishtea]

Swoopeh, on 06 May 2013 - 10:45 AM, said:

Sword/focus and GS works for me for tagging as long as you know when to trigger izerker and to use iwarden on mobs that don't die in 2 sec. But then that's outside the scope of this thread.

mind explaining or linking me to a forum about izerker/iwarden? thanks

[Swoopeh]

greenishtea, on 06 May 2013 - 12:18 PM, said:

mind explaining or linking me to a forum about izerker/iwarden? thanks

This is just about tagging during DEs:
- iZerker for ranged packs of mobs, tears right through them. Just have to know whether the mobs are invulnerable up to a point and target one that has the best chance of iZerker hitting everything, you can try shattering straight after for additional AoE.
- Mind Stab for closely packed groups at range.
- GS autoattack now also does AoE which helps with ranged mobs.
- Mirror Blade + shatter as a last resort AoE.
- Stick iWarden on a vet/champ thats in the middle of a pack so it stays up for the full duration and hits as many things as possible (if a mob dies in 2 sec warden wont even spawn but you get the cooldown).
- Use the focus pull to group mobs up for easier aoe.
- For anything thats close sword auto attack/blurred frenzy works great.
- To get into melee fast range use Leap=>Swap (from 600 feet or closer), you can shatter the clone afterwards for extra AoE.
- Take signet of illusions and optionally the 20% health to phantasms trait to prevent illusions from dying too quickly in zergs.
- If you're running a shatter build with Illusionary Personality you can also AoE from your character without needing illusions up. I find a shatter build easier to tag with than an illusion build.

Hope that helps

Edited by Swoopeh, 06 May 2013 - 12:51 PM.

[Bariusdrop]

Hey guys, just thought that I would cut in with my build since I didn't see anything too similar when looking through it. I usually run with dual swords and a focus in my off-set. I have run pretty much all of CoF/CoE/HotW with it and have had little trouble so far.

I run a 10/20/0/30/10 Build
Essentially I use iSwordsman and iWarden in order to put out good numbers and assist with regen in a build. The reason I like iSwordsman so much is because when traited it has a 12 second cooldown and also keeps himself in proper positioning at all times. Unlike the warden, the swordsmen can put out damage while also evading cleaving auto attacks.
Major traits:
Domination 10- III: Empowered Illusions (15% more phantasm damage)
Dueling 20- II, IV: Phantasmal Fury, Blade Training (20% CD reduction, +50 precision, phantasm +10% damage through crits)
Inspiration 30- I, V, VIII: Medic's Feedback, Persisting Images, and Warden's Feedback (Feedback on revive [works on NPCs, don't need the full revive], 20% more phantasm hp, reflect projectiles and 20% more warden)
Illusions 10- III: Compounding Power (9% more direct damage with 3 illusions up)

The reason I don't take Deceptive Evasion is because it is so unruly, and actually a drawback when running a phantasm build. The clone targets the nearest enemy, even if it is an object or a trash mob about to die, and will overwrite a phantasm if you have three out. Since dodging as often as possible is great in a dungeon to mitigate damage, I often drop this ability in favor of the 10% damage boost to phantasms through fury.

The reason I don't reach for Phantasmal Haste (20% phantasm ability recharge) is because it doesn't actually affect the iSwordsman, which is why he is the perfect phantasm for this build.

Often I keep a greatsword and a staff in my pack for the utility, but run most dungeons entirely with these two weapon sets. Knowing which phantasm will do well in each situation is extremely helpful. (i.e. Golem in CoE lightning field kills iSwordsman, but iWarden gets out of position against the fear during HotW p2 and becomes useless).

I have had great success with this build, and running with Blurred Frenzy on an 8 second cooldown is a godsend for a melee build (I run full berserker's with a smattering of valkyrie jewelry).

Normally my utility skills are: Signest of Illusions (50% more illusion help, often keeps them from being 1-shotted), Feedback, and Blink. Feedback is the most flexible slot, and I often swap it out for either Signet of Inspiration or Mirror Image depending on what I feel I may need against a boss without projectiles. Blink is an essential stunbreaker that can also get you out of a red circle cluster in a pinch. Signet of Illusions only comes off my bar if I am speed running CoF p1 (which I hate to do) since most people don't last long enough anyway.

Hope this helps!

Questions/Feedback welcome, feel free to PM me here or in-game.
Name: Devin Lockley

Cheers!