11 replies to this topic

[Havana Crab]

So I am new to mesmer and I have two questions for each of 3 situations (so I guess I have 6 questions.)

"Which is better" questions:

1. Shatter traits or 'keeping illusions around' traits?
2. Condition damage or power/crit?

Situations:

A. Farming large events (like plinx/penitent/shelter) in Orr.
B. PvE dungeons like AC, CoF and Fractals
C. WvW

I've played the other classes but I'm trying to figure out which direction to head with this one.

[Green]

Havana Crab, on 31 December 2012 - 02:32 AM, said:

So I am new to mesmer and I have two questions for each of 3 situations (so I guess I have 6 questions.)

"Which is better" questions:

1. Shatter traits or 'keeping illusions around' traits?
-Shattering
2. Condition damage or power/crit?
-Condi if using Staff or Scepter primarily
-Crit if going with Greatsword/one hand sword primarrily

-Power stat benifits both condi and crit as well as shattering/lasting illusion builds.

Situations:

A. Farming large events (like plinx/penitent/shelter) in Orr.
B. PvE dungeons like AC, CoF and Fractals
C. WvW

I've played the other classes but I'm trying to figure out which direction to head with this one.

Edited by Green, 31 December 2012 - 02:42 AM.

[Havana Crab]

So starting off by pumping the 1st 30 points into power wouldn't be a bad idea as it affects both?  When it comes to gearing up though, I'll have to choose at that point.  And then there's the issue of shattering vs MM in each of the three situations.

[Gabe]

I'm a firm believer that this build: http://gw2skills.net...X2RSRrlalZwbXIA and variations thereof is the ultimate Mesmer build. Shattering clones allows you to AOE spike as hard as any other class and at the same time deal lots of damage over time as well. Blows most other ranged builds straight out of the water.

Armor:
Full berserkers with Equsite Ruby Jewels and Eagle Runes.

Weapons:
GS with Superior Sigil of Strength
Weapon swap can be pretty much anything, Staff or Sword + Focus / Torch / Pistol / Sword it all works out. I usually end up using Focus though and sometimes pistols. Sword / Torch I don't use much but they work too.

For OH i tend to use Superior Sigil of Battle on Sword and Superior Sigil of Accuracy on the others.

Basically this build makes you a clone spawning / shattering machine that gains up to 20+ stacks of might in very short time allowing you to deal awesome DPS both at max range as well as in melee. And defense is pretty awesome too because of all the clones.

As far as the shattering vs keeping Phantasms goes. Shattering is better 90% of the time because it allows you to burst for insane DPS in short fights or vs adds. Fights are way more often decided by beeing able to deal insane DPS in the first 3-30 seconds and maintain decent levels throughout the fight then taking a minute to build up to max DPS.

Edited by Gabe, 31 December 2012 - 04:04 PM.

[Cyantific]

You can make both builds work in each situation. It pretty much matters what kind of playing style or what you are comfortable with.

[Havana Crab]

Gabe, on 31 December 2012 - 04:01 PM, said:

Weapons:
GS with Superior Sigil of Strength
Weapon swap can be pretty much anything, Staff or Sword + Focus / Torch / Pistol / Sword it all works out. I usually end up using Focus though and sometimes pistols. Sword / Torch I don't use much but they work too.

I like this build you sent, thanks!  Part of why you choose sword is that it's trait is in the precision line?
Also, what do you think of Greatsword #3 and #5?  I find myself not using them much yet though I still have a ways to go.

[Lionsden]

Havana Crab, on 31 December 2012 - 02:32 AM, said:

So I am new to mesmer and I have two questions for each of 3 situations (so I guess I have 6 questions.)

Situations:

A. Farming large events (like plinx/penitent/shelter) in Orr.
B. PvE dungeons like AC, CoF and Fractals
C. WvW

Quick question - Is this in regards to leveling or are you already 80?
If you are talking in terms of leveling - I've found a mix of the 3 to be beneficial. If your WvW is taking objectives often or defending often it can be quicker than farming events or completeling hearts. If WvW is slow and there is not a lot of objective rewards going on then Events or dungeons might be better.

I find mixing the 3 in terms of leveling was always the best way to go, as it prevented me from being burned out on any of them, and taking advantage of one let me jump over that leveling hump that sometimes occurs so you don't have to over lap maps to often.

[Spector1331]

Gabe, on 31 December 2012 - 04:01 PM, said:

I'm a firm believer that this build: http://gw2skills.net...X2RSRrlalZwbXIA and variations thereof is the ultimate Mesmer build. Shattering clones allows you to AOE spike as hard as any other class and at the same time deal lots of damage over time as well. Blows most other ranged builds straight out of the water.

Armor:
Full berserkers with Equsite Ruby Jewels and Eagle Runes.

Weapons:
GS with Superior Sigil of Strength
Weapon swap can be pretty much anything, Staff or Sword + Focus / Torch / Pistol / Sword it all works out. I usually end up using Focus though and sometimes pistols. Sword / Torch I don't use much but they work too.

For OH i tend to use Superior Sigil of Battle on Sword and Superior Sigil of Accuracy on the others.

Basically this build makes you a clone spawning / shattering machine that gains up to 20+ stacks of might in very short time allowing you to deal awesome DPS both at max range as well as in melee. And defense is pretty awesome too because of all the clones.

As far as the shattering vs keeping Phantasms goes. Shattering is better 90% of the time because it allows you to burst for insane DPS in short fights or vs adds. Fights are way more often decided by beeing able to deal insane DPS in the first 3-30 seconds and maintain decent levels throughout the fight then taking a minute to build up to max DPS.

I can't see the advantage to taking grandmaster minor in dueling (3 sec confusion on clone death) over Illusionary Persona (XI illusions GM Major). It's the best possible trait you can have for shatter build, period, for the "extra shatter". Confusion is mediocre at best in PvE as well. Also, why take both the GS and Sword cool down skills. You'll have one out more than not. Take that one and swap out the other for something more useful (fury on phantasms).

Edited by Spector1331, 06 January 2013 - 03:02 PM.

[Astral Projections]

This guy here has videos on Mesmers that are well worth watching.  http://m.youtube.com...u&v=7eZ0NNd7b60 http://m.youtube.com...h?v=T-B3mkM7dqM http://m.youtube.com...&feature=relmfu

[Gabe]

Spector1331, on 06 January 2013 - 03:01 PM, said:

I can't see the advantage to taking grandmaster minor in dueling (3 sec confusion on clone death) over Illusionary Persona (XI illusions GM Major). It's the best possible trait you can have for shatter build, period, for the "extra shatter". Confusion is mediocre at best in PvE as well. Also, why take both the GS and Sword cool down skills. You'll have one out more than not. Take that one and swap out the other for something more useful (fury on phantasms).

Post nerf that build is out of date anyhow. But sword cooldown is very importaint to defense in PVP or fractals, sword 2 makes you immune to damage for it's duration which is quite awesome if you use it well. And on GS it's just a no-brainer to improve cooldowns as they are so incredibly powerful. As far as dueling over illusions go it's as much for the 5% crit damage and crit chance as anything else. And when shattering often with 15-20 stacks of might active you get fairly decent condition damage as well. Not to mention it is usable on max range.

[Spector1331]

Gabe, on 06 January 2013 - 04:46 PM, said:

Post nerf that build is out of date anyhow. But sword cooldown is very importaint to defense in PVP or fractals, sword 2 makes you immune to damage for it's duration which is quite awesome if you use it well. And on GS it's just a no-brainer to improve cooldowns as they are so incredibly powerful. As far as dueling over illusions go it's as much for the 5% crit damage and crit chance as anything else. And when shattering often with 15-20 stacks of might active you get fairly decent condition damage as well. Not to mention it is usable on max range.

How is the build out of date?  Due to the fixing of the Shattered Strength exploit?  The global CD will be going away once the exploit is fixed.  20/20/0/0/30 (Greatsword primary) and 10/30/0/0/30 (Sword/x primary) are still the 2 best Burst DPS builds available to a Mesmer.  

Conditions are powerful, you are right, but in PvE confusion is not.  Its nice as gravy, but shouldn't be counted on as a major damage source.  Enemies do not attack fast enough to make it a source of reliable damage.

The fact is that making yourself a shatter target is just flat out stronger than 3 seconds of confusion on clone death.  That's not to say either build can't work, but they aren't both optimal.

[Strife025]

I personally use 10/20/0/20/20 with sword/focus primary (GS on swap) now that they nerfed shattered strength.

I found that focus cooldown and reflection for organized groups which already have 2 warriors is very valuable for grouping up mobs and providing reflection for projectiles a large portion of the time. The added group dps of allowing the guardians and warriors to cleave all the mobs is pretty valuable as far as group dps goes.

I really do like 30 in the last line for an extra shatter, but I like focus cooldown alot as well. It's so hard to decide :x