8 replies to this topic

[Alilei22]

I have been leveling a Necro and just started a Mesmer as I wanted a cloth class to play. Mobs  always kill my clones and I keep forgetting to shatter them.  Hell most of the time my clones just get 1 shot so I couldnt shatter even if I wanted.  Can I just be lazy and get the traits that make clones cripple and apply a condition when they are killed?  Mesmer is a lot of fun cause I tried one out in sPvP before I rolled one but I cant remember to shatter.  Can I just play and never shatter anything or will that gimp my class kinda like playing an Elementalist and only sitting in the same attunement the entire time?

Edited by Alilei22, 06 February 2013 - 10:22 PM.

[mdapol]

Shattering is one of your best weapons, but can ignore it but it will gimp you.  But don't despair, mesmers don't really start to get powerful until level 20-30.  Think of it this way, every hit your clones absorb is one less you have to take.  Use scepter at low levels and keep cranking out clones to replace them.

[G I R]

You can ignore your shatters if you really want to but they are a key part of the class.

I like to try and open every fight with Mirror Images and the clone skill of whatever weapon I'm using (each weapon set has 1 clone skills and 1 phantasm skill) and shatter them the instant they are all out. This puts out a good deal of damage and doesn't give the enemy time to destroy them. After that I put out the phantasm(s) and unload with my other skills.

No matter what you do the Mesmer class takes some getting used to, but once you figure it all out it is a blast to play.

[Alilei22]

Im till low level with her as Im not sure if I wanna invest the gold in PLing her up via crafting yet.   But been doing a lot of sPvP to get the hang of shattering. I figure thats the best place to learn as it teaches you how to use all the different shatters.  Plus humans are smarter than mobs.  Having fun with S/P but trying to get off sword 2 on someone in sPvP is a bitch which sucks cause isnt that some pretty good damage if you can land it?  Also am I supposed to be swapping weapons to get all my clones up?  Just having so much fun with S/P I forget to.  Im using Decoy and Mirror Image for 2 of my utilities as well and its funny watching people have no clue where I am especially when I use Sword 3 to swap place with my clone.  It does take some getting used to and I dont know If Im ready to give up my Guardian yet.  But its definitely the most fun I have had on a cloth class.  Necro is boring as hell and Ele is too much work.

Edited by Alilei22, 08 February 2013 - 05:51 AM.

[Heart Collector]

20 points in dueling later on will provide ample clones for shattering. I would think that switching weapons would be more about combining powerful abilities (e.g. chaos storm with the staff - switch to sword/whatever - cast illusionary leap to get a free chaos armor from the combo) - though in the earlier levels switching can help a lot.

Still, since you're already doing sPvP you're probably a much better player than me. Just pointing out what I feel is the best use of weapon switching. I could very well be wrong ofc

[Coren]

Please bear in mind that clones die the quickest, but are more.durable at high levels. Phantasms are even more.durable.

The way I play, and I imagine the way most play, is that I shatter my clones and phantasms the moment my skills recharge. Keeping them around is a.waste of good damage.

Mesmers, like other professions, really come into their own later on, so don't be scared if.the clones and phantasms seem to be useless, they wont be for long:)

[Legatus Leaf]

Between Decoy, Mirror Image, Illusionist Celerity, Deceptive Evasion, my weapon based Clone and Phantasmal skills, and cool down reductions for my weapons I can spit out enough illusions to get through all my shatter skills and still generate a few clones for PvX enemies to be confused by. . .

Not making use of Shatters is much like a Guardian not making use of virtues. Sure, if you don't use them there is a gain (in our case keeping the phantasms and clones up) but there is also a large cost, and in most cases that cost is going to out weigh the gain.

From what I've seen, there are a few hurdles one has to get over to be an effective Mesmer. One of the major hurdles is not being afraid to use Shatters, another is the importance of weapon swapping (in both skills available and in clone generation).

Edited by Legatus Leaf, 08 February 2013 - 11:37 AM.

[Thaddeuz]

Not using your Shatter will gimp your class. But there is two way to make up for that.

1) Like Heart Collector said, put 20pts in duelist to get a Clone Factory. (Create a clone each time you dodge). Use your skill, then when your shatter is ready and some clone or phantasm died, dodge to create the number you need. As you practice you gonna be better at that, but with this trait you rarely gonna miss any clone to shatter.

2) You can take your damage from phantasm and don't really shatter except in some precise situation. Take all the trait possible that boost your phantasm and use phantasm that usually last longer and still do good damage. Exemple : the Pistol's Duelist, Greatsword's Berserker or the Staff's Warlock (for Boss or champion).

Probably other option exist, but these are two way of playing DPS Mesmer that i know and tried.

[Cyantific]

Phantasm build is still pretty viable in this game and its one that I have settled on.

The basic strat is to keep your phantasms up until the cooldown is done and you shatter them. You will quickly have a feel how long it takes for the cooldown to end and can come up with a pretty good attack set / loop.