Guild Wars 2

With a burst build, easy access to vigor should come with a damage tradeoff. For example, the thief has Feline Grace (which restores endurance and thus is similar to vigor), but it is in a mostly defensive trait line, so you have to give up some damage to get it. Ele/Guardian/Engi all have access to vigor in defensive trait lines.

What about Critical Infusion (vigor on crit) for the Mesmer? Starting off, it’s a minor trait, so it’s basically free. It’s in a damage oriented trait line that gives crit, so there’s no tradeoff. It takes one of the best bursters and gives them tons of extra dodge, making it even harder to kill. Why are Mesmers dodging around like an acrobat, when thieves suck at dodging? Are clones/distortion not enough? If they really “need” that vigor they should have to spend a Major trait or spec into something other than raw damage.

The real kicker here is the Deceptive Evasion trait in the same line. It creats a clone when you dodge. These clones don’t do much damage, and aren’t even that confusing (because you just saw the mesmer dodge which clones can’t do). However, they serve exactly one function: shatter fodder. Now I could see a defensive mesmer build than has tons of dodges/clones so he’s hard to pin down. He doesn’t mind wrack you all at once, but a few times over a fight. But giving Shatter burst mesmer free dodges AND clones is just overkill.

I beleive if Critical Infusion was nerfed/moved/removed, Mesmsers would be a lot more reasonable. They would have to time their dodges more carefully. They could dump their endurance for the burst, but be vulnerable after.

Any Mesmers out there want to defend this OP synergy?

Where would you move it to?

Probably the Chaos or Inspiration lines, and move it to 15 points. Or make it a Major in one of those lines. Making it a major in Dueling wouldn’t be enough, IMO.

Honestly I think scrapping the trait entirely is the best idea. You could just nerf it into the ground with a 20 second recharge or something, but traits should be useful – just not OP.

I think the opposite. If your glass cannon your only defense should be dodging key hits. Vigor on crit should be in the precision line.

Just when I thought SPvP was out of things to cry about mesmer….
GJ! Now we all need to go make 100 thread and get this nerfed!