Guild Wars 2

This downed skill – deception – is not very helpful. Mesmer’s basic auto attack is fine, and the phantasmal rogue can deal pretty nice damage, but deception is not the least bit reliable. Most classes have their ‘last ditch’ saving grace, but I have rarely had that experience with Deception.

1. It requires a target in order to be activated. So if you can’t even see what is killing you, you’re trapped on the ground and can’t move. You’re pretty much as good as dead. I’ve found myself spamming 2, and nothing is happening. By the time I realize it and try to target something, it’s usually too late.

2. You can’t choose the direction you’re going. I’ts very possible the place you warped to will end up with a monster or player that will just kill you faster.

3. If I’m downed in PvE, the LAST thing I want is to pull aggro to myself. This is exactly what the deception clone does. It keeps blasting at enemies, gets its attention, then gets itself destroyed before the mesmer can heal up. Then the enemy targets the player, and proceeds to deliver the killing blows.

4. I suppose it is okay for PvP and WvW, because enemies will usually stomp the clone instead of you. But there’s still the possibility of warping someplace you don’t want to end up, and probably nowhere near an ally that can help you. Besides….someone who’s observant would just leave the clone and move to you. Then what?

If I could have the opportunity to update this skill, it would include: 1) choose where you warp, and 2) not require a target to activate the skill. There have been times where I’m downed and I manage to rally back up alone. Perhaps if the clone was instead healing itself, it may be more helpful. Then it wouldn’t draw aggro, and people couldn’t tell the difference between the real mesmer and the clone. (The real mesmer is always the one that’s trying to heal) The damage it does isn’t enough to kill the enemy anyway. That’s what the berserker is for. I would really like to see the skill save me more often than kill me.