Guild Wars 2

(Lookit theres videos links in the next post!)

Lockdown refers to both Interrupt (Chaotic Interruption) and Chainstun( Confounding Suggestions) style of play.

6) LOCKDOWN IS A SEPARATE PLAYSTYLE

• If you’ve been playing Shatter for over a year, don’t expect to be a Day 1 champion. Lockdown has its own rules, rotations, weapons and playstyle. In a lockdown build, you are no longer simply relying on just shatters, phantasms or just condition damage. You have to intelligently manage conditions, shattering, and know when to maintain phantasms all while keeping an eye out for interrupts. All these nuances have to be learned to be successful and as a result, playing a lockdown build is often difficult and frustrating at the start and not very rewarding. Give yourself about a week to adjust to the differences and learn new habits before deciding whether or not lockdown is for you.

5) EVERY WEAPON (EXCEPT TORCH) WORKS IN LOCKDOWN

• You can run sword, scepter, offhand sword, pistol, focus gs, or staff in just about any combination and still make a lockdown build that works for you. The standard 4/4/6 Chaotic Interruption (Chaos XI) build can successfully run with sword, any offhand (except torch), and even GS/Staff double-ranged.

4) PEOPLE WILL CALL YOU CHEESE, YET THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE BUILD

• “Lockdown Mesmers just spam instant interrupts. Its so cheese.” Your response to this is simple: “You do realize we only have two instant interrupts on a 36 second cooldown, right? And no good player will be beaten by someone simply spamming interrupt after interrupt.” This is fact. Good players will not be beaten by simply spamming, and only bad lockdown Mesmer spam anyway.

3) BE CREATIVE WITH YOUR MANTRA INTERRUPT

• Having an instant 1200 range interrupt is great, yet it rarely gets used to its full potential. While interrupting heals and rezz/stomps is the most obvious use, sometimes there are opportunities that we overlook. If in a clustered group fight keep an eye out for where there may be two or more enemies close together; sometimes it is more beneficial to target a turret or pet positioned between 3 enemies in order to daze them all. Sometimes it is better to save the mantra for defense, to cover your own heal or escape from a chase.

2) THE MOST COMPETITIVELY VIABLE LOCKDOWN BUILD IS 4/4/6 CI

• The PvP viability of Mesmer in general can be called into question time and again, but when it comes to competitive play build variety begins to narrow for all classes. At the highest level, Shatter has been proven to be the most dominant, but 4/4/6 Chaotic Interruption – played well – is nearly, (if not just) as viable.
  Now this is only for the highest level, and anywhere below that there is room for all kinds of build diversity. Arguments of “top players don’t use CI for a reason” can run into a lot of hurdles, especially going back to the first point of the build being a completely unique playstyle. Sure experience, positioning, and general game knowledge will carry an advanced player but to go so far as to unlearn shatter reflexes and habits in order to properly play lockdown is a massive change for a top player. I’ve yet to have a conversation with someone who wasn’t biased towards Interrupt or Shatter, but the arguments against interrupt often come from people who have either never or rarely played the spec for themselves and are parroting things they’ve heard from others.

1) GOOD LOCKDOWN MESMER ARE RIDICULOUSLY RARE

• Seriously. Lockdown has risen in popularity over the past year and a half and has established itself comfortably into peoples’ minds, even those who don’t main Mesmer. Each person playing lockdown is essentially representing and advertising this rare, difficult playstyle. They’re saying “Hey, yo, yeah I’m not shatter. I’m not condi, oh are you confused? I’m a lockdown Mesmer, chief! Be enlightened!” and that is all well and good.. except for one problem: Most people aren’t very good with it.
  Lockdown is more than just interrupts and chain dazes, a good lockdown Mesmer:

• Can strip boons from priority targets.
• Wins the majority of their 1v1s.
• Knows when and where to shatter, and when to maintain phantasms.
• Does not panic and spam dazes, interrupts both preemptively & on reaction.
• Can, if they wanted, keep an enemy locked down for over 6 seconds.

If you struggle with 3 of those 6 things, then you’ve got some work to do on your locking down. But do not let that discourage you, you are working with a difficult build in an unforgiving meta. The struggle is indeed real, but be persistent and the rewards will be worthwhile. There is nothing like the satisfying experience of crushing an opponent with well-timed dazes and interrupts!

VIDEOS!

Lockdown Mesmer Guide

Chaotic Interruption Vids

Confounding Suggestions Vids

ahhh chaos archangel, finally against something from your side!

btw 3rd link doesn’t work.

Xyonon.3987:

ahhh chaos archangel, finally against something from your side!

btw 3rd link doesn’t work.

He left an extra /page in the link
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Build-Phantrupt-Asskicker-CS-Interrupt/first#

Tbh they should be called “Mantra of Distraction” builds – because everything revolves around it.

Sorry if I sound bitter – I love physical crowd control skills like Into the Void and iWave, but I absolutely hate everything about MoD – its sound effect, visual effect, usage, the fact that in order to make good use of any interrupt traits you need to have it on your utility bar…

I sincerely hope that HoT will introduce a wider variety of crowd control skills with the new specialisation, as the only thing putting me off anything more than a semi-interrupt build is my hatred of that Mantra.

Very nice topic Chaos!

I would like to add that,Lockdown build can be catagorized as phantasm build.You’ll want to set phantasms on for pressure,while your inturrpts not only doing base dmg,they also quickly stack vurnability on enemies,and might on you.This chain of events could lead to immense dmg output.I would say Lockdown build,may be called even Lockphasm :P

Nice write up as always Chaos, but I have to take issue with the Torch remarks! ;-)

Perhaps in a CI lock-down build it’s clearly subpar, but I’m using it in a “Ross-inspired” CS lockdown build and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Now I play unranked only pretty much, and that might be the main reason why I always feel I need more defense, especially from Thieves, since I don’t rely or expect my team to be of any value in saving my own hide. If they do, lovely, but I don’t expect or rely on that.

So as much as I’ve tried other OHs in various builds, I often end up with the Torch again in order to have 2x near instant stealth (w/decoy). The target drop alone from those just seems essential to me, especially in a glassy build, without it I just get focused down too fast too often…gets frustrating and I end up back with the Torch. No doubt the Phantasm is horrid, especially in a Power build, but my Sw/T set is more for my personal defense. I generally try to avoid using the Sw/T in this build, and only swap to it to defend myself in CQ. (Hydromancy to help with damage & CC to get away.)

I have found I really like GS in combination with SoEther, in order to pop 2x iBerzerker. It’s just plain lovely in group play as I can contribute both by nearly insta-gibbing enemy squishies or the focus-target, or send them into a group fight and contribute considerable AoE burst from long range. So I’m an edge fighter, always trying to position myself similarly to a LB Ranger and with similar play-style in general, but with a stronger AoE focus then a Ranger. I like to position myself between near and mid, and roam between them to add on fights as needed. Of course that makes me a target for Thieves, and that’s why I need to be able to take care of them myself in 1v1. (Or at least be able to get away from them and run them into my team guarding/fighting at a point.)

I use the 6/4/4/0/0 build variant to get the Toughness & Protection, as well as the Might from BI. Despite being in Zerker gear, I’m able to take a few hits, and along with the dual-stealth from Torch I can really give anyone a run for their money in 1v1.

The biggest weakness is vs. Condies, but recently that’s only very rarely a problem and generally I just either fight them from range/kite, or I just leave if I can’t out-damage their healing in 1v1 (Engies).

Anyway, it’s a really fun build, but I guess it’s more of a hybrid lockdown, as I’m not primarily worried about locking enemies down, but rather being a strong ranged damage dealer who uses lock-downs for added damage & CC. The GS really shines in this build doing heavy single-target and quite nice AE damage bursts too.

So I guess in that regard you’re right, if you’re mainly focused on lock-downs, then I guess Torch is by default a no-no since it provides no interrupts, but that doesn’t meant there isn’t a reason to ever use the Torch in CS/CI builds. ;-)

It’s just a trade-off as everything else.

Anyway, nice post and good points!

I think some of the top mesmers may need to read the 6th tip a couple of times. Great post Chaos, as always. Didn’t we just miss the 1 year anniversary of mind crush btw? We should do something fun for that, such as a 5 man lockdown mes team

Hey chaos for lockdown is Staff scepter/pistol a good set up for a power build (with a side of conditions, mainly confusion) if so which of your builds would you use. Or would scepter/sword work better?

Because CI lockdown is the closest you can get to the old GW1 interrupt Mesmer (Power Block doesn’t seem that great atm) it’s the build I started playing Mes with. Now, I feel pretty kitten confident with it (I can generally beat teefs if they don’t catch me w/o CDs), but when it comes to Shatter I’m actually kinda rubbish at it in comparison.

The build also just feels…complete. With Sword/Focus GS you have strong DPS, a skill that can give you and your team swiftness which in addition to Blink means your mobility isn’t too shabby. The damage if you consistently interrupt seems on par if not greater than Shatter. I feel way more valuable when the time comes to save a teammate than on Shatter.

The one weakness is that you have to play well, and that you don’t have room for Portal. That is probably the largest drawback. At the end of the day though it’s a build that is fun to play and you’re not totally screwing your team over when you use it (like when I run a all Physical War) and once mastered can put you on par with Shatter.

I think people are overrating the difficulty of playing this setup, at least the 30 Chaos one.

shimmerless.4560:

I think people are overrating the difficulty of playing this setup, at least the 30 Chaos one.

A lot of people actually struggle to play CI blissless, from what I’ve seen. I think theres also another level of CI, where when you interrupt someone, you punish them extremely harshly during the immbo time.

Warlord of Chaos.7845:

shimmerless.4560:

I think people are overrating the difficulty of playing this setup, at least the 30 Chaos one.

A lot of people actually struggle to play CI blissless, from what I’ve seen. I think theres also another level of CI, where when you interrupt someone, you punish them extremely harshly during the immbo time.

Sure muffin, but in GW2 there are no conditions tied to interrupts, you just throw them out and voila your target is immobilized and just got triple crit for total of ~6k. Tone down halting strike or just make interrupts more conditional and I would perhaps agree. Also I’m generally not a fan of phantasm heavy play. I think the decision-making is minimal.

shimmerless.4560:

Warlord of Chaos.7845:

shimmerless.4560:

I think people are overrating the difficulty of playing this setup, at least the 30 Chaos one.

A lot of people actually struggle to play CI blissless, from what I’ve seen. I think theres also another level of CI, where when you interrupt someone, you punish them extremely harshly during the immbo time.

Sure muffin, but in GW2 there are no conditions tied to interrupts, you just throw them out and voila your target is immobilized and just got triple crit for total of ~6k.

This is totally exactly how it happens.

Great write-up.

I’m having success with a condition lockdown, which I think has a lower skill cap (and thus better suited to my less-than-stellar skill level) and higher cheese factor. Wondering if anyone else has been trying something like this as well?

Using staff, scepter/pistol with -/4/6/-/4 and rabid trinket w/ undead runes. It’s a little cheesy, in that I’m just interrupting to death while conditions overwhelm them. Throw in signet of domination for condi damage and another interrupt (for a total of 5 plus f3), and you can easily keep might stacks high for major condi damage. Weakness of course is no condi removal, but I’ll sometimes swap the offensiveness of signet of dom for null field if I see a necro approaching.

Anyone else tried condi lockdown?

Bunda.2691:

Great write-up.

I’m having success with a condition lockdown, which I think has a lower skill cap (and thus better suited to my less-than-stellar skill level) and higher cheese factor. Wondering if anyone else has been trying something like this as well?

Using staff, scepter/pistol with -/4/6/-/4 and rabid trinket w/ undead runes. It’s a little cheesy, in that I’m just interrupting to death while conditions overwhelm them. Throw in signet of domination for condi damage and another interrupt (for a total of 5 plus f3), and you can easily keep might stacks high for major condi damage. Weakness of course is no condi removal, but I’ll sometimes swap the offensiveness of signet of dom for null field if I see a necro approaching.

Anyone else tried condi lockdown?

Tried it and found it OK enough. Didn’t love having to spend a utility slot on Power Lock, since I always want to have some condi removal.

Ultimately just felt like replacing Power Lock with MI, and CI with Maim did a lot more.

shimmerless.4560:

Warlord of Chaos.7845:

shimmerless.4560:

I think people are overrating the difficulty of playing this setup, at least the 30 Chaos one.

A lot of people actually struggle to play CI blissless, from what I’ve seen. I think theres also another level of CI, where when you interrupt someone, you punish them extremely harshly during the immbo time.

Sure muffin, but in GW2 there are no conditions tied to interrupts, you just throw them out and voila your target is immobilized and just got triple crit for total of ~6k. Tone down halting strike or just make interrupts more conditional and I would perhaps agree. Also I’m generally not a fan of phantasm heavy play. I think the decision-making is minimal.

I’d like to see you try and justify either of those statements well. Easy enough to just state them.

alanis.6094:

Bunda.2691:

Great write-up.

I’m having success with a condition lockdown, which I think has a lower skill cap (and thus better suited to my less-than-stellar skill level) and higher cheese factor. Wondering if anyone else has been trying something like this as well?

Using staff, scepter/pistol with -/4/6/-/4 and rabid trinket w/ undead runes. It’s a little cheesy, in that I’m just interrupting to death while conditions overwhelm them. Throw in signet of domination for condi damage and another interrupt (for a total of 5 plus f3), and you can easily keep might stacks high for major condi damage. Weakness of course is no condi removal, but I’ll sometimes swap the offensiveness of signet of dom for null field if I see a necro approaching.

Anyone else tried condi lockdown?

Tried it and found it OK enough. Didn’t love having to spend a utility slot on Power Lock, since I always want to have some condi removal.

Ultimately just felt like replacing Power Lock with MI, and CI with Maim did a lot more.

I think you’re right in that the damage output is a bit of a wash compared to condition shatter. But people have become good at predicting shatters, and thus I think the condi-lockdown catches them off guard.

Bunda.2691:

alanis.6094:

Bunda.2691:

Great write-up.

I’m having success with a condition lockdown, which I think has a lower skill cap (and thus better suited to my less-than-stellar skill level) and higher cheese factor. Wondering if anyone else has been trying something like this as well?

Using staff, scepter/pistol with -/4/6/-/4 and rabid trinket w/ undead runes. It’s a little cheesy, in that I’m just interrupting to death while conditions overwhelm them. Throw in signet of domination for condi damage and another interrupt (for a total of 5 plus f3), and you can easily keep might stacks high for major condi damage. Weakness of course is no condi removal, but I’ll sometimes swap the offensiveness of signet of dom for null field if I see a necro approaching.

Anyone else tried condi lockdown?

Tried it and found it OK enough. Didn’t love having to spend a utility slot on Power Lock, since I always want to have some condi removal.

Ultimately just felt like replacing Power Lock with MI, and CI with Maim did a lot more.

I think you’re right in that the damage output is a bit of a wash compared to condition shatter. But people have become good at predicting shatters, and thus I think the condi-lockdown catches them off guard.

Well, that isn’t exactly what I was trying to say. I felt it was decent/enjoyable enough. I don’t think the damage output was remotely in the ballpark of what Maim puts out.

Bunda.2691:

Great write-up.

I’m having success with a condition lockdown, which I think has a lower skill cap (and thus better suited to my less-than-stellar skill level) and higher cheese factor. Wondering if anyone else has been trying something like this as well?

Using staff, scepter/pistol with -/4/6/-/4 and rabid trinket w/ undead runes. It’s a little cheesy, in that I’m just interrupting to death while conditions overwhelm them. Throw in signet of domination for condi damage and another interrupt (for a total of 5 plus f3), and you can easily keep might stacks high for major condi damage. Weakness of course is no condi removal, but I’ll sometimes swap the offensiveness of signet of dom for null field if I see a necro approaching.

Anyone else tried condi lockdown?

Yep, but with a different approach than yours. I use Staff/Sc-F: Chaotic Perdition

Works well in both WvW and PvP, especially after the torment buff we got.

skcamow.3527:

Bunda.2691:

Great write-up.

I’m having success with a condition lockdown, which I think has a lower skill cap (and thus better suited to my less-than-stellar skill level) and higher cheese factor. Wondering if anyone else has been trying something like this as well?

Using staff, scepter/pistol with -/4/6/-/4 and rabid trinket w/ undead runes. It’s a little cheesy, in that I’m just interrupting to death while conditions overwhelm them. Throw in signet of domination for condi damage and another interrupt (for a total of 5 plus f3), and you can easily keep might stacks high for major condi damage. Weakness of course is no condi removal, but I’ll sometimes swap the offensiveness of signet of dom for null field if I see a necro approaching.

Anyone else tried condi lockdown?

Yep, but with a different approach than yours. I use Staff/Sc-F: Chaotic Perdition

Works well in both WvW and PvP, especially after the torment buff we got.

Did you try nightmare runes instead of torment since the buff?

I haven’t played that build in a while although I did make a point of buying a full nightmare/rabid set to test out next time I feel like playing condi CI.

Heh. I’ve also played with 0/4/6/0/4. The major issue, honestly … you don’t have the on-demand boon rip like a 4/4/6, or the Maim pressure of a 0/4/4/0/6. However, it can still trip folks up nicely.
Running Traveler on mine – but then, I mainly log for WvW, and more speed is good.
Used to use Perplex pre-nerf, and that was downright frightening to see work on folks.
(Scepter or Sword/Focus, Staff setup. Distraction on utils)

shimmerless.4560:

I think people are overrating the difficulty of playing this setup, at least the 30 Chaos one.

I have to agree, at least in some (many?) 1v1 matchups. In a bigger teamgight it can be hard to utilize. I would absolutely love interrupt if i could have CI, IP and DE by the way for now shatter is more fun for me

BurrTheKing.8571:

Because CI lockdown is the closest you can get to the old GW1 interrupt Mesmer (Power Block doesn’t seem that great atm) it’s the build I started playing Mes with. Now, I feel pretty kitten confident with it (I can generally beat teefs if they don’t catch me w/o CDs), but when it comes to Shatter I’m actually kinda rubbish at it in comparison.

The build also just feels…complete. With Sword/Focus GS you have strong DPS, a skill that can give you and your team swiftness which in addition to Blink means your mobility isn’t too shabby. The damage if you consistently interrupt seems on par if not greater than Shatter. I feel way more valuable when the time comes to save a teammate than on Shatter.

The one weakness is that you have to play well, and that you don’t have room for Portal. That is probably the largest drawback. At the end of the day though it’s a build that is fun to play and you’re not totally screwing your team over when you use it (like when I run a all Physical War) and once mastered can put you on par with Shatter.

I run portal all the time. =P Blink, Portal, and Mantra. I used to run null field but after some clutch portal plays I became a believer.

@Blissless: Landing the interrupts isn’t the difficult part of CI, its capitalizing on them that is. A lot of people have a hard time doing significant damage with CI because its more difficult to land shatters and focus/staff phantasms are madly inaccurate unless your timing is very precise. And again, phantasms aren’t the primary damage source, so its not like you’re kiting all day.

It is easier to survive with CI, but much harder to do significant damage than it is for shatter.

@Warlord: Ty man! And you’re right, maybe we should give that a shot! I’ll work on a new vid for mind crush at least. Dude you gotta fight Helseth while you’re in EU.

zexion.5842:

Hey chaos for lockdown is Staff scepter/pistol a good set up for a power build (with a side of conditions, mainly confusion) if so which of your builds would you use. Or would scepter/sword work better?

Scepter Pistol would be more effective imo, especially if you want a Condi spice. Check out Ross Biddle’s phantasm/lockdown build. Scepter can output some nice power damage, and I’m personally a fan of mixing a sigil of rage with my scept for the quickness boost to auto attack and confuse ray. (but I like weird things like furious interruption on scepter which no one agrees with me on =P)

You’re trading off a damaging boon stripping cleaving auto attack, a very strong defense in blurred frenzy and an immobilize for ranged damage and an on-demand blind, though so your spec would be more effective at mid to far ranges rather than close so be prepared to kite a lot and use ledges to your advantage =P use the scepters ability to delay the last part of the auto attack to mix in different things (ex: auto1, auto2, counter, auto 3 gives you a nice two clones to Diversion[F3] shatter with)

Chaos Archangel.5071:

zexion.5842:

Hey chaos for lockdown is Staff scepter/pistol a good set up for a power build (with a side of conditions, mainly confusion) if so which of your builds would you use. Or would scepter/sword work better?

Scepter Pistol would be more effective imo, especially if you want a Condi spice. Check out Ross Biddle’s phantasm/lockdown build. Scepter can output some nice power damage, and I’m personally a fan of mixing a sigil of rage with my scept for the quickness boost to auto attack and confuse ray. (but I like weird things like furious interruption on scepter which no one agrees with me on =P)

You’re trading off a damaging boon stripping cleaving auto attack, a very strong defense in blurred frenzy and an immobilize for ranged damage and an on-demand blind, though so your spec would be more effective at mid to far ranges rather than close so be prepared to kite a lot and use ledges to your advantage =P use the scepters ability to delay the last part of the auto attack to mix in different things (ex: auto1, auto2, counter, auto 3 gives you a nice two clones to Diversion[F3] shatter with)

Ummmm, I believe on that very Phantrupt Asskicker thread that I totally vouched for Furious Interruption. I even like scepter/pistol with CI sometimes. Sword-focus is still a mainstay.

Tealots.6095:

Chaos Archangel.5071:

zexion.5842:

Hey chaos for lockdown is Staff scepter/pistol a good set up for a power build (with a side of conditions, mainly confusion) if so which of your builds would you use. Or would scepter/sword work better?

Scepter Pistol would be more effective imo, especially if you want a Condi spice. Check out Ross Biddle’s phantasm/lockdown build. Scepter can output some nice power damage, and I’m personally a fan of mixing a sigil of rage with my scept for the quickness boost to auto attack and confuse ray. (but I like weird things like furious interruption on scepter which no one agrees with me on =P)

You’re trading off a damaging boon stripping cleaving auto attack, a very strong defense in blurred frenzy and an immobilize for ranged damage and an on-demand blind, though so your spec would be more effective at mid to far ranges rather than close so be prepared to kite a lot and use ledges to your advantage =P use the scepters ability to delay the last part of the auto attack to mix in different things (ex: auto1, auto2, counter, auto 3 gives you a nice two clones to Diversion[F3] shatter with)

Ummmm, I believe on that very Phantrupt Asskicker thread that I totally vouched for Furious Interruption. I even like scepter/pistol with CI sometimes. Sword-focus is still a mainstay.

You’re not everyone. You’re T!

Hey now, you said “no one agrees.”

I think Rylock said it above, and so did you, Chaos, but there is sort of a two-tiered caliber when it comes to lockdown mesmers. It’s one thing to learn how to land those interrupts. It’s a whole ‘nother ball game to capitalize on them. And sometimes it’s hard to differentiate because, in my case, I can land the interrupt and get by. But making the most of it is the real difficulty.

One thing I’ve been working on is conserving my phantasms, and watching clone positioning. Also, micromanaging defenses.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAW7alsnpRt1oxMNcrRipxY6biJHUNGpCoklMOA-TZhFwAAuIAv2fQxDA4wRAYaZAA

Is what I’ve been thinking. I wanted more shatter and less phantasm. I’m debating between boon stripping and confusion on all shatters. Lyssa is pretty much needed for conditions.

Boon stripping is nice but a constant up keep on confusion can also put a dent on people.

zexion.5842:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAW7alsnpRt1oxMNcrRipxY6biJHUNGpCoklMOA-TZhFwAAuIAv2fQxDA4wRAYaZAA

Is what I’ve been thinking. I wanted more shatter and less phantasm. I’m debating between boon stripping and confusion on all shatters. Lyssa is pretty much needed for conditions.

Boon stripping is nice but a constant up keep on confusion can also put a dent on people.

You have a zerker amulet, take boon strip. Removing protection, regen, and stabos will lead to the netting of more dps than any amount you could hope to proc with a second or two more off a confusion proc.

I was actually hoping power/prec/cond damage would be a thing by now :/

I’ve heard that you can interrupt a thief’s Blinding Power + Heartseeker combo but I’m not sure at what point to try and interrupt it. I’ve tried timing Mantra daze right after BP and also when seeing the HS animation but it seems to make no difference as the thief usually goes into stealth anyways. How do you all do it?

Also, what things do you try and interrupt for Engineers? It seems almost all of their abilities are instant cast and I can’t seem to find anything good to try and interrupt.

Leodon.1564:

I’ve heard that you can interrupt a thief’s Blinding Power + Heartseeker combo but I’m not sure at what point to try and interrupt it. I’ve tried timing Mantra daze right after BP and also when seeing the HS animation but it seems to make no difference as the thief usually goes into stealth anyways. How do you all do it?

Also, what things do you try and interrupt for Engineers? It seems almost all of their abilities are instant cast and I can’t seem to find anything good to try and interrupt.

This is correct. As mantra of distraction is an instant cast skill its very easy to interrupt skills with longer cast animations like heals and yes, heartseeker. When they drop their smoke field they will use heartseeker when they have the initiative. Heartseeker stealths at the end if the animation so when the flip in the air you have plenty of time to interrupt.

Engies, the best thibgs to interrupt are their heal chains and their supply crate elites. They all have obvious animatons.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

@Blissless: Landing the interrupts isn’t the difficult part of CI, its capitalizing on them that is. A lot of people have a hard time doing significant damage with CI because its more difficult to land shatters and focus/staff phantasms are madly inaccurate unless your timing is very precise. And again, phantasms aren’t the primary damage source, so its not like you’re kiting all day.

When I’ve played this setup I still shatter as the main damage source (well, that and the 2-3k halting strike crits, lololol), relying heavily on phants just rubs me the wrong way. But I was under the impression that the latter was meant to be the way to go.

I placed my mesmer on the shelf a few months ago, after maining Her for two years! I felt it required to much work to roam efficiently in wvw anymore!

However past couple of days I’ve started playing lockdown 4/4/6 and all I have to say is o freaking love it! The feeling when you land that perfect interrupt/burst is amazing! The thing I’m left struggling with and by no means being ’rekted’ is s/d thieves and d/d thieves!

BUT compared to the shatter meamer it’s a lot more efficient, for me anyway, against thieves!