Guild Wars 2

Mesmers are a really great class, but there was a “problem” today when it comes to a group invitation for a fractal group.. They blatantly told me that because i was running condition gear on a Mesmer that I was “useless” and that I am worthless and that get used to be being kicked if i am not a “Zerker” Mesmer. While I understand the benefits of being a zerker I spent a considerable sum around perhaps 150 bucks perfecting this mesmer from 1-80 and do quite well on “most” occasions. I enjoy the PvE content and have quite a bit of fun and I base most of my gear on “power” and “toughness” as traits and run the -20% glamour build with the roller phantom with shatter buffs in my hero traits. So I play as a high vitality/defensive shatter mesmer but yet tonight my confidence and work seemed to crumble before me because some jerk decided that i wasn’t “applicable” .. Are Zerkers the only path a mesmer can take, or can I keep what I have and just forget what this idiot told me… I feel so confused and I feel like i put in over 5 months worth of work on this character for nothing.. Why does there even have to be builds exist that people “Must” follow.. isnt this still a game to be enjoyed by all or is the JQ/Servers community this dense we have to be forced to play something to be included in this “inner circle” any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Berserker or assassin is the optimal gear choice for mesmer, but if you don’t want to be kicked from a group just join one or make one yourself with no requirements.

This haven been debated many times, power wins over condition in PVE (25 stack limit etc).

There are a lot of mesmers with zerker gear waiting in line and some group wants a player that do the most damage possible for their class.

Other groups want to have a fun time and cares little about your build. I run full zerker in PVE but I avoid all groups who request zerker gear, minimum of AP’s or lvl since they tend to just be focused on finishing the dungeon asap and have little tolerance for error.

I often do story mode with noobs just to have fun and have a random experience and help people.

Realise your build is less effective, dont care about it, follow Maha’s suggestion and start your own groups saying like “All welcome” or “I run cond, got a problem with that?!”

This applies to most classes… in PvE content its berserk or make/control your own groups.

Just carry a extra set of armour/weapons and move on.

This not only applies to mesmer, neither to most professions. This applies to ALL professions.

Even in necros, where condi builds are way more powerful, a zerker necro will outperform a condi nero in PvE.

Zerker meta in pve has been here for a long time, and there is no sign that is going to change in the future.

PD: So you have 3 options:
- Keep taking a condi emsmer in meta parties, make others be mad with you and make them kick you from the party.
- Adapt to meta and play with zerker mesmer.
- Try to only find parties that don’t care about what you bring.

Avandor.5743:

This applies to most classes… in PvE content its berserk or make/control your own groups.

Just carry a extra set of armour/weapons and move on.

^This if only because you might want to try a slightly different build at some point. Not because someone took the game too seriously by the sounds of it. Well that or they came off more strongly about it than they intended too. I would like to think it is the latter since it can be easily done. But then I can be overly optimistic.

I mean I am still learning with my own Mesmer at the moment so this might be the newbieness of me coming out but it sounds like (based on how you say you are able to play your Mesmer), that they just don’t feel to comfortable using anything other than “Zerker” for group raids at the moment? Rather than an issue with the build itself. But since I don’t know which group said that too you or how experienced they are I could be completely wrong on this. I mean all builds can be good if used correctly right? Or am I wrong on this?

Either way I wouldn’t worry to much about it just continue to have fun with the game I’m sure if they don’t want to raid with you another (as jenzie.4083 has pointed out) group will want to raid with you regardless of Zerker or lack there of.

All builds are viable. You can complete the content.

Not all builds are optimal, or even good. I personally think condition Mesmer is awful (we have very poor condition application that does meaningful damage). Some people, who are concerned about efficiency, are not going to be happy running with a condi Mesmer because of this.

If you want the optimal builds, check my sig. I’m not sure why you’re so concerned about re-gearing— you can always use your condi gear in wvw and it’s not so expensive to pick up a full berserker set from CoF tokens, and then buy ranger runes cheaply on the TP. Again, this only matters if you care about optimal. If you just want to yolo, go ahead and play condi— it’ll be slower, but that decision is up to you and your group.

Berserker Mesmer is also sub-optimal compared to other classes in PvE. If that group didn’t know you were using condition gear could they really tell the difference?

Clownmug.8357:

Berserker Mesmer is also sub-optimal compared to other classes in PvE. If that group didn’t know you were using condition gear could they really tell the difference?

A s/s s/f 6/4/0/4/0 build with reflections has pretty good DPS, if you can keep phantasms up.

Clownmug.8357:

Berserker Mesmer is also sub-optimal compared to other classes in PvE. If that group didn’t know you were using condition gear could they really tell the difference?

You absolutely could. Mesmer DPS, especially in fractals against long-lasting bosses with no stacking, is very good.

And there are a thousand little ways to tell when a player is more likely not running a meta/berserker build.

I just experienced this yesterday, running AC p3 had a condi mesmer and a survival Ele both had ice bows and neither could solo a mound. nuff said.

Despite some of the responses being a little jaded, I have taken the advice of the community and geared my mesmer after selling quite a bit of my bank items and at the sacrifice of crafting materials for my ascended weapon, I am now fully outfitted in a “Assassin Exhaulted” set with “Ruby Orbs” and I am noticing a difference however my defense has plummeted and i have to be more careful than i was before with groups of enemies. I am currently running in my traits a 0/6/6/2/0 so that i am cloning upon rolling and having a slight shatter burst with medic feedback to assist. I know i may regret asking but what are the best traits for a zerker mesmer and i hope the 35g i invested in this set isnt going to be for naught in a few months.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Guide-How-To-Mesmer-in-Dungeons/first

I used to run a staff condi build when I started the game, and boy how I was mislead… So much time kiting mobs and waiting for them to die risking your life despite defensive stats in the process when you could just switch to berserker’s and melt him down before he reaches you.

That said – yes, in open world PvE any build is viable, as you can more or less complete content. But when you’re in a group, then social responsibility comes into place, and it’s my opinion that it’s better to support your allies in the best way possible – with “best support is a dead mob” philosophy making a lot of sense.

Not sure about Assasin’s unless you have crit sigils, but personally, I’m running a universal 4/2/0/5/3 build with Empowered Illusions, Greatsword Training, Blade Training, Mender’s Purity/Persisting Images, Warden’s Feedback for traited reflects (they’re fun and useful when they do work), and Compounding Power. Mostly Berserker’s gear with Traveler’s runes for speed, Berserker’s GS / some vit-tough-power (mistake of old days, but I’ll keep it since it’s ascended) Sword + Focus. Signet of Ether for casting two phantasms, Blink, Feedback/Null Field/Decoy, Mantra of Resolve. Sustain is pretty good for PvE regardless since mobs die faster than I do, and instead of shattering you build up phantasms and keep them (getting regen by the way), and the exta vit/toughness are good for PuGs. For dungeons, you may want to switch the “nooby” GS for offhand sword, though, and Blink for Signet of Inspiration for boonsharing; speedclearer’s would require you pure zerk, though, but for PuGs it should work. Reduced cooldowns, speed, and fire sigil are good for open world tagging with which mesmers have problem, but for dungeons other options may be better.

So good luck with your damage build and I hope you’ll start enjoying dying mobs far more than pursuing mobs now!

maha.7902:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Guide-How-To-Mesmer-in-Dungeons/first

ninjad (:

Assassins is great. Go for ranger runes, which are much better than ruby orbs, ASAP. Learn to dodge, and use sword 2 and sword 4 for evade/block. Maha gave you the link for builds.

If you really want the optimal playstyle, this is it. It’s harder, and relies on your ability to dodge, but it’s strongest at the end of the day.

op, what is your build? Mesmer are usually used to exploit the map due to their interesting utilities.

Usually everyone will kick selfish mesmer builds because a necro will be more useful than a mesmer at dps.

Zerker isn’t only one build for Dungeon.

But I think that people who experienced gamer with zerker bring efficiency…..and many people who advertise their party on LFG wants to play dungeon with efficiency…LoL

Zerker gear and high cleave is the way to go in PVE. It’s quite simple.

MetalWave.8149:

Zerker isn’t only one build for Dungeon.

But I think that people who experienced gamer with zerker bring efficiency…..and many people who advertise their party on LFG wants to play dungeon with efficiency…LoL

i really blame anet and their design decisions that caused zerker to be the only setup that should be in dugeons.

mobs do too much damage.

mobs have too much heath which makes beating them exhausting.

pff
Even in zerker gear Mesmer is useless due to lowest damage in the game. Mesmer is only needed for CoF p1 in random group and for its signet in const-parties.

I have seen alot of parties with search name including “no more mesmers”.

If you want to go to the dungeaons create a zerker warrior