Guild Wars 2

Can someone tell me how to properly use clones in a PvP environment to confuse the opponents? I’ve only fought against one mesmer who did a darn good job of making people confused on which was a clone and which was the caster. Most of my clones end up on shatter skills.

I first assumed it was spamming basic skills and avoid dodging to give it away, but it never works out. Anyone who recognizes when a clone is created and what skill was used to create it, can pinpoint the actual caster. Or better yet, whack a clone and see that you’re doing way too much damage, and move on until you find the actual caster. There has to be a way to use clones to keep people guessing and leave you alone, because I’ve seen it done before (albeit only once).

Good players will spot a clone quickly no matter what you do. The best way to gain a sec or 2 is to disguise the summoning or cast the skill out of view. Generally this means using stealth, teleports, and dodge rolls off the edge of their screen when summoning illusions. Busy spell effects like chaos storm, feedback, etc, can also help.

Pretty much what Gaiawolf said. Using lots and lots of things with spell effects and teleporting around makes it extremely difficult to find the real mesmer. Given 1-2 seconds, I will be able to pinpoint the mesmer, but the more you teleport, the longer it takes for you to be found.

Great spells for this include blink, illusionary leap/swap, and phase retreat as actions that have flashy effects and move you suddenly. Big spells like chaos storm make it difficult to follow you. If you combine decoy with a blink behind them, it almost guarantees you several seconds. When you shatter, even if you don’t have illusionary persona, run to them, look like a clone.

dueling trait X gives you create clone on dodge and the five point minor trait gives you near permanent vigor. so dodge dodge dodge… just getting three illusions up and stay moving will help as much as possible.

the reality is that good players wont be fooled so dont expect it to.

pinkbunnies.4620:

dueling trait X gives you create clone on dodge and the five point minor trait gives you near permanent vigor. so dodge dodge dodge… just getting three illusions up and stay moving will help as much as possible.

the reality is that good players wont be fooled so dont expect it to.

actually its possible to fool good players. After stealth, act like a clone like running side by side with your clone. This move will fool almost any player. This trick wont work before stealth because the player still has a target on you. Stealth removes the target

Rolling out Clones during stealth, especially if you do it out of your opponent’s view, can confuse them. There’s already a lot of good tips here, stealth and teleport abilities are key for Clone deception.

Create a couple clones then stealth/create a couple of clones then blink behind them. Then create more and act like a clone until they find you again.

Keep coming from different angles. Mix it up, create 1 clone the next time then stealth etc… The hardest thing for me is just slowing it down. Don’t shatter your clones as soon as possible, let them work for you. If they kill one just create another. Breath and enjoy the fight, don’t rush it until you know you have them, then burst with your shatters to finish them. The more opponents you take on at once the more important your patience is.

In a long fight the side that loses patience first will lose (usually me). Then sometimes, someone will catch you off guard and WTFPWN you but it happens.