Guild Wars 2

I’m playing a shatter build since don’t-know-how-long and tried a bunch of weapon combinations that all have its pros and cons. The build I’m running is this build but still couldn’t figure out which weapon set gets the maximum out of it. So I’m trying to summarize the whole sets so you can eventually give some advice which one matches the build the best:

Greatsword/ Staff
+ both ranged weapons so I don’t have to get to close to the enemy
+ GS5 and Staff5 are useful to interrupt
+ both weapons have bouncing attacks, so they benefit from IE
+ both phantasms are good damage dealers
+ high boon output

Greatsword/ Sword+Focus
+ high damage output
+ burst combo
+ interrupts (GS5, F4)

- focus phantasm sometimes unreliable
- lower mobility

Greatsword/ Sword+Torch
+ high damage output
+ burst combo
+ bouncing attacks
+ stealth

- lower mobility

Greatsword/ Sword+Pistol
+ high damage output
+ burst combo
+ bouncing attacks
+ both phantasms will follow the enemy

- lower mobility

Greatsword/ Sword+Sword
+ highest damage output
+ burst
+ block resp. stun/interrupt

- lower mobility

Staff/ Sword+Pistol
+ nice damage output
+ both phantasms are reliable and follow the enemy
+ stuns resp. interrupts
+ high boon output
+ fast clone production

- lower damage output since no GS

I’m currently running GS with Sword and Focus and so far I really like it because of the mass pull with focus. And I have a reliable source of speed to roam faster between points. But I think the Staff/ Sword+Pistol combo offers probably more survivability due to protection, chaos armor and the pistol5 stun.

So thanks in advance and maybe you have some other set suggestions I didn’t thought of.

In PvP, I prefer Staff and Sword/X.

Staff brings so much extra mobility, and there are so many spots that you can abuse using phase retreat.

Sword for the immobilize. The offhand weapon will vary depending on situation. Torch if I feel I need to play defensively, pistol if I need more dps (magic bullet also sets up for shatters nicely).

Random addendum: I think blade training is better than far-ranging manipulations. More blurred frenzies and more illusionary leaps.

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that this is regarding tPvP. ^.^"

Thank you mango – I have to say Staff and Sword/x is really nice. And my damage doesn’t drop as much as I thought before. Magic bullet is also nice for Halting Strike crits.

Mhmm, I though about Blade Training as well but I’m kinda used to the max range blink and it makes porting on ledges and higher terrain much easier. But I’ll give it a try in the next few tournaments.

At first I was going to say whatever you like – there isn’t really a “best”.

But then you say regarding tpvp – seems GS/staff is flavour of the month over there (I can’t speak from any experience, as I don’t play in team arena), but I suppose it depends on what your team needs.

Trouble with staff and sword + /torch/sword is severe weakness in chasing opponents – not that it matters much in pvp. At least staff (and IP) makes it a piece of cake to res allies, and kite around points. If you take off hand pistol then that makes it a little easier for chasing. Focus is a mess at the moment IMO – the other 3 offhands are better.

Personally I feel staff just doesn’t hit hard enough anymore – so I have to take GS. And I think sword + torch is an excellent defensive/offensive set (although no phase retreat).

I would take either:
Staff + Sw/P
GS + Staff
GS + Sw/x (whatever you like in the off hand, preferably torch)

Are you new to the mesmer class or just learning it? If so take Staff and Sword/x as that is quite an easy set to get to grips with and is still very viable. As you gain experience you can pick more offensive set-ups like Greatsword and Sword/Pistol. I myself use Greatsword and Staff as the latter offers so much mobility it’s hard to drop.

Thank you all for your answers.

@ Benjamin:
I’m not new to mesmer as I play mesmer since gw2 start and it’s the only class that I can play properly in tpvp ( at least I think so…). Like I said I tried a bunch of sets; first GS +Sw/F because I read a guide about how-to-shatter-properly. After that, I used GS + Sw/T for the extra survivability. Third I tried GS + Staff at the recommendation of a fellow mesmer. But then I thought that I’d probably deal more damage if I change Staff for Sw/x – and here x was the focus. And now, we got wrecked by 55HP Monks during the last ESL Weekly Cup (no offense taken, they are way much better) and Misha played with Staff + Sw/P. So I thought I give it a try since the extra stun on pistol is more useful in teamfights. I don’t have to bring up chaosstorm for the boons in a teamfight and like Curunen said Staff is better for kiting – and all I do is running around, kite and kill.

And, like you said, staff offers much mobility that’s hard to drop (not to mention I like the staff much more than the GS…).

So, I’ll try more out this evening and see where I get.

I have a lot of sets as well and so far my favorites are:
Staff + GS for tPvP (May sometimes go for Staff + Sw/f on Skyhammer)
Gs + Sw/t for WvW solo roaming
Staff + Sw/F for WvW team roaming

Staff + Gs is very hard to play compared to other sets but I enjoy it a lot.
Staff gives you crazy control of the fight and GS can give you so much burst if you take IE (MB into MS + dodge/MW). I never really stick to one set, I play it all, but I really do prefer Staff + Greatsword.

Staff + Sw/T for solo roaming because of the stealth. It helps a lot when you need to hide from a zerg and have your elite on cooldown, allows you to surprise your enemy with stealth and can help you reset/reposition yourself if you screw something up.

Staff + Sw/F for team roaming because staff by itself gives your team crazy support through chaos storm, sword can be used to help focus targets and focus is great for controlling people, stopping stomps from being interrupted or interrupting stomps on my teammates. I do sometimes swap staff out for greatsword..

Have a good one!

~Monns

I know this is premature, but one day I’d love to be able to play Sword/Torch + Pistol/Focus.

The latter of course requires the main hand, and a fixed focus!

Yunalesca.9850:

+ both ranged weapons so I don’t have to get to close to the enemy

Note that you do need to close in to get the most out of Illusionary Persona Mind Wracks. That’s one of the things that makes Sword so attractive to most builds.