Guild Wars 2

Hi everyone,

So I have a new build (three actually) that I am about to release, and would like to try something different for this one.

Instead of releasing the build I’m going to describe the basic premise behind the build and then let the community theory craft. On top of this I will be offering a prize for the best build by the community that fits in this theme.
(Bonus if anyone matches my build directly)

So here is the build -

This build is designed with water in mind, it maximizes the underwater state and is designed to be played in and around the centre of the server borderlands. Its able to control not only the points but also cause disruptions to groups heading through the lake. Maximizing delay and disruption tactics.

What you need to do:

Create a build on an build calc site. Post a breakdown of it in this thread and if possible make a video of you playing the build (not required)

Due date – 14th of May

Kylia

Prizes are as follows: (You can pick one)

- 20g
- Star in one of our Mesmerized Podcasts
- Kylia will make you a WvW video of you! (with music, effects, etc (you may need to provide raw footage)
- (more to come!)

best underwater damage is trident clones and extra bounce trait.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNAW8dlwz6pXUzmGbNJiJFBHyhSR3ldkKUalUYbXIA-j0yA4MAsGGVJY5wioxWwCS5LaVxwqux0oJVHLI7RSKA-w

dodge all day with trident, and switch to spear for escapes. never die

edit: first link was broken

Great post, and a great way to develop/discuss new builds. We should do more of these.

I tried this once, and came up with a 10/30/0/0/30 build.

It’s a combination bleed/shatter/confusion build, using mostly the trident and putting out nonstop clones and phantasm and then shattering before putting out more clones.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQBYEB1jrL7qOSFatSPwNe7CB

Gear is mostly berzerker with a few soldiers or knights depending on how squishy you want to be.

Bleeds stack like crazy from the trident auto and the trident clones and phantasm (both trident and spear via the high crit chance), and then throw in the confusion from blinds (trident 2, traited), shatters, and trident phantasm, and then throw in further the high crit chance and added damage from mind rack, combined with decreased shatter recharge via 30 in illusions, and this build is nigh invincible underwater. Spear is useful for phantasm bleeds, when trident is on cooldown, for finishing off weakened foes, placing vortex in an enemy zerg, and for retreating.

Slot skills are discretionary, though I’d probably take decoy if you need to flee and at least one condition removal skill, if not two.

6x rune of the krait. Every stat is incredibly beneficial to this build.

We’re extremely powerful underwater, tbh. Our Trident carries a mean punch due to how fast we can stack Bleeding, all the while supplying boons to us and allies, readily apply Retaliation in an AE, can Blind, can Sink, we’re very versatile there. And hell does it hurt to get attacked by us.

Spear is no less powerful, though. If you get an enemy against a wall, Use Feigned Surge and it’ll hit them 10+ times, plus you generate two clones from it. #5 and #4 give superior area denial, and #2 and #4 together make us able to freely escape danger (take that, Thieves!). The auto-attack chain and the Mariner are also good for/at avoiding damage, it often surprises people how durable we can be underwater just attacking away.

I have no idea what i’m doing here tbh
Was thinking about something with letting clones and trident attacks stack conditions, and helping get more confusion with glamours and blinds (hence stupid signet of midnight for aoe blind)

dunno if this is even viable due to confusion nerf, but it’s the first thing that popped to my mind

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQBVCPrpeVNFao1jIoecdVn1RShqhalUwbXIA

Looking for more! Keep it coming Mesmer Community!

I’ll probably be adapting one or both of my pvp builds to a fully optimized underwater version. It’s an interesting thing to do, especially since underwater combat is so often neglected.

Pyroatheist.9031:

I’ll probably be adapting one or both of my pvp builds to a fully optimized underwater version. It’s an interesting thing to do, especially since underwater combat is so often neglected.

Challenge to other Build builders (Osicat, Grimm’s, Fey and more!) Modify your build to be best suited for underwater combat. The challenge is on!

My attempt at an Underwater-Focused Build

Same attempt, different format / details

This is a Condition Damage build that focuses mainly on Bleed damage, Shatter-applied Confusion and Dazes, and maintaining strong survivability. The main weapon used would be the Trident, although the Spear can be used situationally for getaways, gathering groups of enemies, or defensively.

Traits are as follows: 15/0/25/0/30

The build’s gear utilizes extended Condition Duration via Giver’s Weapons and high Condition Damage and Toughness via Rabid gear. (Precision is not as important, but is still present with this gear set.)

The combination of Chaos 25 Trait (Chaotic Transference), Master Tuning Crystals, and 6-rune Bonus of Runes of Undead grants 16% of one’s Toughness as Additional Condition Damage. Rare Veggie Pizza and Master Tuning Crystals are recommended for even longer lasting Conditions and more Condition Damage from Vitality.

The general idea is to keep your opponent locked down with Illusion of Drowning (Trident 5), Blindness from Signet of Midnight and Ineptitude, (Trident 2) Moa (Even more annoying underwater than on land) and repeated Dazes via the Diversion Shatter (F3). Siren’s Call (Trident 1) and Illusionary Whaler (Trident 4) will be used to apply plenty of Bleeds and Confusion to your enemies while clones will provide additional buffs and bleeds.

Imbued Diversion (Illusions Trait XII) might be worth swapping in if you know you’ll be encountering multiple enemies. Even with the confusion damage nerf, this build still applies a lot of damage when your opponents use their skills, which they typically try to do out of desperation between being “crowd-controlled” repeatedly.

One weakness is definitely receiving condition damage yourself, since this build focuses more on Toughness to survive than Vitality. Phantasmal Disenchanter helps with this a little, while also removing boons from your opponents (and providing additional shatter fodder if necessary)

The best part is that this build actually isn’t terrible on land either – mostly it struggles with mobility, so run around with your Quaggan buddies since you should be dominating those weather nodes anyway.

There’s a few ways you can do it (my regular build is fine), but here you go.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArfWl0zyqXUzpGb9IipH9GyBcoUsdXXJFz2FC-jkDBYLCiINJjWQZkyAgEBK/pIas1hBp6KslXRTdDTHjIq2cTRzkL1WdAA-w

All you need is a trident, stealth, portal for escapes (drop, swim, lead, port back), eat pizza for 40% condition duration, spawn 3 clones, apply your 25 stacks of bleeding. Fire off your cry of frustration for 100% retaliation while stacking the confusion (shut them down). I didnt change it but full rabid is good. Change the zerker weapons for rabid.

I could pull this off, I would just need to swap my Armour and Weapons (currently Rabid/Rampager, respectively.)
http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQBYEB1jrL7qOSFatSPwNe7CB

It’d basically be a modified Mantra/Bounce spec, using Compounding Power in combination with Empowered Mantras to sling some decently painful DPS.
The Sharper Images allows for Bleed, which slows the opponent to “In-Combat Speed.” Illusionary Retribution allows for Confusion DPS, when you’re forced to Shatter. Illusionary Elasticity buffs Trident’s output. I’d use Crippling Dissipation/MoD/Moa to further lockdown the opponent’s movements (Let alone #2 and 5 from Trident.) Spear #2/4 for movement and escape.

Food:
Needed: Master Maint. Oil (More crits, more Bleeds).
Side Options: Loaf of Omnomberry Bread (More Vitality and Toughness)
Lemongrass Soup (-Condition Duration)
Rare Veggie Pizza (Better Bleed/Confusion)

Not sure how to use underwater weapons on this site but:

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/mesmer/?4.0|0.0.0.0.0.0|6.0.0|1o.714.1o.714.1o.714.1o.714.1o.714.1o.714|1o.63.1o.63.1o.63.1o.63.1o.63.co.63|u58b.u4a7.0.a4.0|3d.4|32.3a.3k.3j.3q|e

(prob better to just read my description since I’m not good at using build sites)

30/30/0/10/0

The build uses spear for 2 and 4 spam for mobility.

This build uses krait runes that gives 100 power underwater. It traits 30 in the first tree to capitalize on hybrid cond.-crit. dmg. with +30% cond. duration and +300 power. This is important for lake domination so that you can destroy enemy quaggan bases quickly (100 power from rune and 30 in first tree (+300) for +400 power and even more +power from rampager gear). You can swap to spear to quickly annihilate those quaggan bases, and with your high power pool. Spam spear 2 and spear 4 to do massive damage to the quaggan base.

An alternative to the krait rune is a +45% bleed duration rune set up: 2x Afflicted, 2x krait, 2x

However, the actual combat weapon of the build utilizes trident, and fights by summoning 3 clones to deal heavy bleeding AoE damage. The sigil must be Earth sigil for bleed on hits on your trident. This build does not use phantasms (unless on spear and hitting quaggans base) because 1) takes long time to cast 2) hits only 1 target 3) Infrequent hit-rates. 4) Clones are easier to bring up quicker and maintain

The build uses the Mantra heal for 3x heals along with the 4th trait tree trait that removes a cond. per heal, meaning you get 3 condition removals on a heal that recharges in just 8 seconds (20% mantra reduction trait)

You trait 30 in the second tree because you want the trait of where crits. on your clones -> bleed. This is where things get interesting. I’ve mathematically calculated that using this trait, precision actually contributes more than cond. dmg because more precision = more bleed.

Simply put, with 3 clones up and you hitting, 21 precision (+1% crit. chance), means a 1% higher chance to deal bleeding = +1% damage per 21 precision for cond. dmg only. This isn’t calculating the damage it also contributes to your actual crit. dmg.

But using this: 10 prec = 10 cond dmg = 1% cond duration. (as exchange rates for each stats, eg. getting 10 prec = losing 10 cond. or 1% cond duration)

Precision gives you about more than 3x more condition damage output than cond. dmg. Cond. duration still is best however. With 21 prec, your opportunity cost is 2% cond. duration which is > +1% dmg with prec.

If you can somehow get fury (20% crit. chance) on all your clones and yourself, your bleed damage output will increase by 20%. This might be achievable with Signet of Inspiration, but probably, your best ally underwater is a Warrior with “For Great Justice!” (might, fury to nearby allies AoE).

EDIT: After I found out that Illusionary Elasticity only gives 1 extra bounce that ends on ally, I will retract this statement,

“Trait 20 in the last tree for +cond. dmg and the bonus bounce hit, which will increase your damage overall by about 25% because you are hitting 1 more times out of 4 hits (you + 3 clones) = 5/4 = 1.25 (this is assuming clones attack at the same rate as you, but they don’t. Therefore, I say about x1.25 damage output [only in calculation to the bleed damage you’ll be doing])”

I will now change the build from 30/20/0/0/20 to 30/30/0/10/0

Here’s my take on it.

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/mesmer/?4.0|6.1b.h5|0.0.0.0.0.0|1b.712.1b.712.1b.73.1b.73.1b.714.1b.714|2w.0.2w.e14.3w.0.2w.0.3w.0.2w.0|a5.k5a.a5.0.u67c|30.7|31.35.34.3h.0|e

But this is pure theorycraft. I don’t have the money to invest on redoing all my stuff.

This build is all about applying bleeds at a ridiculous rate. You should easily get stacks. Condition removal is largely useless because the bleeds are reapplied so quickly.

Killing clones causes cripple which makes it more difficult for the enemy to ever reach you.

Because you want clones up constantly and quickly, utilities skills focus on clone generation.

Death From The Deep [sPvP version] (aka sPvP AquaFly):

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgUQBVCPrheSNrao1kEmZ0bkjWAJFqG1lUgbeD-jUyAYLEkGGtAjIgk9KiGb1sIasaGMVKRUtHpIa1A-w

This build is thought around survivability and damage output for underwater combat, getting the most of both weapons and creating synergy between the pieces of gear used. This build also works on Raid on the Capricorn sPvP map very well if you stay bunkering the underwater point. It is mainly for small-sized combat as you won’t have many AoE capabilities.

Edit: This also has the benefit that you can get shorter cooldowns going Sw/Sw+Staff

Traits:
20/20/25/0/5
Domination: III, VIII
Dueling: II, IV
Chaos: IV, X

Playstyle:
During underwater combat, you will have 3 illusions up almost all the time, most of them doing damage. This build will grant you: more damage and more healing.

Feedback can help stack Confusion quite effectively and fast.

For long range:
Feedback>Trident 3>Trident 4>Trident 5>Trident auto-attack until cooldowns reset>Rinse and repeat

Close range:
Spear 5>Feedback>Spear 4 (for boucing)>Spear 3>Switch weapons>Trident 2>Trident 3>Trident 5>Trident 4

Consumables:
For Power (Spear):
Superior Sharpening Stone (6% of Toughness and 4% of Vitality)
or for Condition Dmg (Trident):
Master Tuning Crystal (6% of Toughness and 4% of Vitality)
Food:
Bowl of Tropical Mousse (100 Toughness/70 Cond Dmg)

Slot Skills:
Ether Feast: As you will be having illusions up almost all the time
Signet of Illusions: Pretty straightforward, illusions last longer, they deal more dmg.
Phantasmal Defender: along with Signet of Illusion it will soak up a big amount of dmg.
Note: If you sacrifice Confusion of Glamour skills you could go 10/20/25/5/10 and give you more dmg for each phantasm (Illusions II) and give them Retaliation for even more raw dmg (5 points in Inspiration).
Feedback: Most of the fight under water will be ranged.

Elite Skill:
Time Warp: The faster you (and your team) hit, the quicker the enemy dies.

Gear:
Soldier Armor with Runes of the Undead
Zerker Spear with Superior Sigil of Accuracy
Rabid Trident with Superior Sigil of Corruption
Rabid Accessories with Exquisite Chrysocola Jewels

Edit: Have other variations too, that rely less on condition dmg and more in direct dmg. Will post them later on.

Some great submissions, loving the Mesmer community.
We have 24 hours left, so there is still time for more submissions!

Great theoeycrafting so far everyone!

Death From The Deep [WvW version] (aka WvW AquaFly):

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgUQBVCPrmePNrao1lEmU0bkfqAzRVA7kKo6SKwNvB-jUyAYLEkGGtAjIgk9KiGb1sIasaGMVKRUtHpIa1A-w

This build is thought around survivability and damage output for underwater combat, getting the most of both weapons and creating synergy between the pieces of gear used. This build is specially design to be able to tag many enemies, grating you more Wxp and more loot.

Note: As in the sPvP version this build also has the benefit that you can get shorter cooldowns on Sword and Staff

Traits:
10/20/20/10/10
Domination: III
Dueling: II, IV
Chaos: IV, X
Inspiration: II
Illusions: III

Playstyle:
During underwater combat, you will have 3 illusions up almost all the time, most of them doing damage. This build will grant you: reduced incoming damage, increase outgoing damage, more healing and having FOUR sources of Retaliation to tag many enemies at once.

Note: You can also choose to sustain a bit more damage in order to get shorter cooldown on Arcane Thievery (faster condition removal and boon stripping) and Mimic (Retaliation) by going Chaos: III, X.

In this version, Feedback has its cooldown shortened too.

For long range:
Feedback>Trident 3>Trident 4>Trident 5>Trident auto-attack until cooldowns reset>Rinse and repeat

Close range:
Spear 5>Feedback>Spear 4 (for boucing)>Spear 3>Switch weapons>Trident 2>Trident 3>Trident 5>Trident 4

Consumables:
For Power (Spear):
Superior Sharpening Stone (6% of Toughness and 4% of Vitality)
or for Condition Dmg (Trident):
Master Tuning Crystal (6% of Toughness and 4% of Vitality)
Food:
Bowl of Tropical Mousse (100 Toughness/70 Cond Dmg)

Slot Skills:
Ether Feast: Same as sPvP version, more clones, more heal, simple.
Arcane Thievery: Transfer your conditions and strip your target’s boons.
Mimic: Can you say, Retaliationx4? (3 Phantasms+You)
Feedback: Most of the fight under water will be ranged.

Elite Skill:
Time Warp: The faster you (and your team) hit, the quicker the enemy dies.
Note: Could also be swapped to Mass Invisibility for something more stealthy/dropping on top of an underwater zerg and another Mesmer just goes with TW

Gear:
Soldier Armor with Runes of the Undead
Zerker Spear with Superior Sigil of Accuracy
Rabid Trident with Superior Sigil of Corruption
Rabid Accessories with Exquisite Chrysocola Jewels

Halfway through my major assignment, got bored and interestingly enough I’ve already done something similar.

I’m just going to say it how it is, Mesmers are OP underwater.

Why only trident?
Illusionary Elasticity coupled with trident and clones underwater is near instant death to any that oppose you. Each auto attack deals between 700-800 damage and 2 stacks of bleed all while applying swiftness, vigor and might. Double energy sigils for damage mitigation and more clones, shatter, shatter, shatter!

Pros

• I don’t know why people haven’t already opted for this, but 100% downed HP food people!!!!!!!!!! I can’t stress how important this is underwater, since no one can finish you, and Mesmer downed state auto attack is already OP you’re already going to face roll 1v1’s and almost guaranteed to come out on top of 1vX’s victoriously.
• Mantra heal for extreme frequent bursts in HP, coupled with high toughness you’ve just set yourself up to become an underwater God.
• Can swap signet of inspiration for Portal if you really want, however lets face it. If you’re needing portal to not die with this build, then chances are you’re probably facing ridic amounts of foe. Something that you probably wouldn’t survive anyway.

Cons

• Even though you can pretty much maintain perma swiftness, your in combat mobility suffers (because there’s no spears in use)

How to Play
Keep up all your clones, frequently Mindwrack and Cry for damage bursts, confusion and increased might. Get close to your foe, spam that auto attack, interrupt with Diversion when necessary(can Diversion for vuln stacks if wanted.) Pop those trident clones to get off confusion and damage bursts and shatter ASAP (you want just generic dodge clones or mirror images clones.) Keep an eye out for enemy regen, protection, vigor etc. Shatter to deny them of their beloved boons! Dodge, dodge, dodge and you’re on your way to victory. Enjoy being an underwater God.

Anyways. Have fun with whatever you’re wanting an underwater build for, it’s amusing to troll I guess (and be OP underwater.)

EDIT: Oh, forgot to mention, stack up on corruption before entering the water, Coyotes are quick and effective.

So? What happened?

Going through all the submissions atm (there were a few!) And expect a podcast with Pyro when we discuss this build and announce the winner

My fingers are crossed! I love you podcasts and would be amazing to be part of one.

Did anyone nailed your exact build?

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Siren%27s_Call

“The tooltip states that the skill bounces 3 times, but in fact only bounces 2 times without Illusionary Elasticity. The clones summoned that cast this are also affected by Illusionary Elasticity. "

^..

Can anyone confirm that?

I thought that Siren’s Call hits enemy, bounces back to you, and hits enemy again. Then traiting for Illusionary Elasticity would only increase 1 bounce back to us for a boon.

Depending on what’s really happening with Siren’s Call, I’d have to edit my post again.

Phira.3970:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Siren%27s_Call

“The tooltip states that the skill bounces 3 times, but in fact only bounces 2 times without Illusionary Elasticity. The clones summoned that cast this are also affected by Illusionary Elasticity. "

^..

Can anyone confirm that?

I thought that Siren’s Call hits enemy, bounces back to you, and hits enemy again. Then traiting for Illusionary Elasticity would only increase 1 bounce back to us for a boon.

Depending on what’s really happening with Siren’s Call, I’d have to edit my post again.

I’m pretty sure I wrote that particular wiki blurb. I do believe my testing was accurate, but feel free to test it yourself to doublecheck my work.

^ Seems to be working for 3 bounce w/o the trait.

And still needa edit my post… they changed the underwater phantom to do confusion instead of bleed…..

Phira.3970:

^ Seems to be working for 3 bounce w/o the trait.

And still needa edit my post… they changed the underwater phantom to do confusion instead of bleed…..

I tested it out, my original testing was correct.

Keep in mind, # of bounces = # of hits -1. When the bolt hits your target, BOUNCES to you, then BOUNCES to your target, that’s 3 hits, but 2 bounces.

So winner has been picked, and will be announced on our next podcast (released on Mondays)
:)

I do ask that when the Podcast comes out, if we can not comment on this post for a few days (to allow all entrants to hear the podcast and not spoil who won

After the podcast being up for a few days I will then post the winner on the forums

Congratulations to TooBz.3065!

For coming up with the build chosen by Pyro and myself as the best submission!
Thank you again for everyone that entered, it is great to see the community getting behind initiatives such as this, and please post below if you would be keen to do another one, and I will make it happen!

Kylia’s AquaFly build will be posted on the Kylia builds post found here:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Builds-Kylia-s-Builds-Compilation/first#post2064352

By all means, come up with something else like this.