Guild Wars 2

A.K.A, “The Blind Spammer”
Updated 3/2/2015 to account for patch changes of the last year

RIP as of 6/23/15
Tournament Footage
ToL3 2nd round 1st match
ToL3 2nd round 2nd match
ToL3 2nd round 3rd match

We ended up placing 6th place in our 32 team group.

Inspiration: keenlam posted this build in the lockdown thread some time ago that caught my attention. Discussion in this thread further developed the build. I rolled with the bunker idea from there. After a good month of extensive play and testing, I would like to share this idea with the community.

Utility: “Having or made for a number of useful or practical purposes rather than a single, specialized one.” Ok granted that was the 11th definition in the online dictionary but drives the point home of what this build is about. I offer a bunker spec which is designed for disablement. It’s a form of lockdown, spamming the infliction of one of the most powerful conditions in the game, blind. It is designed to be on point and excels in that role, but can also be an effective roamer with the alternate build. Used in these ways, the build has extreme utility and flexibility. There are a few variants depending on game type and role.

1. Utility Bunker (PvP): 0/0/4/4/6 http://tinyurl.com/lqexwq5: The original bunker build, power based. This provides the most survivability, designed to be played on point.
2. Utility Bruiser (PvP): 0/0/6/4/4 http://tinyurl.com/lczhtg5: A hybrid build using celestial runes. This outputs much more damage than the bunker with amazing sustain and survivability. Rune choices are variable, see that section below.
3. Utility Bruiser (WvW): 0/0/6/4/4 http://tinyurl.com/noedbs5: A hybrid build focused on reflects and blinds for havoc squads or pug zergs.
4. Utility Supporter (WvW): 0/0/6/4/4 http://tinyurl.com/p5tchak: A build focused on reflects, blinds, healing and boon share for zergs. Rune choices are variable, see that section below.

How do we help?

Pros

• AoE Blind. Every glamour (null field, feedback, portal if equipped), signet of midnight, chaos armor, rune of the flock #4. The build has the ability to maintain impressive AoE blind uptime.
• AoE Reflects. The build has massive amounts, accomplish via traited focus, traited feedback CD, medic’s feedback (in team play mode – see below), and optional masterful reflection, proc’d often from using distortion on points.
• AoE Boon stripping. Null field on CD and iDisenchanter (if slotted) are excellent.
• AoE Condition removal. Null field on CD, iDisenchanter if slotted, iWarden/Temporal Curtain combo field and almost most importantly, constant AoE blind spamming. It sounds crazy but I’ve found Null Field and a good amount of regen is almost all I need to combat conditions.
• AoE regeneration. With > 1,200 healing power, your phantasms can provide permanent regeneration at 280 health/sec for you and party members. Personal regeneration uptime is increased further with Chaos Armor.
• Decent protection without requiring stealth. You can maintain about 50% uptime depending on your rune choice.
• Chaos Armor. Yes, you want to get it. Any opponent (not already blind!) who successfully attacks you can potentially be blinded (dat RnG!). You can maintain a great deal of Chaos Armor uptime using Staff #4, phase retreat and iLeap through the 3 ethereal fields.
• Swiftness. Between Chaos Armor, Chaos Storm and Temporal Curtain, you are fast in and out of battle.

Cons

• Damage. Not really a con but will mention it. Being a support build first, the general damage output is lower than a DPS focused build. That said, the bruiser builds can output some impressive damage and adequately kill most every build out there from any profession besides other bunkers.

Utility Bunker (PvP)
So much of your skill’s utility is shared. Feedback provides reflects, blinds, and combo field. Null Field cleanses conditions, strips boons, blinds, combo field etc. The idea is to chain your blind applications as you need the usage of the primary skill effects. It’s easy to get into a rhythm with a little practice. The other important thing to remember is to keep Chaos Armor up at all times, whenever possible. Wait to pop Chaos Storm until you have no other ethereal field (meaning no blind applicator). Be patient with this; it naturally protects you with aegis and buys time for your glamours to come off CD. Use temporal curtain for reflects or pull opponents off the point (again buying time). Blurred Frenzy for the free dodge. Most importantly, put IP to good use, primarily for Distortion and Diversion.

Gear

• Amulet: Cleric
• Sigils: Energy/Optional.
• Runes: Flock.

Utility Bruiser (PvP/WvW)
All the defensive tips described in the bunker are at play here with the blinds. From there, the similarities end and you’re playing much more offensively. This build is 0/0/6/4/4. As such, you can take BI and either CI or CD for staff cooldowns. I can’t stress enough taking CD for 6s phase retreats. CI can be brutal allowing confusing images, iWarden/iWarlock attacks to more easily land. When you have fury+decent might, look for opportunities to burst with mind wrack and other opportunities to chain a 3 clone diversion bomb. I’ve run the build with mirror images vs signet of midnight and the extra damage is very noticeable, especially when you begin a fight in staff with three clones. Whether running CD or CI, the third utility slot is personal choice due to the many options (blink/decoy, etc).

Gear

• Amulet: Celestial
• Sigils: Leeching/Doom on Sc/F, Hydromancy/Geomancy on Staff.
• Runes: Pirate. Build can be played with numerous rune varieties. In testing, power runes were most effective. The WvW bruiser uses altruism runes for better party support.

Utility Supporter (WvW)
You’ll be in the center of the pack passively healing for large amounts via your phantasms and sharing of regeneration (and other boons) via the signet of inspiration. All the active defenses come into play here with the glamours and blinds. Anti-toxin runes are used and along with the food ensure conditions will be no threat. Might is plentiful via the runes and interrupts.

Gear

• Weapons/Armor: Apothecary.
• Sigils: Mischief/Renewal on both sets.
• Runes: Anti-toxin, though there are many viable options based on healing power that can be taken easily for even more of a heal focus. Notable choices are Flock, Dwayna or Monk.

Combos
Video: Utility Wizard Combos
I’ll describe them from easiest to hardest. Easier ones build into the others as described.

1. Swap Burst: In Sc/F, swap to staff in melee range to proc hydromancy and geomancy sigils.
2. Condi Storm: Swap Burst + Chaos Storm.
3. Hydro Wrack: Swap Burst + Chaos Storm + mind wrack or diversion.
4. Confusion Pull: Lay down curtain and channel confusing images into focus pull.
5. Whirling Confusion: Cast Feedback/Null Field/Chaos Storm with an iWarden. Immediately follow with confusing images.
6. The Devastator: Lay down curtain. After they dodge, try to get block with Scepter #2 then pull while running toward them. Cast iWarden followed by a Condi Storm or Hydro Wrack to finish it off.

Condi Storm is the simplest and most important combo to execute consistently on point. It unloads massive cc with primarily chill and all other chaos storm debuffs, providing your team the opportunity to burst.

Hydro Wrack is best used with mind wrack if opponent is below 50% health and diversion if hovering above 50% (anticipating the heal).

Confusion Pull helps land all five pulses of confusing images. Use confusing images also when you’re setting up an interrupt (Chaos Storm/Diversion). Try to land confusing images on the furthest opponent to tag any others in the path of the beam.

Whirling Confusion can inflict up to 10 stacks of confusion with the whirl finisher plus confusing images. Works best with Feedback due to the instant cast.

The Devastator full combo will rarely work in a 1v1 though chances are higher if running CI instead of CD. In point fights you can typically execute the whole thing successfully. Torment from the block only applies to one opponent, but the rest of the combo is AoE. Setting up this combo in conjunction with a teammate’s combo (anticipating the pull area) can guarantee point wins in many cases.

Wow what an interesting spec.

Lots of CC, lots of team utility… I think this pretty much defines Lockdown/Support. Definitely looking forward to seeing some videos of this in action, but couple questions.

- I’m not sure if Compounding Power will be much of a damage increase, you’ll probably get more damage out sticking close to your phantasms while all of y’all have Retaliation, in which case Confusing Cry could possibly be a better bet (loading up on Retal before the phantasms come in. Of course, since you have sword/focus you already have a pretty high retal uptime, in that case Illusionary Invigoration could also be a good choice (Popping Distortion/distraction early in a fight, then refresh them at 50% HP).

- Have you considered a condition damage (Shamans or .. whatever it got renamed to) variant? May be just as good utility with a higher damage output

Hmm. I kind of want to tweak this for small group WvW play just for something different. I’ll let you know how it goes (though have to save up gold first for possible server transfer )

I agree with you Zen I think it would be an awesome build to use in a 5 man roaming squad. The aoe blinds and reflects would just be devastating to most groups.

@Chaos: I ran a condition spec for the first week or so with S/Sc-F using shaman’s amulet. Damage was decent and I was holding points OK, but with condition damage hovering around 1,000 it wasn’t spectacular by any means. Understanding I really wasn’t destined to be a damage dealer as a full bunker, I started experimenting with S/Sw-F and clerics. The ethereal field combo finishers were priceless and didn’t look back to the condition spec. I could maintain a much higher chaos armor uptime with a leap finisher in each weapon set. That said, I thought about trying the condition build using S/Sw-F but haven’t been motivated to really explore it. You’re right about compounding power; I was using it to eek out as much damage as I could (I believe I wasn’t full clerics at the time either). The much better option at this point though is to use lllusionary Invigoration and I’ll be switching to that immediately.

I do have some footage and may try to put something together but unfortunately it’s hot join and probably not a good example of what you’d see in higher level play. Maybe I’ll try to get some solo queue or even team queue to get something better.

@Zen and Deathcon: I had thought about WvW possibilities, even threw a theory-crafted build together a couple weeks back using primarily dire armor, but didn’t get too far with it, thinking it wouldn’t be as viable there. I figured people would say, “why not just run glamours since you’re most of the way there”, etc. However, I didn’t consider the effect this build could have in a smaller roaming team and I can definitely see that (hence updated the topic). I would be most interested in hearing your experiences. I’m curious to hear the variations you are thinking about.

The build has a focus on three things: cc via blind, then reflects and then (to a lesser degree) party regeneration. You don’t necessarily have to spec for all three to be effective though. You could go for just blind and reflects, opening up a power or condition build potential and still be useful because it’s all about the traits/utilities. I’m pondering a couple different PvP variations along those lines.

Deathcon.5903:

I agree with you Zen I think it would be an awesome build to use in a 5 man roaming squad. The aoe blinds and reflects would just be devastating to most groups.

Unfortunetly in a 5 man havoc squad you need some serious spike damage – something a damage oriented Mesmer excel at. Blinds are reflects are not that effective against small groups – they just run out of the circles and avoid the reflect (unless they are idiots, hey it happen).

So choosing a bunkerish glamour build would essentially take a natural killer and turn him into a fluffy butterfly.

Its a great zerg build though.

Hi skcamow, cool build. Interesting choice of rune and investment in healing power.

Just a comment in the blind from glamours from my own experience running a similar build:
The blind persists even if the target moves out of your glamors and its an AoE blind. Feedback has no cast time and Null Field has 1/4s cast time, so it’s a guaranteed hit.
It takes some practice with the timing/positioning of your AoE cast to negate enemy bursts completely. Sometimes, its simply a matter of putting Null Field on cap point to deny enemy team to cap that point, thus a bunker build. In WvW, your glamours can act as area denial additionally.

I agree with Chaos that if you want to go full support with this build, in WvW zerg fight, Retaliation should be invested in (Cry of Frustration, Leap combo with Light Field) so that any attack gets thru Blind and will meet with Retaliation, punish the enemies even more.

Alternatively, you can spec full condition with Blind & Confusion working together as control conditions —> a lockdown build with soft CC rather than hard CC (daze, stun).

skcamow, have u tried Imbued Diversion instead of iPersona, you probably wont have good clone generation to shatter a lot, so might as well get the AoE daze and chain it with blind to completely lock down enemy’s skill usage.
Just a thought.

Dawdler.8521:

Deathcon.5903:

I agree with you Zen I think it would be an awesome build to use in a 5 man roaming squad. The aoe blinds and reflects would just be devastating to most groups.

Unfortunetly in a 5 man havoc squad you need some serious spike damage – something a damage oriented Mesmer excel at. Blinds are reflects are not that effective against small groups – they just run out of the circles and avoid the reflect (unless they are idiots, hey it happen).

So choosing a bunkerish glamour build would essentially take a natural killer and turn him into a fluffy butterfly.

Its a great zerg build though.

I was thinking more a 10 man squad as opposed to 5. Sadly looks like the money to play around with it is going to be spent transferring due to server WvW death. So might be a little bit before I play with it there.

keenlam.4753:

Just a comment in the blind from glamours from my own experience running a similar build:
The blind persists even if the target moves out of your glamors and its an AoE blind. Feedback has no cast time and Null Field has 1/4s cast time, so it’s a guaranteed hit.
It takes some practice with the timing/positioning of your AoE cast to negate enemy bursts completely. Sometimes, its simply a matter of putting Null Field on cap point to deny enemy team to cap that point, thus a bunker build. In WvW, your glamours can act as area denial additionally.

Indeed – there is really nothing your opponents can do to avoid being hit with a glamour because they are so quick to cast. If you need an AoE blind, just throw it right on them. Same goes for signet of midnight to AoE blind opponents in melee range. I typically try to save null field for when I’m spammed with conditions, but I do use it often for proactive blinds. Feedback is generally spammed heartily.

keenlam.4753:

skcamow, have u tried Imbued Diversion instead of iPersona, you probably wont have good clone generation to shatter a lot, so might as well get the AoE daze and chain it with blind to completely lock down enemy’s skill usage.
Just a thought.

I haven’t tried Imbued Diversion, but IP has become one of my primary means of survivability in the build. Before Chaos suggested it, I was doing alright with just the blinds but after putting that in, it really took it to another level. Since I don’t have much clone generation, those instant dazes/invulns when I don’t have them are priceless.

I still need to play around with Illusionary Invigoration, which should make the build even stronger with the immediate recharges on my dazes/invulns at 50% health. I haven’t got back to try it yet though.

Any other thoughts on this, or anyone try it out in PvP/WvW?

Haven’t had a chance yet to try it, money going towards server transfer

Just wondering if someone can give some feedback on the effectiveness of this build in WvW and what gear setup to have a nice balance between damage and survivability.

Thanks.

Going to test out something like this:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNAsdWlwzSoXVTqGb9IhJF9G5nUw8lj6B4t+3B-j0BBohCi0Cg0HBKLqIasVPFRjVPjIqWfETKAIWWB-w

Not a damage/survivability blend, but an obnoxious, mostly tanky blind spammer, with extra condition duration for chaos storm/woc conditions. Not completely sold on it, so haven’t bought gear yet.

Looks interesting

After some minor trait tweaks and refining/testing with Zen (thanks!), I wanted to share what I believe is a solid WvW small team and zerg build.

We go 0/0/30/20/20. The PvP spec is 0/0/20/20/30, but I didn’t see the need for illusionary persona as much in WvW. Much more can be gained from bountiful interruption with this build. Gearing up was tricky and I eventually arrived to a hybrid spec, which was surprising since I’m not really into gearing that way, but it works for this build.

The build is successful currently by spamming blinds and reflects. Come 12/10, going hybrid creates an additional damage source that wasn’t possible before by taking dazzling glamours and blinding befuddlement together. So you have the inherent blind/reflect focus, plus confusion bonus as well.

There is flexibility if you want to slot signet of inspiration and share all that might you’ll proc from interrupts (timely focus pulls and chaos storm). Using hoelbrak runes, might duration at 50% is significant and the additional condition protection is always welcome.

Here are a couple specs:
More tanky/condition damage, less power: http://tinyurl.com/monqda6
Less tanky/condition damage, more power: http://tinyurl.com/oodfmzw
3/2/2015 see original build post for updated WvW small team/zerg build

These are just guidelines; use whatever works best for you.

A couple other things, the recent iWarden change has caused some unpredictability. Hoping for a fix soon. Also, we’re working on getting some footage together.

Using the PvP bunker idea, one could spec full clerics in WvW and create a full support spec, but this hasn’t been fully explored yet.

EDIT: Posted a healing support alternate in the OP.

So bumping this, dueling this build yesterday made me realize how it really emphasizes the effectiveness of blinds. One of the most interesting factors was dropping Null Field on someone and using the resulting blind as a sort of interrupt, it screwed up my phantasm summons pretty hard and put it on a full cooldown.

It also makes me reconsider Signet of Midnight: While the passive needs a buff desperately, the active is surprisingly effective. o_O

Also.. Bunker Mesmer ftw!

Chaos Archangel.5071:

So bumping this, dueling this build yesterday made me realize how it really emphasizes the effectiveness of blinds. One of the most interesting factors was dropping Null Field on someone and using the resulting blind as a sort of interrupt, it screwed up my phantasm summons pretty hard and put it on a full cooldown.

It also makes me reconsider Signet of Midnight: While the passive needs a buff desperately, the active is surprisingly effective. o_O

Also.. Bunker Mesmer ftw!

Yeah to be honest, I was surprised I did so well against the 20/20/30 lockdown spec, though only 2 duels doesn’t really say a whole lot. I’ll continue to experiment with it but for sure the ether signet added some significant survivability versus w/out, even without DE in the build.

I’m playing the build a bit different now than when I originally posted, opting for a condition focused sc/f-staff 0/0/30/20/20 (build linked in OP). It feels so much stronger and I’m killing things decently, much better than the original. The little bit of dueling I’ve done has been really successful. Mesmers are the hardest class by far because the blinds are difficult to land on both the mesmer and phantasms.

I’ll also note that I’m really looking forward to the new patch when I can play the 0/0/30/20/20 WvW build, but with the 20 in Illusions going to Illusionary Elasticity. I’ll likely take mirror images as well which will replace signet of midnight for roaming and could swap in and out when zerging or squad play. Blinding befuddlement goes away as a result, but is really just trash which desperately needs to be taken out to the curb.