Guild Wars 2

Hey, haven’t played Mesmer for a while now and I want to return to her for HoT,
Assuming I currently have full zerker gear, what would you recommend running? (completely lost in terms of traits and weapons …)

Thanks in advance

Anyone? Im kinda lost here

Just start with whatever you were running before hot. Unlock chrono and use its wells and shield skins. AoE does wonders for tagging all the mobs which means more exp.

I now run dom, duel, chrono build.

I used to run meta dungeon build , which I assume would be too glassy for this. Also Im not really sure which weapons to use

Also, when did you guys started using Chrono line? Right away for the shield or did you wait a bit?

Personally I didn’t start using chrono until at least I unlocked the grandmaster minor.

One of the reasons no one has suggested a build is because with how everything has changed, no one is sure exactly what to do yet. It is like being given half a dozen ways to melt face, and having to pick one. I can give you some fairly basic builds, though.

Illusions + Domination/Dueling + Chronomancer Avenger Build: Compounding Power, Phantasmal Haste, Chronophantasm are the real important traits. Basically, with how illusions only receive 1/20th the damage they used to, it is fairly easy to get 3 Illusionary Avengers up. These avengers pulse out AoE alacrity and slow on hit. Personally on this build I run 4 wells + time warp, and also use All’s Well that Ends Well and Improved Alacrity for traits. After summoning a few avengers, you continuum shift, time warp + wells, then use the wells again after the shift ends. Soon you’ll have 3 phantasmal avengers giving out near permanent alacrity and slowness. Sword/Shield is recommended.

That build is good for a long haul fight, but for more burst, there’s another one:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/PvE-The-New-Chronomancer-Dungeon-Rotation/first#post5517427

This isn’t my build. It is a bit complicated, but basically by spamming as many shatters as possible the mesmer is capable of giving out large amounts of group quickness, alacrity, might, and other assorted boons.

Now those are more support-oriented builds. For solo roaming in HoT content, I have a rather strange “lol wut?” build going…

Domination: Empowered Illusions, Furious Interruption, Mental Anguish
Dueling: Phantasmal Fury, Fencer’s Finesse, Deceptive Evasion
Chronomancer: All’s Well that ends Well, Improved Alacrity, Chronophantasm

Sword + Pistol/Sword. This is basically the same Dom/Dueling/Illusion build you’re familiar with, but replace inspiration with Chronomancer. It has that strange mix of clone summoning for shatters, phantasm sustain for long term DPS, and alacrity love (the other chrono traits more more PVP oriented, as interrupt traits and slows aren’t that good against break bar). The thing with this “build” is that nothing is set in stone with it, and I change weapons/traits as needed.

For non-chronomancer builds, we have the standard Dom/Duel/Inspiration for group support.
Empowered Illusions, Blurred Inscription (with Signet of the Ether), Mental Anguish.
Phantasmal Fury, Fencer’s Finesse, either Deceptive Evasion or Harmonious Mantras.
Compounding Power, Phantasmal Haste, Master of Fragmentation.

Ether Signet. Sword + Sword/Focus. Basically, summon a bunch of phantasms then auto attack, as usual. Stronger now that phantasms take reduced non-targeting damage. The support variant runs Inspiration, mostly for the minor traits but also for Warden’s Feedback. Reflects are still useful, after all.

@Blood Red Arachnid

Great post, thanks for that! Really helping some newbie mesmer getting the grip on builds. On the topic of stats, is boon/condition duration useful for chronos?

Thanks a lot, this helps a bunch.

If I want a secondary, ranged set though, should I go for a staff or a greatsword?
Whats the general concensus on staff? I know GS is generally better for pve but I just love the staff hehe…