Build suggestions for a newbie?
I use these two for WvW as direct damage/shatter builds, #1 being a more solo/duelling build and #2 being for small group play, Also take a look at Osicat’s mesmer guide at the top of the mesmer subforum, Enjoy!
[NOX] & [Coma] – Gunnar’s Hold.
Thanks for the replies. I’ve read the Grimoire and a lot of other general info here, it’s really great reference material. I’ll have to tinker with builds I guess and see what works for me.
So, since you’re still just leveling, I’d recommend you stick with ether a good shatter or phantasm power build. I won’t really recommend anything for wvw for you right now, mainly since your builds and capabilities will change rather substantially between 60 and 80. That doesn’t mean you can’t go dabble in wvw, but I’d recommend sticking to pve for the most part.
At 60, you’ve got 50 trait points, soooo
Phantasm build: 10/10/0/30/0. You could also try 10/15/0/25/0 for some extra bleed pressure. You’ll take Dom 3, dueling 2, and inspiration 5, and then 8 if using a focus. The way you’ll play this is summoning your phantasms on a target, and letting them eat it. If you’re working in the labyrynth, go staff sword/focus, using the staff phantasm on bosses (it scales 10% per condition on the target) and meleeing the spawn doors.
Shatter build: 0/20/0/0/30. You’ll be missing out on 20% mind wrack damage from domination unfortunately, but illusionary persona is more important for damage and utility. Play this just offensive: get 3 clones up, mind wrack, rinse and repeat. You won’t do as muh damage on bosses with this, but you may get better tagging on the doors.
If you want to level, and phantasms are what you are looking for, I would got with the following possibilities (I just copy myself from an other thread):
At 60 you should go 10/15/0/25/0
At 65 10/20/0/25/0Like this: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQBYk4MjovcSFUdJF4m3A traitwise
You could also trait pistol instead of sword, as it is your source of phantasm damage.
Alternatively:
At 60: 10/15/0/0/25
At 65: 10/20/0/0/25http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQBYkANDs7dSFUdJF4O3A
Which I would prefer due to faster phantasms.
For shatter, use the leveling guide in my signature or in the Grimoire.
The Leveling & Open World Compendium
Thanks for the replies. Not really looking for a leveling guide, that will be over soon enough. Kai, I’ll check out your compendium.
I think my problem is that there are so many builds with so many subtle variations that it’s hard to know where they differ, and why to choose one over the others. I guess I’ll have to experiment, subject to my financial limits in buying gear.
Yeah, reached 80 with my necro today with grinding the labyrinth… ^^
I will probably expand my leveling guide with the hint, that people should simply follow the zerg train of whatever event is active.
Berserker gear I would say if you play a lot of PvE.
The Leveling & Open World Compendium
(edited by Kaiyanwan.8521)
Could someone summarize for me the primary traits and stats for either a phantasm or shatter build?
Also, I seem to see a lot of high-DPS mesmer builds based on the sword, which is basically a melee weapon. I tend to get slaughtered in melee range, and I think of the mesmer as a caster class, so I’m not sure what I’m missing there.
Thanks.
For shatter you want (Dom I)Mental Torment, (Duel X)Deceptive Evasion, (Illu I)Precise Wrack and (Illu XI)Illusionary Persona for sure.
For phantasm it is (Dom III)Empowered Illusions, (Duel II)Phantasmal Fury, (Insp 25)Phantasmal Strength, (Illu 25)Illusionists Celerity
All of them are pushing you into one of the two directions, so you should try to build around them.
The Leveling & Open World Compendium
If you want to stay at range and want to try both, shatter and phantasm, try my builds with their variations (Lazy Kai and Go Go Power Ranger).
The Leveling & Open World Compendium
Thanks Kai. Your “Lazy Kai” looks similar to this build I found: http://intothemists.com/guides/46-furbys_multitasking_mesmer_20200300 — main diff is it’s 20/20/0/30/0 instead of 20/20/0/0/30.. more survival maybe? Yours seems better though I might die more.
(edited by Qaelyn.7612)