Guild Wars 2

I feel like something needs to change here…

It’s not that there aren’t good traits here, but it feels like they suffer from lack of synergy with a lot of builds, especially power builds. I am constantly flipping this trait, trying to find something that gives more than a small/situational benefit, and failing.

IMO the worst offenders are http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Chaotic_Revival and http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Retaliatory_Demise, both of which are lackluster and depend on you failing to play your class properly.
Putting two downed/rally traits in the same slot category is a design flaw IMO.

What is your favorite Chaos Adept trait and why?

Illusionary defense or Debilitating Dissipation depending on the build.

I feel the same way. The thing is that every class got traits which relate do being downed or rally. Every class got a trait which mitigates falling damage. All of those traits are very unappealing for most game modes. Only the falling damage trait might see some use when WvWing or doing jumping puzzles. The issue the Mesmer faces is that all those traits are crammed into Chaos. I can’t think of any other class with a similar trait composition.

In general, I feel that ANet should rework all traits which either require you to be downed or to rally. While the traits relating to reviving someone do provide a reasonable benefit for teamplay, nobody will ever invest into being strong when being downed. The advantage you’d gain is too situational to be useful.

Xaylin.1860:

I feel the same way. The thing is that every class got traits which relate do being downed or rally. Every class got a trait which mitigates falling damage. All of those traits are very unappealing for most game modes. Only the falling damage trait might see some use when WvWing or doing jumping puzzles. The issue the Mesmer faces is that all those traits are crammed into Chaos. I can’t think of any other class with a similar trait composition.

They’re not just crammed into Chaos, which is bad enough. They are all crammed into the same tier (Adept), which means half the Chaos adept traits rarely see any use at all. I have literally never seen a mesmer build that used any of those traits.

Honestly, I rather like having all the useless traits crammed into one place. Chaos adept has some very powerful traits (fall damage, dissipation, illusionary defense, manipulation cooldowns), so anyone traiting chaos will never be wanting for a good trait to use in that slot.

Since all the useless traits are stuck there too, I never have to worry about dodging them in other slots, may as well stick everything bad together.

Pyroathiest.4168:

Honestly, I rather like having all the useless traits crammed into one place. Chaos adept has some very powerful traits (fall damage, dissipation, illusionary defense, manipulation cooldowns), so anyone traiting chaos will never be wanting for a good trait to use in that slot.

Since all the useless traits are stuck there too, I never have to worry about dodging them in other slots, may as well stick everything bad together.

I feel that this is only partly true. I often find myself wondering which trait to pick While those traits are not useless they are only efficient for specific builds. Even if you find them useful they lack synergies with the traits in higher tiers.

Why isn’t there another stealth related trait in Chaos?
Why isn’t there another interrupt related trait in Chaos?
Why don’t we have a useful boon related trait on the Adept tier?

For example, Retaliatory Shield could be switched with Retaliatory Demise. As a result, you could pick Retaliatory Shield to synergize with Aegis from PU. It will also be easier to combine it with Blade Training. As it is right now, the trade off for this trait combination is way too high because you would have to slot one of those traits in the Master slot.

Pyroathiest.4168:

Honestly, I rather like having all the useless traits crammed into one place. Chaos adept has some very powerful traits (fall damage, dissipation, illusionary defense, manipulation cooldowns), so anyone traiting chaos will never be wanting for a good trait to use in that slot.

Since all the useless traits are stuck there too, I never have to worry about dodging them in other slots, may as well stick everything bad together.

It has its advantages, sure, but I feel it drags down the whole line as a result. And Chaos is fast becoming my favorite line due to its huge versatility (power, conditions, boons, interrupt etc.). Like I said, none of the other 4 traits are particularly bad, but they do not really synergize with interrupt, stealth, boons or any of the other things that define the Chaos line.

I understand that each class – or well, all but one – have an on-downed and an on-revive trait.

But ours are very lackluster, yes.

What I’d do is keep them in general, but:

Retaliatory Demise
When downed, grant yourself and nearby allies Retaliation. When killed, apply Confusion to nearby enemies.
Retaliation: 5s
Confusion (5): 5s

The AE is the main change, the confusion is just in there for flavour.

Also:

Chaotic Revival
When rallying or successfully revived by a friendly player, create a larger Chaos Armour zone which affects all friendly targets inside.
Radius about the same as Chaos Storm, up to 5 players inside gain Chaos Armour as long as they’re inside. Zone lasts 6s.

A simpler solution could be to simply replace the Chaos Armor from Chaotic Revival with Chaos Storm (30s CD maybe?) on your location. You would get Aoe daze & boons and allies could apply their own chaos armor (or confusion) with a finisher if possible.

It would be potentially more powerful, but also require more active player input for maximum effect.