Guild Wars 2

I tried a sword/sword build, mostly for PvE, but the DPS was crappy. I went all Precision, all Toughness, and 10 in Illusions. Guess that’s why my DPS sucked.
I’m now using a Scepter/Torch Confusion Bombing build which has great DPS but I miss meleeing, and the elegance of sword wielding.

Anyone have any tips on successfully making a Sword/Sword build? Or am I just gonna have to suck it up and be a squishy 30 Power/30 Precision Mesmer. I’d love to be able to do sword/sword w/ confusions and not have to sacrifice toughness.

I use sword sword with much enjoyment.

Tried other offhands and I just like the versatility and low cooldown of illusionary riposite. The swordsman doesn’t really seem that useful though, but I tend to shatter the phantasms after their first attack anyway and he attacks pretty fast so there’s that.

Anyway yeah I’m aiming at toughness condition damage and precision, traited for retaliation on block. Staff as secondary weapon to get some chaos armor on and even more blocks for some nasty on hit side effects.

Have only run it in pve, can’t say how well it works in pvp.

I use Sword/Sword and Staff. This is my build (I use it for PvE and sPvP):
http://www.gw2build.com/builds/simulator.php#1.8.3.7.14.0.34.34.5.0.180.196.198.191.205.8.8.25.526.0.0.544.545.550.0.0.0.0.0.0.588.595.596.10.30.0.0.30

The utilities work great and the weapons synergize well, but the sigils are subject to change. As far as the traits go, I may change them slightly. It’s supposed to be a shattery duelist sort of build but I’m still working on it. I definitely want 10 in Domination, 20 in Dueling and 30 in Illusions, but the last 10 points trip me up a bit.

In PvE, my stat priorities are 1)Power ; 2)Toughness = Vitality ; 3) Precision and it feels great. I was thinking of switching to a 1)Power ; 2) Precision ; 3) Toughness = Vitality build, but I’m not sure about it.

Does anyone have any suggestions? XP

P.S. If you find that your DPS is bad, I’d definitely take Power over Precision.

Scary that’s almost the exact same trait setup I’m using, except with desperate decoy instead of the retalliation on block.
I only wish chaotic transference would be easier to reach, get 10 in chaos for the damage resist per active illusion as well.

I much prefer using signet of illusion to really beefen up the clones. Can’t shatter clones that die instantly, and I imagine having more health helps them trick opponents in spending longer time attacking the fake targets.

What I really like about the sword clones though is they attack pretty fast, with a high precision they can get bleeds up pretty fast. Reason I like to get some condition damage along with signet of domination, helps staff be more effective to since that’s all condition damage. Might switch domination signet for a combo field to get more chaos armor going though.

Oh hang on I’m not using phantasmal haste. I’m not sure what I’m using in that slo, I think master of misdirection or confusing cry.

I use sword/sword with greatsword. My original plan was to go sword/pistol, but sword/sword seems so much better. Since it’s a shatter build, I like having all the clones clumped together for maximum burst.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgUQNAR8clwzipXVTqGa9ICqHan39dkK0alewbXIuB

What I typically do is summon iSwordsman, then I use iLeap and swap with the clone to bridge the distance. As soon as I’m in melee range, I use blurred frenzy. After this I dodge roll into the mob and pop mind wrack for.

After that if the mob is still alive I either run back and use the same rotation again as they come off cooldown, or I switch to greatsword for a knockback and kite them.

For events, I tend to just use greatsword from a distance and either run in when i pop mind wrack or just use it from a distance when I have three clones up. I’ve also positioned it so that the mind wrack damage from myself hits other mobs if they aren’t all clumped together to help me tag the maximum amount.

For gear, I focus on damage, crit, and crit damage.

I run 20 power, 20 precision with berserker/knight/valkyrie gear and sword does pretty awesome damage.
Keep in mind that sword attacks much faster than GS, that’s why sword attacks do less damage.

I run a build without power ^^’ I usually run sword-sword/staff. But sometimes switch to focus offhand.
My utility skills consist mostly out of glamour skills. Feedback, null field and the last one varies on the situation.
I don’t have acces to a precise build ATM, as I’m on iPod. But a I said, I run without power. The rest of my setup is 20/20/15/15. From up till down in the trait lines ^^
From the top of my head I can say I got the sword precision increased, clone on dodge, shorter cool down on glamour skills. Toughness with staff and damage reduce for each clone.

Although I might lack in damage due to not having anything trained in power I notice things still die relatively fast(imo)
I’m not 2shotting things like on my thief, but then again, that’s not what I play a Mesmer for
This is my pve-only build btw ^^’ I switch to staff/Gs for pvp.

Redamz.5038:

I run 20 power, 20 precision with berserker/knight/valkyrie gear and sword does pretty awesome damage.
Keep in mind that sword attacks much faster than GS, that’s why sword attacks do less damage.

Sword attack also causes vulnerability. After a few stacks, I do more damage with my sword than GS. At least at my pitiful gear level anyway.

If you want dps but want to remain melee maybe something like http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNAscWlwzaqHTTqGZ9ICqHYH49dkU0awWJFz2FC ? It’s a shatter heavy spec, just cuz there’s no vit or toughness you’ll still have survivability with staff and your sword’s distortion/shatter distortion will be your best friend.

I use a mantra shatter spec with GS.

Amayasu in my guild using a staff s/s, it seem especialy effective when he run in a team of 2 and somone can stun things for him. Think he use a 10-20-10-0-30 build.