Guild Wars 2

I see many posts on this forum about builds. “How should I build?”, “Whats the best Build right now?” and now many posts about the changes that have been made in the new patch. Why not talk about the strategies that we have when it comes to playing our Mesmers? Im not talking about strategies like Scepter 3 —> Scepter 2 --> Swap crap; that can be found in every post. Let’s talk about positioning, environment use and sneaky tricks to help confuse that person behind the computer and frustrate them even more. That’s what makes the Mesmer fun right? I’m still considered new to the Mesmer and would like suggestions on how the more experienced players control their character when engaged in large mobs of people, or a few, in WvW and in PvE. What seems to be the best section of the WvW map that allows you, as a mesmer, to dominate in fights simply based on the topography of the landscape? How do you “mesmer”?

Some tips always keep a defensive cooldown in the kitty, stay away from stairs and sharp inclines in WvW (we don’t play well with the z-axis) and even when going full shatter try to give your illusions some time on the field to unload at least once.

Another strong combo I like with MH Sword if I’m on the retreat is to iLeap, Swap and then hit Decoy to exploit the root and the confusion factor.

shimmerless.4560:

Another strong combo I like with MH Sword if I’m on the retreat is to iLeap, Swap and then hit Decoy to exploit the root and the confusion factor.

That’s a really good idea, I wouldn’t have thought of that. I think once you swap from sword into staff you can make sure that they get the maximum number of conditions on them by throwing down chaos storm. Because if they’re not rooted, they will just evade out of the storm as soon as it is thrown down. You can maybe get 1 or 2 more conditions on them before they can get out. But I will try out what you have said =)

Im currently very sleepy and not in a too happy mood, so i wont be going very detailed, im also on mobile so my recorces are limited…

A shimmerless said, stay away from stairs! Illusionary leap wont work on those.
We can however make very good use of height differences. You can blink to make a quick escape, you can phase retreat up without using long cooldowns, you van jump down and leave a leap clone etc. Osicat has some good videos utilizing height differences. “Insane mesmer mobility” is the one thats shows best, i think.

General strategy
Stealth: stealth van be used for 2 reasons, target drop and repositioning. Targt drops are mostly offensive moves, you dont care about waiting untill the stealth is over, all that matters is your prey not seeing you before you strike! A target drop stealth can last as short as half a second and still be effective.
When reposiionijg, youll want to stay steahtled for as long as possible and find a better position. This can be used offensively and defensively. Its usually a good isea to run behind or to the sides of someone before leaving stealth.
Note: you can summon phantasms from stealth without leaving, and make the person waste dodges. When he used 2 dodges you can safely burst!

Ofcourse theres alot of other strategy, you will learn these in time, all by yourself! Ofcourse you can greatly speed up the learning process by asking for advise or watching videos.

Many people vomplain about how OP/UP a profession is because they got beaten in pvp for wxample. Truth is, theyre just missing out! While theyre complaining, they could be asking for advise to improve themselves, which you are doing right now.
I can do nothing but applaud and say something along the lines of: “keep it up!”

edit: chaos storm is best used defensively, try to make sure you hit both the enemy and yourself, but the priority is yourself. Its also invaluable (i think this word means very valuable, correct me if im wrong) in group fights. Try to hit as many allies as possible, while also making an area where your enemies cant go, especially useull if people are low health! I should have a new video up where i use chaos storms in group fights quite well, but youtube is being a kitten right now, a very very bad kitten.

If you need any mesmer related help, dont be afraid to send me a ask/send me a pm/ whisper me in game.

Cheers,
Alissah

Blink can be used to reach some technically accessible areas that are difficult to run too, such as the edges of the ravine near the Northwestern borderlands supply camp (Like the ones on the left and right if you’re heading down into the camp from the south) or the cliff sides on the path to the Northeastern borderlands supply camp. (Just south of the sentry)

Other professions with teleportation skills can utilize similar tricks, but those who can’t or have their skills on cool down will have to take the long way around to reach you. It’s very nice for escaping, or for attaining a superior position with ranged attacks.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Wsql5HZfY
Found it! This video is currently “hidden”, whatever that means! It sounds like a bad thing though…. Someone should go fix that.
Chaos storm is best used defensively, no matter which build you use!

Enjoy

Alissah.9281:

Im currently very sleepy and not in a too happy mood, so i wont be going very detailed, im also on mobile so my recorces are limited…

A shimmerless said, stay away from stairs! Illusionary leap wont work on those.
We can however make very good use of height differences. You can blink to make a quick escape, you can phase retreat up without using long cooldowns, you van jump down and leave a leap clone etc. Osicat has some good videos utilizing height differences. “Insane mesmer mobility” is the one thats shows best, i think.

General strategy
Stealth: stealth van be used for 2 reasons, target drop and repositioning. Targt drops are mostly offensive moves, you dont care about waiting untill the stealth is over, all that matters is your prey not seeing you before you strike! A target drop stealth can last as short as half a second and still be effective.
When reposiionijg, youll want to stay steahtled for as long as possible and find a better position. This can be used offensively and defensively. Its usually a good isea to run behind or to the sides of someone before leaving stealth.
Note: you can summon phantasms from stealth without leaving, and make the person waste dodges. When he used 2 dodges you can safely burst!

Ofcourse theres alot of other strategy, you will learn these in time, all by yourself! Ofcourse you can greatly speed up the learning process by asking for advise or watching videos.

Many people vomplain about how OP/UP a profession is because they got beaten in pvp for wxample. Truth is, theyre just missing out! While theyre complaining, they could be asking for advise to improve themselves, which you are doing right now.
I can do nothing but applaud and say something along the lines of: "*keep it up!*

edit: chaos storm is best used defensively, try to make sure you hit both the enemy and yourself, but the priority is yourself. Its also invaluable (i think this word means very valuable, correct me if im wrong) in group fights. Try to hit as many allies as possible, while also making an area where your enemies cant go, especially useull if people are low health! I should have a new video up where i use chaos storms in group fights quite well, but youtube is being a kitten right now, a very very bad kitten.

If you need any mesmer related help, dont be afraid to send me a ask/send me a pm/ whisper me in game.

Cheers,
Alissah

I’m sorry you are not in a great mood but thank you very much for the insight. I would never time my high dps abilities correctly and would end up wasting it because the enemy evaded. But now that you bring it up, baiting out the evades is a really good idea. As soon as I read it I hopped into WvW and it resulted in much better, much more strategic, gameplay. Thank you.

There are many different tips and tricks you can use. The most useful tips are the ones that give Mesmer mobility. Osicat really does cover this.

However with offensive and defensive tips and tricks it really depends on what weapons you are using.

The most common Mesmer weapon I think is main hand sword.
But a lot of Mesmers are not using it to the fullest of its potential. A lot of Mesmers will just spam sword 3 then chain in to 2. Although this works most of the time. Because players are so used to spamming it without thinking they will sometimes waste the 2 skill. Or hit the swap on the 3 skill too early. Or because its so commonly seen a lot of skilled opponents can easily avoid it.

A good sword Mesmer will not spam the sword skills depending on the opponent they are fighting so as to preserve their skills for future use.
1) There is a offensive setting in which you use the immobilize then the 2 skill and shatter for burst. This stratagy is very common. However it puts all of your main hand weapons on cool down.
some really good Mesmers will save the 2 skill for when they need to defend themselves and only use the 3 skill for the immobilize. Immobilize greatest use if you do not know is the ability to take away the opponents ability to dodge. You can chain this in to another offense besides sword 2. Working with your offhand is actually key for maximum offense. For a example if you are using sword sword. You can use the 3 skill to immobilize right before a phantasmal swordsman is about to attack.

2) and there is a defensive setting in which you use the swap on the 3 skill to break stuns, get to a more defensive location and or get out of melee range. When your opponent is close you can use leap then shatter the clone. Then you will have a 4 second window to use swap which will teleport you 600 game units in the direction of the clone that was destroyed Swap believe it or not is a stun breaker. Which if used correctly can be invaluable for defense. Particularly against warriors.
If you find that your opponent is dangerous in melee range then saving the 2 skill for that defensive moment is a must.

All of the Mesmers weapons can be used offensively and defensively. Learning the full potential of each of your skills and the potential when combined with other skills is something everyone needs to figure out in order to reach their potential. Don’t just use the same trick over and over again.

with Mesmer The trick is to be creative and never predictable.

Edit : bumping this topic because I feel that its a good thread and did not get enough feedback

Watching Mesmer videos can really give you an idea on game play. Also, managing your cool downs is very important as a Mesmer. It’s not bad to auto attack while your opponent is trying to figure out where you are.

Ew, This thread was after the ‘build diversity’ patch :/

Bad memories D;

Ugh I got caught in the thread necro….i feel dirty.

1. Watch the buffs on people and watched the buffs on yourself
2. Expect people to jump you from all angles all the time.
3. Go for the softest target first
4. Find pillars, rocks you can run around of to cut line of sight.
5. Know when to cut your loses and run

If entering the Garrison through North inner gate, you can blink directly to the 2nd floor without actually going through the choke leading to the Lord’s room. Place portal, go through the broken gate, blink to 2nd floor, drop exit. Now you and your allies have successfully avoided enemy choke (usually in the tunnel leading to the Lord’s room or the side stairs right as you go through the gate) and got the higher ground advantage.

Xavi.6591:

Ugh I got caught in the thread necro….i feel dirty.

Quick, take a shower before you become a thread necro yourself :O