Guild Wars 2

Hello Everyone, I’m Mushin Sundip, Male (name could mislead )Azura Mesmer and this is my first post in the Mesmer forum.

I hit 80 just yesterday after parking on a side my 80 guardian.
I must say I really love the class because it gives me just everything (and more!) I was missing when using the guardian. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guardian too, but its lack of a real ranged option was becoming overwelming. It wasn’t just that which I was coping with… I guess I was getting bored. Mesmer gave me new reasons for playing gw2, especially after watching Osicat’s videos

Anyway, I am opening this 3d because I need few advices. Since I am Osict fun I couldn’t use a build which is very different, couldn’t I? In fact I like shatter and I use 20/20/0/0/30 with sw/sw/staff or /sw/focus/staff (the focus increased speed while leveling is almost addictive).

Gear problem: I just purchased a satchel with zerk gear. I read here and there and it seems that many mesmers opt for full zerk so I decided to go with that. Atm I do not have the money to buy runes but I like those which give swiftness when using the heal skill so I think I will go with those (does anyone use the orbs which increase stats? Are they a valid option?)

However, I fear I will be too squeezy thus I was thinking which accessories/amulet/rings to go for. I have about 40 laurels and cannot go wrong: what should I pick? Also, I see ascendant gear come in two flavours: defensive and offensive. I will probably craft the rest but I am not rich and thus I cannot afford to make a second set yet.
I hate to die a lot when doing dungeons. I am used to the guardian full knight… I was thinking in buying/crafting a mix of 2 ring with +health and 2 acc. +thoughness. For the Amulte I still do not know. Would this be enough? Or should I go with 5 pieces +thoughness? Is toughness better than health for Mesmer too as it is for guardians? What about the back slot then?

On the other hand I like the burst a glass cannon gear can provide… So I am really between how to complete my set up to find the right balance (I am also still missing exotic weapons and runes so I’d appreciate few words on those too).

Second. Is it me or mesmer isn’t a great aoe damage dealer? Guardian and its hammer does wonders compared. At the moment I am left with staff skill 5 and a chain of 2 shatter: F1&F2 (or the other way round) but sometimes it doesn’t seem to be enough. Even because I use blink, mirror and null filed utilities…. Although null is aoe doesn’t do damage. So sometimes I use the Asura skill (don’t remember the name but it’s a poison field) but its long CD makes it not worth. What is your feedback on this?

I thank you for the tips you all can spare and the time to go through this little rant

Mush

The Mesmer is kinda limited with respect to AoEs. Aside from what you mentioned, the only real AoEs are pBerserker, glamour skills, and a very limited range PWarden. However, staff, greatsword and pistol have bouncing attacks that let you hit two or so things at a time.

What I do in PvE with the staff is when my first target is low, switch to another and stand near the almost dead one to kill it when my attacks bounce off of me.

Our AEs aren’t that bad, really:

• Mind Wrack
• Cry of Frustration
• Chaos Storm
• Phantasmal Berserker
• Phantasmal Warden
• The Prestige (graaaanted, it has many uses)
• Feedback (does a lot of damage for not having a damage value in it’s tooltip :P )
• If tighly packed, #1 and #3 on Greatsword also work, as does #3 on Scepter in rare cases.

And that’s just baseline, and ignoring how Null Field is really powerful even if it doesn’t cause any damage.

Thank you guys.
Yes, we aren’t bad but we do not excel either. I see it more like Nemo does rather than Carighan. But anyway, it isn’t a major issue. I guess my complaint comes from the fact than I do not see pack of mobs melting away under my #5 staff skill which also has a long CD (and I do not want to trait for) .

But what about gearing? Is toughness overall better than pure health pool? Should I go for a mix? Does it make any sense at all to buy an ascendant dps amulet (pow/crit/pre) and go for defensive slot choice?