Guild Wars 2

Hello,

I’ve ditched my warrior for something new and rolled a Mesmer – it was painful to level up but I finally got to 80!

I got full Assassin’s exotic from weap/armor/trinks and using 6/4/0/4/0 Spec. According to various sources and DnT guild’s youtube videos I understand Sword/sword and Sword/focus is the most optimal dungeon/pve setup and sometimes including a pistol depending on the boss.

So I’ve been leveling all this time with a greatsword so switching to new set of weapons are a bit confusing to me. I guess im trying to understand the “rotation” or the mechanics of this setup. Currently my setup in fights goes like: Cast iSword Phantom, switch, Cast iWarden Phantom, cast Signet of Ether (refreshes CD on phantoms), cast both phantoms again, use #2 skill, auto attack chain until phantoms back up and repeat.

I was wondering if that is the correct/optimal way to deal the most efficient DPS or am I missing something? Any help or feedback would be appreciated

It “depends”?

Sorry, I don’t generally think that much about what I do on a mechanical level. I would say that recasting any Phantasm while you already have 3 up is a waste.

Since you seem to ask for PvE specifically, I would do this:

• Equip Phantasmal Defender. Seriously, give this guy credit, it’s a group support powerhouse which adds a substantial HP buffer to the party. Or for condition-heavy fights, Disenchanter. In any case, a utility Phantasm.
• Then cast, in order, Defender/Disenchanter, weapon-Phantasm, switch, other weapon-Phantasm.
• Don’t use Signet of the Ether now, unless you need it for healing or your phantasms died.

The reason here is that as long as the things survive, you want that passive regen and the readily available refresh, while your skills cool down. Another upside is that the Phantasm which would be replaced would be the utility one, keeping your damage alive.

I generally prefer not “wasting” the signet on the very first cast, hence I do this. Gives me better chance to keep the DPS and absorption up after the first AE kills some phantasms.
Depending on context, Signet of Illusions can make the phantasms survive one extra hit, btw. In that case, always use it. Especially if you are using the Defender.

Thank you for your detailed response! Your feedback made sense, in that it is not necessary to recast the phantoms as long as their alive. I thought by spaming the phantoms I was doing more damage (since they attack immediately upon cast).

Carighan.6758:

It “depends”?

I would say that recasting any Phantasm while you already have 3 up is a waste.

I am kind of lost at this statement. How can I have 3 phantoms? Does that mean I can actually have more than 1 type of phantoms and 3 is the max?

Vicious.4381:

Thank you for your detailed response! Your feedback made sense, in that it is not necessary to recast the phantoms as long as their alive. I thought by spaming the phantoms I was doing more damage (since they attack immediately upon cast).

Carighan.6758:

It “depends”?

I would say that recasting any Phantasm while you already have 3 up is a waste.

I am kind of lost at this statement. How can I have 3 phantoms? Does that mean I can actually have more than 1 type of phantoms and 3 is the max?

Yup. You can have three swordsmen up.

Carighan.6758:

It “depends”?

I would say that recasting any Phantasm while you already have 3 up is a waste.

I am kind of lost at this statement. How can I have 3 phantoms? Does that mean I can actually have more than 1 type of phantoms and 3 is the max?[/quote]

Yup. You can have three swordsmen up.[/quote]

Oh wow AND 3 wardens total of 6 phantasm? I never knew…

Vicious.4381:

Carighan.6758:

It “depends”?

I would say that recasting any Phantasm while you already have 3 up is a waste.

I am kind of lost at this statement. How can I have 3 phantoms? Does that mean I can actually have more than 1 type of phantoms and 3 is the max?

Yup. You can have three swordsmen up.[/quote]

Oh wow AND 3 wardens total of 6 phantasm? I never knew…
[/quote]

No— 3 total of anything. So 1 clone, 1 swordsman, 1 warden. Or 2 swordsman and 1 warden. Etc.

This is why Phantasmal Defender/ Disenchanter is a large DPS loss— you give up one of your three slots for DPS, and in most situations it’s not worth it.

maxinion.8396:

No— 3 total of anything. So 1 clone, 1 swordsman, 1 warden. Or 2 swordsman and 1 warden. Etc.

This is why Phantasmal Defender/ Disenchanter is a large DPS loss— you give up one of your three slots for DPS, and in most situations it’s not worth it.

Oh sweet, thanks for clarifying! That makes total sense. Gotcha.
So it seems like the optimal DPS is keep all 3 phantasm up at all times and in the mean time auto attack for dmg, #2 for dodge if needed, and refresh phantasm if any are killed. I learned so much today

Vicious.4381:

maxinion.8396:

No— 3 total of anything. So 1 clone, 1 swordsman, 1 warden. Or 2 swordsman and 1 warden. Etc.

This is why Phantasmal Defender/ Disenchanter is a large DPS loss— you give up one of your three slots for DPS, and in most situations it’s not worth it.

Oh sweet, thanks for clarifying! That makes total sense. Gotcha.
So it seems like the optimal DPS is keep all 3 phantasm up at all times and in the mean time auto attack for dmg, #2 for dodge if needed, and refresh phantasm if any are killed. I learned so much today

That’s correct, yup. Something like warden-swordsman-signet-swordsman gets you your three phantasms out quickly, and then auto-attack, evade, and re-summon as necessary.

One other thing to keep in mind: once you have three phantasms out, clones can overwrite them, causing a DPS loss. So don’t use sword 3 once your phantasms out, and be careful with sword 4. On the other hand, if you have Compounding Power (III in Illusions), it always behooves you to have as many illusions out as possible— so if you can’t get 3 phantasms, get clones out instead. When summoning phantasms after that, they’ll preferentially replace the clones and keep your DPS high.

Maxinion would you make and post gw2skills build here? I used to play pvp/wvw only i don’t even know what gear should i use.

Also, same build for dungeons and fractals? what about agony resist on fractals 20+.

virq.4605:

Maxinion would you make and post gw2skills build here? I used to play pvp/wvw only i don’t even know what gear should i use.

Also, same build for dungeons and fractals? what about agony resist on fractals 20+.

I’ll make a dedicated post later tonight with all of the builds laid out.

Fractal builds are the same as dungeon builds. Just slowly gather ascended equipment and drop in Versatile Infusions to get +5 AR per piece. Trinkets are a good place to start, since you want pure zerker there no matter what (no ascended assassin’s option).

Something like this? http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhEQRAsc8dnsISRaWiGWpB1aGR1QQZ30kOQiIlsTJA-TBCBwAGV+hd/Bcq/A4kAkS/wDzfZUCG4JAQGg8tA-e

Ofc switch to 6/4/0/4/0 when needed (no idea when and where but still :P). Sigils are just example, iam still not sure what to choose. Also iam not sure about 3 mantras (12% dmg from trait, as far as i can read its not buffing illusions).

virq.4605:

Something like this? http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhEQRAsc8dnsISRaWiGWpB1aGR1QQZ30kOQiIlsTJA-TBCBwAGV+hd/Bcq/A4kAkS/wDzfZUCG4JAQGg8tA-e

Ofc switch to 6/4/0/4/0 when needed (no idea when and where but still :P). Sigils are just example, iam still not sure what to choose. Also iam not sure about 3 mantras (12% dmg from trait, as far as i can read its not buffing illusions).

More or less this, yes. I’m almost done with my Long Post About Everything, which will go into detail on why (and where) you want Mantras.

maxinion.8396:

virq.4605:

Something like this? http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhEQRAsc8dnsISRaWiGWpB1aGR1QQZ30kOQiIlsTJA-TBCBwAGV+hd/Bcq/A4kAkS/wDzfZUCG4JAQGg8tA-e

Ofc switch to 6/4/0/4/0 when needed (no idea when and where but still :P). Sigils are just example, iam still not sure what to choose. Also iam not sure about 3 mantras (12% dmg from trait, as far as i can read its not buffing illusions).

More or less this, yes. I’m almost done with my Long Post About Everything, which will go into detail on why (and where) you want Mantras.

@maxinion – do you want to create an official build thread? I believe colesy had one but doesn’t reflect the latest patch changes. It would be nice to have a dungeon meta build thread to point folks to when these types of questions are asked (which has been a lot lately).

It sounds like you’re going into a bit more detail than just the build as well, and that might be great information for the mesmer guide (as well as your dungeon build thread).

As a companion to such thread, gw2dungeons.net appears to have the latest mesmer builds linked (to Brazil’s overviews post-4/15).

skcamow.3527:

maxinion.8396:

virq.4605:

Something like this? http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhEQRAsc8dnsISRaWiGWpB1aGR1QQZ30kOQiIlsTJA-TBCBwAGV+hd/Bcq/A4kAkS/wDzfZUCG4JAQGg8tA-e

Ofc switch to 6/4/0/4/0 when needed (no idea when and where but still :P). Sigils are just example, iam still not sure what to choose. Also iam not sure about 3 mantras (12% dmg from trait, as far as i can read its not buffing illusions).

More or less this, yes. I’m almost done with my Long Post About Everything, which will go into detail on why (and where) you want Mantras.

@maxinion – do you want to create an official build thread? I believe colesy had one but doesn’t reflect the latest patch changes. It would be nice to have a dungeon meta build thread to point folks to when these types of questions are asked (which has been a lot lately).

It sounds like you’re going into a bit more detail than just the build as well, and that might be great information for the mesmer guide (as well as your dungeon build thread).

As a companion to such thread, gw2dungeons.net appears to have the latest mesmer builds linked (to Brazil’s overviews post-4/15).

I see you saw my post here already Yes, that was what I was working on. Hopefully this should answer most of OP’s questions as well.

Brazil’s guide is also very good, and I link it in my thread. I don’t really like 6/2 as a build, but it’s an option. I also don’t quite think the assassin’s trinkets are optimal, since most people won’t be running 6/2 and have 150 more precision from putting 4 into Dueling. But he has good reasons for suggesting the build, and it’s definitely reasonable.

Thanks a TON Max, i really appreciate you taking the time to help a newbie player. I once was lost, but now am found