(edited by lolevy.7423)
[Guide] Ujelli's Clone Factory Hybrid Guide
PLAY STYLE:
The focus of this build is not to shatter unless for stomping and counter-stomping. Using Mind Wrack for spiking and Cry of Frustration for confusion-stacking is still good but will leave you with less clones most of the time. Generally you’ll be using both sets of weapons 50 & 50 percent of the time. With the sigils of energy you’ll pretty much have dodge available to you at all times allowing for a constant 3-clone up time. Illusionist’s Celerity (our MOST holy mesmer trait) makes sure that one of our weapon clones, phantasms, and utilities illusions are always primed to be used.
Each clone that dies will apply Cripple 4s, Confusion 4s, and a random pick of Weakness 4s, 3 Bleeds 6.5s, or 3 Vulnerabilitys 6.5s. This is ALOT of conditions from 1 clones exploding. But, your going to have dozens of clones exploding all the times thanks to your weapon skills and all the clones produced from your Deceptive Evasion (remember this also includes your phantasms that get killed)! The torment and confusion from the scepter also add to the crazy conditions that you’ll be applying.
This is only the condition aspect of the build we’re talking about here. When it comes to our power though, we may not be as scary as a shatter mesmer but those crazy condition-clearing classes will be surprised to find out they aren’t as invulnerable as they think they’ll be. What many mesmer learn is that our condition builds and skills are much more reliant on power than expected like iWarlock, scepter auto-chain, Confusing Images, and iDuelist. While it may seem like Sword/Focus is our power set, Scepter/Pistol itself packs just as big of a punch in terms of direct damage through Confusing Images and iDuelist. The same can be said about S/F as a condition set because sword clones are much better at proccing bleeds-on-crit and iWarden will do the same except in an defensive AoE.
UTILITIES:
Any utility (depending on your preference) can be swapped out for:
Mirror Images: because there’s no such things as too many clones for this build.
Decoy: is almost mandatory for this build with the target loss, clone, and stunbreak!
Blink: for those who want a nice escape and gap-closer.
Signet of Domination: for more Cond. damage and an on-demand stun.
Illusionary Disenchanter: for condition clear and boon removal plus it counts as a clone.
Phantasmal Defender: for the tankiness.
Null Field: for the aoe cond. clease and boon remov. plus its a combo field (IDuelist adds more stacks of confusion and you can get chaos armor off it with sword #3)
Feedback: for the combo field and the aoe reflect (enemies will be constantly crippled and will have to rely on range more so this is a great counter)
PROS:
1. One of the easiest and funnest Mesmer/all-time builds to play!
2. Trades passive defense (Toughness,Vitality) for active defense(Dodging), Cond. Damage, and Direct Damage.
3. Massive control potential with great damage output.
4. Constantly reapplied conditions.
5. Tons of stun-breaks!
6. Lots of dodge!
7. Don’t have to worry about wasted clones (there are none).
8. Easily one-on-one (sometimes 1v2) with most professions in PvP.
CONS:
1. Doesn’t work well with being ranged (clones aren’t prone to always be on top of enemies).
2. Experienced players will be able to spot you.
3. Spike damage is the main damage threat to this build (THIEVES, Thou art the bane of my existence!)
4. More enemies means more condis applied but less clones remaining to hide behind.
5. Lacks multiple ways to clear conditions.
6. Can be a hassle sometimes to chase down fleeing enemies (which is what they’ll usually be doing)
7. Spike damage is limited and is traded for control unlike Mantra-phantasms and shatter builds.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQRAsd7ansISna2oGmqB3aIp0YMVOo7MSGwCltjyB-TZBEwA12fI+BBAwJA4xTAYbZAA
So any comments and helpful changes or suggestions are MORE than welcome. I really want to optimize this build so… Bring them at me!
For two different variants of the build check the link below for my Guru post with a condi-focused build and a second hybrid build.
http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/85343-build-clone-factory-hybrid-build/#entry2311204
(edited by lolevy.7423)
UPDATED: As of March 26th
Changes include:
1. Sword OH -> Focus
2. Adventurer Runes -> Lyssa Runes
3. Phantasmal Fury -> Desperate Decoy
4. Berserker Jewel -> Carrion Jewel
Reasons for changes:
1. I’ve found that iWarden works much better than iSwordsman in stacking bleeds and provides greater defensive capabilities (the same applies for the Temporal Curtain vs. Illusionay Riposte in terms of disrupts)
2. While Adventurer Rune is the epitome and ideal runeset for a hybrid clone-on-death build, the condition removal of Lyssa rune is extremely powerful and helps with the poor condi-removal of the build (plus the extra 10% cond. duration is pretty sweet).
3. Truthfully, the bleed-on-crit with Phantasmal Fury is usually only a 1-2 stack difference and the direct damage provided is not as optimal as the defensive capabilities of Desperate Decoy (it’s also an extra clone to apply another set of clone-on-death conditions).
4. With the addition of Lyssa Runes, the build is sitting on too much precision with 65% crit chance (50% is what I would prefer it could be at), so Carrion Jewel is the best replacement jewel for a hybrid stat with a little bit of vitality.
(edited by lolevy.7423)
Why don’t you play with shattered concentration in PvP?
Kortham Raysplitter (Yak’s Bend)
Why don’t you play with shattered concentration in PvP?
Well when I play a shatter mesmer, I really feel exposed once all of my clones are gone. With this build I really just get to hide among all my exploding clones and once I’m spotted, I pop an invis and start it all over again =3
EDIT: Woops just figured you meant shatters and not a specific trait. Well, Shattered Concentration is focused on shatters (which is usually a counter-play for this build) and I feel that the +10 seconds of cripple with Null Field will ensure enemy boons are stripped thoroughly.
(edited by lolevy.7423)
Can you share some vids too?
Champion Illusionist Champion Hunter Champion Phantom Champion Magus
Can you share some vids too?
Unfortunately, I am running Guild Wars 2 on a Dell laptop and my video capturing prowess has been limited to scene by scene action causing my in-game performance to be sub-par (or basically my computer sucks xD). On the same hand, you will unlikely be able to spectate this specific build as most clone-on-death people will be running the PU build or a variation of it (I’ve tried couple PU builds for days but always returned to my old ways).
You can though find me PvPing in-game in the meanwhile (since PvE content is a bit stale ATM). This will most likely be in a Skyhammer match because I can’t resist using my mesmer “skills” there. Note I did not say tricks because being pulled or pushed off the edge is one of the main goals for the map and anyone who says otherwise should “jump off a cliff if your told to” ;D
(edited by lolevy.7423)
UPDATED: As of April 15th
Changes include:
1. Superior Sigil of Force -> Superior Sigil of Generosity
Reasons for change:
1. Generosity OP! But seriously, Generosity will provide extra condi-clear while transferring said condi to the enemy. And with the implementation of the new PvP system, we are standing at a really high crit rate of 68% >.< But that’s just means that bleed proc, generosity procs, and criticals (but of course xD) are more likely to happen.
NEW BUILD VARIATION:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQRAsd7ansISna2oGmqB3aKp0YMVOn6K0dGpCosdUOA-TJxHwA72fQ8JBAwTAgZZAA
Changes from main build include:
1. Lyssa Runes -> Adventurer Runes
2. Domination III: Empowered Illusions -> Inspiration IV: Mender’s Purity
3. Both Offhand Sigils -> Generosity Sigils
Reasons for change:
1. With the change (MEGA NERF) to Lyssa Runes and the +50 Power added to Adventurer Runes, I am going back to the rune set I’ve always preferred. The over-the-top precision from Lyssa Runes, loss of 5% Cond. Duration, and huge nerfage of the 6-slot makes Lyssa less powerful but still viable. Adventurer Rune’s addition though does gives a huge bonus of +100 power, +175 Cond. Damage, and 50% endurance on heal which is mega ideal for a hybrid clone-death rune.
2. With the removal of Lyssa Runes, there is a new need for more cond. removal so Mender’s Purity was added to the build at the cost of 10% cond. duration and 15% illusion damage. But Mender’s Purity and Adventurer Runes synergy gives the benefit of phantasms recharged, two condis removed, and an extra dodge all on heal.
3. Another way for condi-removal/transference that has been added is the addition of Generosity Sigils to both Offhand Sigil slots because like I said before Generosity Sigils OP!
My Notes: This build is still in testing phase at the moment but so far I’ve been having a blast with it. With the boosted effects for heal, I’m constantly checking to make sure I’m low on endurance only for it to fill up instantly a second later. Stray condis are getting removed more often but burst necro, engi, and warrior condis are a problem (which can basically be solved by carefully playing your dodges). I do find myself still expecting full condi-clear on Mass Invisibility but I will get used to it xD
(edited by lolevy.7423)