Guild Wars 2

Hello, I recently returned to the game and already made a few posts here asking for help because I found myself totally lost with mesmer builds as I left 1 year and a half ago. After searching and trying some builds based on Mantras, S/S + S/P etc, I really miss my old playstile with my GreatSword to attack ranged and my Sword/Focus when I wanted to be in melee while using distortion. I could change the focus for another sword or pistol too, no problem with that. I liked using phantasms to do the damage for me, and generating clones evading automatically and shatter them with phantasm when I wanted .

Is there any used build like this anymore? Where you use phantasms/clones and you can shatter them if needed/wanted? I mean if there is any optimal build, because what I have been reading is people not using greatsword and with the revamped skills/traits I no longer know which ones to use with this playstyle and if it is even good now (good in terms of good in fractals/dungeons and good direct damage dps).

I use berserker power/ferocity/precision set, not sure about sigils and runes either.

If someone could help me would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance

The build most would recommend for PvE is this one:

• http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Mesmer_-_S/S_/F_/P

No greatsword here. If you must use GS then feel free to do so, just know that your DPS potential will drop by a huge margin.

Yup, sounds like the current meta build. Here’s a link to the build guide on MetaBattle and a link to a video guide as well:

http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Mesmer_-_S/S_/F_/P

In dungeon and fractal content, everyone needs to be in melee to maximise the benefit from allied fields and Warrior banners. Which is why the meta PvE builds exclusively use mainhand sword.

Which is not to say that Greatsword can’t be used for other PvE. It’s actually really good for Silverwastes mobs, because Imagined Burden makes it easy to interrupt Teragriff charges. I tend to use it for most other open world content, as well, just out of convenience. Dodge -> Mirror Blade -> Mind Wrack -> Mind Spike will wipe out most trash mobs pretty quickly.

Dahkeus.8243:

Yup, sounds like the current meta build. Here’s a link to the build guide on MetaBattle and a link to a video guide as well:

http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Mesmer_-_S/S_/F_/P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhxvfXznsvg

Thanks for info (also the above poster )

I found some differences between the video build and the linked one. The runes used in armor. The video uses Rune of the ranged (precision + ferocity) and the link uses rune of the scholar (power + ferocity). Which one should i get? I guess one gives you more direct damage and the other one is dependant on critics, but i am not sure

Treyu.9714:

I found some differences between the video build and the linked one. The runes used in armor. The video uses Rune of the ranged (precision + ferocity) and the link uses rune of the scholar (power + ferocity). Which one should i get? I guess one gives you more direct damage and the other one is dependant on critics, but i am not sure

Scholar. If the person in the video used Ranger, it’s likely because they mistakenly(?) thought illusions counted for the companion bonus. It could be a very good set if they did.
A similar alternative would be Eagle, but in practice Scholar still out-performs in any content where you can keep decent uptime on 90%+ health (easy in speedruns, but for anything else you’ll have to decide for yourself).
The truth is that in any build with decent precision/ferocity, power adds more oomph point for point than either of the other two. This is why Berserker adds more dps than Assassins, even below max crit.

Another possibility to consider would be Pack, which doubles as a superior power/precision set with a nice +swiftness bonus. The 10% damage on scholar is superior, but Pack has its place when you’re trying to boost your crit chance without paying too much in power.

tl;dr: Scholar is the #1 dps rune. Other runes have situational value depending on what your needs are.

Most people will tell u to use the meta build. I dont really like the meta build.
I run this build

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhEQJARGlsnhy0gBagaNWSNIzb8jZQOgLEgyPk8mD-TRQNAAw+DAA-e

Note that this build lacks condi removal. But honestly i dont mind it at all. In condi damage battles i use the condi removal mantra or null field.

Its not the best build out there but its FUN for me, i get reasonable amounts of interrupts wich grant quickness and a lot of might on large groups.

The greatsword is good for trash and lots of aoe and cc/interrupts.
The staff is good for defense and chaos armor. Specially in the Silverwastes

I usually use this build for pve open world and dungeons.

AlphatheWhite.9351:

Treyu.9714:

I found some differences between the video build and the linked one. The runes used in armor. The video uses Rune of the ranged (precision + ferocity) and the link uses rune of the scholar (power + ferocity). Which one should i get? I guess one gives you more direct damage and the other one is dependant on critics, but i am not sure

Scholar. If the person in the video used Ranger, it’s likely because they mistakenly(?) thought illusions counted for the companion bonus. It could be a very good set if they did.
A similar alternative would be Eagle, but in practice Scholar still out-performs in any content where you can keep decent uptime on 90%+ health (easy in speedruns, but for anything else you’ll have to decide for yourself).
The truth is that in any build with decent precision/ferocity, power adds more oomph point for point than either of the other two. This is why Berserker adds more dps than Assassins, even below max crit.

Another possibility to consider would be Pack, which doubles as a superior power/precision set with a nice +swiftness bonus. The 10% damage on scholar is superior, but Pack has its place when you’re trying to boost your crit chance without paying too much in power.

tl;dr: Scholar is the #1 dps rune. Other runes have situational value depending on what your needs are.

Thanks for the info. I already have full berserker set (power/ferocity/precision) but I saw that this build uses Assasin set, which must be crafted… Not sure if getting a new full Assasin set will give me a significant benefit compared to my full Berserker set, considering the time and money required to get it now that I have my full exotic already…. what is your opinion?

Treyu.9714:

AlphatheWhite.9351:

Treyu.9714:

I found some differences between the video build and the linked one. The runes used in armor. The video uses Rune of the ranged (precision + ferocity) and the link uses rune of the scholar (power + ferocity). Which one should i get? I guess one gives you more direct damage and the other one is dependant on critics, but i am not sure

Scholar. If the person in the video used Ranger, it’s likely because they mistakenly(?) thought illusions counted for the companion bonus. It could be a very good set if they did.
A similar alternative would be Eagle, but in practice Scholar still out-performs in any content where you can keep decent uptime on 90%+ health (easy in speedruns, but for anything else you’ll have to decide for yourself).
The truth is that in any build with decent precision/ferocity, power adds more oomph point for point than either of the other two. This is why Berserker adds more dps than Assassins, even below max crit.

Another possibility to consider would be Pack, which doubles as a superior power/precision set with a nice +swiftness bonus. The 10% damage on scholar is superior, but Pack has its place when you’re trying to boost your crit chance without paying too much in power.

tl;dr: Scholar is the #1 dps rune. Other runes have situational value depending on what your needs are.

Thanks for the info. I already have full berserker set (power/ferocity/precision) but I saw that this build uses Assasin set, which must be crafted… Not sure if getting a new full Assasin set will give me a significant benefit compared to my full Berserker set, considering the time and money required to get it now that I have my full exotic already…. what is your opinion?

There’s only a small difference between assassins and beserkers. You probably wouldn’t notice the difference.

TheFrighteningFrenchFry.3275:

Treyu.9714:

AlphatheWhite.9351:

Treyu.9714:

I found some differences between the video build and the linked one. The runes used in armor. The video uses Rune of the ranged (precision + ferocity) and the link uses rune of the scholar (power + ferocity). Which one should i get? I guess one gives you more direct damage and the other one is dependant on critics, but i am not sure

Scholar. If the person in the video used Ranger, it’s likely because they mistakenly(?) thought illusions counted for the companion bonus. It could be a very good set if they did.
A similar alternative would be Eagle, but in practice Scholar still out-performs in any content where you can keep decent uptime on 90%+ health (easy in speedruns, but for anything else you’ll have to decide for yourself).
The truth is that in any build with decent precision/ferocity, power adds more oomph point for point than either of the other two. This is why Berserker adds more dps than Assassins, even below max crit.

Another possibility to consider would be Pack, which doubles as a superior power/precision set with a nice +swiftness bonus. The 10% damage on scholar is superior, but Pack has its place when you’re trying to boost your crit chance without paying too much in power.

tl;dr: Scholar is the #1 dps rune. Other runes have situational value depending on what your needs are.

Thanks for the info. I already have full berserker set (power/ferocity/precision) but I saw that this build uses Assasin set, which must be crafted… Not sure if getting a new full Assasin set will give me a significant benefit compared to my full Berserker set, considering the time and money required to get it now that I have my full exotic already…. what is your opinion?

There’s only a small difference between assassins and beserkers. You probably wouldn’t notice the difference.

^ this. It’s a difference, which you can track in dps testing on golems. Even with all the shiny new crit traits on Thief, Berserkers with Scholar outperforms.

The only real reasons to go Assassins over Berserker’s are:
1. Assassin’s is cheaper.
2. Reflects benefit more from Assassin’s than Berserker’s.

The reason for #2 is simple: reflects use the base damage of the one that fired the projectile, but the crit chance and crit damage of the one that reflected it.
Generally this is why you see Assassin’s recommended for Mesmers, because as one of two classes with significant reflects, we can actually get some benefit out of that.

If you do a lot of dungeon speedrunning, there will be times when the Assassins noticably outperforms Berserkers (15s Lupi kills, for example).

This can extend to WvW, where smart use of Feedback or other reflects can instagib longbow rangers, so you see it recommended often.

If you’ve already got full Berserkers though, I wouldn’t worry about it.

If you are looking at the Meta build http://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Mesmer_-_S/S_/F_/P, there is mention that you can use Greatsword if needed (scroll down to the bottom under ‘Usage’).

I tend to use Greatsword a lot, along with Sword/Focus or /Sword.

given a random Dungeon boss that does not AoE and you don’t need to reflect projectiles, what Phantasm would be the better DPS?

given a random Dungeon boss that does AoE(TA first boss), what do you do?

rogerwilko.6895:

given a random Dungeon boss that does not AoE and you don’t need to reflect projectiles, what Phantasm would be the better DPS?

For absolute raw dps, the swordsman wins, with the duelist as a close second.

rogerwilko.6895:

given a random Dungeon boss that does AoE(TA first boss), what do you do?

Cry.

That’s pretty much it. Some bosses allow you to place a ranged phantasm out of the way of most damaging aoes, but many don’t. In that situation, you just resummon them as much as you can, and think about how nice it would be if mesmers had an actually reliable way to do dps.