Guild Wars 2

Hi,
I made my Mesmer a litter under 2 weeks ago after around 2 years afk since playing my ele. So far I’m loving Chrono, but I’m not 100% on what to do next. I levelled purely though Map completion which is now roughly 70% and I havent touched anything above level 60. I did the first part of HoT to unlock masteries as all the guides suggested as soon as i hit 80. Today, I bought some Berserker Accessories as they were all lacking. I’ve been doing the Map completion in order to try and farm materials relative to my crafting levels which is 200 ish for both weaponsmithing and artificer, as the end goal is to craft Bolt.

I did a couple of Dungeons today and they went pretty good, was in a strong group. And here in comes the bulk of questions:

Im not 100% sure on what I should be doing, ive basically been Summoning adds, shattering for quickness buff and using Con Split prior to using Timewarp and (shield thing forget it’s name)Shield reflect so I get the second charge. Ive tried switching between Illusion/Dom and Insp and not really sure which is the best to use. Also It’s going to take some time before I fully unlock Chrono, im around 38% at the moment.

What is the better 2nd weapon? Ive read staff, GS and sword/sword which has me confused. Using a staff at the moment purely because it was the highest level item I had at the time

https://gw2efficiency.com/c/Anemoí

Thanks

For one, thank you for the efficiency link. Helps us a lot to help you. Though I also recommend using gw2tool.net. Has mostly the same items though I find the layout to be better when trying to navigate and poke through your characters; however, you don’t have a lot of the calculators that gw2effeciency has. Anyways…

Before you work on anything else I recommend you work on getting all your gear up to 80 and exotic quality at least. In regards to weapons? Well, that all depends on your play style. For the most part every weapon has its use though mileage will vary depending on your build, theme, etc.

To prevent from re-inventing the wheel I offer Sandy’s Mesmer guide as a handbook for the class. He goes into quite a bit of detail regarding the description of each skill and trait as well as uses for those things.

Yeah, Sandy’s mesmer guide is fantastic, so I recommend going through that. As a quick point of reference though…

Open World: Gs+sw/sh or sw/sh+f or sw/sw+sh, depending on what you’re fighting
Dungeons/fractals: sw/sh+f

Open World: Chrono, domination, inspiration/illusions
Dungeons/fractals: Chrono, domination, inspiration

The way you want to play in dungeons and fractals is by doing buff combos to keep your entire party topped up on quickness and alacrity. I recommend looking here: http://qtfy.enjin.com/mesmer#Rotations, as the rotations you’ll use for raids is pretty much the same as the ones you want to use in fractals/dungeons.

Thanks for those links, thats a great place to start!

Ive now completed all maps upto 6o and am currently progressing through 55 – 65 before going 60 and 60 – 70. What other content should I be doing, keeping in mind my low gear level?

Should I hit dungeon spam or do HoT content or carry on as I am with Maps?

Thanks

Try dungeons! They are in a pretty perfect spot difficulty wise imo right now. For players who are new they can still be deadly, but if you pay attention and learn the fight/your class well enough they are pretty easy to fly through.

Also try fractals, and definitely explore the HoT maps. If for nothing else just do it long enough to unlock lean teahniques mastery (which increases your gliding endurance).

Open up the LFG tool (default ‘Y’) and hop on a world boss train.

Do the LW story (HoT, LWS3, and LWS2 if you have it). It gives you a lot of good experience playing with your class with reasonably difficult mobs, as well as gives out free goodies (and mastery experience, which you could put towards gliding or anything else really).

There is so much to do in this game that sometimes it can be hard to know what to do next. But I say go out and try everything, see what you like. Don’t focus just on map completion, its a great way to burn yourself out on this game (unless you are one of those people that loves it above all else) because it can get tedious at times.

If you do want to continue to do map completion, then I say the best place to start is to go to Orr and do those 3 maps. Not only do you gain a lot of karma there (which can be used to buy lots of skins, as well as exotic temple armor), but the event chains there are among the most difficult in core tyria (though still pretty easy honestly) which is just a great way to learn how to play mesmer better. Plus I think those maps are some of the best in the game aesthetics wise.

Best thing you can do is twofold. Try out a bunch of different types of content, and then set goals for yourself. They could be map completion, getting all exotic/ascended gear, collection achievements (or achievements in general), dungeon completion, world bosses etc…. Just pick something and go for it

OriOri.8724:

Try dungeons! They are in a pretty perfect spot difficulty wise imo right now. For players who are new they can still be deadly, but if you pay attention and learn the fight/your class well enough they are pretty easy to fly through.

Also try fractals, and definitely explore the HoT maps. If for nothing else just do it long enough to unlock lean teahniques mastery (which increases your gliding endurance).

Open up the LFG tool (default ‘Y’) and hop on a world boss train.

Do the LW story (HoT, LWS3, and LWS2 if you have it). It gives you a lot of good experience playing with your class with reasonably difficult mobs, as well as gives out free goodies (and mastery experience, which you could put towards gliding or anything else really).

There is so much to do in this game that sometimes it can be hard to know what to do next. But I say go out and try everything, see what you like. Don’t focus just on map completion, its a great way to burn yourself out on this game (unless you are one of those people that loves it above all else) because it can get tedious at times.

If you do want to continue to do map completion, then I say the best place to start is to go to Orr and do those 3 maps. Not only do you gain a lot of karma there (which can be used to buy lots of skins, as well as exotic temple armor), but the event chains there are among the most difficult in core tyria (though still pretty easy honestly) which is just a great way to learn how to play mesmer better. Plus I think those maps are some of the best in the game aesthetics wise.

Best thing you can do is twofold. Try out a bunch of different types of content, and then set goals for yourself. They could be map completion, getting all exotic/ascended gear, collection achievements (or achievements in general), dungeon completion, world bosses etc…. Just pick something and go for it

I did wonder where everyone got all these cool skins from. Are they the ascended armour or are they skins? I got my weaponsmithing to like 340 today, so I think one more 60 map will be enough to farm the mats required to able to use the mats in the Orr maps. The last time I played there was an app for tracking when the world events were happening, however, it wasnt very accurate.

stealth.5482:

OriOri.8724:

Try dungeons! They are in a pretty perfect spot difficulty wise imo right now. For players who are new they can still be deadly, but if you pay attention and learn the fight/your class well enough they are pretty easy to fly through.

Also try fractals, and definitely explore the HoT maps. If for nothing else just do it long enough to unlock lean teahniques mastery (which increases your gliding endurance).

Open up the LFG tool (default ‘Y’) and hop on a world boss train.

Do the LW story (HoT, LWS3, and LWS2 if you have it). It gives you a lot of good experience playing with your class with reasonably difficult mobs, as well as gives out free goodies (and mastery experience, which you could put towards gliding or anything else really).

There is so much to do in this game that sometimes it can be hard to know what to do next. But I say go out and try everything, see what you like. Don’t focus just on map completion, its a great way to burn yourself out on this game (unless you are one of those people that loves it above all else) because it can get tedious at times.

If you do want to continue to do map completion, then I say the best place to start is to go to Orr and do those 3 maps. Not only do you gain a lot of karma there (which can be used to buy lots of skins, as well as exotic temple armor), but the event chains there are among the most difficult in core tyria (though still pretty easy honestly) which is just a great way to learn how to play mesmer better. Plus I think those maps are some of the best in the game aesthetics wise.

Best thing you can do is twofold. Try out a bunch of different types of content, and then set goals for yourself. They could be map completion, getting all exotic/ascended gear, collection achievements (or achievements in general), dungeon completion, world bosses etc…. Just pick something and go for it

I did wonder where everyone got all these cool skins from. Are they the ascended armour or are they skins? I got my weaponsmithing to like 340 today, so I think one more 60 map will be enough to farm the mats required to able to use the mats in the Orr maps. The last time I played there was an app for tracking when the world events were happening, however, it wasnt very accurate.

Skin acquisition is a pretty broad topic. You’d have to be more specific with your description.

Also, I need a hell of a lot of HERO points to fully unlock Chrono. I have around 5 – 8 Tyria Maps left to explore (at work cant view map). I have also noticed since I last played there is a lot of new 80 maps coloured pink, I guess these are all HoT zones?

I there a lot more Hero points on the HoT maps? As I’m only getting around 6 per day at the moment doing the Map completion

stealth.5482:

Also, I need a hell of a lot of HERO points to fully unlock Chrono. I have around 5 – 8 Tyria Maps left to explore (at work cant view map). I have also noticed since I last played there is a lot of new 80 maps coloured pink, I guess these are all HoT zones?

I there a lot more Hero points on the HoT maps? As I’m only getting around 6 per day at the moment doing the Map completion

So heres the thing about HP. Its impossible to max chrono without getting some HP from HoT maps (you fall 30-40 HP short if you just use the ones from core tyria. Getting all the HP in WvW will make up some of that, but not enough to complete the chrono line). However, the HP in HoT maps are much more difficult than the ones in central tyria maps, so they award 10 HP each. This means that if you fully map complete core tyria before stepping foot in VB, AB, TD, or DS, you will only need to get a few of the HP in those maps to be able to fully unlock Chronomancer. On top of that, if you do WvW you will get a few Proofs of Heroics. These can be used to “buy” HP from WvW vendors. Its a 1-1 trade, you “buy” 1 HP with 1 proof of heroic, and then 1 of the HP in core tyria you haven’t finished yet is automatically finished for you and you are given that HP. This also works for HoT maps, but since those hero challenges give 10 HP each, they cost 10 proofs of heroics. Note that which one it “completes” for you is random, so I know some people will get all of the easy HP in HoT maps and then use Proofs of Heroics to skip the more frustrating ones (like mushroom queen in TD).

As for skin unlocks, like Fay said its a broad topic. There are over 4,000 skins in this game. Some (~290) come from dungeons, so its unlikely that those make up a substantial portion of the cool skins that you see people wearing.

OriOri.8724:

stealth.5482:

Also, I need a hell of a lot of HERO points to fully unlock Chrono. I have around 5 – 8 Tyria Maps left to explore (at work cant view map). I have also noticed since I last played there is a lot of new 80 maps coloured pink, I guess these are all HoT zones?

I there a lot more Hero points on the HoT maps? As I’m only getting around 6 per day at the moment doing the Map completion

So heres the thing about HP. Its impossible to max chrono without getting some HP from HoT maps (you fall 30-40 HP short if you just use the ones from core tyria. Getting all the HP in WvW will make up some of that, but not enough to complete the chrono line). However, the HP in HoT maps are much more difficult than the ones in central tyria maps, so they award 10 HP each. This means that if you fully map complete core tyria before stepping foot in VB, AB, TD, or DS, you will only need to get a few of the HP in those maps to be able to fully unlock Chronomancer. On top of that, if you do WvW you will get a few Proofs of Heroics. These can be used to “buy” HP from WvW vendors. Its a 1-1 trade, you “buy” 1 HP with 1 proof of heroic, and then 1 of the HP in core tyria you haven’t finished yet is automatically finished for you and you are given that HP. This also works for HoT maps, but since those hero challenges give 10 HP each, they cost 10 proofs of heroics. Note that which one it “completes” for you is random, so I know some people will get all of the easy HP in HoT maps and then use Proofs of Heroics to skip the more frustrating ones (like mushroom queen in TD).

As for skin unlocks, like Fay said its a broad topic. There are over 4,000 skins in this game. Some (~290) come from dungeons, so its unlikely that those make up a substantial portion of the cool skins that you see people wearing.

Ah ok, so is there certain skin (Karma) vendors in one place or are they spread out around the various maps?

Ok so I guess my plan is to complete this 55- 60 map, get 375 WS and then go Orr and complete those 80 maps for exotics/rares. Then I’ll have a look at the HoT maps and hit some dungeons this weekend

thanks

Skins basically just mean the physical appearance of an your weapons, armor, and backpiece. Where do you get skins? Everywhere! Off the top of my head you unlock skins by the following way

• Equipping an item you crafted, looted, or bought causing the item to be soul/account bound.
• Looting/buying an item that is “account bound on acquire”.
• Obtaining skin consumables: these items do not act as gear but rather alter the appearance of a corresponding slot.
• (recently) Opening a black lion chest will random unlock a skin that you do not already have unlocked.

In regards to your gear? You’ll want to buy level 80 Fine or Masterwork quality (“blues” and “greens”) off of the trading post as the lower level gear will prove to be a hindrance. This will become even more apparent in the HoT maps. Blues will cost you a handful of silver for a full set while a full set of Greens will be a handful of gold. Other than that a very inexpensive way to get gear is by going through dungeons. Iirc there are 8 different stat distributions that you can obtain with currency you are awarded from each dungeon, and each dungeon’s currency has access to 3 different stat distributions. The best part is that the gear you get from dungeons is purchasable at Exotic grade quality which is second best in slot. Ascended is best in slot, buuuuuut that’s a conversation for a later day.

In regards to world events? I generally use Gw2timer.

Hero Points? As others have mentioned you will not be able to fully unlock your Chrono unless you do some Hero challenges in the new HoT maps. Luckily the HoT Hero challenges offer 10 Hero Points vs Tyrian Hero Challenges that only offer 1 Hero point. So in HoT maps you would only have to do 25 challenges vs Tyria were you would have to do 250 of them (theoretically since there’s not that many challenges. Granted this kinda ties back to your low gear issue as the HoT challenges are no joke and generally require a group to clear them since most challenges have a beefed-up champion you must defeat.

Feel free to add me if you have any questions in game. Also, if you happen to catch me in game I can help run you throw a couple of the HoT masteries so that you can max out your Chrono line.

Thanks, I’m gonna wait to upgrade gear/ do HoT zones until after I’ve cleared the Orr zones for gear