Guild Wars 2

Hey everyone, I’ve been trying out some new classes and tried playing the mesmer, but I just can’t seem to get a hang of it. I don’t seem to do a lot of damage like I usually see mesmers doing, and I have a hard time getting clones out. I want to like the class because the concept is awesome, but I can’t seem to play it correctly. Any tips or advice on how to play it?

There are a few good guides stickied at the top of the page including Chaos Archangel’s overall guide on how to Mesmer and Maxinion’s guide on how to Mesmer in dungeons.

Another guide that people have told me they found helpful, that doesn’t seem to be stickied, is Kaiyanwan’s more casual guide to leveling and open world play as a Mesmer.

Hopefully, some of those help! If you have any specific questions, feel free to shout them out. I (or someone smarter/better at Mesmer than me) will be happy to help out.

Yea, starting a new mesmer is really confusing. Here’s some tips on probably the strangest concepts while leveling a new mesmer:

Shattering
While leveling, you generally don’t need to shatter much and until you get the clone on dodge trait, it doesn’t do much aside from give a bit of extra damage on a mob that’s about to die. Mind Wrack is your go-to shatter and Distortion is a good ’Oh sh@#" button. The other two are pretty lackluster outside of PvP or tougher PvE content.

Clones vs Phantasms
You can generally distinguish these types of illusions by this when leveling: Clones are for shattering and phantasms are for sustained damage. Phantasms are really only worth shattering when they’re about to die on their own (mob about to die or the phantasms are about to get cleaved).

Generally, people tend to build for either a shatter-focused build, which has more burst and is more popular in PvP or a phantasm-focused build, which is higher sustained dps and more popular in PvE. However, while leveling up, you won’t get the same benefit from phantasms against low health mobs that die quickly, so feel free to experiment with both builds.

AtomsOrSystems.9420:

There are a few good guides stickied at the top of the page including Chaos Archangel’s overall guide on how to Mesmer and Maxinion’s guide on how to Mesmer in dungeons.

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Please note that the guides are bit outdated – while general information is right (what skills are most important, what you should do in general) they refer to old builds using old skill system. Also rune of the Ranger doesn’t work with clones/phantasm.

This guide seems to be more up to date: http://dulfy.net/2014/07/21/gw2-mesmer-pve-class-guide-by-sanderinoa/

Illusions (clones/phantasms) are your resource – up to 3 out at any time, max.

Shatters are what you use to blow your resources for damage/cc/support/defence.

Illusions can also do damage by themselves:
- clones only condi damage
- phantasms condi or direct (power) damage (see individual phantasm)

Use Illusions personal damage and shattering to supplement your weapon and utility skills.