Guild Wars 2

I tend to solo roam in WvW a lot. When I come across another roamer and they start to lose the fight, they’ll run 75% of the time. Can’t blame them, I do the same. But I’m curious what tools I have to catch them. I run 20/20/30/0/0, staff/scepter+torch right now. Utilities are usually Decoy, Blink, and Veil. There’s no swiftness in this build.

As far as I can tell I have three options: 1) Chaos storm can give me swiftness. It can also do a quick daze and a short chill. 2) Blink can get me close once, but it’s usually only enough to prolong the fight a few seconds. 3) I use crippling dissipation in the Domination tree, so I can try to keep up cripple that way, though they can usually outrun my clones.

Are there any other tricks that I’m missing?

I think you’re mostly out of luck to be honest. I run GS and sword+pistol in WvW giving me cripple from phantasmal berserker, phantasmal duelist for ranged pressure, magic bullet for stun and blink and I still can’t catch up to some players (notably thieves with their blinks and warriors with their leaps and swiftness).

It’s very frustrating when they run off cause every class can, and will run away from you. I run a no swiftness build as well and solo roam. I just dont bother with the “chase” anymore unless I have them really low and still in range. A blink or well placed phase can keep you on them long enough to seal the deal, but not always.

If they run away however IMO you won.

Yep, I just count it as a victory and move on to where I was going originally.

Oooooh staff/scepter… forget about it.

There are only two things that can catch runners (preferably both):
- Centaur runes (with mantra heal)
- Greatsword

Its as simple as that. Perma speed and the only ranged weapon a Mesmer has that can burst on command. The sword may be good but you cant catch crap with a buggy iLeap. Staff/scepter… I’m sorry but using the two slowest most defensive weapons definetly wont catch runners.

In addition to what’s already been stated in the OP, a while ago Phase Retreat (Staff 2) was changed to teleport you away from your target, not backwards, so if you and your opponent are likethis:

(C = critter Y = you T = them)
Y ___T (Running —-> that way)

You can target a critter or other mob behind you

C___ Y______T

And use Phase Retreat to act as a second Blink to get close

C______Y-T

At this stage you can cast Chaos Storm on them (or preferably both of you since you’ll have a chance at Swiftness) since it causes Chill on them, which is a 66% move speed reduction. Since they’re running, it’s safe to assume they have low hp, and since you seem to be running a condi build, you should be able to spike conditions on them (Lots of Confusion is definitely preferable as they will be spamming skills to get away).

Good luck and I hope this helps

P.S: Credit to Osicat’s vids on Youtube for teaching me this trick

Try this variaton:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQRAsf7alwzKqHWTmGb9IipHBnvBckUUavWJF42FC-jkBB0CwUggUFBi+IZqbY6YER1SBAxaA-w

+ Runes of Perplexity.

Stun with pistol, immobilize with iLeap. You also get 5 stacks of might + the enemy gets 5 stacks of confusion if you interrupt em.
Still awesome as condition build, much more pressure (thanks to iDuelist), just keep in mind that you’re not as defensive as before. You can also swap Phantasmal Fury with Blade Training for even more immobilize.

I really like swapping between this build for smaller encounters/duels and the usual staff/scepter+torch setup for larger encounters. You don’t even have to retrait. Just swap back to your normal gear (staff/scepter+torch) and traits if you need it.

Unless you are using GS, don’t even try it. Any class can run from a mesmer. Just think of it as a win while the other guy /points and /laughs at you.

Okay thanks all. I’ve made a habit of /wave ’ing when someone runs, just so they know I won that fight. Is there a better emote?

/yes [Character] agrees. [Character] agrees with [Target].

/laugh ? XD haha whats better than laughing at them (with them for the emote but does the job)

takatsu.9416:

/laugh ? XD haha whats better than laughing at them (with them for the emote but does the job)

Generally to avoid that problem I’ll do the following:

/point @ (you point at target)
/laugh (you laugh)

Ahah, when I saw the title, I answered in my head ‘’ You can’t as a Mesmer ’’. I gave up running after people in PvP.

You know what is worse ? A mesmer norn with a ugly mixed set which wears a robe. Slowly… going… to… catch… ya… NOPE !

At this point, with the condition meta and slow movement, I’m depressed.

If someone runs away from fighting you instead of waiting the minute or so for you to run out of stealth capabilties you did NOT win. You’re playing a highly defensive stealth build with little to no snaring ability. If you want to lock people down you need to bring the tools to lock people down, such as greatsword and/or sword+focus. I don’t play a cond torch mesmer in WvW because people will run from you all the time cause you’re a pain in the kitten to kill. Don’t feel all smug and victorious when someone decides just to not fight you, they’re deciding you’re a waste of time and not a threat.

I like condition stealth mesmer in sPvP where the name of the game is fighting in a small area. In WvW mobility is king. If you don’t bring any mobility or counter-mobility to the table you’re not automatically winning against everyone that’s faster than you.

I use a staff/sword torch and I’d say a have a better time catching runners than my scepter-wielding kinsman. I have 80% condition duration when I’m using sword/torch so the immobilize from iLeap lasts almost 4s. In those 4s I can burst down the enemy if he’s low enough or I can summon enough sword clones to blow up for Crippling Dissipation. The latter scenario goes something like this:

iLeap → Swap → Dodge → Swap to Staff → Chaos Storm (if available) → Phase Retreat → Dodge (replaces first clone from iLeap) → dps with Winds of Chaos for a moment → swap back to sword → The Prestige → iLeap (from stealth) → Swap (from stealth) → Blurred Frenzy

It’s a very involved sequence, but if done correctly it can delay an enemy for 10+ seconds. Of course, I’d never claim that this is a good or reliable method for stopping enemies; in fact, if the enemy blinks, blocks, or has condition removal ready, this method fails pretty hard. I just wanted to make the point that stopping runners isn’t impossible, and I always try to stop them. I never just let them go.

One time I ran into a zergling warrior who was separated from her brood. She ran away at about 90% health. I chased her from the ruins to SE tower of a borderlands map, keeping her crippled or immobilized for quite a bit of it. Unfortunately she just barely made it to the tower before going down to bleeds inside, but I considered it a personal victory when I got invited to her party so I could be berated about how annoying and mean I was for chasing her.

Easy, max condition duration, cc conditions, focus, long range short cooldown blink, boon duration, curtain cripple and pull.

You have to build for it, plain and simple. Staff is probably your weakest aspect in your build. If you like your build and want to keep it as is, just accept your lot.

Funny. I just fought an Anvil Rock Mesmer earlier. I was running condi/chaotic interruption spec: staff/scepter/focus, blink as a utility, and both Manipulations
Traits. I managed to keep up just fine, tbh. Although, I’ll admit our fight came down to both of us in Downed Mode, and me getting that last Mind Blast just in time.

A Mesmer that cant catch runners can keep up with a Mesmer that cant outrun anything?!

You are right, that is funny.

Oh, one other thing I love to have in my arsenal is arcane thievery. You can strip stability, and steal swiftness. That buffs your speed and cripples theirs.

Anyway I went to the liberty of making you a little vid. First log in and encounter of the day in fact!

Krispera.5087:

Ahah, when I saw the title, I answered in my head ‘’ You can’t as a Mesmer ’’. I gave up running after people in PvP.

You know what is worse ? A mesmer norn with a ugly mixed set which wears a robe. Slowly… going… to… catch… ya… NOPE !

At this point, with the condition meta and slow movement, I’m depressed.

You need a better build.

Ross Biddle.2367:

Krispera.5087:

Ahah, when I saw the title, I answered in my head ‘’ You can’t as a Mesmer ’’. I gave up running after people in PvP.

You know what is worse ? A mesmer norn with a ugly mixed set which wears a robe. Slowly… going… to… catch… ya… NOPE !

At this point, with the condition meta and slow movement, I’m depressed.

You need a better build.

Oh my builds are ok, alright. Yeah I get it, blink, sword swap, gs, curtains/pull, stuns, etc. Now, in comparison to other professions that can use their weapons to close gab… We only have that buggy sword swapping that requires a target.

I’m not saying Mesmers can not catch a runner, it’s just harder.

Ballantine.9645:

Don’t feel all smug and victorious when someone decides just to not fight you, they’re deciding you’re a waste of time and not a threat.

If you aren’t getting their health down very much after a long fight then yes, you can’t really say you won the fight. It would be more of a draw.

But if someone retreats because you were about to have them downed, that is absolutely a victory.

If winning 1v1s in WvW was the whole purpose of the build, I suppose it would suck. For what I use it for, solo roaming, it’s pretty darn good, thank you. Now that I know I cannot really chase effectively, I’m satisfied letting the enemy run away…and I’m going to continue being smug about it, including the tips about pointing and laughing.

FYI I have played tanky/get away builds on my engi, whose purpose was to keep people busy chasing me. Nearly impossible to get a kill in that build. I felt smug when I managed to stay alive indefinitely. I guess any level of success is worth celebrating.

This is one of the main reasons I don’t play with staff/conditions anymore as mesmer. Anyone who you’re about beat simply walks away (unless you can get that buggy sword move to hit).

I switched to using a greatsword/high-crit build and no one escapes anymore. The greatsword’s killing power increases exponentially as they run away…

Ballantine.9645:

If someone runs away from fighting you instead of waiting the minute or so for you to run out of stealth capabilties you did NOT win. You’re playing a highly defensive stealth build with little to no snaring ability. If you want to lock people down you need to bring the tools to lock people down, such as greatsword and/or sword+focus. I don’t play a cond torch mesmer in WvW because people will run from you all the time cause you’re a pain in the kitten to kill. Don’t feel all smug and victorious when someone decides just to not fight you, they’re deciding you’re a waste of time and not a threat.

I like condition stealth mesmer in sPvP where the name of the game is fighting in a small area. In WvW mobility is king. If you don’t bring any mobility or counter-mobility to the table you’re not automatically winning against everyone that’s faster than you.

I think that’s a bit extreme to say you are not a threat and you did not win. Yes to pain in the kitten to kill and if you really wanted to kill all runners you’d need lock down but, if they stick it out, they will die under a good mesmer’s hands, PU, torch, whatever, or not. I run something with PU, though not torch and i do have swiftness, i kill people… people who run found it hard to kill me. like two thieves who jumped me… found out i couldn’t be killed, while THEY could, EVEN if i ran out of stealth, cuz i didn’t even use any stealth yet lol and ran. That to me, is a victory… don’t call out another person’s build like that. But yes, if the plaer builds not for killing runners, then don’t kill runners lol You can say, its a waste of time to kill runners who try to run across the whole map… i chased this one warrior across the map, cuz he was scared after like a 30 second fight, just for fun wondering why he didn’t waypoint bc we were out of combat after a while. rofl