Guild Wars 2

Title^

It just feels like something is missing. I used to play a thief for a while, so I thought this would be a good second character for me; but it just feels “off” when i’m using it. I feel like i’m doing it wrong or something. Granted I only got to like lv 5, but just the weapon skills alone feel so different that it’s almost hard for me to grasp. I like the concept of the class, but I don’t understand how to play this properly. How are they at PvE, WvW, and PvP at higher levels?

Mesmers kinda rock at everything, but have sub-par AoE.

It takes some time , patience, and practice to get used to though. People who run around waving their hands in the air shouting over the rooftops that Mesmer are an easy class probably have not actually played em.

For a while, you’re gonna feel underpowered but things will only improve the longer you play. Are there any weapons you like in particular? What kind of playstyle do you have as a thief?

I used D/D and P/P as a theif. So I guess melee and Range. Im new like I said, so right now I’m only using a greatsword. Probably going to keep using it. Not sure on anything else though.

That off feeling is because the Mesmer is an advanced class. Almost all of our abilities are average when used straight out of the box so you are going to feel very weak at first. As you gain levels, traits and a general understanding of what mesmers can really do, that feeling will be replaced by the general snobbish attitude that you are a god among men. At that point you are required to wear a flashy, unconventional, high fashion outfit with fuchsia somewhere in your color scheme.

Personally I had problems with the Greatsword at early levels because if your opponent runs gets close to you, your damage is shot. And at early levels, especially without experience, it’s harder to generate the clones and phantasms you really want to keep the attention off of you.

I think main-hand sword is probably the most beginner friendly, with the offhand of your choice. Staff is kind of nice too, but I always found it to clear events and such much more slowly than the sword.

My first char is thief and now I am mesmer as u. Mesmer is weak in the beginning since the phantasm and clone are easy to die. I suggest u to craft to level up to 10 or 20. If u cannot master the class well, u can use staff/sword/pistol at first since it gives u good defense and offense. U will find how amazing mesmer is in the pvp and wvw.

Greatsword Is A GreaT Ranged Weapon. For The Ranged/Melee Your Used Too I Would Suggest Sword/Focus Or Torch As Your secondary

You only got to level 5. If you think that you can fully experience the nature and feel of a class in the first 5 levels, you’ve got another thing coming. Get it to level 40, then take another look at it.

I just started leveling my second mesmer (I know… why?).

There are a couple of things I would recommend. First, try these weapon combinations.
scepter / pistol and sword / sword, make sure you unlock all the skills before you swap.

Try out all the different skills. Scepter 1 is slow but generates clones, scepter 2 is a block, scepter 3 is confusion, pistol 4 is a phantasm, pistol 5 is a stun (but may aggro lots of unintended enemies.)

Sword 2 is an cleaving attack that given invulnerability, sword 3 generates a clone / allows you to swap places with a clone, sword 4 is a block, sword 4 is a phantasm.

Once you learn all the skills try to start a fight with a phantasm. Try to end the fight with a shatter (if clones are up.)

Try to keep as many clones / phantasms active as you possibly can.

Edit 1:
I would avoid the greatsword and staff for now. Try them out after level 7 when you get a weapon swap.

Edit 2:
I see some recommendations for the focus. The focus is awesome, but I would hold off at first. The focus’ phantasm (#5) doesn’t move. Which makes it less useful. The focus #4 is a speed boost, a cripple, and a pull. Great abilities, but you don’t need them until later. Better to have a phantasm that chases down your opponent.

Pyroatheist.9031:

You only got to level 5. If you think that you can fully experience the nature and feel of a class in the first 5 levels, you’ve got another thing coming. Get it to level 40, then take another look at it.

…. at level 40, I’m still going to hav the same weapon skills. I was specifically addressing the weapon skills. Not the entire class as a whole. obviously there will be more damage etc, but the basis of my question wouldn’t change. coming from a straight forward class like theif, mesmer feels very different with it’s wep skills. It’s not as straight forward, so I was hoping for some elaboration on the weapon skills and personal thoughts. You telling me what is quite obvious will still leave me with the same question.

I guess I don’t know what you are looking for.

Are you looking for weapon combination, rotations, an indication of when to use what?

TooBz.3065:

I guess I don’t know what you are looking for.

Are you looking for weapon combination, rotations, an indication of when to use what?

Your answer was great actually.

Mesmers shine brighter the higher level they are. At 5 they are rather weak and squishy. At level 30 they’re elusive and fun. At level 60 they’re strong and versatile. At 80 they can do it all.

If mesmer really does interest you, stick with it a bit longer.

Yes, the weapon skills are the same at 40 (and 80) as they are at 5. However, they become more useful and versatile as you get traits. For instance, staff #2 isn’t just a great defensive evasion tool, it’s also a low cooldown clone generator, making it incredibly useful for frequent shatters. Traits can significantly lower the cooldown of that skill, as well as augment the usefulness of clones.

In WvW and PvP they can totally rock, in pve they can as well. There are a couple things you have to understand about the mesmer weapon sets.

1: Most, if not all are set up around combos that can just devastate when properly utilized. (Ex: Sword/Pistol: Illusionary Duelist—>Illusionary leap—→Magic bullet—>Finish Ilusionary leap—→blurred frenzy+Mindwrack)
2: Also most combos are not just offensive, some can be very defensive oriented.
Ex: We have several etheral combo fields, that with our numerous leap skills grants us chaos armor: (5 secs: Grants protection, regen, swiftness, and gives the enemy blind, confusion, cripple when the enemy attacks you) <—each is given (boons and conditions) on separate attacks.
Etheral combos: Chaos storm (staff #5) Phase retreat=chaos armor
Chaos stormIllusionary leap=chaos armor
Chaos storm+ The Prestige (torch #4 blast finisher) gets you chaos armor

There are alot of combos that our class/weapon sets are built around, it just takes time to practice with them and figure them out. Eventually you will become adept at the mesmer, and know how to use your fields/combos properly, and how each weapon can control your enemy. And remember as a mesmer there is a golden rule that some neglect; this class (like the thief, D/D eles, and some guardians) have the ability to reset a losing fight. Never forget to take advantage of that, you have all the skills at your hands to do this, so have fun as you make the enemy go: “what the heck?” as you come back at full health after almost dying.

Hope this helped a little.

mesmer play style dont tethering for weapons to much, its all about utility and traits. if with thief u can put random traits like 6/3/18/4/2 and still do something good. with mesmer u must use brains. till 40-45 its not so easy pve. when u take first traits 0/0/0/0/5 around 15 lvl u start kill mobs a lil faster. and when u get 0/20(X)/0/0/5 u become a killing machine. and mesmer class is about trick, troll, confuse enemy.
end game (high-end) mesmer are terminator. can kill almost every mob/champion/boss in game solo. mesmer find party very easy pve. very useful utility skills in wvw. and almost unbeatable in pvp 1 vs 1
but if u rly like mesmer u can become a master, if u wanna more, just like ram, kill mobs without fun, better play warrior/ranger

cool cool. makes sense now. they aren’t so straight forward like thieves or warriors would be. which is why it felt “off” to me

Crossplay.2067:

<snip> At that point you are required to wear a flashy, unconventional, high fashion outfit with fuchsia somewhere in your color scheme.

:D
Only fuchsia, or any shade of purple/pink?

Droughboi.2945:

Title^

It just feels like something is missing. I used to play a thief for a while, so I thought this would be a good second character for me; but it just feels “off” when i’m using it. I feel like i’m doing it wrong or something. Granted I only got to like lv 5, but just the weapon skills alone feel so different that it’s almost hard for me to grasp. I like the concept of the class, but I don’t understand how to play this properly. How are they at PvE, WvW, and PvP at higher levels?

Ofc it’s different. Or do you want all classes to be the same? And you can’t possibly get the right idea about any of the classes by just leveling to 5.

serialkicker.5274:

Droughboi.2945:

Title^

It just feels like something is missing. I used to play a thief for a while, so I thought this would be a good second character for me; but it just feels “off” when i’m using it. I feel like i’m doing it wrong or something. Granted I only got to like lv 5, but just the weapon skills alone feel so different that it’s almost hard for me to grasp. I like the concept of the class, but I don’t understand how to play this properly. How are they at PvE, WvW, and PvP at higher levels?

Ofc it’s different. Or do you want all classes to be the same? And you can’t possibly get the right idea about any of the classes by just leveling to 5.

sigh, you people -_-
I was merely saying I didn’t understand how to play the class as wanted someone to elaborate in it at different phases. again I was only addressing the weapon skills not the entire class. let’s not be “that” guy, if you have nothing nice to say, then just hush. I had a solid grasp on every other class as soon as I picked it up. I’d be able to understand what kind of things I’d be doing with it. I couldn’t grasp it with with mesmer. I only stated my level because someone would obviously ask, not because I level up 5 times and judged the entire class(which I’m not). Only weapon skills, all of which I have. You could’vevsaid something about the various combo fields with the weapon skills or something and that would’ve been great. but no, you want to be “that” guy.

I’m asking early so I don’t waste time leveling something I might not like.

Droughboi.2945:

Pyroatheist.9031:

You only got to level 5. If you think that you can fully experience the nature and feel of a class in the first 5 levels, you’ve got another thing coming. Get it to level 40, then take another look at it.

…. at level 40, I’m still going to hav the same weapon skills. I was specifically addressing the weapon skills. Not the entire class as a whole. obviously there will be more damage etc, but the basis of my question wouldn’t change. coming from a straight forward class like theif, mesmer feels very different with it’s wep skills. It’s not as straight forward, so I was hoping for some elaboration on the weapon skills and personal thoughts. You telling me what is quite obvious will still leave me with the same question.

The point is that with traits many of your core weapon skills receive up to 40% cooldown reduction – it makes things much more fluid, I mean basically half the CD speaks for itself. On top of that some of those skills become as much as 40-50% more effective on top of that CD reduction. The sheer volume of boost some weapon skills get from traits is staggering.

On weapons – in my opinion Sword+Pistol and Greatsword are the most straightforward of all – they got damage and they got defense – you press a button and stuff just happens as you expect it to happen.

Offhand sword is also pretty simple, just with added block and counter caveat. Staff and Focus are more advanced – some things require careful setup or just produce random effects, they are also more defensive in their nature and can be very powerful if you use them right.

Scepter and Torch are crap really, let’s say, I am sure you can jump above your head and trait and setup in a way that will make those bearable, but really, I don’t see much of a point unless you build a very specialized build that needs those.

Another point on Mesmer weapons is that we NEED and are designed to swap weapons often – make sure you get another set of weapons as soon as you nail level 7, don’t marry one weapon. Again, I suggest for starters GS and S/P they are very consistent and reliable, IMO.

=====

On that “straightforward” part, it reminds me of some guy in yet another “nerf mesmers” topic said: “So, in description it is written that Mesmers beat enemies by deceiving them, it seems in game Mesmers deceive their targets by killing them really fast.”

Trust me, we got plenty of straightforward stuff where you pretty much press one button and do tons of damage. The fact that it is usually not done directly by you stabbing someone is not really making much difference in the end.

Jarattellis pretty much hit it right on the head with his #2. I didn’t understand or know about fields and anything like that at all.

Craft your Mesmer up till about 40 even better 50 and then PvE will feel much better.

Droughboi.2945:

serialkicker.5274:

Droughboi.2945:

Title^

It just feels like something is missing. I used to play a thief for a while, so I thought this would be a good second character for me; but it just feels “off” when i’m using it. I feel like i’m doing it wrong or something. Granted I only got to like lv 5, but just the weapon skills alone feel so different that it’s almost hard for me to grasp. I like the concept of the class, but I don’t understand how to play this properly. How are they at PvE, WvW, and PvP at higher levels?

Ofc it’s different. Or do you want all classes to be the same? And you can’t possibly get the right idea about any of the classes by just leveling to 5.

sigh, you people -_-
I was merely saying I didn’t understand how to play the class as wanted someone to elaborate in it at different phases. again I was only addressing the weapon skills not the entire class. let’s not be “that” guy, if you have nothing nice to say, then just hush. I had a solid grasp on every other class as soon as I picked it up. I’d be able to understand what kind of things I’d be doing with it. I couldn’t grasp it with with mesmer. I only stated my level because someone would obviously ask, not because I level up 5 times and judged the entire class(which I’m not). Only weapon skills, all of which I have. You could’vevsaid something about the various combo fields with the weapon skills or something and that would’ve been great. but no, you want to be “that” guy.

I’m asking early so I don’t waste time leveling something I might not like.

Mesmers are kind of weird. They were the class that took the longest to click for me, (other than Necro, which I haven’t really played yet). My main is a thief. I tried Mesmer a couple times in beta, then again after the game came out, and it never really worked for me. Then a little while ago I rolled another one on a whim and suddenly it just worked for me all of a sudden. Now I love the class—still very low level, but once I’m done leveling another alt, I’m going to start playing her seriously. I think I mostly used Sword/Pistol to start off with, and I did use scepter a bit in the beginning to get used to shattering and stuff. But I really wanted to run GS and Staff, and it was when I tried out the staff again that things clicked for me. So if it doesn’t make sense right away but you like the class, stick with it and be patient. If you still don’t like it by 20 or so, maybe it isn’t for you, but I do think it takes a little longer to find your way with the class than most others. As a thief, I think you will really appreciate the elusiveness you can get with the Mesmer. The combat style is very different in some ways, but the feeling of outsmarting and outmaneuvering your opponents is still there.

Trust. You’ll be feeling like an animé hero in no time.

Crossplay.2067:

As you gain levels, traits and a general understanding of what mesmers can really do, that feeling will be replaced by the general snobbish attitude that you are a god among men. At that point you are required to wear a flashy, unconventional, high fashion outfit with fuchsia somewhere in your color scheme.

This post brings so many flashbacks… And it has so much truth in it, it almost made me cry :’).
In the next election ill vote you for president for sure.

Droughboi.2945:

serialkicker.5274:

Droughboi.2945:

Title^

It just feels like something is missing. I used to play a thief for a while, so I thought this would be a good second character for me; but it just feels “off” when i’m using it. I feel like i’m doing it wrong or something. Granted I only got to like lv 5, but just the weapon skills alone feel so different that it’s almost hard for me to grasp. I like the concept of the class, but I don’t understand how to play this properly. How are they at PvE, WvW, and PvP at higher levels?

Ofc it’s different. Or do you want all classes to be the same? And you can’t possibly get the right idea about any of the classes by just leveling to 5.

sigh, you people -_-
I was merely saying I didn’t understand how to play the class as wanted someone to elaborate in it at different phases. again I was only addressing the weapon skills not the entire class. let’s not be “that” guy, if you have nothing nice to say, then just hush. I had a solid grasp on every other class as soon as I picked it up. I’d be able to understand what kind of things I’d be doing with it. I couldn’t grasp it with with mesmer. I only stated my level because someone would obviously ask, not because I level up 5 times and judged the entire class(which I’m not). Only weapon skills, all of which I have. You could’vevsaid something about the various combo fields with the weapon skills or something and that would’ve been great. but no, you want to be “that” guy.

I’m asking early so I don’t waste time leveling something I might not like.

I didn’t mean to be a jerk. I’m just saying, thank god all classes feels different.
I’ll be honest, i leveled my mesmer to lvl 60 by crafting. So i don’t know how it feels to lvl up one, but i imagine staff+gs would be a good choice.
First you need to decide how you want to play your mesmer. Then choose weapons.
You should check out some guides and stuff to get an idea of what would be your playstyle.

The most difficult part of being a mesmer is to get to lvl 40. Once you get lvl 40 and can get Duelling X trait it gets soo much easier.

Here are a few “guidelines” which I find make lvling as a mesmer easier:
-> first 5 trait points in Illusion (20% cooldown reduction for ALL skills which summon illusions) after that it’s personal preference
-> at lvl 40 get 20 points in Duelling (for trait X) and of course the 5 points in Illusion, rest is personal preference
-> staff and sword/sword (can change with pistol) are really good at the beginning, both offer good damage and utility
-> I personally don’t like Greatsword for lvling, it is a good weapon if you are in a group with a few melee chars and you can keep max distance but otherwise I don’t use it

hope this helps to get your mesmer to lvl 80, because there you will finally feel like a god (I still find it interesting when I’m the last one alive in fractals, even with warriors or guardians in the group)

@OP: I tried to touch on this before (and so have Serial & Gaidax) but you can’t merely look at mesmer weapon skills over the course of your 1-80. The skills themselves never change (obviously) but due to traits (which you didn’t want to discuss but have to be included) the weapon skills change their functionality.

Firstly and most straight forwardly, we have traits that significantly reduce weapon skills cooldowns. That means a weapon you might not find viable at lower levels is suddenly more-so at higher levels.

Also, your traits determine your build. If, for instance, you want a shatter build then a weapon like scepter or staff (which you might find lackluster at lower levels) suddenly becomes great at pumping out clones to shatter. Now you’re not focusing on weapon damage, but clone creation as a baseline for your weapon skills.

Nobody is trying to be “that guy” but we are trying to point out how traits and builds and higher levels can change a weapon in your eyes. Leveling may or may not feel like a chore or be convoluted for you at first, but as your flesh out your play style the weapons will make more sense. I know it took me 2-3 tries before I rolled a mesmer I didn’t delete after <10 levels.

I’ve been thinking more about your question, and I got to level 15 on my new mesmer last night. I apologize if this comes off a little odd, I’m trying to work out how to describe the difference.

Generally, a thief, guardian, and warrior spend all of their time on a target. An elementalist and a necro spend their time kiting the target. A ranger can do either, but generally does one or the other based on the build.

Edit: I know other classes can switch between one and the other with different weapon sets, a warrior with a greatsword / long bow for example, but in general they are all doing one or the other.

When I play a mesmer, I go through phases. Set up, close, burst, escape, kite & set up, repeat.

So, for example, one rotation I have used with S/P and Staff is
Set Up
Mirror Images (2 illusions up)
Close
Sword 3 (3 illusions up)
Sword 3 (swap)
Burst
Sword 2 (blurred frenzy)
Shatter 1 (Mind wrack)
Escape
Pistol 5 (stun)
Pistol 4 (generate phantasm, 1 illusions up)
Swap to staff
Staff Number 5 (why is this a censored word without the number in there?) (chaos storm)
Staff 2 (get out of there, 2 illusions up)
Set up
Staff 3 (generate phantasm, 3 illusions up)
Kite until I’m ready to close again.

Does that make any sense?

I know these are different weapons than I recommended, but I think my scepter / pistol, sword, sword recommendation pre level 7 are great ways to get a feel of different ranges. scepter / pistol is the ranged set, sword / sword is the close set. Scepter and sword off hand both have a block. etc…

Once you are use to those weapons you should definitely just find what works for you.

Edit 2: Note, I’m still dealing damage during each phase, phantasms do great damage, chaos storm adds conditions, etc..

TooBz.3065:

I’ve been thinking more about your question, and I got to level 15 on my new mesmer last night. I apologize if this comes off a little odd, I’m trying to work out how to describe the difference.

Generally, a thief, guardian, and warrior spend all of their time on a target. An elementalist and a necro spend their time kiting the target. A ranger can do either, but generally does one or the other based on the build.

Edit: I know other classes can switch between one and the other with different weapon sets, a warrior with a greatsword / long bow for example, but in general they are all doing one or the other.

When I play a mesmer, I go through phases. Set up, close, burst, escape, kite & set up, repeat.

So, for example, one rotation I have used with S/P and Staff is
Set Up
Mirror Images (2 illusions up)
Close
Sword 3 (3 illusions up)
Sword 3 (swap)
Burst
Sword 2 (blurred frenzy)
Shatter 1 (Mind wrack)
Escape
Pistol 5 (stun)
Pistol 4 (generate phantasm, 1 illusions up)
Swap to staff
Staff Number 5 (why is this a censored word without the number in there?) (chaos storm)
Staff 2 (get out of there, 2 illusions up)
Set up
Staff 3 (generate phantasm, 3 illusions up)
Kite until I’m ready to close again.

Does that make any sense?

I know these are different weapons than I recommended, but I think my scepter / pistol, sword, sword recommendation pre level 7 are great ways to get a feel of different ranges. scepter / pistol is the ranged set, sword / sword is the close set. Scepter and sword off hand both have a block. etc…

Once you are use to those weapons you should definitely just find what works for you.

Edit 2: Note, I’m still dealing damage during each phase, phantasms do great damage, chaos storm adds conditions, etc..

This is a great answer and explanation of what I was trying to convey. I chose to go with s/f and Staff. the only time I ever really get up close is when I use swrd2. other than that, I find myself constantly kiting.

Try this (which is a very similar rotation):

Target Enemy
Focus #5 (phantasm)
Sword #3 (clone)
Sword #3 (leap)
Sword #2 (blurred frenzy)
Shatter 1 (don’t shatter before the phantasm is done attacking. You may need to do this after staff #5.)
swap
Staff #5 (chaos storm)
Staff #2 (phase retreat)
Staff #3 (phantasm)

See if that feels better.

Great sword is fubar right now.

Mesmer is painfully at lower levels, but starts picking up after 35 or so.

TooBz.3065:

Try this (which is a very similar rotation):

Target Enemy
Focus #5 (phantasm)
Sword #3 (clone)
Sword #3 (leap)
Sword #2 (blurred frenzy)
Shatter 1 (don’t shatter before the phantasm is done attacking. You may need to do this after staff #5.)
swap
Staff #5 (chaos storm)
Staff #2 (phase retreat)
Staff #3 (phantasm)

See if that feels better.

That is more or less my rotation too, but I do it the other way around. I start at range with …

Staff auto (for aggro)
Staff #3 (phantasm)
Staff #5 (storm)
Staff #2 (retreat, clone, finisher)
swap
Sword #3 (clone)
Sword #3 (leap in)
Shatter
Sword #4 (light field)
Sword #5 (phantasm, whirl finisher)
Sword #2 (blurred frenzy)

I like starting at range and then when the enemy closes in, I can take advantage of my sword/focus. If you make sure you cross the Sword#4 line you’ll have swiftness to escape close range after you finish blurred frenzy. Or if your recharge is ready, swap back to staff and #2 leap back.
Rinse & repeat.

Seras.5702:

TooBz.3065:

Try this (which is a very similar rotation):

Target Enemy
Focus #5 (phantasm)
Sword #3 (clone)
Sword #3 (leap)
Sword #2 (blurred frenzy)
Shatter 1 (don’t shatter before the phantasm is done attacking. You may need to do this after staff #5.)
swap
Staff #5 (chaos storm)
Staff #2 (phase retreat)
Staff #3 (phantasm)

See if that feels better.

That is more or less my rotation too, but I do it the other way around. I start at range with …

Staff auto (for aggro)
Staff #3 (phantasm)
Staff #5 (storm)
Staff #2 (retreat, clone, finisher)
swap
Sword #3 (clone)
Sword #3 (leap in)
Shatter
Sword #4 (light field)
Sword #5 (phantasm, whirl finisher)
Sword #2 (blurred frenzy)

I like starting at range and then when the enemy closes in, I can take advantage of my sword/focus. If you make sure you cross the Sword#4 line you’ll have swiftness to escape close range after you finish blurred frenzy. Or if your recharge is ready, swap back to staff and #2 leap back.
Rinse & repeat.

That’s cool. I’ll have to try that.

When you get clone on dodge, that is when the class will click

Pyroatheist.9031:

You only got to level 5. If you think that you can fully experience the nature and feel of a class in the first 5 levels, you’ve got another thing coming. Get it to level 40, then take another look at it.

This. Also, while leveling, go with GS and sword/x with power/crit/toughness and phantasms.

Mesmer is a very slow class when it comes to leveling, theyre very trait dependant for dealing good damage and it can make you feel like youre playing an UP class when you first start out, things will change drastically when you get to about level 60. as far as how they do in different areas of the game, in pvp/wvw they are one of the top classes as voted on by players, but in pve they can be lacking a bit (particularily in the aoe department) that being said the Mesmer is my main and imo one of the most fun classes as far as playstyle and build diversity. I feel anets been doing a good job with the balancing to make more then one build viable for every class, but this is ery apparent when it comes to the Mesmer.

-Priest of Lyssa