Guild Wars 2

Hello everyone, I’m a new mesmer (only level 16). When I first started playing my Mesmer this weekend I tried out the IWarden and I didn’t really like it…well its not that I didn’t really like it, I like its animation, the fact thats its AoE, and that it is a whirl finisher, but I disliked the fact that it would die as soon as i summon it, generally before even getting halfway through its first whirl. During the school week I don’t play but I do check on these forums a lot and everyone was constantly talking about how IWarden is a amazing and stuff like that so I was thinking about practicing with the focus this weekend so I could efficient use IWarden to its full potential. However, last night or night before? (Idk, I just saw the post last night) They fixed phantasmal haste on IWarden and though this doesn’t affect me yet because I can’t get 3rd tier traits yet, from what I’ve seen on the Forums, IWarden now sucks apparently.

See Thread Here —> https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/R-I-P-Phantasmal-Warden/first

This truly bums me out because I was looking forward to using the focus (This isn’t my main so I’ve run dungeon before and the skill “into the void” seems like it could be useful in dungeons for interrupting large groups of mobs and possibly even pulling groups of them into corners) and the IWarden seemed like it would be a nice way to stack AoE bleeds when using the Sharper Images trait.

^ (I use a condition build with Staff/Scepter+Pistol Currently. The build I plan to work up to is —> http://www.gw2db.com/skills/calc/mesmer#0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|20|1759|1815|0|20|1818|2214|0|0|0|0|0|30|2310|2223|2228|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0| )

This leads to me ask if using the focus and IWarden is even worth it anymore? I love my scepter but would dropping it for Greatsword to use IBerserker be better than using a focus offhand for IWarden. The IBersker also has AoE like the IWarden and its not stationary, it is also a whirl finisher and although I dislike the Greatsword, its Mirror Blade would benefit from Elasticity Bouncing the same way my staff would. So I just want to have your opinions. Sorry if I got a little wordy and if I went all over the place, but basically my two questions are.

Is IWarden still useful?

Which set seems better? Staff/Scepter-Pistol. Staff/Scepter-Focus. Staff/Greatsword. Although Staff/Scepter-Focus will probably suck if IWarden is useless and the reason you see Scepter instead of MH Sword is that I prefer Scepter and find it more efficient that MH Sword. I dislike MH Sword. Thanks in advance.

Its still good with Sharper Images. You can inflict 4-8 stacks of bleed on a foe in like 2 seconds. However the latest update overnerfed its attack time when used with Phantasmal Haste trait. This trait is still a big mess, I have no idea why they selectively overnerf. Probably someone cried in sPvP. (I agree it was OP but just fix the whole thing instead of nerfing whats arguably the slowest and weakest class overall)

I.Warden is still useful, but you need to know what situations. At least for PvE, in PvP I.Warden is … not useful at all.

The big question for wondering if the Focus will be useful is ….
“Will I be facing multiple stationary targets, or ranged creatures?”
Its still a good Anti-ranged Phantasm, though no longer a complete shutdown in PvE. Its still AoE damage. Sadly, its STILL not ranging right as it doesn’t move closer to its target unless its outside of his “Imaginary Guns” range and it dies easily still when targeted by melee/AoE.

Of the two AoE phantasms, I.Zerker works best for Kiting/Moving targets by far while I.Warden’s damage is better insured to hit against stationary in comparison. (I.Zerker’s swings range wildly, at max six hits but sometimes can even hit 0 times on a pass).

If you are going 1v1 on PvE monsters? Pistol or OH-Sword. Faster CD and roughly the same damage output. Faster CD means you can put two of the above out while the AoE Phantasms are still on CD.

I used to use him constantly but recently with the bug fix i have dropped the focus in favor of the pistol again. I’ve also dropped phantasmal Haste as well as the 20% reduction is somewhat buggy, and i figure i can get more out of the 15% phantasm damage in the domination trea.

Honestly, iwarden is now what it should always have been.

I really loved the permareflection, but being able to afk solo the deadly fire golem form sorrow embrace was perhaps a little too imbalanced.

It’s still our highest damage phantasm and can still reflect projectiles. So yeah, it’s still useful. Anyway, focus 4 is one of our most powerful skills inWvW, so i’d still bring a focus even if iwarden was total crap.

zun.2905:

Honestly, iwarden is now what it should always have been.

Zun, they over-nerfed it. Its still not what “Phantasmal Haste” says. I wish they finally fix this trait and all the related phantasms, much time has passed. Some phantasms are unaffected, some attack faster than they should (well not anymore) and some slower. It continues to be a total mess of a trait.

Those who are talking about the focus, too, should remember that skill 4 is pretty good, both in combat and for speeding you up when you’re just trying to get around too.

I have been using iWarden for a while and have never used the Phantasmal Haste trait (I new it was bugged and did not want to become dependent on something that would be fixed in the future).

I find the iWarden very useful for both PvE and WvW. I run with the focus in both now (replaced my staff for the most part).

Focus definitely has a learning curve. The temporal curtain is amazing, especially in yanking a group of enemies onto your iWarden (this positioning takes a lot of practice). The iWarden is not a phantasm that can be thrown out like the others, but rather, it needs a little set up to maximize effectiveness. For example, if you open with the warden, you put it at risk of getting demolished before he can even begin his whirl. However, if immediately after you cast, you use Scepter 2×2 (for the blind shot) or any other blinding ability (I have my glamour skills traited to inflict blind at target area). This will give your warden an extra chance of executing the whirl.

Usually I tend to open with my greatsword. GS 2 + GS 4…mirror blade clone tends to take aggro first in PvE, berserker cripples, then swap and drop warden.

In WvW warden is nice, because most of the time, you can find a small cluster of enemies that are focussed on a gate or on attacking people on a wall (or on the ground from a wall). This usually means that when you drop a warden, there is no enemy AoE where he is set up that will kill him. This lets you wrack up some nice AoE damage and scatter small groups.

It is what you make out of it. Try the focus out for a while. I used to hate it, but after going back and trying it out again, I love it.