Late game solo condition build?
HoT maybe difficult to get used to compare to Tyria mobs due to different mechanisms. You see monsters that can heal others, opponents that can’t be simply interrupted due to defiance bar, and other more aggressive attacks and stealth in enemy npcs.
If you like condition damage, you could run something like this when solo. Wells can be used on yourself to increase scepter 3 frequency and support other people that you meet along the way. Someone else can improve on that build, I’m just improvising on the spot.
Basically this build is to maximize bleed output via pistol phantasm while you use staff auto or scepter 3. Problem is condition in PvE, especially with mesmer, is that mobs tend to stand still when attacking (so confusion works but not torment) and when they move they’re not attacking (so torment works but not confusion). So bleed is a much more reliable condition in this case. You won’t deal the best damage, sure, but it does kind of fit the condition criteria and gear loadout you want to play with in HoT maps.
Thanks for the advice, i’ll build around that and see once i reach HoT. If i see i’m getting wrecked i’ll try torch and decoy i suppose, lets see.
To be absolutely honest? I think taking a Mesmer condition build in HoT maps is shooting yourself in the foot. I mean, you can make it work, but it’s not really what the build specialises in. A Mesmer condi build deals probably the best DPS that a Mesmer can deal, but it has no burst, takes a long time to ramp up, and is completely single-target. In open world, where burst and AoE are so useful, it suffers.
If you really enjoy the playstyle, then I say go for it. Anything works in open world PvE. That said, my educated guess is that you will have a much easier time with a Greatsword / Sword+Focus/Shield/Sword power build, or with another class altogether.
Having said that, if you do go for it, I strongly suggest you take a pistol off-hand and the Duelist’s Discipline trait in Dueling, along with some crit chance in your build. This is not up for debate – confusion and torment are terrible conditions to deal in open world, because, as the guy above said, mobs are either standing still and attacking or moving and not attacking. They also don’t move or attack all that much to begin with. This greatly reduces the effective damage of confusion and torment. Pistol phantasms, on the other hand, can reach pretty great bleed stacks, and you can keep their uptime high thanks to Chronophantasma, so they’re definitely the way to go.
(edited by Step.1285)
Condi is fun, but I’ve found that Power Shatter w/ GS and Sw/Sh makes life much easier in HoT maps.
To be absolutely honest? I think taking a Mesmer condition build in HoT maps is shooting yourself in the foot. I mean, you can make it work, but it’s not really what the build specialises in. A Mesmer condi build deals probably the best DPS that a Mesmer can deal, but it has no burst, takes a long time to ramp up, and is completely single-target. In open world, where burst and AoE are so useful, it suffers.
If you really enjoy the playstyle, then I say go for it. Anything works in open world PvE. That said, my educated guess is that you will have a much easier time with a Greatsword / Sword+Focus/Shield/Sword power build, or with another class altogether.
Having said that, if you do go for it, I strongly suggest you take a pistol off-hand and the Duelist’s Discipline trait in Dueling, along with some crit chance in your build. This is not up for debate – confusion and torment are terrible conditions to deal in open world, because, as the guy above said, mobs are either standing still and attacking or moving and not attacking. They also don’t move or attack all that much to begin with. This greatly reduces the effective damage of confusion and torment. Pistol phantasms, on the other hand, can reach pretty great bleed stacks, and you can keep their uptime high thanks to Chronophantasma, so they’re definitely the way to go.
Yeah i know mesmer conditions are oriented to pvp but i don’t think i have any other options besides pure damage swords or shield variation. I know i won’t last long if i have to keep the swords playstyle, the condition build is the only one where i don’t see myself getting bored, since i really like it.
I’ll stick with pistol and try what you said, thanks for the advice.
To be absolutely honest? I think taking a Mesmer condition build in HoT maps is shooting yourself in the foot. I mean, you can make it work, but it’s not really what the build specialises in. A Mesmer condi build deals probably the best DPS that a Mesmer can deal, but it has no burst, takes a long time to ramp up, and is completely single-target. In open world, where burst and AoE are so useful, it suffers.
If you really enjoy the playstyle, then I say go for it. Anything works in open world PvE. That said, my educated guess is that you will have a much easier time with a Greatsword / Sword+Focus/Shield/Sword power build, or with another class altogether.
Having said that, if you do go for it, I strongly suggest you take a pistol off-hand and the Duelist’s Discipline trait in Dueling, along with some crit chance in your build. This is not up for debate – confusion and torment are terrible conditions to deal in open world, because, as the guy above said, mobs are either standing still and attacking or moving and not attacking. They also don’t move or attack all that much to begin with. This greatly reduces the effective damage of confusion and torment. Pistol phantasms, on the other hand, can reach pretty great bleed stacks, and you can keep their uptime high thanks to Chronophantasma, so they’re definitely the way to go.
Yeah i know mesmer conditions are oriented to pvp but i don’t think i have any other options besides pure damage swords or shield variation. I know i won’t last long if i have to keep the swords playstyle, the condition build is the only one where i don’t see myself getting bored, since i really like it.
I’ll stick with pistol and try what you said, thanks for the advice.
Once you unlock the Chronomancer line and start learning some of the wells there you can survive in HoT with just about any weapons on your mesmer. I would say sword/sword is actually one of the stronger ones for close combat. It can deal out a lot of damage, has a way to close the distance between you and mobs (or if you are overwhelmed and Blink is on CD you can target a mob by itself further away and leap over there with sword 3), gives you 1 block along with over 2 seconds of blur on less than a 10 second cooldown.
Sure there is no condition damage in that build without some traits, but it makes melee combat a joke for most mobs. Take a focus on your off hand and you have the weapons to make a pretty big combo. Pull the enemies in a bunch with the focus, cast well of calamity if you have it unnlocked, leap over with sword3, then use blurred frenzy which will hit all of the mobs, and depending on their health you could shatter and then finish them all off.
My daughter is using an easy to get illusion build without cronomancer to do map completion. All of this includign backpack is about 200 gold. Most of it is the backpiece. Air sigil can be cheap blood sigil too.
Basicall this maintains three illusions out and shatters only as long as it can maintain constant three out.
Heavy hybrid damage. Constant critical hits from illusiuons that apply bleed.
Food is very cheap too and fits. Staff and armor will get partially replaced by viper.
the very cheap version:
(edited by Wolfric.9380)
I already am 80 and at the end i went full rabid with all the upgrades oriented to condition damage. I find it pretty tanky and enemies die fast so i was worried about nothing.
I followed your advices with the pistol but with large groups of monsters i find the torch pretty useful. Throwing phantasmal mages and spamming winds of chaos decimates the entire group in a few seconds, i use the pistol for random encounters and big monsters.
I’m still unlocking the wells but i find the playstyle way more entertaining than swords, so i’m satisfied, thanks.
Here is a blog for a condi mesmer build(not mines): http://relicsoforr.com/ that I used for reference. It’s a Phantasm build,but with my own modifications. I use Rune of the Berserker instead.
I have a condi and power set for light armor. Did not like Reaper so with Ele using the power set, got interested in Condi meser and I’m actually enjoying it.
Weapons are Sceptor main hand and torch/pistol offhand. Can also put focus offhand if you need more reflect.
Prefer chaos over chrono for this PVE roaming build. Memser Condi is probably not optimal for Raids but I think can be fine for Fractals.
I switch a couple traits around depending on the situation but here is my preferred.
Dueling: Duelist Dicipline—>Blinding Dissapation—>Mistrust
Illusions: Compouding powder—>Phatasmal Haste—>Malicious Sorcery
Chaos: Illusionary Defense—>Chaotic Transference—->Bountiful Disillusionment
Signet of Ether,Signet of Midnight,Signet o f Domination
3rd utility and elite depends on the situation.
Bascically you want to get 3 of the Phantasmal Duelist up for Bosses/Champs.