Leveling build for Mesmer
you can try a phantasm build with sword/focus + staff. Its a fun build that I used back then, u aggro mobs with staff aa, let mobs swarm on you then u drop a chaos storm, switch to sword/focus, summon iwarden then hack away until they all die.
Maybe something like this: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsdWEeoNiqhcynDJVgS2pEA-e
I can recommend a dps/condi hybrid like 0/3/5/2/4 or 4/0/4/2/4
For these builds the new GM traits are not relevant.
GS and Staff are both range weapons. Open with Berserker and Mirror Blade, swap to Staff and cast Phase Retreat. Then you have two illusions in melee range and one illusion next to yourself as range casters who do AoE attacks and/or buff the Berserker with might. Sometimes GS alone is enough, sometimes Staff alone works better, it varies from encounter to encounter. You may also swap skills as you prefer.
For these buildsthe new GM traits are not relevant.
Fixed that for you
[TTBH] [HATE], Yak’s Bend(NA)
Greatsword, sword+focus, staff, those are the best weapons for leveling (imo). Just choose the 2 you like most and take traits boosting what you prefer doing with them.
For example 4 in Domination is good for Greatsword Training and Empowered Illusions or 4 in Dueling for Phantasmal Fury, Blade Training, Deceptive Evasion (and minors) or 4 in Inspiration for Warden’s Feedback and Mender’s Purity.
What I played in the beginning was a scepter+focus + staff condition build with deceptive evasion and lots of teleports, dodges, clones everywhere. Very funny to play and it got me to lvl 80 (and to 75% map completion) although it is a pretty “bad” build, damage-wise. Only for the lvl 70-80 maps (Frostgorge, Orr) I really advise taking a sword or greatsword (and fitting traits) because those can get nasty solo with a weak build.
I find that, as I level a Guardian, Necro and Mesmer alternately, the Mesmer is really suffering by comparison. The lack of run speed hurts (and calls for keeping a focus on hand for Temporal Curtain), and the slow damage ramp-up hurts. Kiting with a staff is kind of fun, but having to do it for every single enemy is ridiculous. My Necro can take down a veteran faster than my Mesmer can kill a basic grunt, and I don’t have any confidence in taking on a champion solo with my Mesmer the way I do with my other two.
Somehow I have never gotten the hang of sword/x on the Mesmer, despite being totally confident meleeing with other classes.
Use the scepter, other weapons dont matter. Scepter clone spam breaks PvE AI. It breaks dungeons too actually.
you can try a phantasm build with sword/focus + staff. Its a fun build that I used back then, u aggro mobs with staff aa, let mobs swarm on you then u drop a chaos storm, switch to sword/focus, summon iwarden then hack away until they all die.
Maybe something like this: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsdWEeoNiqhcynDJVgS2pEA-e
This seems very close to what I was thinking of doing…
- What stats do I want on my armor?
- What about runes and sigils?
- Is there an effective greatsword variant to this build?
- Would you pretty much always avoid shattering unless it will finish the fight?
- Could you suggest some skills to go along with Signet of Illusions?
- For the sake of skill text, does the word “illusions” include phantasms? (I am guessing yes, or Signet of Illusions wouldn’t make sense)
What does everyone else think about this build?
you can try a phantasm build with sword/focus + staff. Its a fun build that I used back then, u aggro mobs with staff aa, let mobs swarm on you then u drop a chaos storm, switch to sword/focus, summon iwarden then hack away until they all die.
Maybe something like this: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsdWEeoNiqhcynDJVgS2pEA-e
This seems very close to what I was thinking of doing…
- What stats do I want on my armor?
- What about runes and sigils?
- Is there an effective greatsword variant to this build?
- Would you pretty much always avoid shattering unless it will finish the fight?
- Could you suggest some skills to go along with Signet of Illusions?
- For the sake of skill text, does the word “illusions” include phantasms? (I am guessing yes, or Signet of Illusions wouldn’t make sense)What does everyone else think about this build?
Hi,
1) As you are leveling, you want to stack as much power as possible, then precision, and then if you feel squishy, maybe invest in a bit of toughness. Anything else is kinda irrelevant until u hit lvl80.
2) Again any runes and sigils that boost your dmg to kill things faster are recommended.
3) This is just personal preference but I haven’t been much of a fan of greatsword until recently with my sniper build, so can’t help u on this.
4) Yes, its a phantasm build so the point is to not shatter, however, F3 F4 can be used situationally to get you out of bad situations.
5) Most mesmers (including myself) swear by Decoy and Blink, and for good reasons, they’re among the best utilities we have. As for heal, you can use the signet and forget about pressing heal skill (this applies in PvE only). Elite is Mass Invi, or Time Warp if u doing group events or dungeons.
6) Illusions refer collectively to both clones and phantasms.
Hope that helps.
To get a GS in that build… simply equip one. And optionally take the Greatsword Training trait (Domination Line).
Don’t forget to equip a condition cleanse by the way. Either the Mantra of Resolve or via the Mender’s Purity trait (Inspiration Line). For leveling I wouldn’t take Nullfield/Arcane Thievery/other condi-cleanses.
I also doubt that the Signet of Illusions is necessary. Unless you fight champions your phantasms should already have enough HP.
So my utility suggestion would be something along the lines of Blink, Decoy, Feedback (faster than casting focus #5 and not bugged), Mantra of Resolve, …
If you don’t like dying a semi tanky build with a lot of chaos armor is your friend, especially against many enemies at once.
My favorite has to be sword/sword + staff , with blink and feedback as utility. Leap combo finishing inside an ethereal field like chaos storm and feedback will give you a lot of chaos armor uptime. Sword 4 for blocking big hits (champs), sword 5 for quickly taking down single targets, sword 3 to kite by teleporting at the right time, sword 1 and 2 to do aoe damage and sword 2 to avoid dmg from time to time. Then swap to staff to kite enemies around.
Sigils you can try battle + bloodlust on 1 set of weapon and battle + your choice for the 2nd set for increasing damage in general.
Sword/Focus is also good once you get to trait for warden reflect dmg with 4 points in inspiration. You can play cat and mouse with the enemy with temporal curtain.
As for armor, initially u can go with knight armor until you can mix cavalier, Valkyrie and berserker.
Use the scepter, other weapons dont matter. Scepter clone spam breaks PvE AI. It breaks dungeons too actually.
No, don’t do this. You’re wrong. Please don’t take this advice.
My Necro can take down a veteran faster than my Mesmer can kill a basic grunt, and I don’t have any confidence in taking on a champion solo with my Mesmer the way I do with my other two.
Do it like a Mesmer. Swap a trait for Inspiration VI to run faster in combat. Without it you’d have to dodge more often. Use a staff, three staff clones and auto attack the champ down. Adds showing up occasionally will be affected by the bouncing attacks too. Champs in general (with few exceptions) hit slow and just have tons of HP, so it takes a while but down is down.