Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: Holl.3109

Holl.3109

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsdRlknpTtlpxNNcrRCrxYqYOZS/QyBCokVcNA-TZBFwAFOCACOBAy2foaZAAPCAA

That’s the build. I’m very new to mesmer but I really like sword focus. This is the build I came up with. Haven’t played it yet but hope to get some good feedback from the forums and see what you all think

All 80’s – PvP/WvW
My YouTube channel
Reapers gonna reap ¯\(°_°)/¯

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: Esplen.3940

Esplen.3940

Decoy is more important than Mirror Images unless you’re going for a cheese double shatter (which you’re not with that build).

You also will want to take the points out of Chaos and Inpiration to put into Illusions for reduced cooldowns, improved damage (can 2/3 trait for crit chance, increased damage, and/or cooldown refresh when low) and also more damage for point blank shatters (which is what’s going to happens with sword/focus).

Reducing the cooldown of Manipulations is great and all, but it’s not necessary for a PvP build. Traiting the Focus won’t add a lot of utility since Curtain is unreliable and Warden is volatile.

Mender’s Purity is great, but having it and a condi-removal may be overkill, depending on the situation. I’m not the best at this, so don’t take my word as the end-all.

Curtain mind-games are fun, though.

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: MailMail.6534

MailMail.6534

Traited Curtain is a VERY reliable skill simply for the reduced CD. It’s probably our most reliable interrupt that we have. It also can be used for removing conditions if you leave it up and let idiots simply shoot into it (which will always happen). Additionally, iWarden may be buggy but works pretty consistently with the sword rotation.

https://www.twitch.tv/thatcho
“The jealous are troublesome to others, but certainly a torment to themselves.”

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: Esplen.3940

Esplen.3940

You misunderstand me.

By traited Curtain, I’m relying to the reflects.
By traited Warden, I’m also referring to the reflects.

Reduced cooldown is always a good thing, but is not always the better choice.

Yes, a 3-5-3-2 combo on S/F is really strong, but you don’t need to trait Focus to do this.

Curtain is not our most reliable interrupt since it’s a mind-game interrupt. MoD is our most reliable interrupt

Also, the traits are relatively unnecessary for that build. It’s attempting to be a shatter build, which would mean that reducing the cooldown of all Illusion skills for 3 points seems better than reducing the cooldown of one Phantasm for 4 points.

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: Holl.3109

Holl.3109

Having more than 2 condi removal every 20 sec is overkill?
24 sec and 36 blink/condi removal/boon removal isn’t good?
Is decoy really better?
With pew pew meta I think reflects add a lot more utility… Right?

All 80’s – PvP/WvW
My YouTube channel
Reapers gonna reap ¯\(°_°)/¯

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: Esplen.3940

Esplen.3940

If you want reflects, use Mirror since it’s more reliable than Curtain.

If you want more condition removal, use Mantra of Resolve.

If you want to run Mirror Images, that’s fine but it’s a burst potential skill. Decoy is a defensive skill.

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: Holl.3109

Holl.3109

Ok so I’ve chosen decoy over mirror images, but still have trained focus because the reflects are so long. But I have taken 2 out of chaos and put them into domination for halting strike.

All 80’s – PvP/WvW
My YouTube channel
Reapers gonna reap ¯\(°_°)/¯

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: MailMail.6534

MailMail.6534

How are the reflects not reliable for you? I stand on top of the curtain, and nothing touches me. I know there are some bugs inherent in focus, but it tends to work for me.

Before I give any advice, I’d like to know what your goal with the build is. If you’re going shatter, there are much better ways to do it. For now, I’ll echo Esplen by saying that Decoy>Mirror. Lastly, you don’t need anymore than 2 sources of condi removal. I think that’s just right.

https://www.twitch.tv/thatcho
“The jealous are troublesome to others, but certainly a torment to themselves.”

Manipulation sword/focus GS build: rate plz

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Posted by: Dondagora.9645

Dondagora.9645

Esplen, traited focus is definitely a worthwhile utility. Alone, the focus is powerful for control and speed and some AoE damage, but the reflections make it fearsome in its versatile usage, allowing for use to deal with melee and ranged with greater ease. And if you don’t need the reflections, it just gives you more of the regular focus. Easy to use reflections like this are even more important than they ever were with the Power Rangers nowadays.

Holl, this build seems like a fairly well off build, though there are some things I might recommend. Since you’ve taken Halting Strike, it has potential for an interrupt build. If you want, to gain condo cleansing you can replace your healing skill with Mantra of Recovery, which will proc Mender’s Purity on both the charging and charges, giving you more on-demand heal-cleansing. Trick with it is to use the mantra whenever you need it, don’t wait to burst-heal like people normally try. With this, if you want, you can replace Arcane Thievery with something else, or keep it. If you think you don’t need all the cleansing or boon-stripping, I’d recommend an interrupt like Mantra of Distraction or Signet of Domination if you want to head in that direction, or maybe Phantasmal Disenchanter if you want a more sustained form of cleansing+boon-stripping that you can add to your shatter kitten nal.