Mantra Build in PvP?
mantra are probably viable in pve, since a 25% extra damage is only extra damage if you’re doing consistent damage. however in pvp, where battles can be over in split seconds, you usually won’t have the chance to output your extra damage.
especially when that extra damage is reliant on you not using half your skill slots, like your utilities and shatters.
Basically what you said. You lose flexibility. One thing to realize is you gain a different sort of flexibility. Your goal isn’t to never use your mantras, but you do want to keep them charged. If you blow all your charges on one you lose 4% damage – not optimal but if you needed it, we’ll worth the trade off. Also you can use mantras while stunned or doing something else, like recharging a mantra. So even while busy you can keep someone dazed with MoD followed by diversion, or burst with MoP mind wrack MoP.
It is fun but I don’t think it’s amazing.
Empowered Mantra builds are boring, as realistically you cannot/won’t use your Mantras. If you do, charging them all is a pain; and if you use some charges but not all (as would be the case) you then have to de-charge them and re-charge them again…
Very annoying.
I use mantras in pvp.
There are 2 builds I pass back and forth between, medium damage with medium toughness and high toughness with little damage. The medium I use for taking out dolyaks, the toughness I use for leading a line or supply camps.
You can zerg in anything but both offer me extra protection for solo wandering.
Individual Mantras are usable in PvP, yes (I use Mantra of Resolve), but filling four slots with Mantras is just asking for premature hair loss.