Guild Wars 2

It’s 30 SP for each of these, so I don’t want to make a choice I might regret. Any thoughts? Mass Invisibility is a no-brainer in terms of its potential utility, but how does Balthazars Hounds compare?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Well depends what you want to do.

For general PvE Hounds is better, they do fairly powerful aoe and can really help you clear through crowds, also provides some extra bodies to go along with your illusions for absorbing hits for you.

Mass Invisibility is more for group support in a organised group in PvP and WvWvW. Decoy would probably be enough stealth for PvE unless you want to chain stealths together for whatever reason.

Obviously you will eventually have enough points for both though.

Mistfire Wolf is the only option, ever

2 words Time Warp unless you’re trying to sneak past enemies

I love Mass Invisibility. Only 90 seconds CD, while all the other elites are +180 seconds. Meaning I can use it twice by the time you use just one.

While I love MI for the same reason, I use it in PvP only. In PvE I’d prefer something that’s more… helpful. So I’d definitely take HoB over MI.

Mass Invis is one more way for me to buy time while waiting on my heal CD.. Mass invis is another helping hand when rezzing downed friendlies.. Mass invis is yet another tool to escape when need be. Mass Invis is another tool to confuse my enemies and reposition to set up another burst.. And much more…

Hounds – A bit more damage for a small period of time..

Choice seems pretty easy for me .

^ The benefits you mentioned apply mainly to PvP. This is PvE we’re talking about. Monsters are stupid and usually attack Illusions anyway, there’s very little benefit in target breaking or confusing enemies or reviving friendlies (if you need to revive friendlies it’s probably a boss event that’s spamming loads of AoE which will hit you anyway).

Embolism.8106:

^ The benefits you mentioned apply mainly to PvP. This is PvE we’re talking about. Monsters are stupid and usually attack Illusions anyway, there’s very little benefit in target breaking or confusing enemies or reviving friendlies (if you need to revive friendlies it’s probably a boss event that’s spamming loads of AoE which will hit you anyway).

Uh, the OP does not mention any distinction between his question being applied to PVE or PVP.. ME has plenty of benefits in PVE as well, but I would probably take Time Warp then.

Indeed, I did not specify whether I wanted to know which is better in PvE or PvP respectively. Perhaps I should have, but regardless, all of your responses were informative and helpful; thanks to all who took the time to reply.

I went with the hounds this time around, as I am currently doing mostly PvE, and I have no regrets. Along with my phantasms and clones, I can have a small army on the ground within seconds. Very nice for tackling those pesky veterans.

Mass Invisibiity because i am mainly pve… and you need to get out of tricky situations or travel around easily like esp in Orr when you’re solo-ing etc good for dungeons too to get those extra seconds and of course its good for wvw situations too

I personally never needed the offensive support of Hounds on my mesmer, my illusions does more than plenty enough and there’s always full numbers of illusions up when you have your deceptive evasion traits and other skills from weapons, etc so on. solo champs no problems without hounds

Mass Invis can let you (& party) sneak past a huge amount of the trash in most dungeons. My Mesmer is a Sylvari so I really can’t speak to the effectiveness of the HoB.