Guild Wars 2

Well I started a mesmer yesterday (main is a warrior) the play style is certainly different, I’m working on figuring bits out on here.

The difference between clones and phantoms? Phantoms do damage, both are shatterable? (only used pistol/GS phantoms so far)

Staying alive, it seems to me that kiting and dodging are much more key here, lower health pool meaning more punishment on mistakes. I’m finding myself overrun when there are more then one enemy aggressive toward me, this is especially true I’ve found in my personal story, which is a nightmare so far, in comparison to the warrior, which granted is easier to deal with groups again the squishyness is something to get used to.

Is there anything tips or trick wise I should be looking out for? I have my combos down on the warrior, linking well, swapping etc, which weapon sets should I be looking into, currently on GS & Sw/P.

Is there a specific build or ideal way to trait to level with, does this then become redundant (ie. 5 signet warrior dropping effectiveness at 40ish.)

Don’t get me wrong I’m having a blast, just want to know what I can do to better myself with the class.

Welcome to the Mesmer, bro.

- Clones do nearly no damage, but depending on traits (Dom 3,4,5 / Dueling Master&Grandmaster ect.) they can have a LOT of secondary effects. In sPvP many different Mesmer builds can have Clones give the opponent a major headache, and if anything they’re shatter fodder. Phantasms are your damage summons, that also tend to have great secondary effects depending no your traits.

-NEVER waste a dodge just to move quicker, dodges/kiting are crucial for a Mesmer. That’s not to say it’s your only defensive options. Almost all Mesmers have a good amount of crowd control. Greatsword 4/5 [Cripple/Knockback], Sword 2/3 [Invulnerable/Stun-breaker + imobilize], & Pistol 5[Stun-Daze-Blind] can all help you out defensively. Of course, you also have a “Panic Button” shatter in your F4 which gives invulnerability for as many seconds as you have illusions to shatter.

-Unfortunately none of the weapons you use grant combo fields (Focus-LIGHT/Staff-ETHEREAL) but you have some awesome Finishers. Sword 3, is a LEAP finisher, but you do not have to swap to get the field. You can fire the clone off like a projectile (The range is deceptively short) and both you AND the clone will gain the combo effect. Your utilities offer some nice fields depending on the type of build you want to make.

-I never had a problem leveling, I used Sword-Focus and Staff for the majority of my time levelling, the Staff offers excellent defensive options and a pretty strong range Phantasm as well as one of the best Defensive AOEs the Mesmer can get (Chaos Storm, which pimps you out for its durations while making it nearly impossible for enemies in the field to do any significant harm to you). The focus takes a LOT of time getting used to, but it is your best method of swiftness at low levels and its Phantasm is one of our strongest when used properly.

I’d recommend Staff-Greatsword for leveling, but Mainhand sword & staff if you’re finding yourself taking too much damage. (Plus having two teleports is really kitten fun)

-No matter what build you have, learn to properly SHATTER. Your F1 & F2 shatters are for offense (F2 confusion takes getting used to and a bit of Condition Damage to be effective) and F3&F4 are better defensively. F3’s daze doesn’t stack duration so you have to learn to properly space your clones out for a devastating 3 second daze.

-Just remember that there are a LOT of different ways to play a Mesmer, and the more creative you are the better off you’ll be. Don’t overlook anything that your powers offer you.

Some tips for early leveling:

1) Clones do negligible direct damage but staff clones do decent condition damage and sword clones stack vulnerability and strip boons. Phantasms each have a specific effect; most do good damage.

2) Staying alive means a lot of active defense; armor won’t save you. Learn to dodge and use your defensive shatters and utilities early. Get Decoy asap. Equip a staff if you feel too squishy.

3) Staff is great for defense. GS is great for offense with good kiting, sword is great offense and good D; scepter… don’t bother. GS/staff gives a good balance, but for trash mobs nothing beats GS/sword/focus. Pistol is great for single target bursting, but focus or staff work better for AOE and faster leveling.

Once you learn to use the focus (it takes some practice) you will move around the maps and kill a lot faster with iZerker/iWarden/Blurred Frenzy/Mind Wrack combos. Tag as many mobs as you can handle and kite to group them up, set the zerker on them, switch to sword and summon a warden, then real fast use the iLeap/swap combo and lay into them with a Blurred Frenzy and Mind Wrack shatter. Most mobs will die just from that in seconds.

For tougher fights (or if you start dying) slow it down a bit and drop the sword for a staff. GS/staff has great ranged AOE and survival/kiting.

Extra staff tips: Staff is also great for combos with Chaos Storm. Use any leaps you have like Phase Retreat or iLeap to get bonus chaos armor (it’s secretly one of the sickest defensive skills in the game; so is phase retreat, and they are one the same weapon!), and have your GS, pistol, and focus phants in the storm for extra confusion. The best tip for Chaos Storm when used at range: put it on yourself and your clones; not the enemy. But the best is too use it at close range and put both you and the enemy in it.

4) For utilities, decoy and feedback are awesome low level options. As soon as you get traits opened up, put 5 in illusions and then start on dueling or chaos depending on how squishy you feel. You may struggle at times until level 40, but then you explode. Keep at least 5 in illusions and put 20 in dueling for Deceptive Evasion. After that it’s up to you.

Is there anything tips or trick wise I should be looking out for? I have my combos down on the warrior, linking well, swapping etc, which weapon sets should I be looking into, currently on GS & Sw/P.

The main thing you want to learn while leveling is weapon swapping.

Mesmer class mechanics are centered around Illusions (clones and phantasms) no matter what build you use. If you swap weapons constantly, you practically double your access to clone and phantasm generation.

The only class that focuses on weapon swapping as much is the Ele with their Attunements and combo fields.

Edit: The easiest weapons to level with are GS (AOE) and Staff (AOE and defensive / tank abilities). Other weapons are good to practice with and “get good” at, however.

Is there a specific build or ideal way to trait to level with, does this then become redundant (ie. 5 signet warrior dropping effectiveness at 40ish.)

5 points in Illusion. This reduces the cooldown of both your clone and phantasm generating skills on both weapon sets.

10 points into Dom for either 20% Mind Wrack damage or the 15% illusion damage (mostly affecting phantasms).

After that, whatever. Note: 5 points in Illusion is a staple for 99% of legit builds. There are a very few rare builds where that trait is not taken, but that is because the build absolutely cannot afford to take it (in theory). I don’t recommend a spec without 5 points in Illusion unless you know exactly what you’re doing and why.

At level 45-55 or so you have the option of respecing into Deceptive Evasion (Dueling line) if you want to practice that.

At level 65+ you have the option of spec’ing into heavier Mantra builds if you want to practice that.

At level 60+ you also have the option to spec 30 Illusion for Illusory Persona, which also significantly impacts gameplay.

In essence – master weapon swapping, proper shatter rotations, master dodge, and take a lot of vitality at lower levels. You’ll be alright if you can nail those elements.