Guild Wars 2

Thinking of making a build based on having my mesmer use 2 swords and a greatsword for PvE and WvW. Got any suggested builds I can use?

Shatter and CI lockdown… Depending on how good your server is in wvw, you can probably get away with a glassier build. My server just bumped up into gold tier, so unless I’m in the middle of a zerg being glass is a very bad idea. I’m not very good at theory-crafting though. So perhaps someone who likes it will drop in later with better advice for you.

Hmmm… that does look nice. What about a Phantasm based build? Think that’ll do just as well?

Based on my experience in a Bronze tier server, I was able to get away with shatter build for the pve situations of wvw (like flipping a camp or taking a flag point). Fighting 1v1 or 2v1 was harder since I wasn’t able to take hits (nor was I as good at mesmer then). I usually ended up dead.

On a Silver tier server, I could still solo flip a camp as a shatter build, which was necessary (the build – not flipping it alone) since I needed to be able to do damage to kill everything fast enough to get the cap. However, I was more likely to meet an opponent at the camp or crossing the map than I was on my Bronze server. It was usually a thief, mesmer, or warrior. Thief is a hard fight, as is mesmer (a good one), but most warriors will run from you once you burst them to half hp. It is harder to win a 1v1 as a shatter mes, especially against a competent opponent. Once I got introduced to CI I started running that more for roaming. It still allows for some burst, but also gives some survivability options (I play with sword/focus + staff, sometimes I swap out the focus for pistol if I have a small group to roll with).

Now that we’re Gold our fights have only gotten more intense. Solo roaming is near impossible without having at least two or three solid players at your back.

The nearest thing I’ve ever played that could be considered Phantasm based is PU. I’ve been meaning to try a Phantasm build, but haven’t gotten around to it. PU tends to do well in an outnumbered situation (3v1 or 4v1). I was told – months ago – that Phantasm builds are the kings of 1v1 builds for mesmers. I can’t tell you how well they would versus multiple players. My best guess: not too well. I typically see two offensive phantoms + the defender. The offensive ones will only attack one target and will not switch targets. Maybe you will clip another player if they get too close (together), but I wouldn’t count on that. If you do plan on running with a group, this build might actually work out well. You’ll be able to focus more damage on a single target.

The points about WvW being really different depending on server tier are really important. In silver tier, I’ve had a lot of fun playing this phantasm build.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhQQNAR7ansISZa2oGupB3aGJ1IM996LJHCK5XIA-T1yHABnt/AQKpE7CAEo6DIqCTPKT8RpwAPEAv0NAwRA4OlgBAQAYlPX4CX46sMAVLA-w

When I do it right, I can clear a camp in under two minutes. That’s not fast enough sometimes even in silver tier…

As Calliope points out, a phantasm build like this can focus a lot of damage on an opponent in a small period of time. If you use ether signet aggressively, you can have two duelists and a berserker out to start a fight. But it’s tough to fight against multiple opponents (and good thieves are tough because you can’t cast phantasms when blind).

If you wanted to adapt my build to be sword/sword instead of scepter/pistol, it might look like this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhQQNAR8cnsISZa2oGupB3aGJ1IM996LJHCK53JA-T1yHABnt/AQKpE7CAEo6DIqCTPKT8RpwAPBAv0NAwBB4OlgBAQAYlPX4CX46sMAVLA-w

There’s probably a better way to make the build than that, but it would probably work.

Pyro has a neat phantasm build (Invulnerable? Unbeatable?) that has scepter along with sword. You put the swordsman phantasm out, and then just block with scepter and sword and run in a circle. I think it’s probably very strong for 1v1, but would be a pain for taking a camp (but I’ve never tried it)

Good luck

Immortal build – he called it, I think. His ears have to be burning by now.

Builds that run high in survivability are usually low in damage output. So the main things to keep in mind are: How good is your server (ie, their rank – Anvil Rock is bronze, Yaks Bend is gold)? Will you be solo? Will you be in a group? A big group (zerg) or a small one (havoc roaming)?

Not all pvp/wvw builds will translate well into pveland.

eldenbri.1059:

Pyro has a neat phantasm build (Invulnerable? Unbeatable?) that has scepter along with sword. You put the swordsman phantasm out, and then just block with scepter and sword and run in a circle. I think it’s probably very strong for 1v1, but would be a pain for taking a camp (but I’ve never tried it)

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Guide-Overpowered-PvP-Phantasm-Build/page/7#post4162337

At any rate, it’s strong when you encounter 1 person, but gets weak pretty quick if you encounter more than one. Camps aren’t an issue though, you just toss on a greatsword and feedback, lure them into a corner, and kill them all at once.

See, burning ears. I knew he’d pop up!

Hmmm…. considering that I prefer to use 2 swords and a greatsword, I wanted to know which build would be best to compliment said weapons of choice?

I gave you suggestions, as I prefer to be a more offensive player. You asked about phantasm build.

Mesmer is all about flexibility. If you can’t bend you’ll break (or shatter). You’ll need to be more open about trying different weapons. Play with different builds and see which you like.

By the way, Pyro, your links in that thread are broken. “Internal Server Error” shrug

Malkavian.4516:

Hmmm…. considering that I prefer to use 2 swords and a greatsword, I wanted to know which build would be best to compliment said weapons of choice?

I’ve been running a CI build with that weapon setup lately and it’s been fun.

Yeah, I was a little hasty on my reply there. Either way, I really appreciate what you guys have suggested for me and I may have to make some changes of my own to a style I am comfortable with.