Guild Wars 2

Mesmer is just too weak. Here is the difference: Level 10 mesmer (leveled down to 4) killing level 4 bandit 8 seconds using every ability possible. Warrior level 3 8 seconds 2 abilities 6 seconds with 3.

Possible fixes:
more clones (lots more like 15)
clones actually do damage (perhaps like 5% of the characters damage?)
clones get greater explode damage per level(please!)
clones do not shatter after the target is killed(so you can explode on other targets!)
clones can use abilities(for less damage less stun less knock-back ect.)

You can’t really comment on a class at level 10. But yeah, mesmers are quite weak outside of roaming, and their leveling is the worst.

I’d say early on elementalists are the worst then they become better once all 4 attunements are up. Mesmers become somewhat more powerful when only Master traits appear at 60+.

Don’t compare classes at the start, the balance is way off. WAY. Off.

They are definitely weak at low levels.

I do key runs with a guardian and have no problems with killing stuff. I did the same key run on my Mesmer alt and the difference was night and day. It took noticeably longer to kill anything.

However, at level 80 and fully traited, this difference disappears. The traits make a big difference to a Mesmer.

Some of the troubles with mesmers are that many skills are totally useless in PvE.

Any warrior can kill a mob 2 or 3 times faster than any mesmer, and can chain kill mobs way faster, while a mesmer have to wait for his big damage skills to recharge….

What they need to do is to split the pvp/pve skills and adjust them accordingly, like they did for GW1. Conditions can be quite useful in PvP, but are totally useless in PvE.

I feel it’s most noticeable in PvE, but maybe I’ve just not done enough PvP lately. I had trouble with some of the newest living story content, fights dragged out a lot longer than I feel they would have if I were playing any other class. I tried two different builds, neither did great. Conditions are just worthless in PvE, and even with them our time to kill is much longer than other classes. We need some kind of DPS boost in PvE, at the very least.

@Blanche, I don’t think conditions are the root (or even really that relevant) to our sucking in PvE.

Unless we’re talking about them vuln on staff conditions.

Imagine the lag during world events if every mesmer in it could summon 15 clones. Also imagine the ridiculous damage ramp-up from having 15 phantasms out, you could probably solo the world boss in 30 seconds with that many once you’ve lagged everyone else out of the game.

“September Patch:

Mesmer
The mesmer has seen adjustments in a few areas. For this update, we’re looking at improving multiple traits, utility skills, weapon skills, and illusions. We’ve taken a look at some of the new grandmaster traits and improved upon their original implementation. We’ve altered the scepter a bit, pushing it more toward the condition role we would like it to have. In addition, you’ll see some awesome improvements to offensive mantras and a rework of the Mimic skill, which will now copy all boons on your target to yourself."

greez

Veltoss.9135:

I feel it’s most noticeable in PvE, but maybe I’ve just not done enough PvP lately. I had trouble with some of the newest living story content, fights dragged out a lot longer than I feel they would have if I were playing any other class. I tried two different builds, neither did great. Conditions are just worthless in PvE, and even with them our time to kill is much longer than other classes. We need some kind of DPS boost in PvE, at the very least.

I have also had some trouble in the latest Living Story fights as a Mesmer (looking at you, Rytlock). I was also dumb and tried using a Phantasm build instead of a shatter build against an AoE heavy opponent.

In PvP, Mesmers are actually really good depending on the map. Our Portal utility literally wins games in Spirit Watch and Temple. We can troll players with Blink in Forefire if you know the map well enough. We’re also the best class for the treb and one of the best classes for holding mid in Khylo.

Here’s to hoping the September update will help out Mesmers in PvE. There is a good chance we’ll get better AoE so thats something :P

Xyonon.3987:

We’ve altered the scepter a bit, pushing it more toward the condition role we would like it to have.

This change will make playing scepter in PvE even less attractive.

a rework of the Mimic skill, which will now copy all boons on your target to yourself

Mimic is exactly one of these skill I was writing about that have practically no uses at all in PvE.

As for the other changes announced, there is not enough details to say if it will be good or not for PvE play.