Mesmer PVE Sword/
The biggest thing to get used to using MH-Sword is survival. Blurred Frenzy, Dodging, Distortion, and Hit ’n Run Tactics are the name of the game if you go without any Vitality and Toughness.
Once you get used to that change of pace, things are peachy in PvE. You start hitting up to three targets per swing, you and your clones start stacking Vulnerability, and you and your clones are Boon Ripping at a speed thats quite unique. Thats BEFORE you even factor in the off-hand. Throw in Feedback and I.Warden to deal with projectiles, and things are looking up.
Current default PvE build:
Domination: 0
Dueling: 20 (IV, X)
Chaos: 0
Inspiration: 20 (IV, X)
Illusion: 30 (III, X, XI)
Rampager’s Armor & Weapons
Rampager & Berserker mix of Trinkets
Superior Runes of the Scholar x6
Yep, Glass Cannon stats. That means to survive I rely on Distortion (minimum 1s due to Illusionary Persona), Blurred Frenzy, and Dodging like crazy thats fueled by near perma-Vigor. Mantra of Recovery with Mender’s Purity and Restorative Mantras requires practice to get used to, but as a way to clear Conditions instantly (when prepared), its hard to beat. The fact you can use this to heal up if you get hit by a Stun/Knockdown/Petrify/Feared is a bonus. Short CD with the end result of high Health Recovery (when including Restorative Mantras) is perfect for Hit and Run approach, as you simply recharge the Mantra when you back out of melee for a few seconds before diving back in.
With an off-hand focus, just laugh at Projectile-happy enemies as you rip through ’em. After some practice dealing with aggro, you can even use the I.Warden for AoE damage on a couple of targets who are distracted by you/clones. Off-hand Sword is left for when going 1v1 in PvE, likely against Vets and Champs.
For Utilities? I tend to carry Mirror Images, I.Defender, and Signet of Illusions for a default three, but I WILL change them depending on what I face if I get a chance so do not take those three to be a hard choice in this build. I.Defender is useful as its a method to keep your I.Warden, Clones, and yourself alive through the damage, and DEALING damage back via Retaliation. Its not too useful against creatures with 1-shot or near painfully hard single hit attacks, but against anything that has a repeated hitting skill for lowish damage, its hilarious (Flamethrowers, Earth Ele’s cripple line, etc).
For the backup weapon? I generally carry the Staff, due to its defensive potential along with another teleport/stun break in emergencies. That said, I do use the G.Sword at times in its place instead, if I feel in the mood for it or facing off against something that reflects projectiles.
On Gear? I use Rampagers because I personally like seeing higher numbers of damage when an Illusion crits. AoE bleeds from I.Warden, or actually having CLONES doing damage is something I just enjoy even at the cost of some perceived loss of efficiency. Because of the hit and run tactics, I like knowing something will always be doing damage to the target, even if its only about 500 damage over 5 seconds per illusion crit instead of 250 damage over 5 seconds per illusion crit.
YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN’T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?
- (Death, Terry Pratchett, Hogfather)
- (Death, Terry Pratchett, Hogfather)
MlieBennet said it pretty well.
Just a few things I’d change. As much as having some condition damage for illusion bleeds, my personal preference is tossing in soldier’s stats weapons (PVT) for some additional beefyness, and all berserker for the rest.
I find that defender tends to die very fast in most dungeons, although there are some nice spots for him. Signet of illusions isn’t bad, though it would probably be the first utility to drop to take something like feedback or null field.
As far as weapons in general go though, for PvE, I always carry a greatsword, staff, 2 swords, a focus, and a pistol, and I use all of them in different situations. I do a slightly different traitset designed to highlight support and phantasm damage, but the basic concepts remain the same.
thanks! So far it sounds good, except on illusion IV X doesnt sound right to me… I dont think thats what id use. Well ill give X a shot since now ill try mantras but I think id prefer III over IV
thanks! So far it sounds good, except on illusion IV X doesnt sound right to me… I dont think thats what id use. Well ill give X a shot since now ill try mantras but I think id prefer III over IV
I think you mean inspiration, not illusion. In that build, you’re completely right, it should be VIII and not X. IV is good though, that condition removal is really really nice, but III is also a worthy trait.
by the way ive played with, and against mesmers forever… but now that im actually using one I truly see the depth
yes sorry im half asleep, I did mean inspiration. Thanks again
Pyroatheist easily fixes the spots where my rambling completely forgot about, and is definitely someone to listen to on these forums, Azure. Heh, I knew I was forgetting to mention a few things.
Like Pyroatheist, I too carry G.Sword, Staff, 2x Swords, Focus, Pistol, Scepter, and a Torch. Each of them are down right handy to have around and has a place … well maybe not the torch. The different Phantasms each have situations where they survive better then others.
On Condition Dmg (Rampagers)? I’ll admit, I’m just an odd duck on that one. ^^; Its very likely that you’ll like the results if you go with Pyroatheist’s suggestion over my own.
Edit: Oh, on Inspiration X (Restorative Mantras)? I tend to find I need the extra boost of healing with my lack of T/V gear to stay alive, as I’ll immediately use 1x Power Return at the same time it charges then save the second charge for condition removal unless I’m still low on health. I do change to VIII (Warden’s Feedback) though when facing enemies I know use a lot of projectiles, or to II if I end up slotting Portal or both Null Field & Feedback.
Huh, I’ll have to try Inspiration III (Vigorous Revelation) one day. I’ve been ignoring that one as I tend to be selfish and Critical Infusion (Dueling 5) is plenty of Vigor for me.
YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN’T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?
- (Death, Terry Pratchett, Hogfather)
- (Death, Terry Pratchett, Hogfather)
(edited by MLieBennett.9031)
Pyroatheist easily fixes the spots where my rambling completely forgot about, and is definitely someone to listen to on these forums, Azure. Heh, I knew I was forgetting to mention a few things.
Like Pyroatheist, I too carry G.Sword, Staff, 2x Swords, Focus, Pistol, Scepter, and a Torch. Each of them are down right handy to have around and has a place … well maybe not the torch. The different Phantasms each have situations where they survive better then others.
On Condition Dmg (Rampagers)? I’ll admit, I’m just an odd duck on that one. ^^; Its very likely that you’ll like the results if you go with Pyroatheist’s suggestion over my own.
The main reason I don’t do it myself is because instead of getting that extra condition damage, I’m using soldiers gear to get myself over 20k hp. I really don’t like running builds that have me below 20k hp, it’s just sorta a benchmark of survivability that I like staying above.
you guys helped me a lot btw thanks so much
In my experience, defensive stats will only do you so much good. There comes a point in the more difficult fractals/dungeons where you’re only worried about the ‘must avoid’ attacks and how much health/armor you have won’t matter much if you fail to avoid them, you’re a bit more survivable – sure. But the offense you trade for relatively less survival isn’t worth it to me. I find that between constant Vigor and Mixed Berry pies I can keep myself alive very well – so I run nearly full berserkers – I only put some Toughness/Power/Precision on the slots where crit dmg is inefficient.
I almost always run Sword/Sword & GS, but I keep a Focus and Staff handy for when it’s necessary. Pistol is good if you’re running a build that prefers to keep Phantasms alive, but since Illusions epitomize the phrase ‘a snowball’s chance in hell’ in dungeons I tend to prefer a Mind Wrack focused build and an OH Sword for the more likely to survive Swordsman and damage avoidance/clone production – the extra leap finisher is nice too.
I run 20/20/0/0/30, getting typical Shatter traits. My play style is to produce three clones, Diversion for a quick stack of 20 Vuln, then leap in to blurred frenzy and 4 Illusion MW on the boss. I can tend to dodge/block enough attacks to stay in Melee for one more blurred frenzy, then I swap to GS and attack from range while my utilities come back. I find the regular 20+ Vuln stacking to be helpful to my group’s damage overall.
(edited by Dastion.3106)
hmm all your playstyles sound similar, just minor tweaks. gotta fiddle around with this