Guild Wars 2

Just wanted to know what the current meta is for Mesmers in PvE (dungeons/fractals) to improve the build I have right now.

Right now I’m using full zerker with ruby orbs. sword/focus + GS
10/20/0/25/15

Using Signet of the Aether, decoy, feedback, null field, timewarp.

Not really sure what to use for sigils but i use the +5% crit chance ones & sigil of energy on sword.

So what’s the current meta for Mesmers in PvE?

10/20/0/25/15 or 0/30/0/25/15 are the typical meta builds as for weapons its is usually sword/sword + focus but i also keep a spare pistol/great sword handy for when range is needed.

Utilities aren’t set in stone you can and should switch out utilities when needed however feedback should almost always be on your bar if you use the 0/30/0/25/15 then at minimum you need 2 mantas on your bar to make uses of Empowering Mantras.

As for armor and weapons for PvE its berserker’s for everything for your armor you can ether go with ruby orbs which will give a boost to yourself and your phantasms dps or scholar runes to increase your personal dps. ~

For sigils for your weapons i would only recommend using ones that can effect you and your phantasms e.g only direct stat increases such as battle, strength, bloodlust or perception. Sigils that give % do not effect your phantasms.

There is a very good reason to go for Empowering Mantras, and force/night sigils (the ones that give % damage): these all increase your reflect damage. As a mesmer, basically the most significant contribution you can make to your party is with your massive reflect damage. That’s why people will go for 0/30/0/25/15, stack perception, and use force sigils: all these things help massively with reflect damage (and since usually reflect damage is already huge… 10% of huge = even more huge).

For stacking weapons, you want perception, as this will increase your reflect damage (bloodlust doesn’t). It also helps your personal/phantasm DPS just as much as bloodlust, and the sigils are 1/7th the cost, so hey, might as well.

Signet of the Ether is best for situations you need two iWardens for reflects ASAP. For example, Old Tom, Alphard, the Ghost Eater, are all bosses where you want reflects going constantly, and the active of Signet of Ether lets you get that out asap. Otherwise, the healing isn’t actually so great— Ether Feast is probably best for that. For normal DPS/reflect situations, Mantra of Recovery is best (because again, mantra).

Unless you’re skipping or running, don’t keep decoy around (though for skips/runs, you’re absolutely encouraged to use it. It’s particularly useful in a few places in Arah). As Magi said, utilities should be swapped out as you need it. Sometimes you need lots of condition cleanse— then you should have Mantra of Resolve and Null Field. Sometimes you need boon strip— iDisenchanter and Arcane Thievery and Null Field. Often you need reflects— keep a bunch of mantras and Feedback ready.

Another build worth considering is 10/30/0/20/10. This has 4% or so higher personal damage (non-reflect, because it comes from power) compared to the 0/30/0/25/15 build. The price is longer cooldowns on phantasms, so I prefer the 0/30 combination these days.

I was under the impression that % don’t effect reflections as the damage is based of the creatures damage however the crit chances/damage on the reflect is determined by your own stats.

Magi.8643:

I was under the impression that % don’t effect reflections as the damage is based of the creatures damage however the crit chances/damage on the reflect is determined by your own stats.

% damage from Empowering Mantras definitely counts (this is why almost all reflect based builds use it). I am 99% certain that % damage from force sigils, etc. also count, but would appreciate clarification from Pyroatheist or the other Mesmer forum gods

maxinion.8396:

Magi.8643:

I was under the impression that % don’t effect reflections as the damage is based of the creatures damage however the crit chances/damage on the reflect is determined by your own stats.

% damage from Empowering Mantras definitely counts (this is why almost all reflect based builds use it). I am 99% certain that % damage from force sigils, etc. also count, but would appreciate clarification from Pyroatheist or the other Mesmer forum gods

Reflects are calculated as if you had used the attack with the same power, but all outgoing modifiers are yours. This means you won’t be reflecting any 20k kill shots, but you can stack up on modifiers for reflecting boss attacks.

Pyroatheist.9031:

maxinion.8396:

Magi.8643:

I was under the impression that % don’t effect reflections as the damage is based of the creatures damage however the crit chances/damage on the reflect is determined by your own stats.

% damage from Empowering Mantras definitely counts (this is why almost all reflect based builds use it). I am 99% certain that % damage from force sigils, etc. also count, but would appreciate clarification from Pyroatheist or the other Mesmer forum gods

Reflects are calculated as if you had used the attack with the same power, but all outgoing modifiers are yours. This means you won’t be reflecting any 20k kill shots, but you can stack up on modifiers for reflecting boss attacks.

I knew I could count on you. <3

Magi.8643:

0/30/0/25/15

It’s wiser to get 10/30/0/20/15. 25 from inspiration you can get from III in domination (it’s the same bonus), and 15 in Illusions is useless since we have traited sword and focus (decreased cooldown on them). 10 in domination grants extra damage as it’s 100 power and the same bonus from 25 inspiration. it also grants longer vulnerability from your autoattack.

and if you dont need focus reflects that much, take 30/30/0/0/10

I have played 10/20/0/25/15, 0/30/0/25/15 and a long time ago 20/20/0/30/0. However I really ended up with 10/30/0/30/0. It feels still like the best build that exists right now in terms of utility and damage.

I don’t think it’s worth to spend 15 points in illusions for +6% damage wich only counts for you instead of 100 power and 17% phant damage or 10% crit dmg and 5% crit change and mantra 8% damage. Sure you got your -20% cdr on illusion summonings, however you also sacrifice a 3rd inspiration slot wich is in my opinion essential!

With 10/30/0/30/0 you got everything but the 20% cdr for illusions. A 3rd inspiration trait can be so much more useful for your party. There are so many amazing traits there:

• glamour cdr
• feedback on ress (npc!)
• glamour dura (with ^ 80% reflection uptime)
• focus trait
• healing mantras (800 HpS if required + makes mantra heal op)
• condicleanse on heal (extremly strong with mantra heal)
• +20% phant HP (defender, situational ofc)

I pick 3 instead of 2 of those makes so much sense. I can’t find a reason to not go up to 30 in inspiration.