Guild Wars 2

Hey all,

So, after absolving myself of the sinful classes, I have returned to Mesmer, and want to command in WvW (probably PuG commanding). This requires a build. A tanky build. I have tried to craft one in PvP for commanding purposes (http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAW8dl0npItVpxYNUrNyqxYyW25kLdUpzI7AA-TpxHAB1eEAG4BAcy+DLVGwgLAAAHEAA)

I don’t pretend to know much about theory crafting so any help/comments/advice would be much appreciated. Also if there are established builds for Mesmer commanders already, any links would be great.

~Squishy

- Triumphant Distortion>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Harmonious Mantras
- I find you’ll have a hard time managing the cast of 3 mantras. I would take Ether Feast to have one big healing (very important in zerg fights).
- Sigil of Energy in both weapon sets (really useful). Sigil of Purity and Renewal are useless.

For the rest, pretty much the ideal (in mesmer commander terms) build.

So if we swap HM for TD, that removes IMO any mantra utilities so it begins to look like Ether Feast for heal, Veil, Nullfield and Feedback? Also would have to adjust some of the mantra specific traits. Something a bit more like this? (Very much still in testing so thanks for feedback and anymore is welcomed )

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAW8dlknpUttqxYNUrNysBZyOsiTOjaU6AksVC-TZBEwASeAA22fQbZAAHBgHXEAA

You can still use mantras with 2 stacks. As a commander, you’ll be in the middle of everything and there it doesn’t matter 1 stack more or less. On the other hand, TD invulnerability is priceless.
The problem with going full glamour is the lack of stun breaks, Mantra of Concentration is really helpful. You can change it for Feedback and have reflections with traited focus or change it for Null Field and take Restorative Mantras, both traits better than Temporal Enchanter.

I wasnt going to respond but then I read some of the responses and wasnt happy.

Your build is pretty good all things considered. There’s a couple of traits that’re a waste and Id swap them for others. Debillitating Dissipation for Descent into Madness for example. Lesser of two evils and, honestly, far more worth even if its situational. Glamor Mastery over Restorative Mantras, or Temporal Curtain. Use your zergs water fields + blasts to get your group heal on, its not your job. Those were the two big ones.

Lesser changes are DE, since clone uptime is -_-. However, a scattering of clones on the field is better than nothing, allowing for f4 use. Chaotic Dampening is a luxery trait as Staff gives you next to nothing outside of that chaos storm. It reduces the cd allowing more of them, but that’s not going to give you much. You’re better off traiting Focus. Why? The pulls allow you to cc and burst down enemy players, and the reflects will help against ranger sniper spam who like to focus you. This is good.

Energy sigils on both sets, yes. As for the other sigil, forget damage, take anything that’ll improve your sustain.

Here’s a link. Sharpening oils was to up your crit chance, with fury thats 40%+ which will give you that vigor on crit. It’s not a big deal but its better than your other options.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAW8dl0npItVpxYNUrNyqxYqYO9SDFUpzI7AA-T1BDABOq+jO7PIlyPwUCCwFBYinAgc6GIDAzEA-w

I’ve done a lot of commanding with this build. Huge amount of survivability + you can burst down scrubs in seconds. The key is maintaining the proper amount of space (kite, followed by brief melee bursts here and there). Works okay for GvGs too.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhIQNAR8alknpTtFpxMNcrNCrxg6u26MSOQAlMjrB-TVTBAB7oCSg7PolygGVCSpKBRcBAe+gAcj6Alp0DRdDYqCROqIAwTAIAACAhRDA-w

The traveler runes are key. They let you leave behind the focus in favor of a stronger weapon like the pistol (magic bullet → illusionary leap → mirror images → blurred frenzy + mind wrack will outright kill most people if magic bullet lands). Swap out mirror images for veil/portal if commanding.

kazi.6438:

I’ve done a lot of commanding with this build. Huge amount of survivability

Your definition of huge survivability is obviously different from the rest of ours. Half celestial-half zerker is on the glassier side, not survivable.

kazi.6438:

+ you can burst down scrubs in seconds.

Why? You’re a commander, not part of a pick team. If you’re burning enough cooldowns and time to burst someone down in seconds, you’re probably not doing it right.

kazi.6438:

The key is maintaining the proper amount of space (kite, followed by brief melee bursts here and there).

If you try to do this while commanding, your zerg will fall apart, guaranteed.

@OP: Ross Biddle basically made a ton of good points, and there are other recent threads you can dig up on the same topic. Ignore everything that was said in the post I’m quoting.