Guild Wars 2

Hey mates,

a lot of peoply asked me for an video which describes the basic gameplay and maybe offer some advice. English isn´t my native language so maybe it´s a bit confusing if u watch the notes in the video. Anyway maybe some of u could be inspired by it. Have fun and contact me for questions.

It´s especially for freshman mesmer who get in touch first time with this class. But also some little advanced tricks. The next video will be completly about advanced mesmer gameplay.

If u like it i can offer u another video without description. Its a bit more for advanced player.

have fun
mesmer <3

Just watched the first one so far – I like it; very well put together, slowmotion and zoom to show detail, and clear guidance.

119% crit damage. One word. Ouch.

Keep them coming Bookah. It’s a official… I’m a fan.

Nice !

Good stuff! Subbed.
What’s the track that starts at around 1min on the “mesmer basic gameplay” video?

Hey,
thanks.

this one?

Yes, that one. Such a cool track.
Thanks, mate

Great video, very nice spike potential with that build!

Very good portrayal of the burst of the berserker build. What runes are you using though? I’m interested in your thoughts on scepter and torch in a berserker build. I like seeing different weapons actually. Generally I see them on tankier or mesmers that use condition more. How are they in direct damage builds? Is it the block the reason why scepter is used often?

i use Divinity: u get additional 12% crit DMG and all stats are pushed by 60. So why a berserker mesmer push all of his stats as long there are ruby orbs and other runes? – because of the buffood and some other effects depending on toughnes and because of the endgame gear i wanne play with no compromises. You have fun while playing earn money is to increase the fun and this works with the best gear available. Its expensive but that is the endgame and maybe the little difference which let u dominate opponents.

Scepter and torch are mostly played by condition mesmer, i have to go through this many times in germany but i think there is no better combination available for 2cond set.

GS? – yeah sure good dmg but 9 sec on weapon switch and almost no defense makes me feel bad. Further more its so quiet easy to spot u with a GS, the animations are huge.

Staff?- yeah i know all shatter mesmer talking about this awesome shatter weapon i don´t think so. sure u have 2 stunbreaks and a chaos storm but watch closely. The autohit is on berserker gear alsmost useless. The 2 stunbreaks are stunbreaks but what u do after? and the phantasm has a slowmotion animation and is quiet easy to dodge. what else? the storm: truely powerful but long cooldown. With a berserker mission u don´t have 40 seconds to wait after the first one was dodged instant. Ok there is an additional protection buff but what´s the difference? – a good opponent hits me with 2-4k auto hits so if i have protection i recieve 1,4-3 upscaled it brings me a survivability of 2-3 Autohits more – in practice u are dead anyway with or without protection excpet your heal comes up again in this one second u would live longer. And u can´t trate the staff with my specc.

Focus?. i love it and i switch it in if i guess it might be useful. Always if i fight at the near of a cliff or in open fields (runspeed). The handicap is the less dmg compared to the pistol =/883 to 1029 makes almost 150 attack difference!

Offhand Sword: u saw it´s awesome too but only for one on one or one on two all above it´s not that good compared to a pistol with range stun and dmg with bleedings (phantasm cirts)

THE SCEPTER: i love it because:
- u have one block which creats u a counter illusion with insane dmg up to 6k
- your auto hits have progress wihtout target so u can use it before the fight begins and create, with the first hit, an illusion (progress effect 3)
- the confusing images deals more dmg than blurred frenzy with only 0,5sec more time and it´s ranged! + confusion. Don´t let the mind trick on you the dmg numbers aren´t combinated like blurred frenzy numbers! – but watch the tool tip dmg information or just summ it up if u don´t believe. With my specc u have passive 300 condition dmg skilled + divinity it´s up to almost 400 condition dmg on a direct dmg berserker build. This brings the confusions up to 1k dmg – and it´s passive dmg u don´t need it. In addition since the patch came up it pierce targets! ^^

The torch:
in my gameplay i often meet larger groups or enemys like u can see in video 2 where a 2vs7 is shown – this is only possible with a good defense! – and the best defense isn´t represented by a chaos armor from a staff it´s quiet easy a stealth – if u can´t be seen u can´t recieve dmg (except aoe move clever)- 0 DMg is better then -33% dmg from protection. in Addition u can do stealth stomps it lasts exactly 3 seconds. Toe torch 4 blinds and deals on berserker gear up to 2.5k splash dmg + burning (360 condi dmg remember not the world but it´s free). If u act correctly (this will be in advanced gameplay videos) u can use the stealth switch weapon sets prepare your shatter and if u are quick enough u deal the burst dmg u have seen in my videos + the 2,5k aoe splash with burning so u have dmg from two weaponsets on one engage.
It´s an other thinking to use condition weapons for berserker gear but it wirks pretty well the basic dmg of this weapons are compareable with usuall weapons + special effects.

The 5 phantasm hit´s with a bouncing attack if u trait it, which is possible, it hit twice with one attack. retalitation and confusion are bonus but it´s better u don´t recieve hits ^^.

That´s my opinion.. all waepons have there powerful sides! use what u want but with scepter torch u have defense (stelath block) and offensive in one. Exactly like with sword pistol. So you can react with both set´s on every situations without beeing handicaped.

Im just curious do you choose different traits? Like are you using the traditional shatter build?

I would link all u are intrested in, have the traits and the gear doesn´t mean that i´ll be copied ^^.

But tomorrow i have to do some real life stuff now. If u can´t wait watch my other video, it´s linked above, the second. There you´ll find the traits and the gear. It´s all natural only legal tricks traits gearcombinations skillcombinations and quickness.

The trick is the high crit DMG and the high crit chance.

My dmg rota includes up to 15 single hits (blurred frenzy 8times ….) it´s not like a warrior with one big killshot dealing dmg its about have a lot of small numbers which have to come at the same time and stack up unbeliveable with a high critdmg enhance.
every single hit is pushed, as long it crits, with 119% critdmg boost from gear + 50% from the game mechanics. so almost 170% critdmg on a crit. This combined to 15 single attacks creates a BOOM effect. U can´t see it in the videos because there are too many numbers but i´ll search a combat chat screenshot.

Awesome thanks, yeah I was just curious because I got full zerker, ruby orbs, and ascended zerker, with all +5prec infusions. Was just curious to compare, and also Crit dmg food over omnom even for roaming?

Thank you for the detailed reply. I love watching other mesmers and it helps me build my mesmer to my own playstyle. How do you feel about your mesmer’s mobility? From your reply I feel that your favorite weapon combination is your sword-pistol / scepter-torch. Do you feel the lack of swiftness? I actively use focus with temporal curtain for my swiftness and throwing people around which helps me escape from problematic battles.
Edit: Also have you tried fighting against good phantasm builds?

Freakfire: Yeah i use food – sharpening Stones and Curry Butter soup – 67% krit are enough – trait +10% on shatter and arcan thievery to warrior Rage Signet makes it up to 100%

Atourist: mobility infight is with the swap and blink absolutely Perfect – swiftness infight doesn^t make you that much fastet because the Speed generally Drops when u get infight. I escape always with stealth and insane moves against expectations. in the my bookah Video (the First i have ever published) u can See One Long escape scene

Sry i have written this by my Handy and the German Programm spoil the english Language ^^

Vash (Booka),

Do you normally run with the GS/ Sword+Torch when you’re doing WvW or do you stick to the Sword/Pistol + Scepter/Torch?

Solo and small groups I Play sword/pistol and scepter/torch
In larger groups or when i See that no Good enemies are arround i Play GS and sword/torch

Reason: Option 1 is simple my favour and matches Perfect to my Game play – Option b is for Fun dealing Extreme Range dmg without Warning (there is also a shatter combo on Range GS) and beeing in a Auto Hit Modus or if i Play near a Tower to nuke Player on the Walls

Vash.1920:

Solo and small groups I Play sword/pistol and scepter/torch
In larger groups or when i See that no Good enemies are arround i Play GS and sword/torch

Reason: Option 1 is simple my favour and matches Perfect to my Game play – Option b is for Fun dealing Extreme Range dmg without Warning (there is also a shatter combo on Range GS) and beeing in a Auto Hit Modus or if i Play near a Tower to nuke Player on the Walls

Ok, that makes sense then. Thanks for posting these video’s! I subscribed to your channel oh great Mesmer Master.

Thank you – traits and Other stuff will come Tonight

Your damage is incredible, and I really enjoy your playstyle. You (I can’t believe I’m saying this, laugh at me later Grimms) actually make the torch look useful.

I’d love to see a full record of your build.

/cheer @vash nice video again

Pyroatheist.9031:

Your damage is incredible, and I really enjoy your playstyle. You (I can’t believe I’m saying this, laugh at me later Grimms) actually make the torch look useful.

I’d love to see a full record of your build.

oh… my… god. I never thought I would see these words come out of Pyro.

Hey mates,

for u, i made an extra video to show u the torch power with berserker mix up.
This video can only be seen by you, because the full scene will be in my next video so i don´t want it into the open youtube browser. If u want to show it someone he have to take the link he can´t browse it!.

my setup:
http://ninjalooter.de/gw2/charakter-planer.html#mesmer-A-cgdh617a7675030000000000-101003049a00000000003013b

For u pyroatheist ^^ i guess grimms would be happy if u watch this ^^ and start believin into the torch ^^.

…Damage…
…More Damage…
…Vashury…

Hahaha!

You forgot to add the ultimate one, mate:

…Mojo Monkey Man…

Vash.1920:

The torch:

The 5 phantasm hit´s with a bouncing attack if u trait it, which is possible, it hit twice with one attack. retalitation and confusion are bonus but it´s better u don´t recieve hits ^^.

Illusionary Elasticity does not affect Clones/Phantasms. ANet has not confirmed whether this is a bug or intentional.

Something to mention. You can clear blindness by autoattacking with your sword. You also don’t need to be facing your target to hit them with the counter-hit from your sword/scepter blocks.

Ok good to know – i ´ve never used this trait – was just theoretic. Anyway torch <3 ^^

Vash.1920:

Ok good to know – i never used this trait – was just theoretic. Anyway torch <3 ^^

Yeah, I was looking at your traits and I didn’t see why you would want to get it. I just wanted to clear clarification for the newer Mesmers looking at this thread so they aren’t all saying “MAH CLONEZ AND PHANTAZMZ ARE BOUNCING MOARRR”.

Pyroatheist.9031:

Something to mention. You can clear blindness by autoattacking with your sword. You also don’t need to be facing your target to hit them with the counter-hit from your sword/scepter blocks.

I don´t say face because of the blind it have a big miss chance, thorugh bugging or whatever if u don´t face – sometimes it works even if i run away and sometimes it doesn´t. With facing i have less problems.

Vash.1920:

Pyroatheist.9031:

Something to mention. You can clear blindness by autoattacking with your sword. You also don’t need to be facing your target to hit them with the counter-hit from your sword/scepter blocks.

I don´t say face because of the blind it have a big miss chance, thorugh bugging or whatever if u don´t face – sometimes it works even if i run away and sometimes it doesn´t. With facing i have less problems.

Probably a dodge roll; those can interrupt the cast time of the block.

Yeah maybe., i just dont know what is the important fact if it dont work, the Block Pop up but the Illusion dont appears – Kinda strange. i solved it with faceing – this Works to me.

Vash.1920:

Focus?. i love it and i switch it in if i guess it might be useful. Always if i fight at the near of a cliff or in open fields (runspeed). The handicap is the less dmg compared to the pistol =/883 to 1029 makes almost 150 attack difference!

2 comments regarding focus vs pistol attack:
1) I don’t think the “attack” stat is used anywhere in the calculations. Damage is proportional to power * weapon_dmg, but the “attack” stat is power + weapon_dmg, so it doesn’t tell you anything useful.

2) Main hand attacks and mind wrack use mainhand weapon damage: Try using steady sword+pistol/focus on the spvp golems. Mind wrack and sword autos hit for the exact same amount whether you have a pistol or focus offhand, or even no offhand at all. Now if you equip GS, mind wrack hits for 10% more, which I’m guessing is because GS has 10% more weapon damage.

In any case, very entertaining videos.

@ Baa:

yes u´re completly right! – i was testing it for one hour and there is no difference!. makes me wonder!. But good to know – I guess the best thing is to switch weapons frequently not only play one fix setup to manage each situation. But i´m happy with my setup i won´t switch it even with this information. It just works perfect =)

Baa.4582:

Vash.1920:

Focus?. i love it and i switch it in if i guess it might be useful. Always if i fight at the near of a cliff or in open fields (runspeed). The handicap is the less dmg compared to the pistol =/883 to 1029 makes almost 150 attack difference!

2 comments regarding focus vs pistol attack:
1) I don’t think the “attack” stat is used anywhere in the calculations. Damage is proportional to power * weapon_dmg, but the “attack” stat is power + weapon_dmg, so it doesn’t tell you anything useful.

2) Main hand attacks and mind wrack use mainhand weapon damage: Try using steady sword+pistol/focus on the spvp golems. Mind wrack and sword autos hit for the exact same amount whether you have a pistol or focus offhand, or even no offhand at all. Now if you equip GS, mind wrack hits for 10% more, which I’m guessing is because GS has 10% more weapon damage.

In any case, very entertaining videos.

That’s interesting, does that mean I can use any weapon stat in the offhand and not suffer from damage? What would the stats on OH be good for? I’m hoping to add some toughness/vitality through this.

@Vash Can you add a link for your gear? I’m having trouble seeing the numbers in the videos.

ATourist.8359:

Baa.4582:

Vash.1920:

Focus?. i love it and i switch it in if i guess it might be useful. Always if i fight at the near of a cliff or in open fields (runspeed). The handicap is the less dmg compared to the pistol =/883 to 1029 makes almost 150 attack difference!

2 comments regarding focus vs pistol attack:
1) I don’t think the “attack” stat is used anywhere in the calculations. Damage is proportional to power * weapon_dmg, but the “attack” stat is power + weapon_dmg, so it doesn’t tell you anything useful.

2) Main hand attacks and mind wrack use mainhand weapon damage: Try using steady sword+pistol/focus on the spvp golems. Mind wrack and sword autos hit for the exact same amount whether you have a pistol or focus offhand, or even no offhand at all. Now if you equip GS, mind wrack hits for 10% more, which I’m guessing is because GS has 10% more weapon damage.

In any case, very entertaining videos.

That’s interesting, does that mean I can use any weapon stat in the offhand and not suffer from damage? What would the stats on OH be good for? I’m hoping to add some toughness/vitality through this.

Uhh, it’s just saying that the Weapon Damage doesn’t affect it. The stats on your off-hand will affect your stats, which will, in turn, affect your damage outputs.

Esplen.3940:

Uhh, it’s just saying that the Weapon Damage doesn’t affect it. The stats on your off-hand will affect your stats, which will, in turn, affect your damage outputs.

It´s confusing but the off-hand stats doens´t affect the DMG i was testing it for an hour. At least at the Golems.

Gear:
Armor: Full berserker
Weapon: Full berserker , flame burst sigil and perception sigil
Back: Cavalier´s Spineguard of the Valkyrie (Karma item)
Amulet: Ascended berserker
Rings: Ascended berserker
Accessory: Beryl Orichalcum Earring of the Valkyrie

Vash.1920:

Esplen.3940:

Uhh, it’s just saying that the Weapon Damage doesn’t affect it. The stats on your off-hand will affect your stats, which will, in turn, affect your damage outputs.

It´s confusing but the off-hand stats doens´t affect the DMG i was testing it for an hour. At least at the Golems.

Gear:
Armor: Full berserker
Weapon: Full berserker , flame burst sigil and perception sigil
Back: Cavalier´s Spineguard of the Valkyrie (Karma item)
Amulet: Ascended berserker
Rings: Ascended berserker
Accessory: Beryl Orichalcum Earring of the Valkyrie

You were testing on golems. That means you were in HotM. In HotM, weapons don’t have stats, only amulets have stats. Your offhand weapon’s stats will affect your mind wrack damage, but the actual damage on that weapon will not.

Ah thanks that´s what i had thought before the confusing has started =). So it´s still the law – Pistol brings out more DMG on shatter than focus.

damage = skill_coeff * power * weapon_dmg

Shatters use mainhand weapon damage.
Offhand weapon damage, which is what differs between focus and pistol, have no effect. The other bonuses such as power and precision, do affect shatters, but they do not differ between weapon types.

example:
Molten Pistol of Smothering (CoF pistol)
Weapon Strength: 876 – 1,029 (does not affect shatter)
+90 Power (affects shatter)
+64 Precision (affects shatter)
+5% Critical Damage (affects shatter)

If both your pistol and focus are zerker, there is no difference in shatter damage.

What everyone is saying is correct. The BONUS STATS given by the weapons does affect your Mind Wrack. The WEAPON STRENGTH does not.

Allright.

Anyway in my view the pistol is a little more usefull as second weapon than the focus. But the fokus is also great. I switch it frequently can´t desicde what´s really better. depends on the situation.

I’m only half way through the first vid so far, glorious gameplay and excellent editorial commentary – hide in the bush! – you sir are a god

/worship

haha pesky little asuras hiding in bushes! definately op!

nice gameplay though

Ah, with this and Seven’s videos now I’m sorely tempted to pick up the torch…

At least it’s one weapon that can (should) only get better with patches (he says…)!

Curunen.8729:

Ah, with this and Seven’s videos now I’m sorely tempted to pick up the torch…

At least it’s one weapon that can (should) only get better with patches (he says…)!

Yeah, it’s pretty much at rock-bottom (not saying it’s bad, but they can’t really do anything without buffing it other than remove it altogether).

I used to be a phantasm mesmer. After seeing your video I find how amazing a shatter mesmer can be. I just wonder will you beat Pyro’s phantasm mesmer build?

Another question is can shatter be blocked? If I blind the mesmer player, will the shatter miss? Thx

A blind won’t cause a Shatter to miss but a block, dodge roll, invulnerability or some other type of evade can cause no Shatter damage.

When clones get close, try dodge rolling into them 1-2 times to negate the Shatter damage.

I thought Osicat was the best shatter mesmer I had seen but ‘Oh my god’ at your skill level and gameplay. You are insane and I’m now picking up a scepter torch. Inb4 s/t bandwagon. Or am I too late already?

The torch nuke is brilliant.

Hey, sry that u´ve waited so long for an answer Yuchen!. Xavi answerd nearly perfect but if u got some experience it´s almost imbossible to miss the nuke, even he use protection arrangements u don´´t have to initiate the nuke. Just wait, u can use the pistol stun to make him stand or the immobalize. in the advanced gameplay video i´ll show u how u can land the nuke without immobalize or stuns, it´s important to know against good player because they all know what´s coming if u open with the casual rotation.

I would be so happy if some more player will use their whole potential of weapon combinations. It´s hard to discuss some ideas when nobody plays it. But i´m one of the player who cheers up every patch because “useless” weapons like torch get better and better ^^, so maybe u should stay on your GS and have fun XD.

If i have chance or not against other builds and other mesmers doesn´t only depends on speccs. It´s about the area, the reaction, the gear, the combination of skills they use to engage or counter some opponent attacks and lot of more important influences – sometimes it´s just luck or the willingness to risk something. I would count myself to those mesmer who risk a lot to suprise my enemies, sometimes it goes horribly wrong those scenes wont be in my videos, but they happen, i don´t play always the “save way” i wanne have fun. Sure there are situations i walk out of 5 downed player and i think: “wtf i did, and how can i do it again” but that´s not the point. It´s not about beeing better than someone else, it´s about having fun. I don´t have that much fun in one on ones than in one on tow or more, because u can play more creativ and that´s what mesmer was build for. Hiding in a bush is only one of this things. U can do incredible moves to shake off followers as long u are cold as ice. Against good players just stop running and stand still, they think u are a decoy and gets confused where u are until they realice u are kidding them. I often died against stupids while i was testing this trick because they hit everything red in area like maniacs but there were also players who thought they were smart saving cooldowns and not finishing the “decoy” and this has made them stupid^^. I already have some beautiful scenes for the “advanced gameplay video” trying to top the “basic gameplay video”. And i hope u will have fun. For those wo haven´t seen my other videos. Take focus on the “berserker solo romaing video”. There are one on X fights and punked people with some other “tricks”.

There is a point, players almost reach the same skill level and the luck decides who´s going to win the fight, or the ping. Those of u who have played WoW in arena 2600+ will know what i´m talking about. 30 minutes fights 5on5 and the disconect makes the winner^^.

Personally i don´t like phatnasm builds because illusions can´t think and react. If someone plays smart and walks line of isght behind a corner or somehting, they all run close to him recieve area DMG and they are gone.
With shatter i´m my own master. Sure i need illusions but only to sacrafice.

PS: XAVI- against shatter mesmer u should never run out of endurance!. Dodge ones and only if there is no other way to survive twice in a row. if the first nuke fails u could recieve a conusion shatter or a dace shatter. both is not healthy when u wont be able to dodge again.