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Posted by: Rok.5260

Rok.5260

Hello I’m new to Guild Wars 2. I’m really looking for a spellsword build because I love to use a sword and be able to use magic and it looks like Mesmer will be the class for me. So I’m just wondering if a sword/sword build is viable in PvE and PvP?

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Posted by: Kazhiel.8194

Kazhiel.8194

Yes. .

Jalliel [AI] – Yak’s Bend

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Posted by: Chaos Archangel.5071

Chaos Archangel.5071

With the right traits/utilities/secondary weaponset, sword-sword build is definitely viable.

Thing of note though, the offhand sword’s first attack is both a fairly damaging counter OR a projectile daze. The illusion spawned is purely for damage purposes, so you may wanna consider Power/Precision and have Staff as a secondary for defense.

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Posted by: athuria.2751

athuria.2751

Sword/sword is very viable, and staff compliments it very nicely as a defensive weapon (both chaos storm and chaos armor are going to give you the most bang for your buck in melee range). These are the weapons I run with a balanced/phantasm build, but I believe Osicat’s shattercat build uses them together as well.

Illusionary Riposte takes a bit of practice, but when you get the hang on it it’s a formidable tool. The swordsman is also our fastest-attacking phantasm outside the utilities and packs a decent punch.

I don’t think anybody will argue mainhand sword isn’t good, except that Illusionary Leap tends to bug out and that needs to be fixed. But the autoattack and Blurred Frenzy are strong enough on their own.

Syrlya | Sylvari Mesmer
Arabelle Jones | Human Engineer
Stormbluff Isle

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Posted by: Drawing Guy.3701

Drawing Guy.3701

Personally I love running around with swords. It’s cheap to spec, and every single skill has a use. The #1 auto-attack may be a bit meh in damage, it is a boon ripper (though not fast enough that I ever use it in PvP). The key with this is having it on your clones. #2, The blurred frenzy is a FREE hit – quick enough to lay on them, and they can’t damage you during it. Doesn’t need a target, so you can use it as a damage mitigator. #3 is Illusionary Leap – your clone generator move (each main hand weapon has one). Love it. It leaps at the target and cripples, causes all previous leap clones to leap and cripple, is a leap finisher, and you can swap to teleport to the target when the leap hits by them. This makes it a great chase move, and gets them by the target quick for a shatter. Few question that sword is a pretty good main hand weapon. But then Mesmer is one of the few classes where almost every weapon is good (except torch. Clones kick butt on trident, but if nerfed, this weapon would suck too).

The #4 Off-hand sword gives you riposte. As others said, it’s a block with good damage or a ranged daze. Both very useful. #5 dps phantasm is yet another leap finisher. In short, if you have someone dropping fields, you can be zapping them with your sword illusions constantly.

Really, for me, it’s a debate between sword and pistol for offhand. Pistol is better multi-target control, better chaser, and a nicer phantasm, but it’s harder to trait for. Sword I see as better against a single target, for you have a partner to give you combo fields, or did not trait pistol. Focus I see as a situational use weapon – attacking keeps. Gives you a pull and a projectile bubble. Other than that, it’s not for me. Torch is just… don’t even carry. It gives you a weak phantasm. It gives you a 3 second channel move that you can easily interrupt (be it yourself or someone else), negating it’s weak damage.

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Posted by: Ross Biddle.2367

Ross Biddle.2367

Torch is awesome, but haters gonna hate.

Blind on stealth.

Stealth.

Confusion on blind if traited.

AoE fire blast with burning.

Phantasm that drops an instant 3 stacks of confusion, and grants retaliation.

Like anything, if you’re built for it, you can work wonders.

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Posted by: Drawing Guy.3701

Drawing Guy.3701

I glass cannon my mesmer – if I’m getting hit very often, I’m not playing it right, so retaliation is a bit weaker on my char (though I can easily trait it with Cry of Confusion for longer). I already tick 12+ stacks of confusion with my burst combo. Would much rather have my phantasm tick 5k damage than someone getting themselves for 390 IF they attack during that 3 second window. So, yes, I still find it to be one of the weakest phantasms on top of having one of the longest cooldowns.

As for the “prestige” move, any kind of 3 second channel is painful. That’s 2-3 attacks I’m not doing while waiting for the blast. Blessedly you still have blink to avoid damage/interrupts, and you can make the smoke useful, but would much rather be using that time to lay in damage, setting up phantasms or a burst combo or whatever. Really, though, why would you trait “Blinding Befuddlement” in a trait line that already has too many good options to pick from? It’s a line that buffs both phantasms and shatters… to use it to buff a torch skill is just….