Guild Wars 2

What offhand weapon would fit best for PvE with axe as main-hand?

With lots of conditions on Axe, it should be paired with a Condition Off hand. So, Torch would be an obvious choice since it inflicts lots of burns. For a second weapon set, either Focus or Pistol. Focus has that awesome pull that will really be valuable for its utility, while Pistol has Phantasmal Duelist which outputs lots of bleeds.

shield.

oh wait.

but, torch or focus, i’d imagine.

Since we are gifted with an ambudance of offhand weapons it will likely depend on 2 factors:

- which build is the mesmer running? (power, condi or maybe even hybrid)

- what does the encounter demand? (if we are talking raids, open world who really cares?)

Pistol
Depending on how the condi damage from duelist’s discipline is, maybe a condition damage offhand. The skill 5 is a great cc skill.

Focus
Trusted offhand focus, our go to movement pick (and more utility with temp curtain). This might lose some use in raids due to better choices for both condition and direct damage as well as cc break.

Torch
Contender for our offhand condition damage choice. Might offer higher condition damage than pistol but offers no cc break.

Sword
Very likely our direct damage choice of offhand.

Open world pve or non raid enviroment will likely be a mix of convenience as far as movement skills goes (aka focus) and encounter usefullness.

In raids:

If our best dps becomes getting clones to attack with ambush attack with condi then torch. Because it offers 2 decent sources of aoe burning and the phantasm can be used for shatter fodder since we can shatter more with the ease at which clones can be produced.

If our best dps is power then Mirage won’t be used. Very dobtful that the sword ambush attack will hit hard enough to make up for the lost of damage increasing traits in either Dom, Duel or Illusions. Unless something crazy comes up like sword clones being able to do actual damage.

Open World:

Torch for the aoe burn.

Levetty.1279:

In raids:
If our best dps is power then Mirage won’t be used. Very dobtful that the sword ambush attack will hit hard enough to make up for the lost of damage increasing traits in either Dom, Duel or Illusions. Unless something crazy comes up like sword clones being able to do actual damage.

That’s not really the case. It’s really possible for Mirage to outdamage Domi. Chrono/Illu/Dueling has shown to have similar numbers when you only have added Continuum Split, Well of Calamity, Danger Time and Tides of Time to add to the DPS. It also gets better at large hitboxes. And consider that you gain endurance much more easier than the CD of WoC and Tides of Time and there’s also Jaunt and Crystal Sands to add to the rotation, it pretty much can outdamage Domi

Focus is definitely going to be a top pick, just like it was before we had Shields.

After that… depends. I think you can make an argument for just about anything.

The real question is whether the access to Mirage Cloak from utilities and traits will make up for the loss of Blurred Frenzy when using Axe MH. OH Sword might be pretty important for the extra block when you’re trying to get over to a Mirror so you can tag it and get Cloak.

I’m no experienced pve player but I can say traited torch offers sick burn potential now, I love it.

My only problem with Focus is in order to trait the reflect you need Inspiration – and surely most Mirages will be running Illusions and Duelling regardless of game mode.

But on that note given that Pistol is pretty much a free trait in Duelling (given the other two adept traits are kitten poor), it could be another good option. Depends if/what ambush attack the Duelist gets (if phantasms get them).