Guild Wars 2

I’ve seen a lot of posts about Mirage being a condi spec. While that’s certainly an option I think people are mixing up the “mirage” and “axe”. The axe will certainly be a condi weapon, but it seems like Mirage will be quite good for power builds as well.

I just wanted to look at some options and have people theory craft (which will be much easier after the trial weekend next week).

Specialization trait:
Mirage cloak – should work fine with power builds
Ambush attack – could be good with power builds. Remember, each weapon gets its own ambush. So while axe and staff (shown in the woodenpotatoes video) were condi barrages, its likely sword and greatsword will get power based ambushes.
-Note: with traits (grandmaster 1), ambush attacks can trigger on both clones AND phantasms. We currently don’t know what phantasms will do in practice though – maybe mirror your mainhand ambush, or possibly do nothing.

Traits (summarized):
-Adept
—1. Self deception: deception skills generate clones. Works with power
—2. Renewing oasis: mirage cloak gives regen + shortens conditions. Works with power
—3. Riddle of sand: ambush gives confusion. not useful
-Minor: Nomads endurance. Shatter skills give vigor, which grants condition damage. Works with power but not ideal

-Master
—1. Shards of glass: Shattered illusions can trigger mirage cloak. Works with power
—2. Mirage mantle: Mirage cloak gives protection. Works with power
—3. Mirrored axes: Reduce axe recharge. Power probably not using axes, not useful.
-Minor: Speed of sand. Superspeed when you mirage cloak. Works with power

-Grandmaster
—1. Infinite horizon: Ambushes trigger for illusions (clones and phantasms) as well. Works with power.
—2. Elusive mind: Dodging breaks stun and removes conditions. Works with power
—3. Dune cloak: Mirage cloak inflicts aoe condition damage. Not useful with power

With this in mind, I could see a build like Sword + X, GS (depending on ambush skill for GS), and 111 in traits (deception generates clones, shatters give vigor, shattering can trigger mirage cloak, superspeed in mirage cloak, and illusion ambushes). It will likely come down to the quality of ambushes for sword and GS – other thoughts?

Credit to Aluren for posting the traits/info from the stream:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/All-Mirage-Skills-and-Traits

Dude, I wish so badly for power mirage being viable. PLEASE ANET. I beg you!

The problem being that Axe 3 is the only confirmed target dropping skill so far. (please correct me if I am wrong.)

That sounds like a key defense to mirage otherwise the “I don’t move” when dodging is kinda redundant other than for not interrupting cast.

I’m hoping power is viable with this set too, it’s kinda all I’ve wanted for mesmer. (hell I don’t even mind if mirage becomes condi and chrono gets to be a power main, at least for killing players)

Sorry, my speculation was PvE based – I’ve done far to little of pvp or wvw to make any predictions there.

Hiemdal.4367:

Specialization trait:
Mirage cloak – should work fine with power builds
Ambush attack – could be good with power builds. Remember, each weapon gets its own ambush. So while axe and staff (shown in the woodenpotatoes video) were condi barrages, its likely sword and greatsword will get power based ambushes.
-Note: with traits (grandmaster 1), ambush attacks can trigger on both clones AND phantasms. We currently don’t know what phantasms will do in practice though – maybe mirror your mainhand ambush, or possibly do nothing.

—1. Infinite horizon: Ambushes trigger for illusions (clones and phantasms) as well. Works with power.

We only really have speculation at this point regarding exact mechanics, but I’m leaning on this interpretation being correct. After carefully re-watching the videos I’d seen previously, in every case where the traits were shown, Infinite Horizon was always selected. In no case were phantasms ever spawned for verification. So, based on wording of all traits, Wooden Potato’s explanation to the effect of ‘auto-attack becomes ambush > clones auto-attack > clones get ambush innately’ does not seem correct.

I suspect the ambush skill is enabled on all illusions as stated and the associated stats of the illusion are applied: clones deal near zero power damage, phantasms deal normal power damage, and both deal full condition damage. Whether or not power or power/condi hybrid is an effective option is going to depend on the power coefficients of the ambush skills.

Regarding detargeting and PvP, I suspect the the “which one am I” playstyle interpretation is not the intention of the entire profession. Thematically and in PvE sure, but for PvP the best case scenario is a delay in reaction, buying you a moment of time in addition to the axe 3 evade. Since axe 3 does not stop actual casting, whatever skill the opponent was casting should still follow through just like against opponents who go stealth mid-attack.

I fully expect it to mess with targeting when combined with target saturation and stealth, so some creative use should certainly be effective. However, the primary use is likely to be the 600 range shadow step and illusion re-target for in-combat mobility (damage avoidance by position) and surprise shattering.

With regards to Mirage Cloak, I wouldn’t underestimate the functional utility of having such amazing cover for casting. But, should one find that insufficient, and if the interpretation of the grandmaster trait above turns out to be true, Mirage Cloak may also provide power burst via ambush skills.

They need to do something with Phantasms with this spec otherwise every weapon set is going to have one less skill as you will want to avoid using them as clones will be better.

I really hope they make some tweaks to base mesmer and mirage to make power viable for raiding. I want to be that selfish dps AND have purply skills for once. Regardless, I’ll try and make it work if possible.

Levetty.1279:

They need to do something with Phantasms with this spec otherwise every weapon set is going to have one less skill as you will want to avoid using them as clones will be better.

This is a very good point.

The balance between clone ambush and phantasm attacks gonna be finicky for PvE. Currently we avoid casting clone generating skills to keep up phantasms. For mirage, we can potentially face the opposite.

I personally feel that phantasms should be removed from weapons and have a new feature where, every 10 or 8s, a phantasm depending on the weapon you have on passively summons on the target you are fighting. Isn’t affected by shatters and dies when killed. (Could only have 1 up at a time or 2) Just an idea though.

Also, consider new two damaging skills we got. Firstly we have Crystal Sands, which is definitely will be a dps increase due to its good power scaling and we have Jaunt which is a no cast low damage skill but its a better elite than anything since it has no cast time and deals a bit of damage.

I can see having fun with a power PU.
Renewing oasis, mirage mantle, elusive mind. With normal Chaos line. (Cannot decide between domination or illusion for last trait line). Between all the stealth and mirages, should create a nice bursty roamer in wvw, and amazing sustain.

Phantasm power mirage looks fun as well.
Axe/Sword
Mirrored axes, infinite horizons, renewing oasis.
Regular phantasm traits.
(The new phantasmal force looks fun with mirage. Hope we can try mirage this beta so I can test it)

Between the axe leap, iswordman, and ambush; this could create a nice phantasm pressure.

All hypothetical from a wvw view