Need some help with WvW weapon choices
I run into A LOT of GS mesmers in WvW. I’ve never used GS myself. I find GS mesmers ring my “Ooo! Easy kill!” bell when I see them.
Original weapons I used were Scepter/torch + staff under old confusion. Then Sword/focus + staff after that. Now I run Scepter/focus + Sword/Torch (most successful build to date). Staff is a solid defensive choice. That Osi Shattercat Heavy build? I was running that before he posted up he was experimenting with it. It’s solid.
You’re not doomed to fail you just gotta get the build & stats for staff
Staff is a beast in WvW.
A Shatter Mesmer with Staff Mastery has a blink every 6 seconds due to Phase Retreat. It is insane in terms of fight controlling, most opponents will not even understand what you are doing.
That, and Chaos Storm is a fantastic defensive ability when Thieves go stealth: ever tried blinking inside a Shadow Refuge and casting Chaos Storm inside?
Terrific, really.
BUT remember to always carry a GS with you in WvW! You’ll need that during siege!
One of the main reasons for using greatsword in WvW is that the iZerker is good for tagging lots of enemies in a zerg to get loot bags. Staff is an incredibly powerful weapon as well, but is more defensively oriented and won’t be doing huge damage on its own unless you build around conditions. Also, its slower projectiles mean you’ll have a harder time tagging enemies in a zerg.
However, I would argue that if you’re interested in WvW for more than just the loot (which I would assume you are, since you’re actually taking the time to ask for build advice), then staff is an excellent choice. Really, any weapon can function well with the proper traits and stats, but staff is consistently a reliable weapon for a vast array of builds and playstyles.
Staff is a beast in WvW.
ever tried blinking inside a Shadow Refuge and casting Chaos Storm inside?
Terrific, really.
Mesmer to Thief: “Thanks for the shelter, you know there’s a storm coming.”
The staff in a shatter build is more of a “get in, get out” gameplay.
The greatsword is still a “get in, get out” gameplay, but while youre out, youre still doing damage, but you also have less defense.
In my oppinion greatswords are more usefull in very high damage builds where you have to kill very quickly.
Also, when you use a greatsword instead of staff, you have to use your utilities defensive most of the time instead of offensive, because if theyre all on cooldown you cant phase retreat or chaos storm your way out :P. Surviving is harder but also more rewarding in terms of damage.
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Lyssa’s Grimoire – a guide every Mesmer should read.
Warning: link may contain traces of awesome.
Lyssa’s Grimoire – a guide every Mesmer should read.
The combinations I find usefull:
GS/Sword/Focus – dps/reflect builds
GS/Staff – hybrid builds (you should trait both)
Staff/Sword/Focus – bunker/reflect builds
Scepter is meh either way you look at it. Pistol is… a problem. The focus is just too good to pass up in WvW unless you use the GS/Staff combo (in which case you obviously cant use a focus either way).
There are pros and cons with the combos of course. Sword/focus is a major pro for speed and can wreck zergs with high pressure on reflect, but at the same time the GS is a very good weapon against just about anything and the staff is invaluable in defense.
Currently I run with GS/Staff in WvW, no centaur runes. I’m too cool for swiftness.
This is what i use:
Zerging: gs and sword/focus.
Roaming with condition build (my favourite): staff and scepter/torch.
Roaming with shatter build: staff and sword/sword.
I run into A LOT of GS mesmers in WvW. I’ve never used GS myself. I find GS mesmers ring my “Ooo! Easy kill!” bell when I see them.
Original weapons I used were Scepter/torch + staff under old confusion. Then Sword/focus + staff after that. Now I run Scepter/focus + Sword/Torch (most successful build to date). Staff is a solid defensive choice. That Osi Shattercat Heavy build? I was running that before he posted up he was experimenting with it. It’s solid.
I’ve tried Scepter/X + Sword/X and it just doesn’t cut it with me. I don’t know why. I have to run GS or Staff.
After the GS fix, I was PvEing a lot so I wanted high numbers, which meant bye staff, hi GS. Since then I’ve been using GS a lot, but I recently went back to WvW. The GS adds HUGE damage, but it’s also a really offensive weapon which means I will die a lot when fighting large groups. I recently made the switch back to staff, and am still adjusting. The defensive capability is amazing, but the damage, compared to a GS, is pretty terrible (for a zerk build). However, what I tend to do is do a sword combo, end with a shatter —> weapon swap staff2 plop a few clones then distract/wait for sword combo again.
Actually, that’s a lie, that’s what I imagine I’d do, it’s been a while and I forgot what I do in WvW, anymore, it’s mostly just reflex and reactions now. Makes it really hard to edit my build since I don’t really know what I’m doing.
Thanks for all the awesome replies, folks!
I use Greatsword and Sword/Focus. It works very well. I am building from Osicat Shatter build to be more of a Phatashatter build. Good burst from iZerker as well as quality shatter damage.
Though as stated its not the best for defense, thats why i have Distortion, Decoy and MI
I run into A LOT of GS mesmers in WvW. I’ve never used GS myself. I find GS mesmers ring my “Ooo! Easy kill!” bell when I see them.
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That is likely due to its popularity with new players. GS can be formidable in phantasm builds.
OP, you will be fine with Staff (assuming you do part).
“Queen of Cheese Builds”
I run into A LOT of GS mesmers in WvW. I’ve never used GS myself. I find GS mesmers ring my “Ooo! Easy kill!” bell when I see them.
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Funny i have killed plenty of Mesmers that run with the Staff and think of them as an easy kill.
(edited by ArmageddonAsh.6430)