Guild Wars 2

This build is going to be used for PvE, WvW and Fractals. I wanted to make the most out of the sword and focus as possible so…Yeah. First time making a build, would love some advice or thoughts!

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/mesmer/?4.0|c.1c.h1f.d.1c.h17|6.1c.h5|1n.71j.1n.71j.1n.71j.1n.71j.1n.71j.1n.71j|4s.0.2u.0.2s.0.2u.0.2s.0.2s.0|0.k24.p45.p58.0|0.0|31.3d.3l.38.0|e

Anyone? I’d really like some feedback!

Trying to do a build for everything tents to end with less potential builds. So I suggest you to focus more on a pve-fractals builds and a separated WvW build.
This can be applied to what you focus on a build. With this build you want to make lots of things, but you don’t specialize in anything. It’s better to focus on phantasms or shatters, but not both. They’re quite the opposite xd It works the same for DPS-support builds.

Talking about the build:
Traits
First of all, I don’t understand why you spend so much points in chaos. The only trait I think that’s worth with sword/focus is IV. Then, if you will use quite a lot the staff is better to have trait X, which reduces staff cd.
What I recommend?

• If you’re going to use mainly sword/focus, spend only 10 points with IV trait.
• If you want to play more with staff, spend 20 points with traits IV and X.

Then, there’s Duel traits. Trait X, Duelist evasion, is a must for every mesmer who spends 20 points in duel. I suggest you to use traits IV and X.

In Inspiration, I’d change trait V for III. Read utilities part to know why.

Now we can discuss points you gained with chaos. 5 points in illusions is, again, a must for every mesmer build that one can imagine, since it reduces all cd summon illusion skills.
If you only spend 10 points in chaos, I suggest you to put the 10 last in domination and get traits I or III, depending if you want to increase Mind Wrack or phantasms attack.

Utilities
Signet of Illusions is not good at all. Mirror images or Decoy will do a better job.
The reasons?

• Even with that extra hp, illusions will die with every boss attack or high level fractals.
• As you are not going shatter, you don’t need the active signet action.

Gear
If you can run with it, change your knight armor for berserker. You will gain 16% of critical damage plus some power and you won’t be squishy. With 10/20/10/20/5, berserker armor and the rest of your trinkets and weapons you will still have 2250 armor and +20000 hp.

Sigils
I would definitely change water sigil for generosity. Mesmers lack of condition cleaning and with this one it won’t be a problem anymore. If you cannot afford the Superior, Major one is still good, since it has 40% of chance.

In staff, I would change corruption for bloodlust (more power) or perception (more precision). The reason is that, with mesmers, is not worth to have +250 condition damage if you have very low base condition damage. The fact that we only have confusion as a main condition makes condition damage worthless for us.

Conclusion
You can upgrade your build quite a lot, but keep in mind that the best build is going to be the one that fits on your gameplay style.

So good luck

The 25 minor trait in chaos really does nothing for you in this build, or nothing as useful as having 5 points in illusions for that minor trait. I also think I’d swap out the choas trait V for something else. The ten point inspiration trait can be swapped around for lots of useful things that’s better than the illusions have more hp. If you’re being more supportive, using null field, feedback, portal for your team in wvw I’d get the glamours recharge faster trait, otherwise would prolly run with remove condition on heal.

If you’re going to mix and match your trinkets I think doing both rings zerker and if you’re wanting more defensive stats I’d go with cavalier acc. I’d also not want to spend so much gold on divinity runes but that’s just me, if you have it to spend have at it lol Also I don’t think weapon sigils of the same type or that have a cool down will work together, I’d go with night or force on the sword, and forget the condition damage deal and put bloodlust or perception on the staff. Use lemongrass poultry soup and the warden/curtain combo for condition removal.

I made a link to the couple changes I would make to your build: http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/mesmer/?4.0|c.1c.h2.d.1c.h17|6.1c.h4|1n.71j.1n.71j.1n.71j.1n.71j.1n.71j.1n.71j|4s.0.3s.0.2s.0.2v.0.3v.0.2s.0|0.k24.k47.p48.5|15.7|31.3d.3l.38.0|e

I ran a build almost exactly like this for a long time but I used scepter/sword on the offhand switch instead of staff, was 0/20/20/25/5, worked great for both pve/dungeons and wvw. I didn’t trait any of the weapons, the cool downs work really well with each other and when weapon swap is ready the cd on the other set is also ready so you just swap weapons often.

Ansau.7326:

Trying to do a build for everything tents to end with less potential builds. So I suggest you to focus more on a pve-fractals builds and a separated WvW build.
This can be applied to what you focus on a build. With this build you want to make lots of things, but you don’t specialize in anything. It’s better to focus on phantasms or shatters, but not both. They’re quite the opposite xd It works the same for DPS-support builds.

Talking about the build:
Traits
First of all, I don’t understand why you spend so much points in chaos. The only trait I think that’s worth with sword/focus is IV. Then, if you will use quite a lot the staff is better to have trait X, which reduces staff cd.
What I recommend?

• If you’re going to use mainly sword/focus, spend only 10 points with IV trait.
• If you want to play more with staff, spend 20 points with traits IV and X.

Then, there’s Duel traits. Trait X, Duelist evasion, is a must for every mesmer who spends 20 points in duel. I suggest you to use traits IV and X.

In Inspiration, I’d change trait V for III. Read utilities part to know why.

Now we can discuss points you gained with chaos. 5 points in illusions is, again, a must for every mesmer build that one can imagine, since it reduces all cd summon illusion skills.
If you only spend 10 points in chaos, I suggest you to put the 10 last in domination and get traits I or III, depending if you want to increase Mind Wrack or phantasms attack.

Utilities
Signet of Illusions is not good at all. Mirror images or Decoy will do a better job.
The reasons?

• Even with that extra hp, illusions will die with every boss attack or high level fractals.
• As you are not going shatter, you don’t need the active signet action.

Gear
If you can run with it, change your knight armor for berserker. You will gain 16% of critical damage plus some power and you won’t be squishy. With 10/20/10/20/5, berserker armor and the rest of your trinkets and weapons you will still have 2250 armor and +20000 hp.

Sigils
I would definitely change water sigil for generosity. Mesmers lack of condition cleaning and with this one it won’t be a problem anymore. If you cannot afford the Superior, Major one is still good, since it has 40% of chance.

In staff, I would change corruption for bloodlust (more power) or perception (more precision). The reason is that, with mesmers, is not worth to have +250 condition damage if you have very low base condition damage. The fact that we only have confusion as a main condition makes condition damage worthless for us.

Conclusion
You can upgrade your build quite a lot, but keep in mind that the best build is going to be the one that fits on your gameplay style.

So good luck

Oooh, this’ll be a long reply!

1. I understand about the Chaos traitline, so i’ve swapped that out, but the reason I has so much was for the Staff’s Phantasmal Warlock whilst Blurred and Phantasmal Warden were on CD. I’m not sure whats better in all honesty. Would you suggest dropping Chaos to 10 and having a Scepter and Sword/Pistol in there? That’d give me some ranged attacks if I require to fall back at least.

2. In Dueling, I went with Phantasmal Fury because I believed slapping an extra 20% critical on them would prove useful in getting Fire sigil to activate. And since it was a phantasm build I didn’t think Illusions played much of a role, especially if I got a phantasm up and I have to dodge, which could potentially make it splode mid-way through it’s attack if i’m already maxed up with illusions.

3. So utilities should be Blink (I use this often!) Mirror Images, and Feedback, along with the lovely Time Warp?

4. On the note of Berserker Armour, I already have a full set of exotic 80 with eagle sigils, and i’ve been feeling squishy at the moment, going down quite a bit during the Molten Weapons Facility which i’ve been using to test it with, maybe it’s just because i’ve swapped from Greatsword (Ranged) to a Melee range set.

5. I can see the reasoning in the Bloodlust sigil, but in that same breath, if i’m swapping to 10 chaos, would it be better to have a Bloodlust in a Scepter and another Fire in the Pistol (for Phantasmal Duelist)?

LiebnirGWAccount.5698:

Oooh, this’ll be a long reply!

1. I understand about the Chaos traitline, so i’ve swapped that out, but the reason I has so much was for the Staff’s Phantasmal Warlock whilst Blurred and Phantasmal Warden were on CD. I’m not sure whats better in all honesty. Would you suggest dropping Chaos to 10 and having a Scepter and Sword/Pistol in there? That’d give me some ranged attacks if I require to fall back at least.

2. In Dueling, I went with Phantasmal Fury because I believed slapping an extra 20% critical on them would prove useful in getting Fire sigil to activate. And since it was a phantasm build I didn’t think Illusions played much of a role, especially if I got a phantasm up and I have to dodge, which could potentially make it splode mid-way through it’s attack if i’m already maxed up with illusions.

3. So utilities should be Blink (I use this often!) Mirror Images, and Feedback, along with the lovely Time Warp?

4. On the note of Berserker Armour, I already have a full set of exotic 80 with eagle sigils, and i’ve been feeling squishy at the moment, going down quite a bit during the Molten Weapons Facility which i’ve been using to test it with, maybe it’s just because i’ve swapped from Greatsword (Ranged) to a Melee range set.

5. I can see the reasoning in the Bloodlust sigil, but in that same breath, if i’m swapping to 10 chaos, would it be better to have a Bloodlust in a Scepter and another Fire in the Pistol (for Phantasmal Duelist)?

1. I totally don’t recommend you the scepter. Since 30th April it’s a broken weapon. 2s to create a clon, 1 block that has longer cd than OH sword block and a slow skill to inflict confusion, which is terrible in WvW and bad in PvE.
You can keep with the staff and put only 10 points. Staff is the best supportive weapon and a perfect second set.

2. Ok, so keep fury and sword trait. My change was because I didn’t know what you wanted to be, now I know you want more phantasms I understand more this xd

3. Yes. Since this is a phantasm build, you can try phantasmal defender for Mirror images or feedback, but this 2 are ok.

5. Oh, if you want to have focus and pistol, then go sword/focus scepter/pistol. For sigils I’d put Generosity/Fire for sword/focus and bloodlust/fire for scepter/pistol.
But for me, is better to have staff as second weapon. iWarlock is strong too and with chaos storm and chaos armor, + combos with ethereal and phase retreat, you will survive a lot more.

One last thing. Sigils only work on you, not your illusions. Same happens with runes. So Fire and generosity sigils will only activate with your critics. Phantasms won’t activate them. That is another reason why not to use scepter, since it is a slow weapon and you don’t get much benefit from sigils.

Ansau.7326:

LiebnirGWAccount.5698:

Oooh, this’ll be a long reply!

1. I understand about the Chaos traitline, so i’ve swapped that out, but the reason I has so much was for the Staff’s Phantasmal Warlock whilst Blurred and Phantasmal Warden were on CD. I’m not sure whats better in all honesty. Would you suggest dropping Chaos to 10 and having a Scepter and Sword/Pistol in there? That’d give me some ranged attacks if I require to fall back at least.

2. In Dueling, I went with Phantasmal Fury because I believed slapping an extra 20% critical on them would prove useful in getting Fire sigil to activate. And since it was a phantasm build I didn’t think Illusions played much of a role, especially if I got a phantasm up and I have to dodge, which could potentially make it splode mid-way through it’s attack if i’m already maxed up with illusions.

3. So utilities should be Blink (I use this often!) Mirror Images, and Feedback, along with the lovely Time Warp?

4. On the note of Berserker Armour, I already have a full set of exotic 80 with eagle sigils, and i’ve been feeling squishy at the moment, going down quite a bit during the Molten Weapons Facility which i’ve been using to test it with, maybe it’s just because i’ve swapped from Greatsword (Ranged) to a Melee range set.

5. I can see the reasoning in the Bloodlust sigil, but in that same breath, if i’m swapping to 10 chaos, would it be better to have a Bloodlust in a Scepter and another Fire in the Pistol (for Phantasmal Duelist)?

1. I totally don’t recommend you the scepter. Since 30th April it’s a broken weapon. 2s to create a clon, 1 block that has longer cd than OH sword block and a slow skill to inflict confusion, which is terrible in WvW and bad in PvE.
You can keep with the staff and put only 10 points. Staff is the best supportive weapon and a perfect second set.

2. Ok, so keep fury and sword trait. My change was because I didn’t know what you wanted to be, now I know you want more phantasms I understand more this xd

3. Yes. Since this is a phantasm build, you can try phantasmal defender for Mirror images or feedback, but this 2 are ok.

5. Oh, if you want to have focus and pistol, then go sword/focus scepter/pistol. For sigils I’d put Generosity/Fire for sword/focus and bloodlust/fire for scepter/pistol.
But for me, is better to have staff as second weapon. iWarlock is strong too and with chaos storm and chaos armor, + combos with ethereal and phase retreat, you will survive a lot more.

One last thing. Sigils only work on you, not your illusions. Same happens with runes. So Fire and generosity sigils will only activate with your critics. Phantasms won’t activate them. That is another reason why not to use scepter, since it is a slow weapon and you don’t get much benefit from sigils.

Ok, so finally;

10/20/10/25/5

10 = III
20 = II/IV
10 = IV
25 = III/VIII
5 = Yeah.

Armour is all berserkers, currently sigilled for Eagle Runes, it would be worth sticking Divinity in or is there a better choice for me?

Berserker Amulet, 1 Berserker Ring/Earring, 1 Cavalier Ring/Earring, Berserker Backpiece.

Soldier Weapons, Sword with Generosity, Focus with Fire, Staff with Bloodlust.

Utility is Blink, Mirror Images, Feedback, Time Warp.

Will I still be able to stay alive in things like Fractals with this? Everyone was telling me toughness was required, currently on Fractal 31.

If you can afford divinity runes, go for them. They give you a bit lower, but constant dps, so in general their global dps is similar to eagle. Moreover, you gain more survivability.

About high level fractals, it’s out of my reach, since my lvl is 9 xd But for what I’ve seen, some people go full glass cannon. They argue that you will die no matter what, so it’s better to maximize your damage. Right the opposite you were told XD.

Ansau.7326:

If you can afford divinity runes, go for them. They give you a bit lower, but constant dps, so in general their global dps is similar to eagle. Moreover, you gain more survivability.

About high level fractals, it’s out of my reach, since my lvl is 9 xd But for what I’ve seen, some people go full glass cannon. They argue that you will die no matter what, so it’s better to maximize your damage. Right the opposite you were told XD.

Ruby orbs are far superior to divinity runes if you’re looking to maximize effective damage output. Also a LOT cheaper.

Just my two cents.

They are not far superior, they’re only slightly. They only give you 60 more power and 24 more precision, same critical damage. You won’t notice the differences.

Divinity runes grants +60 in condition damage, toughness, vitality and healing.
In this build, all illusions inflict bleeding on critical hits. So what you lose in direct damage, you gain it with conditions.

I’ve looked how much you gain and how much you lose. The scenario will be the best for ruby orb, with a full glass cannon build (Exotic berserker armor and weapons and ascended berserker trinkets, 30 points in domination and duel), the effective power with orbs is just 175 more than with divinity runes. Each bleeding stack affects 3 less and confusion affects 9 less.
Then, you lose 1100 effective health, plus ether feast heals you 80 less than with divinity runes.

If you want to have the higher damage number, go ruby orbs. If you want to have 98% of higher damage number, but having a little bit more survivability, then go with divinity runes.
First is the best if you want to win a competition, but GW2 is not that case. The only reason to go with ruby orbs is, as you said, the price.