Guild Wars 2

So I’ve been trying to do some research to figure out what build to run. I’m new to the Mesmer class but not to GW2. Been playing on and off since release. Started with Thief, then Warrior, and now I’m trying a Mesmer since I’ve always found them annoying, and wanted to be on the other end for once.

I’ve read that PU got a nerf, and that all the veteran Mesmers out there think its a kitten made for noobs that don’t know the class etc… I admit I fall under that category. I am both new to the class, and lack a complete understanding of all the ins and outs of the class.

I don’t really queue for anything but sPvP, not team or solo tourney queue, and as a result I may be running into less seasoned players there but I’ve been pretty successful.

Currently I’m running this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAR7flknpMtlqxRNcrNSqxY6Ui5FSOQAl8juB-TJBBABAcQAEc/hNOCAlVGAA

I’ve tried straight shatter builds, including the new meta. I’ve tried lock down builds. I’ve tried phantasmal builds. I keep coming back to the PU build. I’m just finding more survive-ability there.

I’m not sure if it comes from playing as a melee class exclusively before and I just need to work on positioning better. I’ve been trying to make sure to attack from afar and in inaccessible locations. But I just really like the stealth. Its far easier to disengage and heal up, and reenter the fight.

So my question is, is this build truly viable or should I just practice with a shatter build. While it seems to be working for me, are my choices just uninformed and misguided.

Thank you.

Uhm.. what first strikes me is your lack of damage tbh. Yes you’re very survivable and I can totally see you killing your ennemies but it must be very slow. Moreover, your only true damage dealer is Izerker with a 20 sec cd (which is relatively long) and if you face smart opponents they will simply focus it and ignore other clones / phantasm. And with no ipersona trait , your shatters must tickle.

Your build surely isn’t that bad though; you got a bit of everything – a bit of power damage with Izerker/shatter, a bit of condi damage and a lot of survivability but I feel that if your Izerker gets focused down fast, you don’t do much :/

EDIT: I personally put all six chaos points you have (no condi damage and a bit less survivable) into Illusions (for illu invigoration and Illu persona) to have a strong shatter + phantasm build. Also using GS but sword + pistol as offhand weaponset and it REALLY deals a kittenload of damage. But then again, WAY less room for mistakes :p

Keeping your actual build to learn more the class and improve your timings could be a good idea but playing without PU makes Mesmer way more interesting for me.

Really you don’t need to PU to have stealth. It’s not “pro” but there are quite a few shatter mesmers that run GS Sw/t and absolutely school people. They rely on stealth a lot, with torch and decoy.

Ditch the scepter for sword and do as Ergo said, try shatter again. Learning when to use your stealths slightly earlier to land attacks and escape them will give you quite a bit of survivability. What you lose is the ability to get focused, go “oops” 2 seconds later, hit stealth and get a reset. Without PU the “oops” is “darn I’m dead.” That is why ppl call PU a crutch (in a power build in particular), and you can be very effective without it if you practice.

Check out this person in the video below. This is one of my favorite videos, and this is what soloQ stealth mesmer should be.

I’m am playing a mesmer & i am sooooo disapointed theres no other build then PU that you can play on spvp. It’s getting boring!

Thanks guys. I appreciate the responses. I’ve run sword before and I feel like while it does a fair amount of damage, it requires, well, melee range. On my Thief or Warrior, that’s not an issue, but I feel really squishy when I get in that close. Could just be a L2P issue.

In terms of lacking damage, perhaps in comparison to the other builds it does. It feels strong to me but it may just be that I haven’t been able to take full advantage of the shatter builds. I seem to have plenty of burst with GS 2 and 4, as well as with shattering my clones. Possibly that’s just my perception.

While scepter is certainly not a damage dealer, it does let me keep some pressure on with a bit of condi while moving to defense from range.

Guess I just need more practice.

I’d love to hear from more people as well. Thanks again.

Vieux P.1238:

I’m am playing a mesmer & i am sooooo disapointed theres no other build then PU that you can play on spvp. It’s getting boring!

Uhm, shatter infinitely better than PU.

Just sayin;)

but shatter is so much fun. the tension is real!

ill just leave this here

Hot kitten . I want to know what build that Tsuki character was running. o.O

Mea.8967:

Vieux P.1238:

I’m am playing a mesmer & i am sooooo disapointed theres no other build then PU that you can play on spvp. It’s getting boring!

Uhm, shatter infinitely better than PU.

Just sayin;)

It’s possible. I play a PU phantasm build. Lotta dps. GS,Sw & torch avrg 4k per berserker. But i am gonna teste the shatter mez just for the change of pace. Ill keep you posted.

If you like the Chaos line, try BI + CI with Mantra of Distraction instead of PU for sPvP. Interrupt builds can be pretty hilarious, but yeah shatter is meta for team queue. However, the PU trait has its place in WvW roaming where you often need to evade 10+ angry people.

pu isn’t great for spvp. you may want to try a most burst build with sword/torch + GS or a condi build with staff .

Feaduin.7603:

If you like the Chaos line, try BI + CI with Mantra of Distraction instead of PU for sPvP. Interrupt builds can be pretty hilarious, but yeah shatter is meta for team queue. However, the PU trait has its place in WvW roaming where you often need to evade 10+ angry people.

Can you just explain some forum-isms please:

BI?
CI?
Meta?

I see these repeated across threads but the meaning is not immediately apparent.

(and kitten? WTF? lol)

Edit: BI = Bountiful Interruption? CI= Chaotic Interruption?

Doni.6095:

Feaduin.7603:

If you like the Chaos line, try BI + CI with Mantra of Distraction instead of PU for sPvP. Interrupt builds can be pretty hilarious, but yeah shatter is meta for team queue. However, the PU trait has its place in WvW roaming where you often need to evade 10+ angry people.

Can you just explain some forum-isms please:

BI?
CI?
Meta?

I see these repeated across threads but the meaning is not immediately apparent.

(and kitten? WTF? lol)

Edit: BI = Bountiful Interruption? CI= Chaotic Interruption?

You got i right about BI and CI. Regarding the term “meta”, it refers to the term “metagame” which means something like : “what is most commonly played in the game at the moment”.
“kitten” is simply an automatic editing from the forum when you post innapropriate words :p

Ergolicious.1507:

“kitten” is simply an automatic editing from the forum when you post innapropriate words :p

Really? awesome! I had no kittening idea

And thank you for clearing up the acronyms.