Guild Wars 2

With the recent nerfs over the past few months I am finding that my trusty S/P + GS phantasm build is just not getting the job done as it used to.

The opponent’s are just not going down as quickly as before, and I am feeling a lot more pressure. Could just be me. I don’t know what any of you are finding.

I realize some of you say you have never lost a 1v1 with a phantasm build, and never will against any class under any circumstances. But I am talking to the typical, completely honest player here.

Phantasm builds weren’t even touched, the only difference is that the meta shifted into condis, aka mesmers counter

PS: Condi Builds tend to be tanky to direct damage, aka what a phantasm build does so that’d be why they don’t die as fast

Durzlla.6295:

Phantasm builds weren’t even touched, the only difference is that the meta shifted into condis, aka mesmers counter

PS: Condi Builds tend to be tanky to direct damage, aka what a phantasm build does so that’d be why they don’t die as fast

Looking back I guess it is just this:

Oct 15th- Phantasmal Duelist: The Illusionary Duelist’s attacks now have a 20% chance for a projectile combo finisher instead of 100% when traited with Duelist’s Discipline.

You have a good point about the conditions. And also it could just be the classes I tend to play against these days.

You were relying on exploiting a bug that much in your build?

phantasm specs are only good until your opponent realizes you are a phantasm mesmer.

The heaviest nerfs was taking Illusion Celerity to 25 minor trait, and reducing Illusion Signet health boost. Justifiable nerfs IMO.

ahuba.6430:

phantasm specs are only good until your opponent realizes you are a phantasm mesmer.

At which point they….die?

Not sure what you’re trying to get at here.

Sujiro.3590:

The heaviest nerfs was taking Illusion Celerity to 25 minor trait, and reducing Illusion Signet health boost. Justifiable nerfs IMO.

But both were quite minor, the 25pt illusion trait move (while much needed) probably hurts the most, but the builds still fine for the most part, now there can be down time on phantasms though instead of them being 100% even if your enemy tries to kill them.

And I’d sig of illusion was overall a buff because now they ALWAYS have a health boost instead of having a larger health boost a few seconds after they spawn, and a lot of the times died.

I don’t play a “full” phantasm build (I don’t have the 25 trait in inspiration or the 25 point in illusions), but I’ve played phantasms as my main source of damage since March.

I think the phantasm builds work fine in small fights. The big thing now (in WvW) seems to be figuring out how to deal with all the conditions. I use stealth to avoid getting targeted as my primary strategy.

When I see that someone is using phantasms against me (particularly berserker or duelist), I try to make sure I take out the phantasms fairly quickly with my direct attacks. I certainly see other classes using this approach against me. But with a decent amount of stealth, mobility, blocks and interrupts, it seems like I can usually get the phantasms back in action in time to win the battle even if the opponent focuses on taking them out.

I’m not sure if this is what the OP is asking, but this is how I see phantasm builds playing in WvW now (lower tier servers – smaller fights – your mileage may vary). Good luck!

I am the original poster. I only play sPvP.

I look for small fights on side points.

Silentshoes.1805:

I am the original poster. I only play sPvP.

I look for small fights on side points.

Phantasm builds should still be really good at those sorts of fights if that’s what you’re looking for.

This build is still probably the best 1v1 spec in the game.