Guild Wars 2

Now before i start this is NOT what i demand Anet do or anything.

I was wondering what you guys and gals would feel if Phantasms added more damage in shattering.

(math is an example)

Mind wreck: 3 Clones – 3,000 Damage
Mind Wreck : 2 Clones + 1 Phantasm – 3,500Damage
Mind Wreck 1 Clone + 2 Phantasm – 4,000 Damage
Mind Wreck 3 Phantasm – 4,500Damage

In this Example
Clone is 1,000 damage
Phantasms do 1,500 damage

As Phantasm are a big part of our class, damage and such i think it should give a sort of bonus big incentive to shatter them – either for more damage Via Mind Wreck or even going as far as Distortion having it so Clones increase it by 1second and Phantasm increase it by 1.5seconds

But then what would iPersona count as? 5.5 Seconds of invuln (or even 6 seconds) is ridiculous.

I think the system works fine. When I run shatter, I use Phantasms while I spawn a few clones for a shatter so they have time to attack while I have time to prep the shatter. It works out both ways. If they did your change, it would actually nerf shatters because the only way it would be able to get implemented in the current iteration of the game without breaking shatter mesmers is to actually have the damage get reduced to that, not increased to that.

And on a tangential train, I just had an idea for an Elite Mesmer skill.

Mantra of Illusions.
2 + 3/4s Charge Time.
90s Recharge.
Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will overpower your target.
Number of Casts: 1

Chain

Power Out
1s Recharge.
Summon up to 3 illusions to attack your foe. Illusions summoned are the same as the Illusions spawned when Mantra of Illusions is finished casting.
Range: 1,200.

Note:
If you have no Illusions out when charging this Mantra, it will spawn no Illusions.
Upon activation of Power Out, Illusions (specifically Phantasms) are spawned as if you were to cast them again, so if you are out of range for the respective skill or the Line of Sight is missing, the Illusions may not appear.
When improved with Harmonious Mantras, 2 charges will occur instead of 3.

This skill would improve shatter, phantasm, mantra, and potentially even condition damage builds immensely. It would also be power creep, but I wanted to get it off my chest. :D

Not sure if i really got what this skill should be doing but 90s CD seems too high for me.

Iavra.8510:

Not sure if i really got what this skill should be doing but 90s CD seems too high for me.

I think its meant to summon 3 Phantasms of the last you summoned/next you summon i think.

Not quite. I think it does the following:
- remembers which illusions you had when channeling the mantra.
- summons a copy of those on cast.

90s seems much too high for this when the max cd for any illusion is 30s untraited (iDefender, iMage).

Also i don’t think anyone would really take it…clone/phantasm cds (apart from iMage but that skill sucks anyway) are already decent.

I would prefer a Transformation (like Lich – Lich looks sick!) that turns us into a sick looking Illusion with various new skills. One that could summon 3 Phantoms, Another a beefed up Chaos Storm and such.

Then just create it, maybe the devs will finally hear us ^^

Random thoughts:

Illusionay Self (180s CD):
<random skill description goes here>
Duration: 30s
Stability: 30s
Triples toughness and vitality.

#1: Mind Feast
medium damage
1200 range
2 Confusion / 5s.

#2: Phase Out (10s CD, instant cast)
2s Distortion

#3: Mass Hypnosis (20s CD, 1s cast)
900 radius PBAoE
2s daze

#4: Illusion of Battle (25s CD, 1s cast)
1200 range
summons 3 random phantasms

#5: Alter Reality (30s CD, 5s cast)
channeled skill.
1200 radius PBAoE
while channeling:
- converts 1 boon on enemies to 1 condition every sec.
- converts 1 condition on allies to 1 boon every sec.
- every boon an enemy gets is converted to a condition.
- every condition an ally gets is converted to a boon.

^ yeah, i just wanted to create a skill with this name and couldn’t come up with a better idea

Loving Illusion of battle that would be sick. HOWEVER i think it shouldnt be random what if we get 3 crappy Scepter Phantasms. Maybe have it based on the weapon. So that it summons 3 Phantasms based on the weapon. Though not sure how you could make it so you would get 3 iDualist if they wanted them.

Though i dont think this would happen – I think some of the skills should be based on the weapon you have. Like having the GS equipped means the Illusion is a “full nuke im going to melt your face with uber damage illusion” while going with Staff its more support orientated and maybe have it so that if you have a Pistol equipped (ignores Main Hand) then its a Illusion that does Range pistol attacks for Auto, Summons 3 dualists and has a double Magic Bullet attack

Something like(For Pistol):

#1: Duelist Shot
medium damage
1200 range
Channeled Hits 3 times
1 Bleeding / 5s. Per hit

#2: ???

#3: ??

#4: Illusion of Precision (25s CD, 1s cast)
1200 range
summons 3 iDuelist phantasms

#5: Magic Barrage (45second cool down, instant cast)
1200 Range
Fires 4 Shots – Each shot bounces 3 times. Deals damage. the first shots Stun, Daze, Blind or Immobilize target then the bounces cause Confusion, Cripple, or Burning

Hi, I definitely support this idea, because the way things work now is you get pidgeon holed into either phantasm, shatter or condi builds, and even the traits seem to be worked only to increase these builds, rather than creating room for some diversity. I actually suggested something similar not too long ago in order to get the same result, build diversity, but then by changing/adding traits. Let me know what you think. https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Suggestion-utility-for-shattering-phantasms/first#post2475397

Not a bad idea, though i think Chaos isnt really an under used tree. I think that goes to (imo) Inspiration. I see the odd build with it but nothing really major. The main problem with our trait system is the fact that the traits are all over the place.

Take Illusions for Shatter Build

- Condition Damage? Really?
- Shattering Cool down – Great

Minor Traits -

Illusionary Retribution – Good
Shattered Strength – Good
Illusionary Celerity – Good

Major Traits
Precise Wrack – Good
Confusing Cry – Good
Compounding Power – Meh. (Does this work with shatters?)
Masterful Reflection – Good
Master of Misdirection – Poor
Illusionary Invigoration – Good

illusionary Elasticity – Good sill not really shatter trait though
Dazzling Glamours – Might be good, not really shatter though
Blinding Befuddlement – Poor.
Phantasmal haste – Meh. Solid if it worked with all phantasms again not shatter though

Illusionary Persona – Good
Imbued Diversion – Seems Good (Never used it)

For the most part, a great tree. The condition damage (Malice) i am not sure about and some of the traits are not that great but for the most part its a great Shatter tree. Now if all the trees were concentrated on specific areas this would make the tree system great.

However some of the trees have traits that just dont fit the tree. Confusing Combatants(Dueling 25) seems rather misplaced and the same goes for Phantasmal Strength(Illusions 25) and personally think Wastrel’s Punishment(Dom 25) should be replaced.

I really dont get why you are against inspiration tree. Under used? Every optimal pve build has at least 20 points in it.
Saying that in your opinion is under used does not have sense at all. “I dont understand the tree” would be better.

Also, compounding power. Its one of the best shatter traits (and trait in general) we have.
Does not work with phantasms or conditions, works with everything else.

Regarding a transformation skill, id really like (and pretend) an ethereal butterfly.

edit: while using DE clones could copy the first attack of the elite.
I think it should be aoe oriented, with also a phantasm and some mobility skills. Dont forget a trail.

I have seen ONE build that uses it. Yeah i wasnt to sure about Compunding Power – i mean it deals more damage while you have clones/illusions up makes it sound like a Phantasm build – though it depends if if works with shatters.

I will repeat, it has NOTHING to do with “understanding it” its simply that i have rarely seen anyone use it, i speak to alot of Mesmers in game who rarely use it i think i have seen one or two builds on here that use the tree.

It has NOTHING to do with being against the tree or anything. It just seems to be a tree that has had bits of everything thrown in – Shatters and Phantasms as well as well a few other bits and pieces. It has a few decent traits but nothing that really screams “must have” unlike some traits in others like DE which is pretty much a staple in most builds.

I wont try to change your mind as i know we would finish to post 30 replies.
Just to give you an idea, three very different builds with at least 20 points in inspiration come to my mind: a common phantasm build (with all the possible variations, even if it may be your “i have seen ONE build” this is the best pve build for us), varconi’s condition build, chaos maestro build.
Raw damage with phantasms, conditions and support. Completely different builds, same tree.
Even if you say it isnt, i still think its a problem of understanding why someone would put points in that tree.

Forgot the end: everything is fine and i still have to meet a player that likes every single tree. However, there are really strong builds that use inspiration and this shows thakittens not under used, garbage or whatever. Confused? Im not sure, maybe, but i think its really nice that completely different playstyles use that tree.

Edit: As i said, we would finish to post 30 replies. Time will tell.

Did i say its garbage? No.
From MY experience it is underused.
From the people I talk to it is underused.
From the guides i have seen it is underused.

See the connection? its all my point of view. Maybe it is a great tree for some, for me i think it is a bit lacking. I think the only real trait i like is the Focus cool down one and i have seen a few youtube videos where people have used it.

Again i think it would be better if iWarden was AoE placed rather then on target as a few steps to the side and the warden becomes useless as it rarely chases people down into its actual range – it thinks its range is wider then it really is.