Post-HoT Mantra Shatter Theory Crafting

Post-HoT Mantra Shatter Theory Crafting

in Mesmer

Posted by: nearlight.3064

nearlight.3064

So right now I’m having a blast playing a mantra shatter build, which is dom/duel/inspiration with the mantra heal and daze mantra.

It is a very powerful build, with much more team support, but slightly less burst than a traditional shatter build. It is also very study since it has extra heals and condi clears and damage reduction from inspiration.

It is notable for using harmonious mantras over deceptive evasion, being perhaps the only good pvp build for mesmer that doesn’t use DE. It uses stunlock rather than than dodge-shattering to guarantee burst damage. Since it already doesn’t use DE, it made me think of how it could be using chronomancy over dueling.

http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-Rg-Z;1ZUk3147cVV71;9;4SV;1038146;7INl6T;1hoHAhoHAa0V

This is the base build that I’m thinking of. The build calc doesn’t have elite specs yet, but for the 3rd line, being chrono, I will probably slot delayed reactions, illusionary reversion, and either chronophantasma or seize the moment.

So lets look at compare the possible future chrono mantra-shatter build with the current dueling one.

Pros: (good things about chrono)
-25% movement speed and -33% movement condi reduction, so you can use vamp or pack over travelers without being very slow.
-Alacrity to help manage cooldowns, as the dueling build has no CD reduction from illusions.
-Better clone generation that doesn’t use endurance as a resource (no wasted dodges).
-Slow on interrupt is strong in a build that has 4-5 sources of interrupts.
-Quickness on shatter is probably very powerful, and chronophantasma could be useful too depending on the details of its implementation.
-Continuum Shift could be strong, and could let you burn thorugh mantra charges and then use f5 to reset your mantra of distraction charges and health instantly.
-The elite well looks like it could be powerful CC (meaning lots of powerblock and delayed reactions procs).

Cons: (things lost from dueling)
-No Harmonious Mantras. This is arguably the largest loss, since with fewer mantra charges, you will have to spend more time charging mantras in the first place. That means the extra amount of times spent charging should compensate for the lack of the 3rd heal mantra charge through more healing from readying the mantras more often, but not having an extra on demand stun or cleanse could be problematic.
-The loss of vigor, but vigor is meh now since the nerf, and I have an energy sigil on staff. Also you won’t be dodging to generate clones for bursts, meaning you can use your dodges to dodge attacks instead of deal damage.
-Loss of near-permanent fury uptime and phantasmal fury. This means a bit less damage overall.
-No blind on shatter. This is a minor loss since the blind is close range and staff/GS probably won’t be shattering in someones face all the time.

What do you guys think about this tradeoff? I also considered exhanging inspiration for chronomancy, but that would involve losing a great deal of support and personal sustain and condi cleanses for you and your team.

Necromancer Main
Taking a break from GW2 to play various
Nintendo games..