Guild Wars 2

Hi everyone.

Since the reworked traits are going to be implemented next Tuesday, I wanted to share a build that I’ve been using in small group roaming to great success over the past few months. It takes the strengths of traditional 44006 IP shatter and refines it around the role of Mesmer in small group play, namely burst damage and control. Incidentally, it’s also very strong against D/D and D/P thieves in 1v1s, but that’s not the focus here.

Here’s a link to the build: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAR8flknpMt1oxRNcrNiphYqeo+d95k+RjAA-TFCEABJq+zWKBZS5nBPAgc2foNdDAcEAe4iAQIABbBA-w

How do I play this build?

General positioning should be conservative, staying closer to the rear or periphery when you aren’t bursting. Traited blink CD allows you to go in for occasional spikes through a MoD + GS2 + F1 combo. Working off of dazed/stunned targets is important if you want to benefit from Wastrel’s punishment.

Where is Deceptive Evasion?

Deceptive Evasion (Dueling X) can be very helpful to set up shatters and intimidate opponents, but in my experience dodge clones simply get cleaved down . Retaining Illusionary Persona gives me that instant access to Diversion and Distortion if a thief pressures me and forces me to be more disciplined with my dodges.

Where is the condition cleanse?

Adding more classes into the mix allows for each player to min/max their builds for better overall group synergy. Classes better suited for boon generation (D/D ele) or heals & clears (support guard) can shine in their roles while I focus more on damage.

Additional comments

With full ascended, stacks, and consumables, your idle power should sit at around 3050 before might, and around 3500 in combat. We avoid the Dueling trait line because we get a wonderful extra 20% crit rate from Fury (pack runes, zephyr’s boon, for great justice, etc.).

Thanks for reading. I’m happy to answer any questions or comments.

Nice! This looks a lot like Vash’s TLS build from his most recent video. I also adapted one of those builds to prep for having IP in a lockdown build.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsdRlknpGtNqxMNcrNiphY6exyh631nTqAA-TpBFwACOEA12fYxJAIxDAoaZAAHBAA

And you’re right about DE. It helps to set up the shatters, but isn’t always reliable. And to be honest, I think playing without it makes you a more careful/strategic player, and trains you to time your dodges better.