Guild Wars 2

As a Shatter build mesmer who primarily runs dungeons and PvE content, I have run into two major problems that are just completely obnoxious. My two complaints are as follows:

1. Clones being killed in transit before they can shatter. My shatters are a MASSIVE part of my damage and it’s very annoying for my clones to be killed before they can shatter. Obviously they need to be kill-able during a shatter for PvP for the sake of balance, but do they really need to in PvE? I’d like to see at least a damage reduction for clones who are currently on their way to perform a shatter. It’s just unfair to deny me such a large part of my damage just because a boss has a pulsing AoE when no other class (outside MAYBE rangers or necros) have to deal with this. It’s no fault of my own that my clone happened to be standing right where the boss was about to stomp before the clone shattered – why should I be punished for it?

2. Clones not shattering on the correct target. Recently, my clones often choose a random trash mob to detonate on as opposed to the champion I’m actually fighting. I’m not sure if there is a reason for this or if it’s just glitchy, but it’s an issue that needs fixing.

Number 2 is most likely because of Deceptive Evasion, which conjures a Clone targeting the nearest enemy instead of the enemy you are targeting.

For Number 1, I suggest that Imbued Diversion be replaced with a trait that gives Shattering Illusions Distortion and Swiftness.

Honestly i think all clones that are on their way to shatter should be invulnerable in PvE and PvP. They should still be blockable, stunable, crippled just not outright killed. Almost every other classes damage skills (apart from rangers and necro minions but they are a seprate boat) can’t be “killed” unless you kill the character.

Both problems are solved if you:
1) shatter them right after spawn
2) do it in melee
3) do it from behind

Correct shatters rotation works miracles too, allowing you to sit melee 90% of time if you like staff or half-melee half-range if you like gs.

yeah that happens but its not THAT big of a deal.

McNuggetBandit.8376:

Honestly i think all clones that are on their way to shatter should be invulnerable in PvE and PvP. They should still be blockable, stunable, crippled just not outright killed. Almost every other classes damage skills (apart from rangers and necro minions but they are a seprate boat) can’t be “killed” unless you kill the character.

I agree for the most part, but unkillable shatter clones in PvP might get a bit out of hand. As far as PvE goes, I really don’t see the purpose of gimping shatter damage for no good reason.

Run more chaos, run more toughness, run compounding celerity. You don’t need the third, but good toughness means illusions make it to their target before they die. If you want to be a hard hitting glass cannon, you’ve got to live with the downsides.

Ross Biddle.2367:

Run more chaos, run more toughness, run compounding celerity. You don’t need the third, but good toughness means illusions make it to their target before they die. If you want to be a hard hitting glass cannon, you’ve got to live with the downsides.

You’re missing my point. Look at a Warrior – does he do less damage because he doesn’t run toughness or a specific trait? No. Shatters are a class mechanic and a large part of a shatter mesmer’s damage. It’s simply unfair that other classes get to do the same amount of damage if not more without having the same downsides and restrictions. If a mechanic is vital to a class’s damage output, it needs to be on the same level as everyone else’s. A Warrior’s burst skill doesn’t fail because of bad luck, so Mesmers shouldn’t have to have their shatters fail due to bad luck. It’s just that simple.

Your clones are not a massive part of your damage, your sword is.

Otter.6348:

You’re missing my point. Look at a Warrior – does he do less damage because he doesn’t run toughness or a specific trait?

Not sure a warrior is a fair comparison; what about rangers? – A large portion of their damage is handled through their class mechanic in the form of a pet, and their pet also suffers many of the problems that our phantasms suffer (Worse in fact, if a ranger’s pet dies it’s out the fight for a full minute. A clone can be replaced in seconds)

Ryuujin.8236:

Otter.6348:

You’re missing my point. Look at a Warrior – does he do less damage because he doesn’t run toughness or a specific trait?

Not sure a warrior is a fair comparison; what about rangers? – A large portion of their damage is handled through their class mechanic in the form of a pet, and their pet also suffers many of the problems that our phantasms suffer (Worse in fact, if a ranger’s pet dies it’s out the fight for a full minute. A clone can be replaced in seconds)

Ranger Pets are quite different from Mesmer Illusions. Illusions use your stats: if you’re glass cannon your Illusions hit hard, if you’re tanky then you’re Illusions… aren’t tanky, and don’t deal much damage. Pets on the other hand have their own stats: even if you’re tanky and deal little damage yourself, your Pet still does the same damage; which can be quite high in some cases.

Ryuujin.8236:

Otter.6348:

You’re missing my point. Look at a Warrior – does he do less damage because he doesn’t run toughness or a specific trait?

Not sure a warrior is a fair comparison; what about rangers? – A large portion of their damage is handled through their class mechanic in the form of a pet, and their pet also suffers many of the problems that our phantasms suffer (Worse in fact, if a ranger’s pet dies it’s out the fight for a full minute. A clone can be replaced in seconds)

You also don’t have to rely heavily on your pet for damage. I would say pet damage is maybe 10-15% of a ranger’s damage. Shatters easily deal at least 30% of a shatter mesmer’s damage, if not more.

Otter.6348:

You’re missing my point. Look at a Warrior – does he do less damage because he doesn’t run toughness or a specific trait? No. Shatters are a class mechanic and a large part of a shatter mesmer’s damage. It’s simply unfair that other classes get to do the same amount of damage if not more without having the same downsides and restrictions. If a mechanic is vital to a class’s damage output, it needs to be on the same level as everyone else’s. A Warrior’s burst skill doesn’t fail because of bad luck, so Mesmers shouldn’t have to have their shatters fail due to bad luck. It’s just that simple.

I’m sorry but that just sounds like you are too lazy to shatter properly.
A big part of a standard pve berserker warrior is getting a full hundred blades combo off and yes, he has to work for that and be smart. In some cases it’s harder than in others to get the combo off without having to dodge or taking an unsustainable big hit.
Lets take Subject Alpha as an example. High damage, reoccuring aoes in path 2 and 3 which you have to dodge. Those ruin HB if you start it at the wrong time (read bad warrior) and ruin your clones if you summon and shatter at the wrong time (read bad shatter mesmer).
To prevent shatters dying to the aoe before going off, you have to shatter earlier. Which is easier if you are in melee or behind the target as someone already pointed out. You can also dodge into SA when the aoe goes off and shatter mid-dodge. This leads to a 2 clone shatter (from clone on dodge and Ipersona) while avoiding the aoe.

If you want to make it easier take instant cast clone production like mirror images or decoy to reach full 3 clone shatters even more often and easily.
A good shatter mesmer is not any worse off than a good gs warrior who cant use HB on cooldown in some pve encounters.

Now phantasm mesmers are another story….they have a right to complain about some aoe heavy fights in pve, but thats offtopic and i play shatter mes in dungeons just as you do because it is easier if done right.