Guild Wars 2

I’m sort of fresh to 80 on my Mesmer and bouncing around from build to build. I’m with a group that runs dungeons and fractals but everyone has at least 2 alts so the makeup changes from night to night (mine is a warrior). I’m coming up short on ideas here perusing threads since recent patch changes seems to have made most of them obsolete or at least a bit underwhelming.

Here is my goal:

I am thinking I’d like to use Sword/* for one set mainly for character concept reason. For my other weapon, I’m torn. I really LOVE staff but I know GS is popular for many boss fights that require single target ranged DPS, so I’d probably carry a GS in my bag in any case.

The group has plenty of glass cannons so I don’t think that’s where I want to go.

So my question to anyone willing to point me in the right direction is what are the more appealing options for someone using Sword/* and Staff, with GS as a backup weapon for ranged fights? (I’m happy to play damage roles, condition roles, boon/support, or tank/immortal).

Thanks!

Well currently shatter builds AND phantasm builds use sword/* with greatsword as a back-up.

For shatter builds people generally go 20/20/0/0/30:
Dom: mind wrack 20% damage bonus, greatsword 20% recharge trait
Duel: sword recharge trait, deceptive evasion (make clones on dodge)
Illusions: 10% higher mind wrack critical, open, illusionary person (shatter happens on you too! Good for melee)

For phantasm its 20/20/0/30/0 or 10/30/0/30/0
You want the 15% bonus damage in the domination line. Greatsword training if you go 20 in this line
dueling: phantasms have fury, sword training, whatever
inspiration: glamour recharge faster, focus recharge (and reflects projecticles), open (some ideas: shattered conditions, more phantasm health, heal on shatter, longer glamour skills)

because of the utility of the focus (and the projectile reflection in the phantasm build) it is usually the off-hand weapon used with the sword. However pistol also work (especially if you take 30 in dueling and get the pistol recharge skill)

Personally, I really prefer the staff to the greatsword so I am looking for a way to add it into a shatter or phantasm. The above are the standards though!

Many thanks for the feedback and builds!

Yeah I absolutely love the staff as well, find Greatsword to be effective but kind of not so interesting. I’ve been thinking about working out some kind of boon/condition tank build but I’m sure there are better theorycrafters than me who have or are already doing this.

Agreed on focus’ efficacy though I’ve found in some fights I would have done well to carry a pistol as well.

Hi Zelotes
Please check out my build, I came up with it to play in sPvP and WvW, but it works wonder in PvE too. I solo champs with ease.

Link to thread: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/condition-build-The-Clone-Spammer/first#post2320607

This is a condition/CC build relying on the ability to slow and lock down your opponent. You don’t do fancy great critical damage but rather wear down the opponent over time.

This build doesn’t use Staff or GS but please try it out and give me your thoughts about it. You might like it.
Cheers

Btw. since IC doesn’t combine with the weapon specific trait the 20/20/0/0/30 shatter should not use GS 20% trait (unless you really want faster GS 3,5)

@Korusf: You are wrong, illusionists celerity does stack with the weapon cooldown trait for a maximum of 40% cooldown reduction.

@Zelotes: I have made a pve phantasm build designed to provide both strong support (healing/utility) to a team as well as strong damage. You can find the guide here: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Guide-PvE-Supporting-Phantasm-Build/first

The build uses all available weapons with the exception of the torch and scepter. You can choose to stick primarily with sword/x, but always remember that to be fully versatile you need to have a full range of weapons available to use. The traits are 10/10/030/20, but since the patch I’ve been experimenting with 10/10/0/25/25 to take illusionists celerity, but you can modify it so that it feels right for you.

@Pyroatheist: Silly me I did not verify the tooltip. When both are equipped the tooltip says 24 (for Torch) but in reality it is 18.0

Thanks all for the helpful advice!

@keenlam, @Pyroatheist, I have actually already browsed through each of your builds and am impressed with your crafting of them. I was actually considering Pyroatheist’s just the other day but am not sure I can pull it off as well as you can, hehe. I’ll definitely give them both a try though.

@Zelotes: glad that you like the build. Just a quick comment: you can use Staff but out-of-combat speed will be a big issue and you might need your friends for speed buff to travel fast.