Guild Wars 2

Hi, noob mesmer here.

i prefer using scepters over swords and would like to know if i would get more mileage using Rampager gear or Berserker Gear
*edit what runes should i run them with? scholar?

traits will change depending i am in pve or wvw, but i’ll usually try to keep Malicious Sorcery in unless i’m not using scepters

Problem with rampager is that condi damage simply scales very well. It’s too hybrid. Your build between condi and power damage will greatly change. So you’re lacking the full power of condi that Sinister would give, and lacking the full power of “power” that Zerk/assassin would give. Basically it’s taking a hit in both areas while being unable to make full use of it.

There are some skills that are nice and hybrid like, the bleeding from Phantasms for example, but it’s simply not enough to warrant going Rampager. So IMO go one way or the other, build around the direction you go because hybrid just sacrifices too much with whatever play style you go for (staff condi or Sword for power).

I would say that it depends on what part of the game you are playing. I’m using Rampager armor, and getting great results with it, but then I’m playing mostly PvE, and what in PvP and WvW is very different.

While there is truth to what Jerus says, I think it is dependent on this and also on what you want out of the game. Ultimately, if you aren’t having fun, what’s the point?

If you are going to use scepters and not swords, I’d look at Carrion or Rabid.

First, I assume you mean PvE.
Then, I disagree with Jerus. Rampager is the best for mesmer right now (when it comes to condition DPS) because even with scepter, our best condition damage comes from the bleeds of the pistol (or focus) which requires high crits. The scepter-focus/pistol DPS is somewhat fine. To be precise, it would be on par with assassin build if the enemies were attacking more for the confusion to proc (both builds are about identical at around 1 attack/s on the enemy which is more than most PvE enemies). But even in this case, most condition damage by far comes from bleeds.

Silverkey.2078:

First, I assume you mean PvE.
Then, I disagree with Jerus. Rampager is the best for mesmer right now (when it comes to condition DPS) because even with scepter, our best condition damage comes from the bleeds of the pistol (or focus) which requires high crits. The scepter-focus/pistol DPS is somewhat fine. To be precise, it would be on par with assassin build if the enemies were attacking more for the confusion to proc (both builds are about identical at around 1 attack/s on the enemy which is more than most PvE enemies). But even in this case, most condition damage by far comes from bleeds.

“To be precise”… I see what you did there.

But yeah, I completely agree. I am using rampager with domination, dueling, and chaos lines, stacked all the crit traits, and am doing well with condition and power, with staff for ranged, and sword/pistol for melee/range. focused on burns and bleeds (I forget the rune set but it adds to burn duration and burns on heal skill), and it’s working great.

Oh and I also focus on interrupts. signet of domination, mantra of distraction, you get the idea.