Guild Wars 2

http://www.guildhead.com/skill-calc#mzmz0c0zMMMTacMMxaMGp9MpcaMack

Im mainly/only gonna be a PvE mesmer. Im new to mesmer, and my highest lvl character is a lvl 33 charr warrior, so I have some BASIC ideas for PvE, and in a few days I will do my first story mode dungeon. When im done with that I will hopefully have a better view, but until then, please rate and/or criticize my build

I think the build is slightly all over the place. Given the rough layout I assume this is meant to be a Mind Wrack build: in that case I would take Mental Torment instead of Empowered Illusions, drop Confusing Combatants and get Illusionary Persona (Illusions Grandmaster trait).

As for utilities, Signet of Inspiration is not that great, and neither is Signet of Illusions (the HP bonus doesn’t work immediately, which makes it rather worthless). Moa Morph is a PvP Elite, it isn’t effective in PvE: if you have a good racial Elite I’d use that, the Mesmer’s Elites are generally not that good for (solo) PvE.

Im planning on using greatsword and staff, which is why I have the trait for greatsword. Ok, I will change the Moa Morph for an Asura racial, and change out Illusions signet for something else, I will keep the Inspiration one for the random buffs though.

It’s not a question of what weapon you use, it is a question of what build you’re going for. Mesmer builds come in roughly three flavours: Mind Wrack builds, Phantasm builds and condition damage builds, and the three builds don’t synergise together. You’ve basically taken traits for all three, nothing wrong with that per say but you won’t be performing as well as you could if you focused on just one.

Ok… im probably thinking of Phantasm builds then.
Are they about survivability, or damage?

If you are just starting out with a mesmer, don’t look at builds too much, just play and get used to the playstyle and skills.
And try out all traits and see what they do, eventually you will find your own builds you are comfortable with. Seeing someone rolling multiple people with builds on youtube videos is nice to look at, but if you don’t feel good playing it it will be a bad build for you.
I’m sure all those great players often got their kitten kicked while trying promising builds that didn’t work out afterall

I would swap out iDefender for something more useful, maybe like null field or Mantra of Resolve which is what I use. Signet of Inspiration is good actually, but better used in group play, i.e., dungeons, WvW etc. So you can swap that out when you’re solo’ing, I think Mirror Images would suit your traits, looks like you’re gonna be shattering a lot. Didn’t find a problem with the traits though. Also, the Mesmer has lots of good Elites, I agree that Moa Morph is better used in PvP, but try out Mass Invis., and Time Warp (esp. Time Warp).

~Happy Gaming.

Thanks, key that sounds all really awesome. Yeah I was gonna be mostly a shatterer, I agree with the skills so imma change them out. But I do have a question: Time Warp looks bad, in theory. A long cooldown that summons a 10 second area where you and your allies gain quickness. That sounds more like a dungeon skill, to me at least.. but I never played in a dungeon at all XD ( Today might be the day though ). Mass Invis looks like a PvP skill, Moa Morph looked good for those big champion bosses, and if theres no one around and your bored, a veteran. I thought the 7-series golem would be good for overall fighting. But I started with Moa Morph because its an elite skill and be used for those very strong and dangerous enemies. So basically, how is Time Warp useful, or am I underestimating the Quickness?

Just throwing out there that your build looks more like a shatter build. I will link my build which is a shatter build and using the same weapons as you. I am not saying this is the most epic build but I love it and it works well for me. I am running dungeons with it.

http://www.gw2db.com/skills/calc/mesmer#7|0|2647|4089|4090|8134|8987|20|1764|1744|0|20|1817|1815|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|30|1775|2223|2309|5|0|1|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|

Going to 30 in illusions is uber important for a shatter build. It recharges shatters more quickly and it also allows you more damage for shatters. It also gives a chance to simply shatter yourself for a moment of invulnerability.

Time Warp is important in dungeons and can be very useful when running in groups small or large for WvWvW. When solo’ing you can switch it out for a racial. I still use time warp on me when I am against large unexpected groups or a tough champion to simply recharge some skills quickly.

Time Warp is very useful when you are with groups of people, whether that be in a dungeon or a zerg in WvW. That’s when it really shines.

MOA won’t work on champions/bosses. It is more a PvP or solo skill although it can be useful in dungeons.

Phantasms are buggy right now with the last patch which makes Phantasm builds not very good or reliable.

Also, I don’t recommend ‘glass cannon’ builds in dungeons if you are also running glass cannon armour (like Berserkers). You will need some toughness/vitality from either armour or traits while in dungeons.

Just to be clear, there is no chanse, what ever build or trating you do, nomatter what weaponds or stats you after that those 5 points in dueling for confusion on clone death is better or even close to illusionary persona.

Illusionary persona is the best trait in the whole mesmer arsenal, to drop that fro have your clones apply confusion on death is a misstake.

Beside that experement with al traits, builds etc you feel for. Best way to learn.

GL

/Osicat

So says Osicat so shall it be. However Osicat speaks the truth, if you are going shatter than 30 in illusions and Illusionary persona is the combo you seek.

Yep it’s true, if you already have 25 in illusions it’s silly not go to 30.

Time warp is great, and yeah it’s better used in dungeons and WvW, basically double attack speed for you and your allies for 10 seconds.

i use a mix between phantasmal and shatter build.. 20/30/0/0/20
clones spamm, good damage by phantoms ( not like before), but good.. when i interrupt an enemy, i get 4 seconds of fury; with rune of rage, i pratically have always fury—→ always vigor—→ always clones when dodge..
using f1, f3,f4 i survive more than others!! and is very funny!! ( GS in mh and S/S)
love my mesmer

Ok thanks for the help everyone!
I was thinking of switching out GS for sword and pistol, but shoulkittenep staff in the next slot or replace staff with greatsword??

GS deals less damage than the Sword but is long ranged. The Staff in a Power build is really a defensive weapon with very little damage compared to the GS.

The question then is: do you want a long ranged damage option to go with your Sword, or do you want some more defensive skills?

I’ll have sword/pistol one slot, and Greatsword in the other then

@xavi: moa does work on champions at least, did it myself on champ devourer, champ giant shark, and a giant in a story quest.

@OP: i find builds are the hardest thing to nail down, as pvp, Spvp, WvW, pve and dungeons can all have different requirements; sometimes gear is enough to bridge the gap. Presently i’m running GS and sword/pistol, mostly because the sword stacks precision. I’m looking for a nice staff and i’m missing the speed from focus :/

Yes, Moa Morph does actually work on Champions; although it only sticks for a few seconds and really isn’t worth it IMO.