Guild Wars 2

I like scepter but not sure which offhand will be more suitable for it and the role for Mesmer with scepter. Also would be awesome if someone could provide with builds which are the most suitable for scepter wielding Mesmer.

Scepter/Pistol, Scepter/Sword, Scepter/Torch are all viable.
Scepter/Pistol provides good synergy with ConDmg builds.
Scepter/Sword provides good blocking potential.
Scepter/Torch provides good initiation and escapes potential.

Esplen.3940:

Scepter/Pistol, Scepter/Sword, Scepter/Torch are all viable.
Scepter/Pistol provides good synergy with ConDmg builds.

Im hearing that ConDmg Builds suck not my opinion because I don’t have any opinion on condi Mesmers are they cool in PVE? need a hand here ^^
what would be best Second weapon with Scepter/Pistol ConDmg build?

I really want to build strong PVE mesmer with awesome Dmg, but cant decide which build and weapons to choose because there are so many :P Mesmer Masters help please ^^

In PvE, as long as you don’t rely on Confusion for your main damage source, you’re fine. The only problem is that your main conditions are Bleeding and Confusion.

Confusion rarely ticks in PvE since most mobs will hit very slowly (there are exceptions). Almost every class has methods of applying Bleeding, which means that if you apply 25 stacks of INSANE condition damage bleeding, and a Warrior in full zerk gear walks by and presses 1 with a sword, you just lost a lot of dps (Warrior with sword auto applys bleeding).

It has the potential to do good damage, but it’s slow to start and can be hurt by other players.

I find scepter to be incredibly slow. Every single attack involves a slow wind-up move. The skill#1 should be retuned like the Guardian scepter was (it used to attack just as slowly), skill#2 should act more like Shield of Wrath (no channel, it just summons a shield that blocks an attack or you can detonate), and skill 3 could use a little less wind-up in exchange for making the Confusion ticks progressively worse over the duration instead of a steady amount.

Honestly I’d settle for them just making the #1 skill less slow, maybe more of a magic missile type effect. Ie: “Channel to release a barrage of ether missiles at your target, summon a clone if a target is hit by all 3 missiles”.

So atm Scepter is not recommended I guess.

Use GS and staff or GS and Sword focus.

Full zerker or some valk and knights if you’re new to the class.

Done.

You could use scepter and condi damage I suppose but you’ll need to be carried through dungeons by players who are playing more ideal specs.

Godmoney.2048:

Use GS and staff or GS and Sword focus.

Full zerker or some valk and knights if you’re new to the class.

Done.

You could use scepter and condi damage I suppose but you’ll need to be carried through dungeons by players who are playing more ideal specs.

Currently I’m using GS/Staff with full zerker and it’s working fine but wanted to use something new since I love the visuals of scepter wanted to go for it :P

Suuns.9203:

Godmoney.2048:

Use GS and staff or GS and Sword focus.

Full zerker or some valk and knights if you’re new to the class.

Done.

You could use scepter and condi damage I suppose but you’ll need to be carried through dungeons by players who are playing more ideal specs.

Currently I’m using GS/Staff with full zerker and it’s working fine but wanted to use something new since I love the visuals of scepter wanted to go for it :P

Well, you’re already doing the right thing then. I wish we had other specs too dude. I really do.

I have full rampagers, carrion, rabid, 2 sets of zerker, clerics and apothecary plus at least 4 weapons for each of those specs. I only get to use the zerker set for almost 2 months now.

Sad Panda I am.

The scepter is the opposite of the gs laser; faster attack speed at melee range. I would occasionally go sword/scepter/sword for a few fights like mossman since that gave me 3 offensive defense skills that all can crit for around 5-7k.

If the leaked patch notes are true, scepter 2 just got a huge nerf (75% loss of power damage). However, it will be more of a condition weapon. I would wait and see how this patch goes out before deciding what kind of build to use with the scepter.

It really depends how many stacks of torment it inflicts. A single stack is only 75-150% of a bleed stack, you’ll be hard pressed to match the damage it had before without inflicting several stacks.

Scepter / Focus isn’t terrible either, even in PvE.

There’s a lot of Scepter hate on the forum, but the thing that I think we tend to forget is that the Scepter is our only main hand option that allows consistent ranged damage and an off-hand weapon together.

Yes, the auto attack is a little slow, but with a good amount of power it actually hits pretty hard, especially the third hit. Scepter #3 also packs a pretty solid punch. (I run with mostly Berserker gear, and Confusing Images crits for over 1,000 damage for me – and hits five times)

The Focus #5 Phantasm skill provides our most damage / per animation Phantasm available. With power / critical damage gear, I’ve thrown it at level 80 world bosses (like Jormag, etc.) and seen it do over 10k damage in a single cycle. You’ll get similar results in Fractals. Traited, the Phantasm will also reflect projectiles during its combat animation, which will provide even more damage.

Since folks who use support Phantasms usually use the Inspiration (Vitality / Healing Power) trait line anyway for Phantasm Retaliation and AoE Regeneration boons, picking up Inspiration VIII isn’t too far off the usual course anyway. The Focus #4 skill (Temporal Curtain) also makes a reflection wall if traited, in addition to providing a Light combo field.

In PvP, the Temporal Curtain → Start Casting Phantasmal Warden → Trigger Into the Void mid-cast combo to pull an opponent to the ground and then spawn a whirling Phantasm right on top of them combo is definitely worth practicing. The results when executed properly are very satisfying!

How does this work with the Scepter? Well, the Focus abilities truly shine when you’re fighting against opponents who attack with at least some projectile attacks. Since the focus is your only Ranged Main Hand option, the Scepter and Focus actually synergize pretty well together. Dredge or Ranger spamming at you with arrows or sonic blasts? Drop a temporal curtain to hide behind and reflect those projectiles while hitting back with your own auto attack or Confusing Images. Want to summon a Phantasmal Warden on a Jade Maw Tentacle, but don’t want to run up right next to it to auto attack too? Use the Scepter! (But watch out for Jade Colossus Reflects!)

Basically, you can make any off-hand weapon work with the Scepter, although you’ll want a solid gear and trait set up for what you want to do. Each weapon’s usefulness varies depending on the situation, but the short story is that the Scepter isn’t quite as terrible as folks might make it seem.

Ty Sinaya I’ll definitely try it!

Sinaya.4201:

Scepter / Focus isn’t terrible either, even in PvE.

There’s a lot of Scepter hate on the forum, but the thing that I think we tend to forget is that the Scepter is our only main hand option that allows consistent ranged damage and an off-hand weapon together.

We don’t forget this. We simply resent the fact that the only weapon that allows for ranged damage coupled with an offhand is absolutely horrible.

I don’t think that it’s as bad as you say it is, Pyro, and resent the fact that you don’t seem to have any problem expressing opinions as if they’re irrefutable fact. I appreciate the work that you and Kylia do for the community, but maybe there’s other voices out there too?

I do think that it could be better, but don’t want to discourage players from trying things out for themselves. Who knows, they might find something that fits their play style better than any of the “OP” bandwagon cookie cutter builds already out there.

The biggest problem with posting about super powered builds? Drawing attention to useful things apparently gets them nerfed. I’m all for innovation outside of the box.

Esplen.3940:

Scepter/Pistol, Scepter/Sword, Scepter/Torch are all viable.
Scepter/Pistol provides good synergy with ConDmg builds.
Scepter/Sword provides good blocking potential.
Scepter/Torch provides good initiation and escapes potential.

As a frontline mesmer, I tried Scepter/Sword for the double block: it somewhat works, but the random shift on clone spawn makes it hard to work with them in the middle of an enemy zerg

Having been away a good long time, returning with a clean mind as it were and cycling through endless weapon combos and setups (both forum builds and my own) I’d be inclined to say I agree with Pyro.

Scepter has its uses ; ofc it does, anything with a function can be used to a point. But comparatively its like using a spoon to perform the role of a knife. Sure it may work, but likely thats down to the user compensating with skill to make up the difference. A pointless waste of effort when you consider the possible investments elsewhere.

Until its adjusted somewhat I dont see it as much more than a ’’horrible’’ excuse for a mainhand. Dont count scepter out as worthless but believe people when they say its a far cry from ‘effective’ vs truly competent players.

After all, its against other professions that we truly compare ourselves.

what about Scepter after update changes? ^^
Is it viable weapon now? or it sucks as it did before?

I think scepter certainly has a role in PvP and WvW after the patch. While not everyone can use it effectively (myself included), I know of individuals who use it very well to really shut down the opponent.

However, I would not recommend it for PvE. Neither confusion nor torment is terribly good for PvE. Confusion ticks too slowly to be worth much compared to our other damage sources and torment requires the enemy to be moving to be effective, which is rare in PvE since many enemies are not kited while they are fought.

The problem with Scepter is entirely in the slowness of the #1 chain, IMO.
My suggestion would be:

• Remove the bolt. Mesmer still swings the scepter, but the impact happens instantly. This also fixes the bug with the advancement.
• Remove the screaming on the final hit.
• Side benefit: Condition-Mesmers don’t have both autoattacks as projectiles. :P

I’d be happy with that.