Guild Wars 2

How i scratch my head at this weapon. It’s not really an appealing weapon of choice for many Mesmers. In short, it’s basically gap filler for the profession. The weapon is uninspired. Nothing good really.

One thing that’s bothering me: How is a caster weapon have a block ability. To some it’s unique but as far as i can tell, It’s unnecessary.
Many Mesmers wanting a main hand pistol. As much i personally want it myself. It doesn’t really fit the profession. I think it’s not needed. But of course i understand why many of us want one. It’s because scepter is crap. Now if only scepter was decent.

But what else can we do? I, myself is forcing to use one. I main sword/pistol. And i want some utility from torch and/or focus brings. Too bad i have to use force myself to use a scepter.

Anyway, I have a lot of thoughts about this weapon. But i just want to keep it short and give my basic opinion.

It’s a good weapon, I use it a lot. Not having a ranged auto attack is very awkward and clones are fantastic if you know what you’re doing.

The issue is people want to use AFK phantom builds and they get upset when everything doesn’t work out perfectly for the build.

It’s a ranged option for 1h/OH sets, it’s the condition option for 1h weapons. (The 3 is an instant 5 stack confuse)

You would primarily use the Scepter for a conditions builds, and those builds generally make liberal use of the shatter that adds confuse stacks, so the spammed clones are actually worth something to that build.

MH sword is a direct damage weapon that works best in a direct damage/phantasms build, which is what you’re probably running if you ‘main’ S/P.

I use it all the time for my “on kill do x” build. Works great having clones dying all the time.

I’ve been thinking about it, and I had an epiphany while playing my warrior and elementalist. With it’s long timer for the third swing on the 1 chain, would it not be justifiable to make the third hit a small AoE in addition to clone generation (similar to the elementalist’s fireball)? Those little balls of pink energy are perfect for a little “poof” of AoE anyways. In any case, if it doesn’t get buffed in some way, that whole chain should definitely be faster.

The block needs to be more substantial. Scepter plays at range, and should generally not close enough for those big one-hit attacks, which are what one-shot blocks are best for. In my opinion, the block should be adjusted to the following:
On successful block, create a clone and gain distortion for 1s. This way, we only block one attack, but do not suffer subsequent hits from multi-attack skills like Unload.

For Confusing Images, I would just say to reduce it to three hits (thus faster), and make each hit proc 2 stacks. Blocks/evasions would then be more effective against it, but it would take less time to use. It would deal less direct damage, but more condition damage if all three hit, going with (what seems like) the theme of the weapon.

Ever since they took the Confuse off Ether Bolt it’s just a crap weapon all around.

1. The clones generate at the enemy. This sounds nice, but the problem is that any kind of passive AOE demolishes them. That said, being able to generate clones directly at the enemy can sometimes have it’s advantages.

2. The auto attack is terribly slow presumably because the Clone is triggered to it. The slow speed was fine when it had a Confuse on it, but without the Confuse it just makes it terrible.

3. The auto attack is also very susceptible to clipping off the Clone generation. You’re forced to go through all 3 attacks if you want the Clone because if you use any other ability in between it resets back to the first in the chain.

4. Most clones do some sort of special ability based on weapon (IE: Sword does Vuln, Staff does Conditions). Far as I can tell, Scepter no longer does any again making it lack luster in comparison to others.

5. The Block is easily replaced with the Sword’s distortion which can be used (and miss it’s damage mind you but you still get the distortion) on demand like Block and will mitigate multiple attacks (you do lose mobility).

The sad fact is that it opened up a whole separate style/spec of Confusion based play back when Etherbolt did Confusion that was very much in line with the original GW1’s shutdown Mesmer. Kinda sad that they gutted the primary allure of the Scepter and never added anything back to it. Now it’s just an inferior version of the Staff Clone Factory spec.

I agree with Koadiak. Scepter is trash. I don’t know why some people find it appealing in its current state. Try testing the mh sword ya’ll. It is WAY better at killing stuff than our scepter. Even with different traits, it’s still bad.

I don’t want to repeat Kodiak. He’s right in all cases. Block is awful on scepter. I wish they would change it to a similar spell like sword #3. Cast a spell and a clone generates. Change scepter 1 to cast confusion stacks. >.>

I use it all the time. My weapon swap is between a Greatsword and a Scepter/Torch. I am a condition-phantasm mesmer, so I really like the confusion stacking quality of the scepter (and the torch’s phantasm). I get my AoE fix from the Greatsword.

The Scepter’s block ability is also very helpful when a person has run out of energy to evade, and it counterattacks for a nice chunk of damage.

Personally, I think it’s one of the best weapons a mesmer has. It’s just misunderstood. I do wish they’d add the confusion back to the Ether Bolt though.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I personally HATE the MH sword (and OH).

Sethren.8472:

I use it all the time. My weapon swap is between a Greatsword and a Scepter/Torch. I am a condition-phantasm mesmer, so I really like the confusion stacking quality of the scepter (and the torch’s phantasm). I get my AoE fix from the Greatsword.

The Scepter’s block ability is also very helpful when a person has run out of energy to evade, and it counterattacks for a nice chunk of damage.

Personally, I think it’s one of the best weapons a mesmer has. It’s just misunderstood.

I would love to duel you…. lol

The scepter might have a purpose here and there, but right now its main problem is that it’s not a fun weapon. It feels slow, clunky and out of place. The auto attack animation is a problem for anyone who wants to manage three phantasms, the block doesn’t see much use, and Confusing Images while a good skill in theory has animation problems that again makes it feel slow.

It’s a shame that we don’t have another mid-range option (hint: MH pistol) because right now anyone who wants to use an offhand really only can go to the sword. Many of us tried to push a redesign for it during beta but I just don’t think they had the time. It’s just not worth using in its current state.

PlayerX.5307:

Sethren.8472:

I use it all the time. My weapon swap is between a Greatsword and a Scepter/Torch. I am a condition-phantasm mesmer, so I really like the confusion stacking quality of the scepter (and the torch’s phantasm). I get my AoE fix from the Greatsword.

The Scepter’s block ability is also very helpful when a person has run out of energy to evade, and it counterattacks for a nice chunk of damage.

Personally, I think it’s one of the best weapons a mesmer has. It’s just misunderstood.

I would love to duel you…. lol

I Use scepter pistol – Staff and i would realy like to duel you.
Nothing pleasures me more then a over-confident player tearing himself down because of my confusion stacks

My take on Scepter —

Bad things about Scepter

- The stutter/teleport effect on the block is bad. It’s jarring to the player, doesn’t provide much value, and is actually dangerous in PvP when moving.

- Cooldown trait reportedly does not work with Scepter2. Probably because it’s a multi-part ability and that seems to be a common theme.

Things I don’t like

- The confuse beam takes a bit too long to wind up. Makes the weapon feel annoying.

- Sound effect on the 1 attack is annoying. Literally “plink plink”.

- Scepter 1 clone messes up my illusion timing. I like to maximize my shatters and clone replacements. Scepter1 basically throws a wrench into my timing. It’s not imbalanced per se, but it is annoying for me and my playstyle.

For these reasons, I don’t use Scepter.

As I hear it, it’s supposed to be stylized as a ‘defensive’ weapon.

I don’t think we need yet another defensive weapon. Just about everything we’ve got, save for maybe the Greatsword and OH Sword, is “defensive”. All of our traits, plus the clone mechanics in general, really amp up Mesmer survivability. We don’t need more help playing defensively.

Rework it or ditch it for a mainhand (pistol, anyone?) that doesn’t spend thirty seconds killing something on its own. While we’re at it, don’t make it the starting weapon for Mesmer players. That was an awful idea and plays a fair part in driving so many people away from the class at the door.

Yvilthi.5413:

PlayerX.5307:

Sethren.8472:

I use it all the time. My weapon swap is between a Greatsword and a Scepter/Torch. I am a condition-phantasm mesmer, so I really like the confusion stacking quality of the scepter (and the torch’s phantasm). I get my AoE fix from the Greatsword.

The Scepter’s block ability is also very helpful when a person has run out of energy to evade, and it counterattacks for a nice chunk of damage.

Personally, I think it’s one of the best weapons a mesmer has. It’s just misunderstood.

I would love to duel you…. lol

I Use scepter pistol – Staff and i would realy like to duel you.
Nothing pleasures me more then a over-confident player tearing himself down because of my confusion stacks

We should set up a dueling party sometime tonight

Tried scepter and hated it. It just feels wimpy in its current state. The block isn’t incredibly useful, the confuse is very… unreliable, and the auto attack is just plain slow. I’ll stick to my sword/sword and GS.

The scepter is prettykittengood for a clone factory, confusion bursting build. Unfortunately that is the ONLY thing its good for. Any phantasm build stays far away from scepter, because of the clones destroying the phantasms constantly. The scepter is near useless in pve, because it simply doesnt do enough damage, and confusion is no good in pve at this time.

The way to fix scepter is simply to add confusion to either the second or third 1 attack. Back in the beta, it used to add confusion on the first attack, and people could stack up really really absurd confusion with 3 scepter clones, so it was removed. Unfortunately, anet didn’t realize that the only reason to use scepter was for the confusion. By adding confusion to the second or third 1 attack, that allows the scepter to keep up reasonable stacks of confusion in pve, making the condition at least semi-viable.

Pyroatheist.9031:

The scepter is prettykittengood for a clone factory, confusion bursting build. Unfortunately that is the ONLY thing its good for. Any phantasm build stays far away from scepter, because of the clones destroying the phantasms constantly. The scepter is near useless in pve, because it simply doesnt do enough damage, and confusion is no good in pve at this time.

The scepter autoattack only removes phantasms if there are 3 phantasms and no clones up. In reality, this almost never happens.