Guild Wars 2

Soooo I have looked around and all these guides and all they do is confuse me. There is so many ways to build a mesmer T_T! But I dont know which one I want to be. I like the staff because I can add so many conditions on the enemies like bleed etc. But some of the guides I see are I need power and precision. And all I have on all my gear is condition damage since I thought I needed that for mesmer.

So what weapons am I suppose to use? I like giving boons to people and doing a bunch of conditonal damage. But I feel like I die all the time. T_T! Can anyone help me figure this out?

Are you already level 80, or do you need some guidance for leveling a mesmer?

In which content do you want to participate? Living world, open world pve like events, World Boss enoukitteners, fractals, dungeons, WvW Zerg, WvW small scale roaming or TPvP?^^

Some few tipps, that might help for leveling:
1.) Unlock the heal “Ether Feast”.
2.) I would level with Greatsword + Staff again.
Greatsword provides big ranged damage and burst, and with Staff you gain the survival-ability you need.
3.) Use F1 ‘Mind Wrack’ either if the opponent has low health, or your clones are about to die due to area of effect damage.

4.) If you are playing as a sylvari pick up the elite skill ‘Take Roots’ asap. For Charrs ‘Warband Support’; Asura ‘Summon 7-Series Golem’; or use the Mistfire Wolve if you have the deluxe edition.

5.) Leveling Gear: maximize the stat power.
Power > Precision > Toughness > Vitality. Don’t take Condition damage or healing power.
6.) Use bufffood when you get it.

7.) Remember, that you are getting level appropriate loot. It is useful and might be necessary to visit multiple 1-10 zones. You get level down there, but you are still a bit stronger, and you still get appropriate rewards for your actual level (loot, exp and so on).
8.) If your weapon is really outdated, don’t but a new one at the next npc; you might find better and cheaper weapons at the trading post.

new at Level 80:
Basically: Play what is most fun for you.
Still, I’d only recommend a power based build as offensive as you can handle it.
Exotic gear is not that hard to acquire, don’t be afraid to play around with it. Good starting gear would f.e. be knight (toughness, power, precision), once you can handle yourself with it, go for berserker.
Further gear recommendation:
Dungeons, Fractals, Open-World-PvE, Living Story, Small Scale Roaming, TPvP -> Berserker (Power, Precision, Crit Damage)
World Bosses and WvW Zerg -> Soldier.

You can change your traits everytime outside of combat, I recommend you, to adjust it whenever it is necessary.

Well I am only lvl 30 and I mostly have a lot of condtional damage stats on my gear is that not good for mesmer? Im trying to get to lvl 80 but I want to be good at pve and bosses and worldvsworld I head in WvW you can get alot of experience but when I go there I just die rofl.

I tried the greatsword but people were telling me it was bad so I stopped using it right now I use a staff. And I sometimes switch to a sword+gun when the enemies get close to me. I die all the time rofl Dx

AyumeiKitsune.8256:

I like the staff because I can add so many conditions on the enemies like bleed etc. But some of the guides I see are I need power and precision. And all I have on all my gear is condition damage since I thought I needed that for mesmer.

So what weapons am I suppose to use? I like giving boons to people and doing a bunch of conditonal damage. But I feel like I die all the time. T_T! Can anyone help me figure this out?

1.) Try to stay back, your phase retreat get further back, also try to use blink and decoy to get the opponents away from you.
2.) You can play condition, I’ll not be the strongest build, but it is doable. Therefore I’d recommend you to try out a “condition-shatter” build, with the
core traits for that:
‘Deceptive Evasion’ (Duelling 10); ‘Maim the Disillusioned’ (Illusions 13).
Weapons: Staff and Scepter with torch or pistol.

AyumeiKitsune.8256:

Well I am only lvl 30 and I mostly have a lot of condtional damage stats on my gear is that not good for mesmer? Im trying to get to lvl 80 but I want to be good at pve and bosses and worldvsworld I head in WvW you can get alot of experience but when I go there I just die rofl.

I tried the greatsword but people were telling me it was bad so I stopped using it right now I use a staff. And I sometimes switch to a sword+gun when the enemies get close to me. I die all the time rofl Dx

I’d recommend you to stay with GS+Staff and use power gear (exact list above).
For some high level speed runs the 1h-Sword is stronger, but until then stay with gs.

For WvW as a low level: Take as much toughness as possible.

Alright I will try it =)

First: I’m no expert on leveling a mesmer

Second: Mesmer condition builds can be really fun, but it’s slow leveling with any condition build compared to a power build. If you’re looking to level quick, power is the way to go. If you like the condition play-style though, and don’t mind leveling a bit slower there’s nothin wrong with that

Scepter and staff are the go-to weapons for condi builds IMO. For leveling I used a power build with GS and sword/focus. Focus #5 puts out good damage around the phantasm and can kill lots of critters at the same time which helped me out.

Mesmers are slow leveling and don’t really stand out until they get to 60-80 where they start showing their true potential and that can be really fun. I say just play what feels comfortable until then and stick in there!

Teutos.8620:

Some few tipps, that might help for leveling:
1.) Unlock the heal “Ether Feast”.
2.) I would level with Greatsword + Staff again.
Greatsword provides big ranged damage and burst, and with Staff you gain the survival-ability you need.
3.) Use F1 ‘Mind Wrack’ either if the opponent has low health, or your clones are about to die due to area of effect damage.

4.) If you are playing as a sylvari pick up the elite skill ‘Take Roots’ asap. For Charrs ‘Warband Support’; Asura ‘Summon 7-Series Golem’; or use the Mistfire Wolve if you have the deluxe edition.

5.) Leveling Gear: maximize the stat power.
Power > Precision > Toughness > Vitality. Don’t take Condition damage or healing power.
6.) Use bufffood when you get it.

7.) Remember, that you are getting level appropriate loot. It is useful and might be necessary to visit multiple 1-10 zones. You get level down there, but you are still a bit stronger, and you still get appropriate rewards for your actual level (loot, exp and so on).
8.) If your weapon is really outdated, don’t but a new one at the next npc; you might find better and cheaper weapons at the trading post.

Pro Tip, Ether Feast is the Default Healing skill for Mesmers, its already unlocked.

Basic leveling in PvE – Bring a Sword main hand, maybe a GS or a staff as a secondary. Dont ever pick up a scepter until you hit 80 and can build to effectively just do condition damage in a PvP setting.

Locate a Phantasm Build on the Forum and focus on only unlocking the traits for that (provided your stuck in the NPE trait hunt garbage) Ignore the others until you reach 80.

Grab Blink, put it on your bar, never take it off <3

Don’t worry about dieing, worry more about learning basic combos and Timings on things. Things like using Gs2 while close to a foe to stack might before shattering, using Sword 3 to set up Sword 2, using Sword 2 to avoid getting hit, When and how often Phantasms attack.. etc..

AyumeiKitsune.8256:

Soooo I have looked around and all these guides and all they do is confuse me. There is so many ways to build a mesmer T_T! But I dont know which one I want to be. I like the staff because I can add so many conditions on the enemies like bleed etc. But some of the guides I see are I need power and precision. And all I have on all my gear is condition damage since I thought I needed that for mesmer.

So what weapons am I suppose to use? I like giving boons to people and doing a bunch of conditonal damage. But I feel like I die all the time. T_T! Can anyone help me figure this out?

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAW7dl0npBtdoxVNUrNCuxY6JCpCU+zQlMgfB-TBSAABFqbQ6HAgYK/A4KAEq6PEu/gHHEg2UCCA-e

That’s your Staff Condi build, basically you just want 3 of the staff Clones (not phantasms) up constantly bouncing those condi auto attacks around giving you might and bleeding the hell out of the enemy. IIRC it’s actually theoretically better damage than the power build in solo situations, the problem in group is that you quickly cap out bleeds and a guy doing 200 in bleeds is overwriting your’s that is ticking for like 2k-3k (note that the build may be slightly off, I haven’t really done much condi just screwing around with it, so that’s off the top of my head from what I remember).

In general for WvW for XP, people are talking about edge of the mists, where you simply run around trying to tag things for credit and be part of the train/zerg. You want something that will tag a lot of things, unfortunately mesmer doesn’t really have that. I’d use GS and try to use Mantra of Pain as they both have some good AE tagging capabilities.

Also note even with that condi build there’s a huge ramp up time, that’s mesmer’s huge downfall, you simply don’t have that burst damage that other professions do, Mantra of Pain helps but it’s simply not enough to match say an Ele dropping Dragons Tooth→Ring of Fire→Pheonix→Flame Grab → Ride the Lighting…etc, or even a guard jumping in with a Whirling Wrath →Symbol of Wrath → Leap of Faith..etc. For Mesmers your damage comes after you get your clones going, which takes time. Good news for that condi build though with the clone on dodge you can produce them quicker, but you sacrifice an unnecessary dodge… it’s a tricky business.

Hope this helps some and GL.

Swish.2463:

Pro Tip, Ether Feast is the Default Healing skill for Mesmers, its already unlocked.

Basic leveling in PvE – Bring a Sword main hand, maybe a GS or a staff as a secondary. Dont ever pick up a scepter until you hit 80 and can build to effectively just do condition damage in a PvP setting.

Locate a Phantasm Build on the Forum and focus on only unlocking the traits for that (provided your stuck in the NPE trait hunt garbage) Ignore the others until you reach 80.

Grab Blink, put it on your bar, never take it off <3

Don’t worry about dieing, worry more about learning basic combos and Timings on things. Things like using Gs2 while close to a foe to stack might before shattering, using Sword 3 to set up Sword 2, using Sword 2 to avoid getting hit, When and how often Phantasms attack.. etc..

FYI for a couple months(idk i think since the sep feature pack) classes start out with different healing skills. I know so far that war starts with Healing Signet, Eles have their signet, Mesmer has Mirror, necro with the well

Swish.2463

Pro Tip, Ether Feast is the Default Healing skill for Mesmers, its already unlocked.

It’s not. My level 5 Sylvari has only unlocked Mirror. Maybe race dependent?

Locate a Phantasm Build on the Forum and focus on only unlocking the traits for that (provided your stuck in the NPE trait hunt garbage) Ignore the others until you reach 80.

I’d not recommend that.
I leveled with a shatter spec. (+Mind Wrack Damage; Clones on Dodge).
Th mobs should die faster with a well placed shatter.

Lots of good advice above. I love the Mesmer but almost quit playing it for the same things you mention OP. I was dying all the time and mobs were taking forever to die. Then I started doing some things that really helped and might help you as well. And all of these things were suggestions from posts like this one. I now have lots of mesmers from level 12 through 80 because it’s so much fun.

I read tons of posts about what traits to use and what weapons to use and what stats to use and got hopelessly confused. That’s not to say that that information isn’t useful – there’s just so much of it. So what I do that has really helped and improved my PVE leveling experience (regardless of traits, stats, etc) is:

1. Keep my weapon as up to level as possible. If things seem like they’re taking forever to take down check the level of your weapon – what ever your weapon of choice is – and buy a new one if need. Like someone above says – the TP is you friend here.

2. Throw out a phantasm first thing. They often do enough damage on their first attack that they act like a tank. When I first started playing my impulse was to begin with auto attack (#1). This just gets the mobs attention and then it’s hard to lose it. The phantasms that work best for me come from the great sword, sword, pistol and focus.

3. Move child! As with any profession in GW2 movement is expected and often the key. I find that even in situations that seem hopeless I can run around while continuing to whittle away at the things chasing me and eventually I’m all alone again, and alive.

4. Once you’ve hit level 15 swap weapons often and find ways to make your weapons work together.

Then traits and stats are icing and just improve what you’re already doing. One other thing I’ve learned is try to make friends with melee. The mesmer is actually capable of doing lots of melee damage with great survivability.

Hope this help and enjoy playing the Mesmer!

Teutos.8620:

I’d not recommend that.
I leveled with a shatter spec. (+Mind Wrack Damage; Clones on Dodge).
Th mobs should die faster with a well placed shatter.

Due to the wisdom of Anet, you can’t get clone on dodge until level 60. Shatter will be miserable prior to that.

Fay.2357:

Due to the wisdom of Anet, you can’t get clone on dodge until level 60. Shatter will be miserable prior to that.

We are just talking about the first traits, and how big their impact is.

I prefer +20% Mind Wrack Damage over +15% Illusion Damage.

During the level phase (and later against most mobs) you are just pressing F1 to finish the already low mobs off. F.e. GS4+GS2… auto attack… knock back… G2…F1 to kill the mob.
You don’t need Clones on Dodge to do that.
Personally, I think most people are having problems with the leveling speed due to not using their F1 skill to finish off the mobs.