Guild Wars 2

Hi, after getting my necro with elite specs, i’ve decided to work on a mesmer doing HoT. This is mainly for PVE. I was wondering how you guys go about using the F5 skill. I saw a couple videos about it but the players were kinda doing 3 ports or constant well and i couldn’t figure out. Let me know if this is correct, when i have 3 clones/phantasms, i use F5 and then i have like 1 n half seconds to quick use the utility skills and then press F5 again to return back to all those utilities skills off cool down?

Also would really appreciate if someone has some gameplay videos of how they deal with mobs in HoT maps. Youtube vids i found were helpful but it was on a practice golem that is still.

Thank you in advance

You don’t have to push f5 again, the cooldowns revert automatically (though maybe you can force it sooner? I haven’t tried, but I doubt it…). Also, it won’t just revert cooldowns but your health bar and location, so don’t use a heal skill or get too far from your original position (unless you want to teleport back). You can use f5 with one or two illusions, but the duration will be shorter.

lol reset cooldown of skills will be wayyyyy OP af. oh wait.. it does

Im not using F5 very often in open pve coz encounters are not long enough to summon 3 illusions to be able to pull off full combo. In open pve I use it from time to time (without illusions) to pop out timewarp on champions.

When in dungeons/raid, Im pulling full combo (varies with party compositions – some parties benefit more from alacrity some from quickness).

When alacrity needed:
WoA -> F5 (before cast of WoA completes) -> TW -> Mimic -> WoR -> WoE -> WoR -> ToT -> F5 should end about now -> ToT -> Mimic -> WoR -> WoA -> WoR -> WoE

When quickness needed:
WoR -> F5 (before cast of WoR completes) -> TW -> Mimic -> WoA -> WoE -> WoA -> ToT -> F5 should end about now -> ToT -> Mimic -> WoA -> WoR -> WoA -> WoE

These rotations work well with chaos trait line coz u can reduce CD on Mimic to be almost the same as F5 -> so u can cast it after CS again without having to wait for it till next CS combo.

You are aiming for using ToT second time BEFORE the 1st ToT comes back to you, so you benefit from the 10s cd reduction twice.

If you dont want to be that much supportive that u dont use chaos line, just dont use mimic after cs ends so u dont have to w8 for it (just cast all wells but no mimic).

Dunno if the rotations are optimal, but thats the most I could include in one CS. You can also pop all other shatters during well casting for free in CS -> more alacrity for yourselve (thus not needed really, but its also more dmg and more boons when using chaos trait line)

Builds Im using:
open PvE:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAseRncfCtfilpBmfCEgilUjicAugAoeZr2rF96yutD-TxBBABYp8DgTBQe6D6f/hAeCAVq+zZKBJCQZCA-e
You can just run around with GS and cast its 4 and eventually F1.
When the encounter is longer u can cast 4 and 2 -> F1 -> 4 -> 2 -> F1 -> 4 -> 2 -> F1 etc and do wells from time to time

On support builds u basicly want to have at least 50% boon duration yourselve, another 50% comes from Herald which you will meet in most parties using Chrono.

D/R power support:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAs+dncfC9fi9pBmfCUrhFijyMASgFquS/0QFN0GtSD-TxBBABYp8DgTCQe6F6f/hAeAAVq+zZKBJFgXDjA-e
Swap focus for sword when pulls are not needed or for GS when need ranged.
For reflects u can swap chaos for insp and Mimic for Feedback easily ending up with this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAs+dncfC9fitqBmfCUrhllj6sBCgIr+Qj0JFdyqsLD-TxBBABYp8DgTCQe6F6f/hAeAAVq+zZKBJFgXDjA-e

Im also going to do hybrid support but dont have vipers gear for it yet (works ok in rabid gear tho).
It would look something like this tho:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAr+dncfC9fi9pBmfCUrhFcjqMAWtfpuVr1cFN3OpaA-TBCmAB6p+DAKBDSpnOPAgdOJAqpXIt9HUUZApA8aZF-e
Focus is better than pistol coz the phantasm applies conditions from ie. fire fields and other fields more effectively, and it also offers more utility with pulls and projectile absorbtion.

So it’s 1.5 seconds, +1 second for every clone shattered. So the more clones you have up when you use it the more time you have in which to do things. You can hit it again to end/revert early.

In that time you can use your skills/utilties/elites to set up whatever combos you want, then have them all reset once shift expires.

Note you can shatter during a channeled cast, so you can start a cast of gravity well then hit f5 before it finishes, freeing up cast time for other things etc.

Yep, I use the precast in my rotations.

Jacob.4280:

Im not using F5 very often in open pve coz encounters are not long enough to summon 3 illusions to be able to pull off full combo. In open pve I use it from time to time (without illusions) to pop out timewarp on champions.

When in dungeons/raid, Im pulling full combo (varies with party compositions – some parties benefit more from alacrity some from quickness).

When alacrity needed:
WoA -> F5 (before cast of WoA completes) -> TW -> Mimic -> WoR -> WoE -> WoR -> ToT -> F5 should end about now -> ToT -> Mimic -> WoR -> WoA -> WoR -> WoE

When quickness needed:
WoR -> F5 (before cast of WoR completes) -> TW -> Mimic -> WoA -> WoE -> WoA -> ToT -> F5 should end about now -> ToT -> Mimic -> WoA -> WoR -> WoA -> WoE

These rotations work well with chaos trait line coz u can reduce CD on Mimic to be almost the same as F5 -> so u can cast it after CS again without having to wait for it till next CS combo.

You are aiming for using ToT second time BEFORE the 1st ToT comes back to you, so you benefit from the 10s cd reduction twice.

If you dont want to be that much supportive that u dont use chaos line, just dont use mimic after cs ends so u dont have to w8 for it (just cast all wells but no mimic).

Dunno if the rotations are optimal, but thats the most I could include in one CS. You can also pop all other shatters during well casting for free in CS -> more alacrity for yourselve (thus not needed really, but its also more dmg and more boons when using chaos trait line)

Builds Im using:
open PvE:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAseRncfCtfilpBmfCEgilUjicAugAoeZr2rF96yutD-ThRBABXp8DPdA8v/AAPAAKV/xMlgEBoMBA-e
You can just run around with GS and cast its 4 and eventually F1.
When the encounter is longer u can cast 4 and 2 -> F1 -> 4 -> 2 -> F1 -> 4 -> 2 -> 1 etc and do wells from time to time

Onn support builds u basicly want to have at least 50% boon duration yourselve, another 50% comes from Herald which you will meet in most parties using Chrono.

D/R power support:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAs+dncfC9fi9pBmfCUrhFijyMASgFquS/0QFN0GtSD-TxBBABYp8DgTCQe6A6f/hAeAAVq+zZKBJFgXDjA-e
swap focus for sword when pulls are not needed or for GS when need ranged

Im also going to do hybrid support but dont have vipers gear for it yet (works ok in rabid gear tho).
It would look something like this tho:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAr+dncfC9fi9pBmfCUrhFcjqMAWtfpuVv1cFN32taA-TBCmAB6p+DAKBDSpnOPAgdOJAqpXIt9HUUZApA8aZF-e
Focus is better than pistol coz the phantasm applies conditions from ie. fire fields and other fields more effectively, and it also offers more utility with pulls and projectile absorbtion.

This sounds like a very busy rotation here Jacob, just out of curiosity, do you enjoy it and does it work well? If I compare it to my zerker condi and rev power. Rev I auto attack to kill mobs. Warr I prress 4 buttons and laugh at 18k burn ticks. Does chrono feel like it’s worth it’s rotations and playstyle?

In my opinion, chronomancer is all about team support. If u expect crazy numbers like with ele or rev then no, mesmer is not that kind of class.
Although other classes need Chrono for the support it provides (offensive: alacrity/quickness, deffensive: never ending projectile reflection/absorbtion)
You cant expect high numbers from just smashing 1 with it in any way.

I personally really like it, coz its not that no brainer, from what I experienced and read on forums, mesmer is the most complex class in GW2, since u mostly have to swap traits/utilities/weapons about 3 times in every dungeon if u want to pump the most from it.

About the rotation:
All the things happen in about 12 or so seconds (4×1,5 CS + precast ~1s + casts after CS) so ye, it might seem a bit bussy. But it comes easier with time and practise. To be honest, in dungeons and raid I focus on the support rather than my dmg, coz the support makes much more than the dmg I can pump out myselve.
Not saying Im not doing dmg, I have phantasms on the board, and constant shattering makes its job as well.
Rotations are situational, u can use the CS for phantasm spam or condi spam as well. But I dont think that would make bigger impact (dmg wise) than the team support u can provide if used for alacrity/quickness spread.
According to what I read on some older thread 1 chronomancer supporting 4 eles can make bigger difference than adding another 1 or 2 eles onto the board.

I’m not too bothered about crazy damage, if I want that I’ll jump on warrior or revenant. I am looking for a fun and active plqystyle however, meaner seems it definitely. It was chrono or tempest and tempest seems a little squishy for my likings. So as long as I can solo stuff, I’m more than happy to try it.

So build wise for your open world one, what armour set, rune and stat selections would I want? I’m going to try this tomorrow though I don’t have a mesmer at 80 yet just want that fun addictive playstyle that keeps me hooked

Oh also. WHEN do I want to shatter? I’m not great with timing it I’m a pvper so I just line it with burst like gs3

Armor sets and runes are in the builds
berserker/assassin for power,
viper for hybrid,
rabid for condi.

If u dont want to make the party support but just run around solo, Id suggest u to use chronomancer or berserkers runes for either power/hybrid or condi.
Scholar, Eagle, Ranger are also good variants for power.
Alterations for condi are whatever with condi dmg or duration (or both). But remember that main condies mesmer has are confusion, torment and bleeding.

If u want to play party support and dont have the currency for Leadership runes (30% boon doration + all stats), then 4xTraveler + 2xWater is solid alteration (20% boon doration + all stats)

When u want to shatter when not doing the CS rotation I explained before:
Aim for shattering right after your Phantasms do their attack, so they resummon and make another attack again.
In the open world pve with GS thats basicly every time u have F1 off cd.

Im also using all my shatters while runnig from 1 place to another to get the alacrity which shortens the cd of blink and every other skill which is on cd at the time.

I assume I’ll want to go power builds so full zerker gear?. Sorry I’m not great at mesmer gearing lol. All I know is warrior rocks as condi and revenant rocks as power

Ill need to log on and play this tomorrow, definitely looks fun but very complicated also.

Adjust.6903:

I assume I’ll want to go power builds so full zerker gear?. Sorry I’m not great at mesmer gearing lol. All I know is warrior rocks as condi and revenant rocks as power

Ill need to log on and play this tomorrow, definitely looks fun but very complicated also.

Oh just noticed there’s a guide on metabattle with all the tips and tricks on it. So I want assassin gear !

Well for power the difference between berserker and assassins gear is not that high.
Assassins gear excels in situations where reflects are the main concern.
While the berserkers provides more raw power to your wells and phantasms.
In the longterm the differences in dmg are in a matter of percents.
More about it here (in case u dont want to spend your gold on something u would later consider a mistake):
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Analysis-Berserker-vs-Assassins

Atm, Id say, it seems that for chrono the berserkers is a bit better coz u have to use boonduration runes anyway (if not using the 33% boon duration on swap sigil).

Adjust.6903:

Adjust.6903:

I assume I’ll want to go power builds so full zerker gear?. Sorry I’m not great at mesmer gearing lol. All I know is warrior rocks as condi and revenant rocks as power

Ill need to log on and play this tomorrow, definitely looks fun but very complicated also.

Oh just noticed there’s a guide on metabattle with all the tips and tricks on it. So I want assassin gear !

The guides on meta battle seems to use the armors people got before the chronomancer went out with HoT. So I wouldnt make so quick conclusions about which stats are better and why.
Also the guides for chrono on meta battle focus on its personal dps, which, lets be honest, isnt what chronomancers excell at.

Fair enough, so I’ll focus on assassin or berserker with the runes. I’ll then run sword/shield with greatsword and have sword and staff as extras. Maybe 2 swords in case I do s/s and s/s