Guild Wars 2

I’ve been using the staff for a while now, but always at the maximum attack range. Now that I’ve been pvping a bit more with a condition build, I’m starting to notice that the staff and clones seem to do more damage the closer they are to the opponent.

Is this true or am I delusional?

I could see the Staff being a decent close/mid-range weapon because of the bouncing attacks as well as Chaos Storm (Much more effective when both you AND your opponent are standing inside it.) Can anyone verify?

Staff tends to be better at closer range as the projectiles will bounce providing extra boons to you and extra conditions to enemies.

The effects are more pronounced with the Illusionary Elasticity trait providing extra bounces per #1 useage.

Hmm, dunno if the clones do more damage at close range, but your bouncing attacks (make sure you have the Illusionary Elasticity trait) only have half the range (about 600 instead of 1200) so if you stand at max distance you don’t benefit from bounces. Moving closer increases your damage output because of bouncing attacks.

And yes, Chaos Storm is best used when both you and your opponent stand inside it. Simply check out the effects of Chaos Storm (and Chaos Armor while we are at it) and you’ll find out why.

Staff is better at close range, so you can get the bouncing and return it back faster. If you are not close and there are no allies around the monster, your Winds of Chaos is lost. You must be good at kiting.

It’s strange, but I use the GS for CD mesmer. Bleeding stack go up faster with GS clones. You lose Burning, but your auto attacks are more reliable than random Burn.

Don’t know if clones actually do more damage if closer since their attacks only bounce once; from the enemy to you or an ally. Illusinary elasticity does not affect them either. On top of that they do not bounce onto themselves unlike your attack, so the bounce does not even happen unless you or an ally is in range.