Guild Wars 2

I have 3 main PvE builds that I go into town and re-spec for, depending on what I’m getting into (I miss GW1 build templates). This one is pretty new for me, basically focused on ally support during group events like world bosses, zergs etc. The others are far more damage-oriented, and I like to experiment with other builds from time to time too. Basically my job with this build is to keep my allies standing, condition-free and DPSing. I keep them going so it’s easier for them to focus on taking the enemy down. If there’s a Guardian in the group too, even better.

I like how it works so far (very few downed allies for Dwayna temple, FE, Shaman etc) but I feel like there are some tweaks that could make it better; not really looking for a major overhaul. Anyway, I’m throwing it out there to the Great and Gorgeous Mesmer Collective for suggestions.

Human male, lv80
DOM 0
DUEL 0
CHAOS 20 II, X
INSPIR 30 IV, VII, XI
ILLUS 20 III, VII

(All equipment lv80 exotic with superior upgrades unless otherwise noted)
Staff: Dire, sigil of Rage (came with staff, sigil can definitely be changed)
Scepter: Carrion, sigil of Corruption
Focus: Assassin’s, Major sigil of Bursting (superior = $$$$)
Armor: 5x Soldier’s, 1x Rabid, 6x rune of the Pack
Trinkets: 2x Rampager’s, 1x Soldier’s, 1x Carrion, 2x Celestial (one is Ascended ring)

Skill6: Antitoxin Spray
Skill7: Phantasmal Disenchanter
Skill8: Signet of Midnight
Skill9: Signet of Inspiration
Elite: Avatar of Melandru

You can see this build has lots of AOE boons & condi removal, while inflicting conditions with pretty much everything else. The armor is basically PVT with added condition damage, the same trinkets are shared across all my builds. Antitoxin Spray isn’t much of a skill for the 25 SP it cost, but for this kind of build it does what I want it to do. I love Null Field and use it in the other builds, but that’s a single cast and long cooldown — Shattered Conditions gives me 4 instant-cast PBAOE condi removes plus whatever the Antitoxin cleans up. The signets are left passive until I have a good stack of boons, then hit 9 to copy them over to allies. I don’t rely on the illusions because they’re basically just ammo for removing/inflicting conditions (and scepter clones are disposable trash anyway), so I let them get in one or two hits then Fkey as soon as I have 3 of them. The only one that’s really worthwhile is Phantasmal Warden so it’s usually the last cast before switching back to the staff.

I’m not completely sold on the runes of the pack, but the %chance boons that go to nearby party members when I get hit mesh well with the build design overall. The swiftness boost leaves me with only about 4-5 seconds of slow movement rate after Temporal Curtain wears off before I can recast, and the Signet of Inspiration grants swiftness very often as well. Mesmers are insanely slow but I can’t afford Traveler runes on more than one armor set, so this was a compromise.

Playstyle: stay at a distance from the target enemy if possible, but sticking close to allies is much more important. If they’re at melee-range on the enemy, I drop a Chaos Storm on them, run in and transform to Melandru and run thru those skills. When the transform drops, Phase Retreat to get some distance then lather, rinse, repeat. If there are trash adds, toss them around with Into the Void. Heal, shatters & signets pretty much whenever allies are nearby and the skills are ready. It’s kind of hard to describe exactly how it all fits together, but that’s close enough to give you an idea at least.

The DPS is minimal so this build is more or less useless for solo play, but that’s not the idea anyway. For what it’s meant to do, I think it does reasonably well but probably could be better.

Hey dude.

You know, unless you’re intending on a heal-support playstyle you can actually do pretty good damage while remaining supportive, but you have to ask yourself a few questions.

- What kind of support do I want to provide? Heals, Condition Removal, Glamours are just some of the many ways you can create a support-oriented build but trying to squeeze too much into one mix makes it hard to be particularly effective (or preferable over the nearby ele/guardian) at any one thing. Decide whats your primary concern (for Mesmer, it should be boons or reflects) and then make the others secondary

- In PvE condition removal actually isn’t a big deal especially not enough for you to spend two traits, your shatters, AND a utility slot on cleanses. At the most, you need maybe Shattered Conditions, but that trait is taking up a slot that could boost your support in many other ways, such as Glamour Cooldowns (II). In a support build, you are always going to want a free flexible utility slot for glamours. Reflects are a major import aspect of Mesmer support and Feedback is top notch. Null Field could provide plenty of AoE condition removal in addition to being a useful combo field and Portal makes you the emergency hero of the day when used creatively.

- Condition damage.. Is it worth it? Your build is mostly PvT with SOME condition damage, this means that not only are you doing pitiful damage, but your pitiful condition damage is going to get in the way of other condition-focused classes’ damage. You’re actually doing more harm than good here, and as you improve as a Mesmer you won’t even need so much PvT gear. I’d say to go for Knights, Valk, or Cavaliers as long as you have a good mix of power and precision. This’ll make you more damaging (thus more useful) while keeping your defenses sound.

I know you weren’t looking for a big overhaul but I can see many ways this build could be improved. Let me know exactly whats the most – to the least important aspects of the build so I could help you further.

Also: Trait the focus over the scepter. It’s a greater damage, defense, AND control boost.

I guess I should have mentioned that this isn’t intended to be a static build, so much as a framework I can hang various utilities on without a full re-spec. The bit where I went nuts with condi removal is thanks to ANet’s habit of often making it into a bad joke: “Oh, you removed (condition name here) did you? Well imma just re-apply another couple stacks of that 1 second later, so you’re still affected but now your (removal skill name here) is on cooldown, lol.” Let’s face it, in PUGS and the larger raids there are always too many L2P one trick ponies (autoattack glass cannons). The idea is to keep them on their feet doing their one trick, but even if we do need their DPS I’m not interested in healing them. If they can’t manage that for themselves, we’re better off with them dead. And don’t get me started on guardians who are too interested in DPSing to assist the rest of the group.

I traited the scepter for increased cast speed only because it’s so ridiculously slow to begin with, and it can provide more shatter ammo over time than any other weapon we have. I really only like the focus for Temporal Curtain, because I’ve never been impressed with Phantasmal Warden and the update hasn’t changed my opinion much. It went from doing great damage until the target moved 2 inches, to spending more time chasing than attacking. Whatever. I agree on how handy Feedback is, and (depending on the fight) I’ll swap 7 or 8 out for it. Signet of Midnight is the easiest to get rid of, since it’s only there to stretch boons long enough to get a fat stack to share before I burn Signet of Inspiration’s cooldown.

Yeah PVT is meh, but it can soak up a lot more punishment than my preferred gear can. My go-to build emphasizes mobility and versatility, so most of the time soaking up lots of damage isn’t really necessary. The best way to take less damage is to not get hit in the first place. When the issue is basically PEBKAC and there’s no real way to avoid it, you need a workaround. I’m willing to take one for the team and run with specs I’d rather not, if it means the difference between first-assault success or wipe after wipe.