Guild Wars 2

Hey all

I have my Mesmer at level55 now and was wondering if there are any decent support builds? I know that staff allows for a lot of buffing and rebuffing but I just wondered what else I could trait etc to make it even better? I run AC quite a lot with my guild so don’t need to be amazing direct damage

Originally posted here, but i decided to just make a thread about it so more people see it.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Support-Shatter-build-explanation

You really don’t need to even go a support setup build as a Mesmer to give out a substantial amount of support as a Mesmer. Just need to slot the right weapons and utilities can be enough quite often.
Though weapon and utility swapping between combats can be quite vexing. What is great for one fight, is down right horrible for another. Staff when facing Condition-immune objects is pointless, so a swap to G.Sword is better. Focus’ I.Warden can be either devastating against enemies, or down right useless depending if they are ranged, how many there are, or if the fight constantly moves around. 1-H Sword is superb for both Vulnerability stacking and constant Boon Removal (A BIG Plus!) … IF you can survive being in melee, or just keep chucking sword clones at the target. G.Sword, OH-Sword, and Pistol are more geared for damage, but can have their uses outside of that role. I.Duelist with 15 in Inspiration gives out constant regeneration. Both off-hands have nice CC. The G.Sword is great for attacking objects and Crippling Groups of foes for kiting.

Arcane Thievery + Signet of Inspiration = Steal a 25x Stack of Might, and pass it to your friends.
Feedback or I.Warden = Ranged Projectile protection.
Signet of Illusion + I.Defender = Melee Survival Insurance (1/2 Damage, can save an ally from a 1-shot hit) or I.Warden Survival Insurance.
Time Warp = Offensive Buff or Dead Ally Rezzing speed increaser. (Hard part is deciding to speed up a kill, or hold to recover an ally in Fractals.)
Chaos Storm = Aegis (Block) Buff, repeatedly. Great for trying to pull an ally back from downed, even with the boss on them.
Null Field = Condition Clearer / Boon Remover.
Sword Clones = Constant supply of Boon Removal. (For the Pesky Regeneration and Protection).
Staff Clones = Constant supply of Might (Usually about 2x Might + Fury for one ally).

Don’t forget, as a Mesmer you can leave your Phantasm and Clones running while you go off to recover a downed ally. Still giving out some damage (and buffs if using Staff Clones), while taking the time to heal up an ally. Something a number of classes can’t say they do as well in a Boss Fight. Further, with Distortion being able to be upped to 4 seconds of invulnerability with IP, rezzing an ally that is being targeted by the boss is still possible. Chaos Storm to start, heal with Mantra of Recovery when damaged, and Distortion when both the previous fails to work.

Now if you combine the above with traits?

Restorative Mantras = Mantras heals nearby allies for about 10% to 20% of their HP whenever you charge one. Its a 3.25 sec cast during combat, so it can be tough if you aren’t used to this.
Shattered Might = 3x Might per Illusion shattered (IP doesn’t count here). Combine with Signet of Inspiration and lots of Clone generation, and you can pass out an 18x stack of Might to allies.
Illusion of Vulnerability, Dazzling, Rending Shatter, and Imbued Diversion = AoE Vulnerability that can potentially put out a 24x stack AoE. (Usually a 21x Stack though).

For AC specific? Against a certain annoying LT, remember that his AoE Pull is projectile based and has a tell to watch for. THAT means Feedback works, standing behind a Clone works (Tell ranged allies this!), and Staff-2-skill pressed Early or Late works for your own safety (Early makes a clone between you and him. Late means you get out of his Spin Cycle).
For Breeders, Diversion and Mantra of Diversion, OH-Sword, and Pistol all work great as interruptions.

If you go further and trait for +Healing and +Boon Duration? All the better.

/end massive rambling.

You’re right there. The build i posted is just a little guideline sorta thing, you don’t even need a specific build for all the group buffs/other utilities. One thing i’d really suggest, though, is using the boon % increasing runes, since it’s just too good to pass up.

Wait, restorative shatters apply to allies aswell? kitten i need to look into that one. But even then, its too far in the Inspiration tree for me to pick it up. I can’t live without Shattering Strength or Deceptive Evasion.

Agree about the mantra healing part. It requires some time to get used to, but once you get a feeling for it, you’re hardly ever gonna go down and save party members a lot.
I’d have gone more in detail in my post if i wasn’t so kitten lazy.

You should really write a guide or something, very informative and helpful posts.

Small edit: Note that most if not all phantasms apply regeneration every 3 seconds now, not only duelist. That’s why they nerfed illusionary membrane to death. So 1 phantasm can keep up permanent aoe regen, while 2 or 3 can make it stack up to 30 seconds real quick.

Emanuel.9781:

Wait, restorative shatters apply to allies aswell? kitten i need to look into that one.

Dang it, that one was not true. Mis-rememberance on my part, sorry. It was really useful for keeping myself alive for a while with IP, but I gave up on 30 in Inspiration a couple weeks back. I just couldn’t live without Deceptive Evasion.