Guild Wars 2

I’m new to the class and have found this to be the most natural feeling weapon build. But when I lurk build threads I don’t see anyone vouching for either of these combinations let alone both at once.

So because of my noob status, I must ask if I’m missing something. Does this seem viable because I haven’t done PvP yet? Is this simply viable but sub-optimal?

Don’t get me wrong; I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing. I just want the community opinion.

If you enjoy it then roll with it. It is considered sub-optimal, since there are other weapon sets with greater damage and utility. But it’s not something you should be worrying about unless you have to, or are interested in challenging content where optimization is important

Loads of people vouch for Sword /Torch. I certainly do.

Scepter/Pistol is kind of an old school choice now, but if it works for you then enjoy it.

I run sword/focus , scepter/shield

not the same but ya it certainly aint what people would call good. I enjoy it though.

As long as you enjoy it and you find a way to make it work then that’s really all that matters Mesmer in PvE suffers from a bigtime lack of damage anyway – using some fun and strange wep combinations won’t be as big an impact as for some other classes.

I think the reason you rarely see anyone saying this is because the weapons don’t really synergize that well with each other or with traits and stat points. Like torch applies burn which is condition damage, whereas pistol is direct damage which is power.

If you’re having fun, keep at it

Well in post say haven’t done pvp yet. In wvw I run scepter/torch sword/shield. Chaos/illusions/chrono. I love the weapon set. Is it optimal sure for me. Is it meta no. But as others have said run what you can make work. If your personal performance is better with your weapon set then run it. Have fun.

Funny thing, I’m trying out that set right now in a hybrid PU build (non Chrono ZOMG!) using Destroyer’s Amulet.

So far it’s been pretty fun. It’s way too early to judge it, but it’s doing surprisingly well for being so far from the meta! (Dueling, Chaos, and Insp.)

Pistol Phantasm + Pistol #5 plus Scepter #3 is a very nice burst, and puts a boat load of Confusion and Bleeds on the target to boot. (With >1000 Condition Damage)

Very glassy, but much like in the old days, you rely on PU/Stealth as your defense.

I’m just not happy with anything I’ve tried that doesn’t involve the Merc Amulet. That is why I’m trying out some oddball specs…as per usual. ;-)

The one Stat that Mesmers can pump up “artificially” (not counting Amulet) in sPvP is Condition Damage, due to Chaotic Transference and SoD.

So this build (Zerker Runes) ends up with:

- 2150 Power (+5% damage from Runes)
- 54% Crit Chance (plus frequent Fury thanks to Dueling!)
- 187% Crit Damage
- 1066 Condition Damage

So as far as damage goes you’re good to go for both Power and Condition damage.

I’m still playing around with whether to get Chrono or Illusions in there instead of Inspiration, but the trade-offs are plentiful and are kinda driving me nuts. (Always hitting a bit of a road-block any choice you make.)

Anyway you slice it, you’re squishy as hell, but thanks to PU you’re also very hard to pin down. That said, average and below Thieves are no problem at all, they melt amazingly fast to this build. (I had forgotten how nice Pistol Phant is against them! Especially one that applies 8-10 stacks of bleeding per attack cycle and does 3.5 – 4.5k damage at the same time!)

Have fun playing what you want! Many build & weapon combinations —while not meta viable-- are quite viable in PuG unranked PvP.