Guild Wars 2

I have been trying a couple of really fun test builds in non-competitive sPvp that may have potential, so I figured I would run it by other Mesmers for some constructive feedback. Its really going to look strange on paper, but I have really had some fun playing it and wreaking a little successful havoc along the way. It is a mid to long range roaming and support that I have 2 variants (amulets marauder and paladins) for one being somewhat “tankier” while the other does more dps.

Although I could probably go for a true hybrid, I am undecided on other amulet choices, so as of the present, my main damage source and focus is dps.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR7dncfClphlqB2fCEgiFij6cDugJouS/0Q1MAClFC-TJhGABnv/gCPBg8LDAwFBAA

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR8encfClphlqB2fCEgiFijyMAClFquS/0Q9cDugJA-TJhGABK8EA4uMAAXEgz3fAA

Thanks All

what is the purpose of the build?
dmg? point holder? bruiser? support?

dmg – you dont have enough
point holder – you dont have much durability with passive utilities and skills
bruiser- same

its like a combination of support with no boon sharing, sustain with low dmg

The first build seems interesting from a support perspective, but not optimal. I don’t see what you’re going for damage wise. I’d change it to Illusions/Inspiration/Chronomancer. Illusions will let you generate a ton of might to share with your team, cast phantasms more often, which in combination with inspiration lets you share all your boons with everyone. That’s the main change, seen here:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAW7dncfClphlqB2fCEgilnj6sACgEDdxasGo+PT0FF-TJhGAB5XGAgDCw57PowRAAA

If you want to further optimize it, I’ve never had much luck using wells, and I think the Staff is a better weapon than the greatsword for this build.

First, let me say I have been playing my current main for 3+ years in one form or another. Its a full condi/shatter, staff/scepter-torch. Second, I really enjoy theory crafting and trying to come up with ideas that are both viable and outside the “metalemmings” build system. I am not convinced there’s only 1 way to play a build, neither are there only a handful traits and utilities that are useful; so I take the risk of trying new things and working with them until I find positive ways to contribute in sPvP (and WvW – the 2 game modes I spend almost all my time in). What I currently lack is a guild team for each, so I am relegated to solo ques, zerging/roaming(WvW). Furthermore, I think Mesmer has one of the most versatile characters in game capable of doing more than most consider, so I am exploring different ways of exploiting that – not to mention I don’t enjoy any other profession nearly to the extent as I do Mesmer.

Therefore, my alt (2nd) Mesmer started with gs/sword-sh. In the current state of things in sPvP, personally feel like Mesmer just can’t take full advantage in melee with sword – it doesn’t have the toughness and it doesn’t do enough dps (no crit in current meta setup), so after trying various ways to try and make sword/shield work, I decided to try something different and in doing so I decided to use the word “role” more loosely.

What I discovered with this current build is this:

1) it can roam – can cap/backcap/decap and its been pretty good (not used to being in that role so its still a work in progress for me as a player) – using blink with reduced cooldown vs. teams with thieves has been helpful.
2)it can support – can boonstrip/condi-cleanse, has some ally stun break and boon sharing capabilities in aoe form to help on point fighting in an attempt to counter dh/reaper/ele
3)it can cc – 3 interrupts temporal curtain/gravity well/illusionary wave – again for on point fights try to counter warrior/dh
4)it has 1 projectile reflect – phantasmal warden (watched it drain a dh yesterday evening after I dropped it on the point he was bunkering).
5)it has sustain – been using paladins so I can bunker some with scepter and plenty of personal condi removal/stun breakers/and shatters grant stability too (stomping and such).
6)it kites well – and with paladins/illusionary counter for block it has durability/survivability against thieves and some unexpected ranged attacks.

Current dps is near what you would expect from a bunker, but with vuln stacking, it seems decent enough – again, its a test build and so far I have only my experience to judge it by. Out of the 12 matches I have played in since I put this build together I am 8 of 12 in unranked. I will probably play about 20-25 matches to get a better feel for it and get a better sample of its viability; but it has been fun especially with the 3 interrupts.

So, I hope I have answered some things. Again, that’s where I am at in the exploration phase, but I am having some fun trying to wreak some havoc on bunkers along the way. Thank again for any input and consideration!

there is failure in your assumption

every class can do almost any role and do them all.

but for group wise its more helpful when you do 100% your role and your allies their 100% theirs

than you can focus on support while your ally on dmg

and so on

no doubt you can do them all in 1 build but it will be weaker than focusing on 1 role

bunker guard is far better than you
support ranger is far better than you
and power thief/rev is far better than you

messiah.1908:

there is failure in your assumption

every class can do almost any role and do them all.

but for group wise its more helpful when you do 100% your role and your allies their 100% theirs

than you can focus on support while your ally on dmg

and so on

no doubt you can do them all in 1 build but it will be weaker than focusing on 1 role

bunker guard is far better than you
support ranger is far better than you
and power thief/rev is far better than you

So, even in other professional/amateur sports there are no “utility” players (players who can assume more than 1 role on his team that his team is aware of, and expects him to utilize)? Its a concept all sport teams use and can benefit from, imho (been playing competitive sports for a really long time so I decided to explore this here, nothing more).

I do agree that whatever role I assume my team needs me to do 100%. That is not the issue, I put a build and idea to be tested, nothing more.

Currently, dh, druid, daredevil, are good at what they do, not disputing that. Just looking for a creative way to deal with it. I asked for constructive criticism, not uncritical criticism. Please try the builds, see where improvements can be made and maybe we can all learn something.

your first build looks like bruiser build but much weaker than engi
scepter can be nice dmg weapon but needs critical dmg while you got 150%
focus used in control enemy but you dont got boon removal on demand only null field which used more for cleanse and need you enemy to stand in the field
i would go with sword for more control with immobilize
but without shield you are easy pray
wop is useless atm i really want it to work but maybe good in 1v1 as yo already got stability i think boon sharing would be better than it with trait or signet

i would go full support like the build i am using with knight amulet and few trait changes

for second build go like this
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR8encfClphlqB2oBEgiFij6cDugPzMAClFqOT70QF-TJhGABAcRA4uMw57PowTAAA
but be careful from thief rev etc… as you squishy

messiah.1908:

your first build looks like bruiser build but much weaker than engi
scepter can be nice dmg weapon but needs critical dmg while you got 150%
focus used in control enemy but you dont got boon removal on demand only null field which used more for cleanse and need you enemy to stand in the field
i would go with sword for more control with immobilize
but without shield you are easy pray
wop is useless atm i really want it to work but maybe good in 1v1 as yo already got stability i think boon sharing would be better than it with trait or signet

i would go full support like the build i am using with knight amulet and few trait changes

for second build go like this
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR8encfClphlqB2oBEgiFij6cDugPzMAClFqOT70QF-TJhGABAcRA4uMw57PowTAAA
but be careful from thief rev etc… as you squishy

First, thanks for the feedback! I tried a very similar set up right b4 I started tooling around with what I am currently proposing and the reason I made the switch, especially off of marauders amulet, was that I just couldn’t hang in melee with revs, thieves because they are so much better and I was too squishy as you said. I decided to switch to paladins for its toughness so that I would have a permanent source of dps mitigation. I also tried Mantras, the 2.75 seconds to recharge them w/o any stealth is a real disadvantage because of the speed of the game, I liked it but once that 2nd cast is done, it sits for awhile or I have to risk charging it during combat. Mantras are so interesting in premise, I wish they were more viable atm.

The other thing I decided was I was no longer going to play the melee game, so I switched to scepter and have not regretted it because now they are having to chase me around and I do not have to try to duel/duke it out. The other reason I switched to scepter/focus was dh. Although I can kite with gs, sword/shield has been huge disadvantage; you can’t risk advancing (too squishy), and you can’t disengage well, once you started combat, from a dh (even if you don’t die, you are in no shape to fight more times than not). So those are the primary consideration of why I moved away from sword and shield. Also, I am using sigil of nullification to try and boost my boon stripping some. Its not much, but with null field, especially in support (on points) its been better than nothing. I have considered switching to Domination, but I don’t know what to give up to give shatters boon removal. It almost hardly seems worth giving up chaos or inspiration.

I have had some success against engis, call it about even after about 18 matches, but truth be told I am seeing far more necros, druids, and dhs than engis in the matches I have been playing.

I did think of using knights as you suggested, but I sometimes see 2+ necros a match, and with all that boon corruption, I opted for paladins for the extra vitality. So, I have already tried much of what you suggested.

As far as WoP, I use it more as an aoe stun breaker both for support and kiting, I wish they would buff it, but as a 2nd stun breaker that’s aoe, its been reliable for that.

My thinking in all of this, is that kiting is better than melee atm for Mesmer. Especially for dh bunkers (which I am seeing a ton of in the matches I have been playing – seeing them about the same frequency as necros). So far, they are the real enigma on how to get them off point and minimize the amount of help needed to do so. I have had some success with Temporal Curtain, Gravity Well (sometimes x2), and Phantasmal Warden which allow me to move onto point, hit them with Illusionary Wave, and diversion if possible. All their blocks require so much precision atm but I think that this current setup has promise.

Although I have already tried much of what you suggested, if you can think of anything else, I would like to know. I have played about 18 matches and I like the way it feels in play, but since I cannot get on a steady team, as far as solo goes, so far so good, imho.
Again, thanks for replying.

the problem with another assumption is that you can stay at range
you cant
thief will shadow step/steal/shadow shot to you
guard will JI or wing of R to you or pull you with spear so it will be hard for you to be in range so while they can pressure you, your effectiveness will drop down fast to the point of being useless

if no thief or DH around or you are not being targeted than you can do ok with this build and concept

so far for me i have played versus 3 necros team and usually 2 necros and had no problem with knight amulet
the sword is really helpful in melee trap with evade and also good with rip boon with AA

your concept is really close to mine but i have 3k armor and 17k hp

messiah.1908:

the problem with another assumption is that you can stay at range
you cant
thief will shadow step/steal/shadow shot to you
guard will JI or wing of R to you or pull you with spear so it will be hard for you to be in range so while they can pressure you, your effectiveness will drop down fast to the point of being useless

if no thief or DH around or you are not being targeted than you can do ok with this build and concept

so far for me i have played versus 3 necros team and usually 2 necros and had no problem with knight amulet
the sword is really helpful in melee trap with evade and also good with rip boon with AA

your concept is really close to mine but i have 3k armor and 17k hp

After looking at your build, there are a number of similarities. Currently staying with paladins amulet which approximates to 2.5k in armor and 22k in health.

As far as kiting goes, not having any trouble with ranged; even with thieves and their first strike(shadow shot /shadow step/steal), I have been able to use distortion or illusionary counter and/or gravity well (with continuum split sometimes after gravity well/ blink I’ll be moved back to original casting locale for additional mobility – “double blink” so to speak), and then blink away to keep them off of me. In team fights thieves can get pesky, but most I have been encountering have disengaged (keep moving) quickly after you don’t go down in 2 o 3 hits and moved out of melee.
Its been 2 necros, or 2 dhs, or 2 druids + whatever on almost all my current matches. So far, the only real issues I have encountered are dhs and their seemingly endless supply of blocks/cleanses/heals/trap. I can get them off long enough sometimes to decap whatever they are sitting on, but defeating on outright has been a chore. That’s the primary reason I have been avoiding sword/shield because once memser enters melee against dh (can’t avoid them they are everywhere atm), I feel like its at an extreme disadvantage. So that’s why I have been tinkering around with various other possibilities. Any other suggestions would be welcomed! Thanks again for your reply!