Guild Wars 2

I’ve started using it in spvp. Haven’t tried it in wvw yet. With my build I really don’t need mass invis for escapes or whatever, and I think I just forgot about moa. In wvw I’m not so sure, mass invis can really help me and my buddy avoid trouble or get the jump on people.

In spvp though, I really like it so far and I think I’m sticking with moa. So far I have moa’d a lich, which was very satisfying, and other times I basically save it for when a 1v1 becomes a 1v2. Moa the newcomer or moa the first guy I was fighting and switch to newcomer. In that way it’s worked great. I refuse to use it 1v1 unless they pop their elite because it feels too dirty :P. It’s also great when you show up to a team fight in mid or something. Just moa the most annoying guy.

As far as landing it goes, I don’t see it as being much different from landing any skill with a cast time, you just have to pay attention to dodges and/or set it up, for instance land a CI daze and then moa; I’ve had zero problems landing it (as always the disclaimer: this is solo q and I’m not pro ((I’m already “pro” at my real job :P))).

Overall, in spvp, I’m now a convert to moa, I love it. Thanks for opening the discussion, otherwise I might have just stayed with mass invis out of habit!

Nice, that inspires me to give it some more time. Maybe my Mass Invisibility habits are just preventing me from properly adapting to using Moa, but everytime I pick it I instantly miss my Invis stomps/rezzes/escapes.

And it was Dondagora’s idea to start a discussion on it, I hadn’t even given Moa much thought before then!

Pardon me for slightly derailing the Moa topic. But I’m wondering how other “lockdown/interrupt” Mesmer’s are doing in Solo Arena’s in sPvP. Because I’m really struggling as of the last couple of weeks.

It seems like I’m lucky to win 1 out of 10 anymore. (Granted, most of those 9 loses are usually the result of being on the short end of a 5vs4 matchup, but that’s a separate issue). For me, I think the biggest issue is simply not being able to do enough damage fast enough. I can hold my own, but most of the time I simply cannot finish the job before help arrives. (Either for me or for them.)

In team, fights I know the lockdown builds really helpout. A perfectly timed interrupt, easily swings the momentum in our favor. But solo, I’m just struggling to take the enemy out.

It just seems like everyone in Solo Arena’s is running a more bunker type build, and I’m having trouble with these guys. I just can’t put out the damage. Here’s what I’m running.. http://tinyurl.com/puj5zqn

I swap out different runes, swap pistol in, focus out and try to up my damage from match to match and have I’ll have success one match and then nothing the next. I usually go back to Travelers, because when kitten hits the fan, its the best way to get away. That its hard to go back to normal Mesmer speed. Aaagh!

Here’s some of the things I think I need to improve on..
1. Maybe I just shatter too fast and need to give my Phantoms more time to do their job?
2. MoRecovery is great for managing conditions w/Harmonious Mantra’s and Mender’s Purity. But in the middle of fights, and MoR needs to be recharged. I need to break away to recharge it and that gives the other guy time to recover as well. If I had the burst of a shatter build, MoR would be great. But in a prolonged fight, it can become a liability. .
3. Maybe, just maybe, I suck!!!

NOTE: On the build link, If I run Travelers I will use pistol instead of focus. If I’m trying Strength Runes or Pack or Ogre, I run with Focus.

Hi Slim – just some thoughts on your build there. This is what I would do:

• Ditch traveler runes for any of the ones you mentioned as it’s really gimping your damage. Ogre is going to get you close to the most overall damage, and stregth/pack are really solid. Also, pirate runes are decent – that bird really packs a punch.
• For mobility, between blink and phase retreat/forward, you should have plenty to make up for the loss of traveler’s.
• Swap mender’s purity for halting strike. If that’s all you did, it would be a big damage improvement if you’re good at landing interrupts. Alternatively, you could go for empowered illusions or mental torment, both decent damage boosts.
• Use mantra of resolve instead of arcane thievery. The three condition cleanses should be more than enough and you cleanse your team with them as well
• Swap master of manipulation with debilitating dissipation. Weakness is one of the most powerful conditions in the game and can save you in 1v1 fights. In addition, the vulnerability is very nice with bleeds as an extra damage bonus. With vuln from this trait and illusion of vulnerability (assuming the 10 in domination), you’re going to be able to keep up at least 5 stacks on your opponents – that’s 5% extra damage you’re doing to them.
• Swap far reaching manipulations for phantasmal fury. I can’t stress this one enough. If you want to do more damage, give your phantasms a chance to inflict the most they can with the traits you have here.
• With the mantra/manipulation skill changes I suggested, I would go with ether feast for heals, giving you two mantras to maintain (MoDis and MoRes).

The moa morph is not better than mass invis,I think stomp preventer/stealth ress/stealth stomp/surprise buttsex/90 cd is better than 1 time elite skill preventer with 180cd.

I did tried in the last week the new optimazion with menders purity and harmonic mantras,and I got to say that I been struggling alot,it seems im more focused on getting my mantras up than dmging the opponet.The heal spike is low,and in a fight,and especially when you using interupt build when you have to time your every move/skill correctly,adding the mantra heal is just make it even harder.And above all,you will not have protection on regen which is remarkly helpful for survival.

@skcamow Thanks a lot for the help. I had just recently switch Mender’s Purity for Halting Strike, just didn’t give enough time to work on it I guess. (Taking Mantra of Resolve over Arcane Thievery, as well)

Per your suggestion I did grab Debilitating Dissipation and Runes of the Pirate. I kept the long range manipulation, because that extra range just adds SO MUCH to Blink. What a difference! I think the Pirate Runes and Debilitating Dissipation were the boost the build needed. Of course, I just may have gotten in a streak of good matchups. But I definitely saw a difference in my play.

Sandrox.9524:

The moa morph is not better than mass invis,I think stomp preventer/stealth ress/stealth stomp/surprise buttsex/90 cd is better than 1 time elite skill preventer with 180cd.

I did tried in the last week the new optimazion with menders purity and harmonic mantras,and I got to say that I been struggling alot,it seems im more focused on getting my mantras up than dmging the opponet.The heal spike is low,and in a fight,and especially when you using interrupt build when you have to time your every move/skill correctly,adding the mantra heal is just make it even harder.And above all,you will not have protection on regen which is remarkly helpful for survival.

I get censored for typing “as” before “shatter” and you get to type surprise buttsex!?

Ah well, as for the build yeah it’s actually been somewhat rough for me to adjust to it as well; its much less durable than a 30 Chaos lockdown build and as a result plays like a glassy shatter build defensively. Since a lot of the interrupts have good range, I’m thinking the build lends itself better to using a greatsword and maybe pistol (the two weapons I use the least. -_- )

The heal mantra took me a bit to get the hang of as well, but I found that at first I spent too much time trying to use it the same times/way that I would use Ether Feast. It works very differently, and the three charges actually make for a really good heal/cleanse in a build that specialized on not getting hit… the only problem is having to recharge, which can get cumbersome in a teamfight.

As for Moa, I’m still on the fence. I was ready to go crawling back to Mass Invis but this weekend I ended up getting some excellent Moas off that swung entire fights around. I think the skill is much better suited for tPvP than sPvP since in tournaments every person’s every decision has a more significant impact on the impact of the game. I still love Mass Invis the most, but it turns out Moa isn’t too bad.

All in all it still needs tweaks and is definitely imperfect in it’s current form, but the heavy lockdown shows a lot of promise. I reeallyyy like mixing Signet of Domination (with a para sigil) into a build though, and the problem is that it’s hard to mix Dom Signet and Daze Mantra in a single build without grabbing some alternate form of condi removal, thus why I opted for the Mantra+Mender’s Purity.

Also interesting: Soldier’s Amulet CI lockdown mes. o_O Warlord of Chaos mentioned it to me as a sorta bunker/lockdown and I dabbled with it a bit… was surprisingly effective.

I also use Soldier’s, actually, though have been getting into Berserker’s.

On another note, I tried out a PU-Lockdown build I cooked up. I don’t think it will work well. It isn’t particularly bad, per se, but more so it just takes a lot of managing with both the stealths and the dazes. Perhaps it isn’t meant to be, but I’m thinking the skill-cap might just be too high.
Or, I just haven’t played it enough.
What do you guys think of the idea of PU-Lockdowns?

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAW7cl0npRt1oxYNcrNipxY6bipGSFQpHZ8FA-TJhFwAAeCAJuIATLDwb/BA

PU Lockdown can be (kinda) done. The major issue is you’re losing CI, which is a hella fun trait for Lockdowns. Otherwise, you’re running a similar set to what I’ve been screwing around with lately. Although, I remove Veil in lieu of the signet o’ stun, and generally roll with GS/Staff.

Been running this for the last few days:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAraWlknpMt1oxBNcrNitxY6OiIDUO0RlMghB-TVjAABXoEMhHEwfnAgY0FAwRAAHNEPY+K6DBALaBoe/hTV/RMlQQp8JAACgje0je0jGSBAzaA-w

This build is heavy interrupt punishment while keeping the enemy in range of the staff clones. The staff clones bleed and burn often. To make the burn tick twice I had to buy a 16.5 gold sigil of malice 10% all condis, and smoldering a 5 silver sigil 20% burn. If you look at the tool tip on the staff auto attack it says 1 3/4 sec burn but it does indeed tick twice.

Play style: Though not good at chasing it’s best to harass others until they commit to the fight with pistol and scepter. Confusion is stacked with the channeled skill and staff is swapped in. Dodge generates the clones while watching for telegraphed skills to interrupt via mantra of distraction and the signet skill. All the bouncing attacks from you and the clones grant big stacks of might and bleed burn on your foe. Once your at about 50% health stand in your chaos field for the full duration this will block at least 2 heavy attacks and grants more boons, heal up and they should be dead by this point. If they run swap back to pistol for the stun and recharge your mantra. The last gap closer you have is the long range blink.

Staff auto chain is the main source of damage, other weapons can be used to the same effect with this build. Great sword will benefit from the extra bounce and give more range. sword/focus will give 2 more sources of stun/interrupt. Off hand sword is the only weapon with no use here.

Hey Lockdowns!

I’ve been playing a few different lockdown builds posted here (mostly Mind Crush and Chillruption) in sPvP with varying amounts of success. I’m still getting used to the playstyle in general but find it pretty interesting.

I was curious, however, what you all think of this build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAraRl0npMt1oxQNcrNiphY6bxydqqkOwhBA-TJhBwAAOFACeCAjLDwc/BA

The idea here is to get guaranteed dazes/stuns from pistol while also having a pretty good phantasm for proccing Sharper Images at a distance. iBerserker is used for AoE damage while GS #5 can proc AoE Halting Strikes and stack boons through BI.

The big downsides I see with the build are escaping (I am tied to Blink only).

What’re your thoughts? I am trying to make a solid Power focused interrupt build that does not rely on Sword MH.

Thanks!

Veruah.5302:

I was curious, however, what you all think of this build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAraRl0npMt1oxQNcrNiphY6bxydqqkOwhBA-TJhBwAAOFACeCAjLDwc/BA

The idea here is to get guaranteed dazes/stuns from pistol while also having a pretty good phantasm for proccing Sharper Images at a distance.

You don’t have Sharper Images. That’s Dueling 3. I’m seeing 6/0/6/2/0 in your link… Is this the right build?

Kadj.6725:

Veruah.5302:

I was curious, however, what you all think of this build:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAraRl0npMt1oxQNcrNiphY6bxydqqkOwhBA-TJhBwAAOFACeCAjLDwc/BA

The idea here is to get guaranteed dazes/stuns from pistol while also having a pretty good phantasm for proccing Sharper Images at a distance.

You don’t have Sharper Images. That’s Dueling 3. I’m seeing 6/0/6/2/0 in your link… Is this the right build?

Gah. Yes it is the correct build, I just kitten ed and thought for some reason I had picked up SI. The core traits I am trying to build around are Chaotic Interruption and Confounding Suggestions.

Ignore the SI comment.

That’s an interesting build Veruah. I ran something similar before, but with 2 in Dueling rather than inspiration.

Out of curiosity… why scepter over sword? Also, with the focus you have on chill (and Mantra of Recovery), you’ll probably benefit more from Runes of Grenth than Runes of the Mesmer, but there will be a slight damage drop to gain the AoE chill-on-heal.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

That’s an interesting build Veruah. I ran something similar before, but with 2 in Dueling rather than inspiration.

Out of curiosity… why scepter over sword? Also, with the focus you have on chill (and Mantra of Recovery), you’ll probably benefit more from Runes of Grenth than Runes of the Mesmer, but there will be a slight damage drop to gain the AoE chill-on-heal.

As for the weapon choice, mostly because I do not like the functionality of iLeap and was going for a more ranged focused build. Also the block on scepter gives a form of defense on the main hand that isn’t as dangerous to use as Blurred Frenzy, with the whole killing yourself on Retaliation thing. I’m not necessarily married to scepter though.

While I really like the chill-on-heal thing with Runes of Grenth, I would be dropping a lot of Power and Precision. Do you think I would be better served taking a condi focused amulet/armor load out (Rabid? Carrion?) and switching GS for Staff, focusing more on condi damage?

Hi guys,

I haven’t played in a while.
So i’m curios is 20/20/30 with CI is good right now?
I played this build with GS/sw+sw and it was pretty cool. Now i wonder if anything changed for Lockdown?

Crap! Sorry guys, I didn’t notice the replies earlier.

*@Veruah: You know, I’ve actually never tried that. Skcamow and StickerHappy would be able to give better feedback on a condition variant.

@Douman: 20/20/30 (Now known as 4/4/6) still works pretty well, but it fell out of use in high-end play in favor of Shatter.. again. x_x

Also guys, I’m going to be working on another guide to help newer lockdown players get into the swing of things, complete with videos! (Once again, you rock skcamow. MSI Afterburner is the truth)

If anyone could give their opinion/feedback on facing specific classes and builds it’d be much appreciated. Right now I’ve gotten

DPS Guard, Longbow Ranger, Power Necro, D/D – S/D – Staff Elementalist,

pretty well sorted, but theres plenty more work to be done and any and all assistance would be appreciated, feel free to post your experiences here

Oooooohhh! I can’t wait fore that guide!

Yarr

So guys… AOE-freakin daze mantra!

I’m stupid hype for this, and mostly because of being able to save people from Stomps/Rezzes has become significantly easier. This may also (fingers-crossed) help push lockdown Mesmer back into the high-end pvp meta.

.. Though then again, I’m not sure if that last part is a good thing. Right now, lockdown Mesmer is a pretty exclusive club with not many of us around. While I don’t think it’d outshine shatter, I’d be somewhat bummed if we became commonplace (bummed in a selfish kind of way =P)

Also, the possibility of Imbued Diversion rising up? I could maybe see it.

OH! It’s also worth it to keep in mind that sticking MoDistraction in a standard shatter build definitely is a thing. And it works pretty well. Anyone play like this?

Well, Chaos. I’d think with all the QQers about PU, we’d want a few more lockdown Mesmers around. I just know I’ve now got some new toys for my hybrid or condi lockdown setups.
And yes; Frigging AoE Daze Mantra. That with BI/CI should be plenty of fun.

Currently testing a very odd standard shatter taking 0/4/4/0/6 with fully traited manipulations and BI. 25 might stacks is real on node fights due to Chaos Storm and GS knockback. With this spread, you have the most bursty shatter you can get in a shatter build damage wise, very difficult to match in a standard shatter, but you also risk not getting interrupts to push you that high and as a result, pushing lower DPS. You lose shattered concentration but try to make up for it with arcane thievery/null field/nullification sigils as much as possible.

Using MoD in this build has some real potential, and I’ll be trying it.

If it’s not 4/4/0/0/6 then isn’kitten nonstandard shatter? o_O

And in your experience has the added damage been worth the loss of Shattered Concentration?

Eh. I want to say 0/4/4/0/6 was the “original” Condishatter, Chaos. (Not to crap on a Rabid-geared 4/4/0/0/6, mind you.) In my experience using it, you’d better have enough durability to survive with 0/4/4/0/6, considering you’re losing out on good Vuln stacking and Boon destruction.
Although, working IE might just close the damage gap a reasonable amount. Let the Staff-ies sling for a bit, then break ‘em on a guy’s face.

Yeah shattered concentration is a big loss obviously but in 1v1 AT can be better depending. Node fights you miss it a lot, but commonly you’re not trying to AoE strip (you do that RnG really), you’re trying to get boons off a specific player. Shattered concentration does this so easily and a near endless supply through shatters. AT provides some condition removal and allows you to steal what you want, when you want. If you can get fury with 20+ might, watch out.

I’ll also note it’s a lot more tanky than standard shatter due to the +200 toughness and greater access to protection/regeneration. I’m also playing with confusing cry (gasp!) in Illusions since you lose your primary reason to F2 in standard shatter, which is boon strip. Now I get retaliation out of it, which, believe it or not, can somewhat deter spammy skills. Haven’t determined if it’s totally worth giving up compounding power or precise wrack though.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

So guys… AOE-freakin daze mantra!

Shiny!

Chaos Archangel.5071:

This may also (fingers-crossed) help push lockdown Mesmer back into the high-end pvp meta.

I don’t really think so. Why would it help? In the rare occasion where two people try to stomp an ally without protecting their stomp? I see the value in WvW fights where many people stack in a rather small radius. I’m thinking of a 2/6/6 or 2/6/4/2 CC heavy build with Mod, CI and MoP for trolling zergs. I can also see 4/0/6/4 builds which take Restorative Mantras over HM to provide a bit of healing in trade for some CC. For PvP, not so much.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

Also, the possibility of Imbued Diversion rising up? I could maybe see it.

I don’t see a great synergy between those traits. Actually, for me personally the MoD buff might have put the nail in the coffin of ID. Why torture yourself with the uncertainty of the clones actually hitting your target if you can pick a Mantra?

Xaylin.1860:

Chaos Archangel.5071:

Also, the possibility of Imbued Diversion rising up? I could maybe see it.

I don’t see a great synergy between those traits. Actually, for me personally the MoD buff might have put the nail in the coffin of ID. Why torture yourself with the uncertainty of the clones actually hitting your target if you can pick a Mantra?

Very niche, like the build in my signature. It will get a nice buff, really only for pug zergs.

skcamow.3527:

Very niche, like the build in my signature. It will get a nice buff, really only for pug zergs.

The thing is that a 2/6/6 build with Mantras will do a way better job when it comes to the interrupt part of your build. Granted, with your specific set up you will either lose your condition removal, your stunbreaker or the ability to share boons.

Xaylin.1860:

skcamow.3527:

Very niche, like the build in my signature. It will get a nice buff, really only for pug zergs.

The thing is that a 2/6/6 build with Mantras will do a way better job when it comes to the interrupt part of your build. Granted, with your specific set up you will either lose your condition removal, your stunbreaker or the ability to share boons.

Could be with the new AoE daze, will have to see how it plays.

I just recently used this build but I am in two minds about Mental Torment (been using shatter builds) vs Halting Strike. The damage in halting strike is low compared to mental torment or am i wrong?

Loki.8034:

I just recently used this build but I am in two minds about Mental Torment (been using shatter builds) vs Halting Strike. The damage in halting strike is low compared to mental torment or am i wrong?

Halting strike is easily pulling off 1k+ (critical or not) hits (have hit up to 3k on soft berserker specs). Halting strike damage also acts as more of an incentive (to me at least) to time interrupts and chain them together.

Also more likely to land interrupts in regards to how often you can interrupt vs the recharge of Mind Wrack (seeing as you have to many sources when it comes to interrupting skills).

I’d like to know the real answer to this too though if someone else can input, I’ve never invested much thought into mental torment myself, I’ve always taken halting strike even in shatter builds.

kylwilson.9137:

Loki.8034:

I just recently used this build but I am in two minds about Mental Torment (been using shatter builds) vs Halting Strike. The damage in halting strike is low compared to mental torment or am i wrong?

Halting strike is easily pulling off 1k+ (critical or not) hits (have hit up to 3k on soft berserker specs). Halting strike damage also acts as more of an incentive (to me at least) to time interrupts and chain them together.

Also more likely to land interrupts in regards to how often you can interrupt vs the recharge of Mind Wrack (seeing as you have to many sources when it comes to interrupting skills).

I’d like to know the real answer to this too though if someone else can input, I’ve never invested much thought into mental torment myself, I’ve always taken halting strike even in shatter builds.

Ah, think of Halting Strike this way, although low dmg scaling, you have one more source of damage. Mental torment boosts a source that you already have.
Based from numerous testing, Halting strike scales really funky so you would often have like 1.2k-2.5k range damage from it or sometimes higher but it does not give you like a definite number. For mental torment, it is a sure 20% boost.

Wanted to give some criticisms on this build:

Ecanus.6807:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAR8dlknpGtlpxUNcrNipRY674cSHcMUqSA

After more trials and if you guys think its a good build I might even make a thread calling it Pure-ruption. Since it has both CI and CS, which is the staples of any interrupt build. I also like to think of this as the have your cake and eat it to build. In order to counter act the fact that you are missing DE and IC I took greatsword training, so I have faster clone generation and not to mention Zerker. Here is where this build shines, so many of you were complaining that Interrupt doesn’t dps like a shatter build. Well this build does it better. Like a phantasm build you will be relying on your phantasms to do MASSIVE spike damage. This is because you will be combining CS stun and daze with wastrels to max damage. This is where things really get interesting. By sacrificing IC and DE, then you get to have CI as well. This guarantee’s that whoever got interrupted is immobilized and with BI you also have Might. So whoever is caught must blow a stun breaker and or condi cleanse, so they can get away from all that dps they are about to get from Zerker and Halting strike combined. Even if they survive it’s a heal also blown. This is where sword + focus becomes deadly. You have TWO immobilize with ileap and CI from curtain’s pull. This means a whole group will be forced to sit and take wardens aoe, unless they are up to blow another stun breaker/ condi cleanse. Even if somehow they come out alive. They literally are sitting ducks under so much pressure, probably panicking, and greatsword training has you ready for round 2. Obviously MoD is a requirement for when your curtain and wave don’t work out for you, or those pesky heals, which if timed right means game over. You don’t have to worry about clone generation because your spikes wont come from mind wrack, so that you can keep zerker and warden up for max damage like a phantasm build. You guys starting to see why I call it the have my cake and eat it too build. You don’t have to worry about your phantasms being killed cuz with your timed interrupts and blink you should be able to kite and line of sight most players. With BI and Phantasmal Fury you always have a chance to have might and fury to cut down on health. Not to mention all the vulnerability you can put on them, such as debilitating dissipation(would never leave out those clones). Going into chaos turns this glassy build into one that can last long enough to kill your opponent and interrupt them from giving you damage in the first place.

Now for the nuances. Just because we are using phantasms for our real damage. Doesn’t mean you skimp on shatters when you need to. With so many ways to immobilize we can utilize might and fury procs from BI for some heavy mind spike damage. Not to mention diversion with halting strikes procs, which may lead to more immobilization for another chance at zerker and warden finish. I use null field because I am not comfortable with 2 mantras atm with such a situation based build as an interrupt. Arcane thievery can get the job done I suppose, but chaos armor and confusion from null field could come in handy with warden ileap, and zerker. With mind stab that allows us 2 boon strips, and one condition cleanse. Wait did you guys forget about warden and temporal curtain cleanse. :-) Now about that moa vs. mass invis issue. I choose mass because it is on a shorter cd. This allows me to make it a multi purpose tool, which is for rezz/stomp/disengage with blink/ or my favorite recast MoD.

So guys this is my first post PLZ critique away(constructively). GO MEZ!!!

Love the enthusiasm. =D

The build is interesting; it’s a very high skill spec that requires near-perfect execution, and that alone tends to intimidate people away from trying CI+CS. While some may see it tripping over itself a bit ( 1s Stun + Immob) I really enjoy getting the benefits of both grandmasters, plus the boons from Bountiful Interruption. As you said it can do hella damage when played properly and the Phantasms can really wreck things.

What you’ve got here is something I’ve tried before with only one trait (Dom X) different. In my experience, this build works pretty well as a 1v1/Dueling build but starts to struggle in groups. You can’t shatter as often without IP and you don’t have as good defense. If you get focused its night-night, as well as having trouble once too many AoEs start decimating your Phants.

I’d recommend swapping out Domination X with VII (Shattered Concentration). Shattered Concentration is crucial for stripping boons (GS 2 + Mindspike + [F2]Shatter) and would benefit you better than greatsword. Have ya ever tried 6/6/2 with Furious Interruption? I’ve got some interesting results from that.

Also.. Wastrels Punishment does nothing. =P

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQJAWRlsnpMtdqxGNcrNipBZ6bEjcg6xcmlSqAA-TFCEAB2pLQQlgYq+zx7PolyPAOQAHcJAc+JAEAABY36GdezArX9qX9qX9MexLexLexTIAFzBA-w

This is a hybrid lockdown mes. It is using the new torment on shatter trait and i think it could be very strong. It has torment pressure and huge amounts of hard and soft CC. Unfortunately you are limited in your shatter out put by lack of DE, but like shatter lock it has the potential to be a powerful build.

Sadrien.3470:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQJAWRlsnpMtdqxGNcrNipBZ6bEjcg6xcmlSqAA-TFCEAB2pLQQlgYq+zx7PolyPAOQAHcJAc+JAEAABY36GdezArX9qX9qX9MexLexLexTIAFzBA-w

This is a hybrid lockdown mes. It is using the new torment on shatter trait and i think it could be very strong. It has torment pressure and huge amounts of hard and soft CC. Unfortunately you are limited in your shatter out put by lack of DE, but like shatter lock it seems to still be a powerful build.

Throw in some condition removal and shatter without clone on dodge…hmm well its a hybrid so maybe it works, have you tried the build?

not a bad build though I’d run carrion over celestial, more condi more power and precision doesn’t really benefit you too much since you have no vigor on crit or illusion bleed on crit.

@ flufferz i linked it as celestials as it is tankier and is more balanced than a mainly condi build ( because high cleanses are a problem in wvw so you need some dps. as this is wvw the toughness is also important) but i appreciate your advice. I find celestials to deal more power damage than carrion ( testing outside of this build ) and have more health the only problem i find is that the condi pressure is lower.

Edit: this is the build i normally use( http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAR8dlknpMtdqxRNcrNCvxcyN+A15k0RlMgbB-TZBHwAAuAABOIADeCAl2foZZAA), I dont have anything for wvw on my mes yet and lvled complete through spvp, not entirely on him though.

@ jenzie this build is not a build i have tested , lol, it is just supposed to be an idea that i have seen people run builds similar too, mostly they play zerker and ip with confounding suggestions. Also know as Chaos’ build of the month submission, shatter lock. I can not test it as i dont have celestial gear.

Hey guys, this is something I’ve been playing on for a while on sPvP. As of now it seems ok to me, even though it has its weakness (lack of condi removal and boon strip) but in general I’ve been enjoying it. I know there’s room for improvement so that’s why I’m sharing it here.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsaWnsISDaWhG2oB3aGx0QQ1bSHIygSXa1CA

The build is pretty flexible, I personally prefer staff over GS because I see higher surviveability with it, but with GS you can be a little more offensive and you get a boon strip which can remove that stability from lich necros.

I’ve tried changing Harmonious Mantras to either of the other two grandmaster trait but from experience one more interrupt is worth more than the distortion (with no reflect) or a random quickness. Power block is also an option for the domination line, but I stick to the Confounding Suggestions.

Open for suggestions, good or bad.

Just another fun tPvP build to throw out there. Phantasm lockdown.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAR8ansISjaWjGOoB3aGx0IM9bcOpDSiKVJA-TZBCwAAuAA+3f4yBBIcZAGPBAA

If you’re good at timing interrupts, this destroys everything except turret engi, and can struggle against Ele with stab unless you understand how to bait them. Some matchups require more skill and anticipation than others (ie vs thief, ele).

Open with GS to get the berserker out (and GS 2/3 for dmg), switch to S/P for first duelist. If you’re confident and playing against someone with no stab (ie necro), pop the heal and get a 2nd duelist out immediately. Hit them with MB for a 2.6s stun (sigil +30% duration). When they break it follow with dom signet 3.9s stun (watch for dodges out of the break). If they don’t break it just chain them and its GG. If they break it with stab or damage immunity, wait it out with decoy and MI while your phantasms do their thing. If they live through that, watch for dodges then anticipate and interrupt the heal with mantra. Don’t be afraid to use your heal to refresh phantasms if needed… those things do nasty damage with this build.

Timing is super important. If you land everything, or most of it, with proper CI procs then you should win and induce a ragequit or map chat QQ. If you miss your stun chains and dazes then you might be in trouble.

In a team fight, start s/p and get 2 duelists up away from the point and then camp GS until you have the opportunity to chain stun/daze a target for an easy kill. Always try to dom signet in the s/p set. Save dazes to get kills via heal rupts, or to stop stomps.

Bumping for the lockdown goodness. I’ve been alternating between GS/Staff shatter and GS/Staff 4/4/6 lockdown. Shatter is fun, and a bit easier to handle. But I honestly love the monstrous hits from the iWarlock with CI/BI.

10k mage strike into a 4.2k halting strike? Always and forever. That’s happening while he’s immobilized, and just sitting inside a chaos storm. It’s just rude. Mindwrack for the finish.

I’m also not saying one is better than the other. But I hear a lot about Lockdown really lacking shatter’s burst. I think it just takes more finesse. I almost exclusively pull out the warlock after a chain diversion, and they’re not as hard to set up as you think. It’s become pretty key to my rotation that I might switch far-reaching manipulations out for Phantasmal Fury to ensure the crit. I’m intrigued by the Superior Sigil of Intelligence, but I don’t believe in diversion with the GS then switching to staff.

Hello !

I’ve been recently thinking about a Lockdown build, because it’s so much fun to play. I really want to play Sword / Sword as no one play this exept in PvE. I really like the surviability you have with either Sword 2 and Sword 4. Plus, you can daze with Sword 4 if the guy isn’t attacking. Also, the iSwordman hit like a truck and follow the target.

I want to roam with a build like this. I didn’t try the build yet because I’m still working on it.

Link >> http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAR8clknpNtlpxGNcrNipxY6biJHSGQDlslxB-TpBFABCcBAY4IAUy+DUXGotDCAAPAAA

It’s a mixed Lockdown & Shatter build, or at least I tried to do so. I’m kinda thinking about switching Arcane Thievery for Decoy, MoResolve, or even Mirror Image for insane instant burst (after one interrupt for example, F3 then Mirror Image + F1 because the guy is immobilized) or MoPain (good amount of damage, but two mantra is hard, and I lack surviability).

What do you think ? I love playing Lockdown and if I played correctly it’s really fun and good. I want to lockdown aka imobilize into a great shatter burst.

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Chance.2365:

Hello !

I’ve been recently thinking about a Lockdown build, because it’s so much fun to play. I really want to play Sword / Sword as no one play this exept in PvE. I really like the surviability you have with either Sword 2 and Sword 4. Plus, you can daze with Sword 4 if the guy isn’t attacking. Also, the iSwordman hit like a truck and follow the target.

I want to roam with a build like this. I didn’t try the build yet because I’m still working on it.

Link >> http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAR8clknpNtlpxGNcrNipxY6biJHSGQDlslxB-TpBFABCcBAY4IAUy+DUXGotDCAAPAAA

It’s a mixed Lockdown & Shatter build, or at least I tried to do so. I’m kinda thinking about switching Arcane Thievery for Decoy, MoResolve, or even Mirror Image for insane instant burst (after one interrupt for example, F3 then Mirror Image + F1 because the guy is immobilized) or MoPain (good amount of damage, but two mantra is hard, and I lack surviability).

What do you think ? I love playing Lockdown and if I played correctly it’s really fun and good. I want to lockdown aka imobilize into a great shatter burst.

Hey,
I’m a big fan of dual swords aswell. I played GS/Sw+Sw as lockdown way back when I was in shatter rehab, and recently as a “brawler” just for fun in WvW.
You really want double energy sigils with those weapons, or atleast in one sword.

Also iSwordsman hits hard. It basically does untraited Mind Wracks worth of damage every 5 or so seconds, so you don’t really wanna shatter him for damage most of the times. I don’t really do sPvP, but I guess his lifespan isn’t too impressive on points.

Double cooldown reductions help dual swords a lot. 7s on #3 and 9s on #4 will up your defense quite a bit, but I don’t think it’s worth losing CI and BI for.

What do you guys think about focus for lockdown. I’ve tried all, sword, focus and pistol. Its kinda if you want to take focus for swiftness and AoE interrupt or sword for 1v1 situations. What do you prefer?

You don’t have to lose Ci & BI for Sword Training, because it’s on Dueling line. I have both on the linked build. Yep, iSwordman is not meant to be shattered anyway !
I wanted to try Shatter/Lockdown build because of Chaotic Interruption’s root in synergy with shatter burst.

Focus is super strong for lockdown. I even think it’s better than the OH sword, because of the pull. In WvW roaming, I guess it’s better, but I really wanna try the dual sword :p

Chance.2365:

You don’t have to lose Ci & BI for Sword Training, because it’s on Dueling line. I have both on the linked build. Yep, iSwordman is not meant to be shattered anyway !
I wanted to try Shatter/Lockdown build because of Chaotic Interruption’s root in synergy with shatter burst.

Double cooldown reductions. Blade Training and Illusionist’s Celerity stack, lowering your #3, #4 and #5 to 7, 9 and 12 second cooldowns.

edit: You also dont have any shatter traits apart from Shattered Concentration, so I wouldn’t call that a shatter build.

Omnio.3652:

What do you guys think about focus for lockdown. I’ve tried all, sword, focus and pistol. Its kinda if you want to take focus for swiftness and AoE interrupt or sword for 1v1 situations. What do you prefer?

Personally, I always run Lockdown with Focus. I’ll take Line Cripple & AoE Pull over Line Daze any day. The extra speed from Curtain’s just icing on the cake, really. Now, if we could just convince ANet to remove that silly lil’ Pull-timer …

Noss.4105:

Double cooldown reductions. Blade Training and Illusionist’s Celerity stack, lowering your #3, #4 and #5 to 7, 9 and 12 second cooldowns.

edit: You also dont have any shatter traits apart from Shattered Concentration, so I wouldn’t call that a shatter build.

Oh ok, I see. I though the #4 blade was broken when you stack those two !
Yes, it’s principally a Lockdown build, but as I said I’m trying to work on a synergy between the two. You seems to know better than me on the subject, what would you change in the build to be more effective ?

Chance.2365:

Noss.4105:

Double cooldown reductions. Blade Training and Illusionist’s Celerity stack, lowering your #3, #4 and #5 to 7, 9 and 12 second cooldowns.

edit: You also dont have any shatter traits apart from Shattered Concentration, so I wouldn’t call that a shatter build.

Oh ok, I see. I though the #4 blade was broken when you stack those two !
Yes, it’s principally a Lockdown build, but as I said I’m trying to work on a synergy between the two. You seems to know better than me on the subject, what would you change in the build to be more effective ?

The ingame tooltips don’t show the double reduction, but they’re there.

I would swap fire and hydromancy for energy sigils, Debilitating Dissipation for Master of Manipulation and runes for probably Travelers/Pack/Mesmer.
I personally prefer Mantra of Resolve over Arcane Thievery, but with lockdown my utilities are Decoy, Blink and MoD, so usually I don’t have any condi cleanse. But that’s just me.

Just take your build for a spin and start tweaking it to your liking as you go. 4/4/6/0/0 is really good trait setup for lockdown, and most traits are no brainers.

I am so sick of shatter that I’ve been having fun with interrupt builds recently, my fav so far is a double ranged, I run:

Scept/pistol staff zerkers travellers a/f a/f (you can replace the staff with GS, but I find the defense and ranged daze of staff negates it’s lower damage)

6/6/0/2/0 Halting Strike, Shattered Concentration, CS
Far-reaching, Duelist Discipline, HM
Mender Purity

It’s pretty fun, in team fights I stay at 1200 range (with phantasms strategically placed at far range to not die easily) and I have a plethora of interrupts with 3 power locks, staff 5, pistol 5, and diversion which all are dazes and have chances to stun b/c of CS

I only shatter to remove important enemy boons, quick burst, or distortion so I don’t find I need deceptive evasion with this play style because it kills my strategically placed phantasms when I need to dodge something.

so at range I have phants for sustain, interrupts for burst and denial, and air/’fire on both weapons for more burst at range.

I have the defense of the staff and the block on scepter ( which btw is a very underestimated power weapon, 3 on it does a really nice burst and the block damage can get huge)

and the biggest bonus IMO is the CONDI REMOVAL. 6 condis gone with a click 2 by 2. I can’t be fear spammed, I can’t be CC spammed, it has aided my survival sooo much and feels sooo good; the CD is extremely low., only downside is recharging mantras which I use LOS and invis to do.

cons: thieves will kill you more easily than if you were playing gs/ s/t shatter, because your main source of damage can’t easily be summoned when you’re perma blinded (phantasms) and you lack the extra invis from torch. Ironically, gs s/t shatters have been murdering me as well, again because of the extra invis and sudden burst that 1 shots.

Also not as good of AoE over shatter obviously, and lacks the portal over power lock

Madisonlee.9641:

I am so sick of shatter that I’ve been having fun with interrupt builds recently, my fav so far is a double ranged, I run:

Scept/pistol staff zerkers travellers a/f a/f (you can replace the staff with GS, but I find the defense and ranged daze of staff negates it’s lower damage)

6/6/0/2/0 Halting Strike, Shattered Concentration, CS
Far-reaching, Duelist Discipline, HM
Mender Purity

It’s pretty fun, in team fights I stay at 1200 range (with phantasms strategically placed at far range to not die easily) and I have a plethora of interrupts with 3 power locks, staff 5, pistol 5, and diversion which all are dazes and have chances to stun b/c of CS

I only shatter to remove important enemy boons, quick burst, or distortion so I don’t find I need deceptive evasion with this play style because it kills my strategically placed phantasms when I need to dodge something.

so at range I have phants for sustain, interrupts for burst and denial, and air/’fire on both weapons for more burst at range.

I have the defense of the staff and the block on scepter ( which btw is a very underestimated power weapon, 3 on it does a really nice burst and the block damage can get huge)

and the biggest bonus IMO is the CONDI REMOVAL. 6 condis gone with a click 2 by 2. I can’t be fear spammed, I can’t be CC spammed, it has aided my survival sooo much and feels sooo good; the CD is extremely low., only downside is recharging mantras which I use LOS and invis to do.

cons: thieves will kill you more easily than if you were playing gs/ s/t shatter, because your main source of damage can’t easily be summoned when you’re perma blinded (phantasms) and you lack the extra invis from torch. Ironically, gs s/t shatters have been murdering me as well, again because of the extra invis and sudden burst that 1 shots.

Also not as good of AoE over shatter obviously, and lacks the portal over power lock

Here’s Phantrupt, which is 6, 6, X but sword/sword scepter/pistol – Vids and all
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Build-Phantrupt-Asskicker-CS-Interrupt/first#

Here’s a similar setup only with sword/pistol GS – More mantras/cleanse, more AoE capabilities
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsaRl0npRtlpxGNcrNiphcqqkORgBlu0pFA-TVBXwARUCCQ5Hr9HCpPYp6PkCAmtAA-w

and a vid http://youtu.be/fMJg3krWBcQ