Guild Wars 2

Hey everyone. I’d like to ask a simple question: Are mesmers able to play viable builds without any point in dueling? I never ran a build without at least 10 points in that line. If someone already has experiences without spending points in that line I’d like to know about that.

Usual uses of this line:

Phantasmbuilds:

• at least 10p for fury on phantasms or far range on blink
• most builds use 15p for bleeds
• 20p for DE or pistoltrait

Clonedeathbuilds:

• at least 20p for DE
• most times 25p for confusion
• some 30p for 2 master traits

Shatterbuilds:

• most builds use at least 20p for DE (some like shatterlock don’t)

I don’t know if other classes have lines like our dueling too because I just don’t play other classes.

The reason that people always put points into dueling is because it is such a good line. If you need more clones,more phantasm damage,lower sword/pistol cd, or longer blink range, dueling has your back. Why wouldn’t you want to put point into it? I’m usually sacrificing points in other lines just to get 10 more in dueling.

I know what you’re getting at, and how you feel. It’s very hard (stupid really) to move away from at least 10, if not 20 in dueling.

Never the less before Blackwater, there was this that I put up
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Build-Poisoned-Apples/first#post2484121

It’s 20, 0, 30, 20, 0 – I’ve not tweaked or updated it since its conception.

20 Duelling is indeed an all time favourite. However, I think the situation isn’t as severe as it is with 20 Defense on Warriors since people take 20 Duelling for different reasons.

Yeah, it’s pretty hard to not get at least Critical Infusion. No wonder it gets the nerf.

I tried 10/0/0/30/30 shatter heal oriented. The 10 in domination was weird, because you have no weapon masteries, ended with 10 in dueling, again (Blade Training + CI). Restorative Illusions is interesting (Bug or buff from IP?), but most of pro shatter players won’t go in Inspiration line, because they want/need Deceptive Evasion and also the crit chance/damage was lacking. I was fine with S/S, Mirror Images and Decoy though.

Tough one – either going to be condition hybrids or group support builds of some sort.

The first 15 points is just too good, and given you’ll almost always want two of I, II, IV, IX, or X, it’s hard to let go of 20.

It’s all about Sharper Images, forcing condition mesmers to stack precision to have a reliably stacking damage condition. I can’t imagine running an offensive condition build without it. This is also my main problem with condition mesmer, being shoehorned into using rabid gear and not getting enough out of your high precision and crit damage.
And with crit damage and precision neatly stacked in one awesome trait line, what power mesmer wouldn’t trait at least 20 Dueling?

Add in the fact that Dueling is just packed with great and above-average traits and it becomes clear that this trait line is just way too good compared to the others.
IMO Chaos traits need major rethinking. PU is only the beginning of what’s wrong with that trait line. Domination is good, but CC belongs in Inspiration or Illusion if you ask me. Illusion has major synergy problems and too many traits doing nothing for shatters.