Guild Wars 2

There’s a lot of Mesmers running around these days and while I’m encountering them it’s harder to know where peoples Mesmers are at.

Whether it be PvE, PvP, or WvW, I’m curious what build you’re running, if you don’t mind sharing. Maybe a brief description of your role in your game mode?

Feeeeeed meeeee!

as for now standart power shatter or condi shatter (boon share) in pvp arena. for me both are good depands on my group composition
when HOT comes out i probably will go bunker well mesmer

Do/Du/Ins S/F + /P/S PvE build. Swap in Ill and Chaos when necessary (stealth, running, ranged kiting, scepter things).

Will probably go Chr/Du/Ins or Chr/Du/Ill when HoT comes out.

On the PVE side there are a couple of builds I use. All use berzerker set with eagle runes.

Max phantasm DPS: Domination 2/2/1, Dueling 1/3/1, Illusions 1/2/2. Signet of the Ether, Mantra of Pain, Time Warp, x2 other utility slots depending on what is needed. Sometimes I’ll run an interrupt variant that uses domination 2/3/3 with mantra of distraction. The overall goal of the build is to lay down phantasms as frequently as possible. The setup gives greatsword and sword off-hand a 12 second phantasm recharge, meaning that no matter the circumstances a phantasms is moments away.

The weapon choice varies. Sword off-hand is almost a must, since it has the highest damaging phantasm. Sword main-hand is a must, too. From there, it is a tossup: Focus provides pulls + missile blockage, pistol provides reliable single target DPS, and greatsword provides AoE burst.

Support Interrupt: Domination 2/3/3, Dueling 1/3/1, Inspiration Any/1/2 or 3. Mantra of Healing, Mantra of Pain, Mantra of Distraction, one spare utility, time warp. Weapon is sword/sword + sword/focus. This build has a lot of minor support going for it, like AoE cleanse on the Healing Mantra, Reflects on Focus, Boon Spreading on phantasm summon, and group distortion for emergencies. This gives the build a surprisingly large toolbox, and as such it is my default build when grouping up with other players.

The adept tier is a tossup. By default I usually have Persisting Images to buy phantasms an extra hit, but both restorative mantras and medic’s feedback have their places. Also, if I’m solo or the group has good boon capabilities already, I’ll take Temporal Enchanter to buff timewarp.

These builds have a lot of overlap.. As for those spare utilities, I run many things:

Feedback for additional reflects
Portal for obvious portal shenanigans
Mantra of Concentration for Stun Breaking
Mantra of Resolve or Null Field for condi cleansing
Signet of Illusions for greater illusion health (usually taken if none others are needed)
Signet of Inspiration for overworld running
Mimic if I really need a lot more feedback or null field
Blink in rare cases where warping is needed.

I’m running condi shatter built around blind and confusion. The blinds only proc once per, so they don’t have a lot of defensive value. They do stack confusion.

I do use Temporal Enchanter at times for team support. Otherwise, I choose Mental Defense, heal on shatter and medic’s feedback for peels. ( I wonder if Temporal Enchanter works when I peel? ) other than that; Deceptive Evasion, ineptitude, maim the disillusioned and the pledge.

Utilities are usually [feedback] , [blink], [null field] and [Signet of Humility]

So, scepter / torch and staff.

PvE build
I run mainly bleed condi: Chaos/Dueling/Illusion.
Key traits are Bountiful Dissipation, Chaotic Transference, Deceptive Evasion and Maim the Disillusioned.
Rabid gear with carrion jewels on my exotic trinkets.
Scepter+Pistol offset, Staff mainset, Sigils of Earth on both (did the math, you get more dps out of Earth than Bursting, but more burst damage out of Bursting than Earth), corruption on scepter, Agony on staff (transitioning to Malice at some point, except it’s Bifrost, so I’m not sure I want to stick such an expensive sigil on it without knowing I can get it back out if I want to move the weapon to another character).
Undead/Traveler runes until I can get Nightmare.

I focus largely on providing heavy condi artillery, with occasional bursts from confusion/torment bombs. I’ve found that even without Chronomancer, and with confusion/torment being weaker against NPCs, shatter bombs can shorten a quick fight if you have a good sense of timing.
In the silverwastes, I find that on any mob more difficult than trash, I have faster killtimes than my zerker d/d thief. I assume that’s largely the ramp-up time getting in the way, but it still surprises me that my upper dps outpaces my thief on non-husk targets. Some of that is time on target, it’s a lot easier to keep up my dps on male teragriffs, easier to survive female teragriffs, easier to kite wolves, a LOT easier to stay on target on vile thrashers, and just straight up easier to kill husks (for obvious reasons).
I also find that even without ferocity, my reflects are in a strong enough place to be valuable in fights like Mangler (VW) and Lupi, though most groups I run dungeons with don’t have the coordination to do things like exploit Lupi’s reflect weakness. So I’m a reflect bot sometimes.

WvW
Classic PU condi mes, rabid gear. Same build as above generally, but swap the pistol for a torch, pick up PU and abuse The Pledge for maximum cheese.
It’s a roamer. I spend most of my time flipping camps, killing dolyaks and guards, and generally being a kitten.
When I come to a tower siege, I spend more time outside than inside, trying to mess with the edges of the enemy zerg and get them to split off and weaken the whole. I’ve occasionally manage to lead up to 8 people off on a wild goose chase away from the big fight, which is probably actually more valuable than flipping a camp :P
I get a kill on the edges sometimes, but it’s really hard to get stomps with a zerg around.
I realize roaming is low-impact, and I do wish I could be more useful to the zerg, but I have a good time roaming.
I sometimes pop my tag and try to get a little posse going. If we can get up to 5, we can take towers while the enemy zerg is occupied, and it gets a bit more effective. It’s also fun to ambush other small groups trying to do the same thing (especially trebuchet crews), which I think is a lot more in the spirit of WvW than 1v1 roaming.

sPvP
Rabid condi, still. Sometimes I grab PU, sometimes not. Same general build as WvW otherwise, but swapping Signet of Domination for Blink and MI for Moa signet.

I’m really inexperienced in many ways, but it amazes me how much more aware I am of the game than most people I play with, even now. I get really tired of losing battles because my entire team decided it was more important to fight in the middle of nowhere instead of fighting on the points. I can 1v1 just fine, and sometimes even 1v2, but usually if my team doesn’t help take points, I find myself winning the point until my opponent gets an ally to +1 me, and I either die or run off.

If my team is aware, and does fight on points, I take the usual roaming role, throwing +1 onto important fights and backcapping when the enemy is committing where they shouldn’t.
I’m getting better at it, but I still suck in general terms.

I haven’t been on in roughly a month but my standard is GS/Staff CI, with Dom/Dueling/Chaos. Mirror, MoD, Portal, Blink, Moa. Power Block over Mental Anguish. When I notice another Mesmer or thief on the opposite team, I swap the staff for a Sword-Torch to evade bursts more easily.

I’ll run Rabid or Rampager PU condi, sometimes with Ineptitude, sometimes with Malicious Sorcery. Sword-Torch/Scepter-Pistol there.

I’m testing some hybrid builds in preparation for the chronomancer release.

This is my current thinking for that build
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQRArf7cl0nhy0YjawQNwtGLOH1ZAMAJWdhmoNKaj9YJAA-TVyCABA8AAsUliHOCAequSe6Hm4kAkoSwsU+p3+DBAQAuZb2mtZwRP6RP6RPazcmHdmHdmlCYRhVA-w

It’s primarily intended for WvW roaming, but I’ve played a couple of games of pvp with a pretty close variant

For PvP I run GS/Staff with Marauder Amulet and trait for Dom./Insp./Duel.:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQJARWlknhG1YZawGNwtGLnG05Tiy1JDwCCa5Iae4A-TpBFABCcBAEvMQbHCgFOCA6s/AAPAAA

For WvW I currently run havok/zerg veil support (boring but necessary). GS/Staff with Dom./Chaos/Insp. for traits:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQJARWl0nhG1YZawYNwtGLnG05Tiy1N3xQmBZAWQQB-TlCFABNcECmU9Hd2fAgHEgAXQgkU+lhmE+UCmmOiFOECBAQAu5NDs5NzRP6RP6RPa38o38o38oFCY0CA-w

Looking forward to Chronomancer for some new playstyles.

I’m currently playing Sword/Torch + Staff Duelling/Chaos/Illusions condition shatter, but only casually in pvp because I’m waiting for chrono to start playing with more interest again – also because there is some trait synergy that is currently lacking in my build that I’m waiting for once I can ditch Chaos and take Chrono.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAsfWlsnhy0YRawRNwtGLvGk5KGeNLnwGiGaAyZTA-TJxHwAn3f4YZAxnCAAPBAA

For example I take Fencer’s Finesse instead of Blinding Dissipation because the reduced sword cooldowns work much better the way I play – however when I can take alacrity I will be able to take Blinding Dissipation while maintaining very low sword cooldowns.

Playing without scepter tends to confuse enemies, as they don’t expect full condition bombs when they see you running around in sword/torch. Especially because my playstyle with this build is very aggressive – for example blink + F3 opening followed by ileap/dodge bombing with F1 or F2, prestige into chaos storm to proc chaos armour and keep up the pressure. But you need to do this because there is no other way for burst application unlike scepter. The playstyle actually has more in common with power shatter than condition builds – except the sustain is higher while damage is lower/attrition based.

My build is a double edged sword though, because it is heavily dependant on landing shatters for condition application as sword is not a native condition weapon, but at the same time the mobility with ileap/swap/phaseretreat/blink is fantastic as you can kite/chase anything around all the pvp maps – up ledges, down ledges, all over the place (Forest mid is particularly fun to play around). And of course the defence of Blurred Frenzy speaks for itself – amazing at avoiding incoming shatters, backstabs, rapid fires or whatever. You can keep 2+ enemies busy say around far while skewing fights elsewhere in your team’s favour.

Only big downsides are of course vs say Diamondskin, burn builds, condi rangers (can win but not easy), and necros (also can win, just avoid the transfers).

Traited mirror trivialises fights with engineers/rangers in particular, and Bountiful Disillusionment is just amazing for stability stomps/resses.

This build is going to get a significant improvement once being able to swap Chaos for Chrono – even at the cost of Bountiful Disillusionment and Master of Manipulation, as well as Chaotic Persistence and the regen/protection minors, simply because it is so offensive/aggressive that the increased shatter cadence through alacrity will be worth losing some defence.

Edit: I also mess around with Sword/Dagger + GS melee power ranger, Beastmastery/WS/Nature Magic when I cba to play mesmer and just want to troll hotjoin.

Interrupt mantra bunker
http://intothemists.com/calc/?build=-R3SZ;1ZUF61I7-WV71;9;4TUV;0236156147;4UBo620;0Uwl6Uwl69K

Good at holding points and great at team support (healing, boons and rezzing/stomp) while also hindering the enemy teams (interrupts).

I play only PUG-unranked (usually with my gf) and I found that in those games, nobody really hold points nor support so I found this to be preferable to the usual offensive mesmer role. The only very difficult moment is those unfortunate times where all my mantras are on CD while I’m alone defending a point. Loading mantras under the pressure without the help of F4 or the stability mantra is difficult.

Here’s what I’ve been running.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQJARWlsnha0YtawMNwsGLnGk5OGyNIDwCCa5Iae4A-TpBGABB8AA8uMACHBA32fAgLAwBHCAA

And like I said above, if there’s a thief/mesmer I swap staff for Sword-Torch and Moa for Mass Invisibility.

Of course, you can always just run boonshare.

Group WvW, focused on support. Usually something like this:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAW8dl0nhy0YrawYNQtGLzG05NiRwNHxKaZZAudyA-TVQSAAw+DAA-w

Lots of reflects, a little mantra healing, some boons, veil/timewarp.

Plenty of traits get swapped around depending on the scenario. PU if I need longer veils, Superspeed-on-glamours if asked. Medic’s Feedback if I’m facing a projectile-heavy group.

Shatters are unreliable as heck in group WvW and my illusions rarely survive for more than a second or two. Mesmers, however, provide a ton of utility to the group.

My main contributions are heavy reflect uptime, pulls from the Focus, Veil/Portal duty, and minor support from Chaos Storm and Mantra of Healing.

In 20v20 or more battles… Don’t underestimate the pure damage and protection that comes from our reflect fields!

WvW group reflect/shatter/interrupt: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR8dlknhy0YpawVNQtGLqG0ZQGyRIDQB2ZZHO+2A-TFCEAB2t/ABPBgEV/ZLlgMp8rNdDIcQAA4CAQGg8FA-w

I’ve tried roaming with this, but it’s pretty tough especially as every other roamer is a s/t + GS PU Mesmer and can just out stealth me the entire time. But it has some great group functionality whilst still offering some great back-line gank potential. Should probably try using more Assassin’s for reflects, but I’m just so lazy now. Zerk with a bit of Knight’s/Cavalier’s/Soldier’s and I’m done

Right now in PvP I’m playing a GS/ S/S interrupt mantra build with Inspiration. I abhor PU and I think it’s insanely overrated and boring to play. In this build I have stun on interrupt, all the burst of a regular shatter mes, a lot of condi clear, and still have great sustain. Not to mention sword/sword is my favorite weaponset, offhand sword doesn’t get enough love. The swordsman phantasm is bae, and the daze synergizes well with Confounding Suggestions.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR8cl0nhG1YNawMNwsGLnG05Tiy1JDwCWeZGae4A-TpBFABCcBAEvMABHBgFOIA6s/AAPAAA

The build that I do best with in ranked team/solo play is my Glamour Condi Shatter build which you can find here: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAW7alknhy0YpawWNQtGL4G0ZJexKKDwq/FaQO5OA-TJRHwAp3fIZZAAXEABPBAA
Notes:

• When the pistol trait is fixed in 2017, I’ll switch to that.
• When I’m solo-ing, I sometimes switch to Feedback instead of Portal. It depends on how I’m feeling. That being said, you can still make portal great in solo q.

I like this build because of the sheer amount of immunity I have against conditions, especially burn guards and burn eles. It also has a tremendous amount of support via glamours. Medic’s Feedback + Temporal Enchanter is so boss you have no idea. It would seriously be broken if they kept the icd at 10. It’s a fantastic dueler, though you will of course not down enemies as quick as you would on power.

Toughness + weirdly awesome scaling of Restorative Illusions + condition clearing = I’m a hard butterfly to catch!!

I also run a power support version of this build, but I generally suck on GS. http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR8alknhy0YpawWNQtGL4G0ZJexKMzQuGZZAW9vA-TpBFwACuAAMOCAy3fYxBBoaZAAPAAA

So what this has told me is that Mesmer builds have become VERY diverse from pre trait changes. Which is really cool.

Here’s what I’m running, I call it Mental Lockdown

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAsaRlknhG1YZawGNwtGLnGk5O2WRJDwCWe5Iae4A-TZBCABAcCAG+RAE0+DLcEACrMAA

I also made an under 2 minute vid with build, basic burst numbers, and a necro getting rekt at the end for good measure! :D

New to mesmer, wvw roaming with power hybrid scepter/(OH)sword/pistol domination shatterer.

Suits my play-style better than PU, I fare decent against anything but stealth and I can’t do the out-manned thing as good PU mesmers can. I have a background as nasty condi/hybrid necro in your face play-style.

Runnig with zerg and hiding in objectives I switch to a power glamour/PU build.

I really like playing with interrupts, but they are just too hard for me to pull off. At least for now.
—
Edit: clarification

This is build am currently running. both solo and spvp.
In spvp I run with an ele as my support so the pu works very well.

In solo it just fun been a pain on the other team. I can sit on a point and just force them other team to pull men back to support leaving my team to cap the other points.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQRAsf7alknhO1YjawBNwtGL5GkZCe9DKDQq7F6PKZOA-TJxXwAzfCAA2f4QZg/nEAA

I call it
SSST condi bomb

Hy there

I am a roamer. And i enjoy it for a loong time now. I got some diverse builds that work properly in outnumbered situations.

Like them or not. I do so and i use all of them from time to time.

Enjoy and have fun trying this out for your self.

Try Hard Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR8flknhG1YRawMNwtGLqGEZAKQxL7wx3G6Cue2B-TlCEAB2t/ABXAgEV/ZLlgGcEAYSpnUKDaT3AAPAgHOIAkBoaCA-w

Power Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR8flsnhG1YRawMNwtGLvGk5KW2IKnQvjGaAa+zB-TlCEAB2t/ABXAgEV/ZLlgGcEAYSpnUKDaT3AAPAgHOIAkBoaCA-w

Mantra Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR8fl0nhG1YJawMNwtGLrG05RSyzNLx0WR5GGRAA-TlCEAB2t/ABXAgEV/ZLlgGcEAYSpnUKDaT3AAPAgHOIAkBoaCA-w

Condi PU:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAW7flsnhG1YRawMNwtGLvGk5KmxIKnQvjGaAyZTA-TVyCABA8AAwS53lq/MxFAIo9Ho4gAonuBJOCAjpEkQAKmDA-w

Hybrid Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR7flsnhG1YRawMNwtGLvGk5KG+IKnQvjGaAyZTA-T1CEAB2t/ABPAgEV/hJlBTp0rNdAAcBAe4gAUnmhGOCAepEkQAKmDA-w

I personaly like the Hybrid the most.

Thusad.8054:

Hy there

I am a roamer. And i enjoy it for a loong time now. I got some diverse builds that work properly in outnumbered situations.

Hybrid Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR7flsnhG1YRawMNwtGLvGk5KG+IKnQvjGaAyZTA-T1CEAB2t/ABPAgEV/hJlBTp0rNdAAcBAe4gAUnmhGOCAepEkQAKmDA-w

I personaly like the Hybrid the most.

Here’s my hybrid shatter for WvW. Very similar, but I go with a ton of might stacking to up all the damage procs, even at the cost of some additional condi application (no confusion on blind trait (but more scepter 2/3’s), and no torment on shatter (which is the lesser anyway).

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNArfRlsnhG1YZawINwtGLvGk5KG+IKnQvjGaAa+RA-TlyEABGcEAoU9nkUGolSwBOBAQp07hDBga6DA4BAI3+DkCAmtAA-w

Ross Biddle.2367:

Thusad.8054:

Hy there

I am a roamer. And i enjoy it for a loong time now. I got some diverse builds that work properly in outnumbered situations.

Hybrid Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR7flsnhG1YRawMNwtGLvGk5KG+IKnQvjGaAyZTA-T1CEAB2t/ABPAgEV/hJlBTp0rNdAAcBAe4gAUnmhGOCAepEkQAKmDA-w

I personaly like the Hybrid the most.

Here’s my hybrid shatter for WvW. Very similar, but I go with a ton of might stacking to up all the damage procs, even at the cost of some additional condi application (no confusion on blind trait (but more scepter 2/3’s), and no torment on shatter (which is the lesser anyway).

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNArfRlsnhG1YZawINwtGLvGk5KG+IKnQvjGaAa+RA-TlyEABGcEAoU9nkUGolSwBOBAQp07hDBga6DA4BAI3+DkCAmtAA-w

oh ye i like that

I just feel more kitten if they PANIC after my burst. So i realy like the aditional roment

In PvP I run marauder interrupt mesmer with dom, duelling, chaos with DE for a little extra shatter flavour and MoD with blink and decoy. Time warp usually for elite and traveler runes for running.

I tried running it in WvW but I’m forced to use scholar as there ain’t no way I’m over writing them and, well, when you have pew pew Rangers and a very angry blob running after you not having PU is a death sentence.

So generally I run PU power shatter with scholar runes in WvW 6k mind wrack hits are not uncommon but I have little to no condi cleanse and that’s really only on other glass builds.

Thinking about getting a full set of traveler runes for WvW but with chrono around the corner I might wait it out and run an interrupt chrono build.

Thusad.8054:

Hy there

I am a roamer. And i enjoy it for a loong time now. I got some diverse builds that work properly in outnumbered situations.

Like them or not. I do so and i use all of them from time to time.

Enjoy and have fun trying this out for your self.

Try Hard Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR8flknhG1YRawMNwtGLqGEZAKQxL7wx3G6Cue2B-TlCEAB2t/ABXAgEV/ZLlgGcEAYSpnUKDaT3AAPAgHOIAkBoaCA-w

Power Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR8flsnhG1YRawMNwtGLvGk5KW2IKnQvjGaAa+zB-TlCEAB2t/ABXAgEV/ZLlgGcEAYSpnUKDaT3AAPAgHOIAkBoaCA-w

Mantra Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR8fl0nhG1YJawMNwtGLrG05RSyzNLx0WR5GGRAA-TlCEAB2t/ABXAgEV/ZLlgGcEAYSpnUKDaT3AAPAgHOIAkBoaCA-w

Condi PU:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAW7flsnhG1YRawMNwtGLvGk5KmxIKnQvjGaAyZTA-TVyCABA8AAwS53lq/MxFAIo9Ho4gAonuBJOCAjpEkQAKmDA-w

Hybrid Shatter:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhUQNAR7flsnhG1YRawMNwtGLvGk5KG+IKnQvjGaAyZTA-T1CEAB2t/ABPAgEV/hJlBTp0rNdAAcBAe4gAUnmhGOCAepEkQAKmDA-w

I personaly like the Hybrid the most.

I run all of those builds except mantras. I too enjoy the hybrid a lot. I use Traveller Runes on all my Mes builds, but when HoT drops that’ll change. For the longest time I imagined hybrid Mes not working well, but it really does. It’s nice to have great viable build diversity.

Ross Biddle.2367:

Here’s what I’m running, I call it Mental Lockdown

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAsaRlknhG1YZawGNwtGLnGk5O2WRJDwCWe5Iae4A-TZBCABAcCAG+RAE0+DLcEACrMAA

What is it about BD that I just don’t see? I mean, you’re packing MoD and still take it over CI.

Anyways, this is one of the builds I’ve been running lately in WvW.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR8flknhG1YZawGNwtGLnG05Tiy1JDwCCa5Iae4A-TVTDABcfEAyb/BpUaQlyAhUiJgJmdU/BENDLcBAgTHAAmgUQJoEPEgAAIAszhuzQKgy1aB-w

Pretty tanky and heals surprisingly well. I sometimes swap GS for Scepter+Sword and Blinding Dissipation for Fencer’s Finesse. You can get the FF stacks with just offhand sword.

Noss.4105:

Ross Biddle.2367:

Here’s what I’m running, I call it Mental Lockdown

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAsaRlknhG1YZawGNwtGLnGk5O2WRJDwCWe5Iae4A-TZBCABAcCAG+RAE0+DLcEACrMAA

What is it about BD that I just don’t see? I mean, you’re packing MoD and still take it over CI.

CI still requires the interrupt. The beauty of the build is the simplicity of its common denominator. When I press a button I get its maximum effect. So with every F1 burst I attempt to do so under a stun. For BD I get a bit of extra might, but also a stability proc. It’s kind of like our blind on shatter trait (which is also in there) making the build incredibly hard to shut down/out and/or counter. More’over with the burst so heavy the way that it is, the stability will last right through with an immediate follow up stomp. Since it’s also shared, you can cover other classes stomps from CC effects so you don’t have to do it yourself. It makes for one hell of a combo.

CI also becomes irrelevant if you can land your burst in that 1s stun window. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great, but I’m loving on BD for its pure, simplistic, practicality of effect.

Ross Biddle.2367:

Since it’s also shared, you can cover other classes stomps from CC effects so you don’t have to do it yourself. It makes for one hell of a combo.

Oh it’s shared? I thought it applied stability only on yourself.

edit: I tested it. It applies stab only on yourself like the tooltip says.

You lied to me Ross! For a moment I was a bit excited.

Noss.4105:

Ross Biddle.2367:

Since it’s also shared, you can cover other classes stomps from CC effects so you don’t have to do it yourself. It makes for one hell of a combo.

Oh it’s shared? I thought it applied stability only on yourself.

edit: I tested it. It applies stab only on yourself like the tooltip says.

You lied to me Ross! For a moment I was a bit excited.

Lol, funnily enough I never looked to check, I just took it on board over the last few days. Interesting that.

Anyway, I’m generally the one stomping so it’s all good. :D

Noss.4105:

What is it about BD that I just don’t see? I mean, you’re packing MoD and still take it over CI.

Mesmer’s greatest weaknesses has always been lack of stability, condition clearing and the inability to fight in melee for long duration. This is why we were given a variety of evasion tactics to make up for this. Blink, Blurred Frenzy, Distortion, Phase Retreat etc.

Stomping becomes insanely easy with the simple click of a Cry of Frustration instead of burning your more important Distortion. Add Blinding Dissipation and, ideally, you never have to Distortion stomp again. The boon sharing is just icing on the cake for most people who take this trait who aren’t actually boon share Mesmers.

edit:
CI is the more powerful version of CS obviously, but taking both of them doesn’t give you that much of a bonus over taking something like PU or BD imo.

Ross Biddle.2367:

So what this has told me is that Mesmer builds have become VERY diverse from pre trait changes. Which is really cool.

Here’s what I’m running, I call it Mental Lockdown

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAsaRlknhG1YZawGNwtGLnGk5O2WRJDwCWe5Iae4A-TZBCABAcCAG+RAE0+DLcEACrMAA

I also made an under 2 minute vid with build, basic burst numbers, and a necro getting rekt at the end for good measure!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpUHDmYIigc

Thx for sharing this Ross. Really good stuff for my Chronomancer theorycrafting. Can’t believe i missed this concept T_T

Ross, I’ll try out your trait setup later today. I’ve been getting back into lockdown builds since I hate the PU “meta” with such a passion, so I’ve been cycling through many different builds.

Mime’s inspiration mantra shatter build after the nerf two months ago sucks now unless you play against a condi comp, having the charge the mantra heal is too much effort in addition to the required MoD charge, and the extra support from inspiration is nice, but not really worth it compared to a more focused build.

That being said, I’ve been playing with CI and CS, as well as powerblock in my build, but I was thinking of keeping CI but switching CS out to the 15% phantasm damage trait for more damage, but I can see your rationale for keeping CS to make the 30% mental anguish bonus more reliable. In general it seems like a less debilitating but more bursty type of lockdown build, and as a necro main debilitation is my favorite part of a lockdown builds. I do see the value of bountiful disillusionment though, but I don’t know if I could bear to get rid of powerblock for the debilitation factor alone. I also take portal, just for the outrotation factor.

And as another note with chronomancy I might adapt this build again, but with s/sh GS and goodies like chronophantasma and delayed reactions and the gravity well and the heal well for some condi clear.

I’ve toyed around with ten or so builds since 6/23 …

This is my favorite power setup currently, coined “double blind shatter”. Lots of innate defenses. Only thing it lacks is boon rip but boy does it bring the burst with all that might.
double blind shatter

This hyrbid is very effective, another favorite. Don’t feel the need as much for decoy in that one due to more tanky. Could do disenchanter as well:
double blind hybrid shatter

As you can see, I run bountiful disillusionment whether power or hybrid, and in my support utility build as well. It offers a nice amount of team utility in addition to the extra defenses while stomping.

I’ve also been toying with a scepter power build trying to get the most out of the condition possibilities in a marauder amulet and the results so far have been impressive.

I have seven chrono builds to test in the next BWE, hadn’t bought HoT yet. So much to do …