Guild Wars 2

I’m going to be completely honest. I only bought GW2 because of 2 reasons: it was on a killer sale for like $20 and I really wanted to use Bonetti’s Rapier because I love fencing in MMOs. When I found out that Mesmers could use both swords, magic, AND pistols, I thought this would be the best class for me. I fell in love with the Mesmer mechanics, the GS skills, and the designs. However, as soon as I hit around lv25~ I could tell that Mesmers were going to be a tricky class to play. As I started sPvP—my favorite playstyle—I found that Mesmers were pretty underpowered compared to most classes. Our DPS wasn’t extraordinary, we’re the most squishy light armor class, Thieves completely crap on our lives, good players never really fell for our ‘illusion tricks’, and just about everything we can do, another class did better.

Most people call Mesmers the ‘trash class of the game’ (although I am firm in my beliefs that we will always be better than Rangers) and a lot of players refuse to dungeon with us because they see us as dead-weight. I haven’t played WvW yet, but my understanding is that we are pretty much only useful for Portal (which I have yet to find use for in PvE or PvP).

The other day, after losing a few sPvP matches, I finally decided to break down and try a few other classes. I rerolled as an Elementalist and a Thief to see how both classes played…..and I hated them both. I was completely bored with these classes and their designs were just meh. I kept finding myself go back to my Mesmer again and again.

Despite what others say about Mesmers (this entire post makes me really sad, BTW) I still love the class. I think I will always try to find ways to make this class relevant again. So I want to ask the Mesmer community why they still play this class. Maybe we can all encourage each other to find a way to better this class despite the negativity (read: multiple bugs) about it.

P.S. – Sorry for the wall of text.

I really only play my mesmer for portals during guild puzzles.

Because I loved the Mesmer from Guild Wars 1 and still hope that we can be the interrupter again, even if I have to wait another two years.

I had no idea this rapier skin existed. Can you get that with gems in any way?

On topic: I am fairly new to GW2 and never actually played GW (I was strictly a console gamer during that time). That said, I have always loved playing the controller classes in pretty much any game. I play control-focused Wizards in tabletop D&D games, lived a long life as an Enchanter in EQ, and try to find the best controllers in any single player RPG I play.

Mesmer seemed like the obvious choice. I knew Thief would probably have some good control too, but I wanted something that wasn’t so stale to the gaming world. A quickly replenishing resource system used to fuel a fast paced attack style? I haven’t seen this before! …wait, nevermind.

Illusions seemed fun, if maybe a little gimmicky, and the class (appeared) to offer unprecedented control. That and sword/pistol looks gangsta.

Veruah.5302:

I had no idea this rapier skin existed. Can you get that with gems in any way?
.

You can get it at the Trading Post for what I would consider a cheaper price than gems. Its about 30G iirc. Mesmers are the only class that look cool using it as we’re the only light armor class that can use swords.

Noah.9654:

Veruah.5302:

I had no idea this rapier skin existed. Can you get that with gems in any way?
.

You can get it at the Trading Post for what I would consider a cheaper price than gems. Its about 30G iirc. Mesmers are the only class that look cool using it as we’re the only light armor class that can use swords.

I’m doing this as soon as I get home tonight.

You, sir, have refined my mesmer style.

Now I just need to find a sweet pistol.

Because butterflies.

Me Games Ma.8426:

Because I loved the Mesmer from Guild Wars 1 and still hope that we can be the interrupter again, even if I have to wait another two years.

me too

I agree with the butterflies. Mesmer will always be the prettiest.

I honestly really wanted the gw2 mesmer to work out since it was such a cool idea for an MMO, but it’s honestly horrible when you realize how gw2 is such a spam my game. People spam cleaving attacks and AoE like they’re bacon at Tim Hortons. I didn’t know it when I installed gw2 and made a mesmer first, but in every game mode all I’d ever do on mesmer is try to burst down some squishy non – self – sufficient caster or be a “cheap and dirty boon stripper on a staff/GS pole”

Even in pve I feel like I just run around like a headless chicken while AoE kills all the illusions I’ve ever loved, hoping to reflect anything… but it’s barely needed when you can just move most bosses into a corner and take an FGS dump on them.

Mesmer’s are a great idea but they just don’t fit the game around them except for bursting defenseless squishies. I play ranger too and even though people argue it’s worse for its suicidal abused winnie the pooh for a pet, and kitten y bows, I at least feel useful and comfortable with all the melee and offhand weapons that Rangers have to use.

@Veruah: I was 90% console gamer until I started playing GW2. Never played GW1. x.x

Because I wrote like 20 guides on the class. =P

No but actually… Even though I don’t play GW nearly as much anymore, when I do I can’t seem to get the same sense of enjoyment from any other class. I play ele, and I love my ele to death, but it’s just.. not the same.

Mesmer has this “Wow!” factor to it that keeps me going. Nailing perfect shatter bursts, dancing around other classes, making copies of my already awesome-looking character, portal..

…the weapons!

I have a love/hate relationship with the Greatsword.. I can’t play it for long because I enjoy using Staff far more, but the concept? Brilliant! A caster manipulating chaotic energies from such brutish weapon, making it oscillate inbetween his hands while firing time/space lasers? Stylishly using a sword and pistol and teleporting around? Overwhelming enemies with a hoard of 9 shattering clones!? On-demand teleports and barriers like Mewtwo from Pokemon. Other classes just can’t come close.

…And the build diversity!

There’s just something about playing Mesmer that feels.. Good. Knowing the class is underpowered but still playing so well that people scream “OP!” at you. Bursting people down from 1200 range in 3 seconds with Greatsword. Fighting 1v5 outnumbered and still fully expecting to escape alive? Locking someone down to the point that they may as well walk away from their keyboard. Sharing every boon in the game like a boss..

Yeah, it’s unfortunate that we’re lacking in PvP, PvE, and WvW, but each Mesmer archetype is so nuanced that they can feel like their own unique subclasses. Mesmer as a whole is a class that takes time and effort to really understand and be good at, and even then it can branch into different playstyles that themselves take time and effort to learn. Hell, I’ve been playing the game since launch and I still learn new things.

Man, bugs or not, I love this class.

(… And I can’t fully quit until I can beat Warlord of Chaos in 3 duels straight. =/)

I play all the professions (four of each) and enjoy them all, but I keep coming back to the Mesmer whether I “want” to or not.

Why? Because it’s fun.

Nothing else really matters in the end.

Majic.4801:

I play all the professions (four of each) and enjoy them all, but I keep coming back to the Mesmer whether I “want” to or not.

Why? Because it’s fun.

Nothing else really matters in the end.

This is exactly my thoughts.

Mesmer is one of my favorite classes.

Because I am an eternal optimist who still hopes that ANet will get their heads out of their rears, and stop treating this class like it’s the kid in the attic.

Also, the class just fuels my imagination. It is the embodiment of creativity in a class. It isn’t the standard spam-to-win that other classes reek of.

It’s a beautifully designed class, artistically. And it’s just FUN. I have more fun (and frustration) on a class that ANet treats like a second-class profession than I do on any of the others.

I am definitely angry with ANet over what they’ve turned the Mesmer into, but the eternal optimist in me holds on in hope.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

(… And I can’t fully quit until I can beat Warlord of Chaos in 3 duels straight. =/)

Maybe if you used GS more youd have a better shot at beating me. I keep telling you to use gs staff lol. Try it out sometime and then try to move to s/f gs. You wont regret it as I’ve gotten banned from multiple dueling servers playing s/f gs CI mes lol. (Mesmer OP tears are really refreshing to hear these days ya know)

Warlord of Chaos.7845:

Chaos Archangel.5071:

(… And I can’t fully quit until I can beat Warlord of Chaos in 3 duels straight. =/)

Maybe if you used GS more youd have a better shot at beating me. I keep telling you to use gs staff lol. Try it out sometime and then try to move to s/f gs. You wont regret it as I’ve gotten banned from multiple dueling servers playing s/f gs CI mes lol. (Mesmer OP tears are really refreshing to hear these days ya know)

I’ve heard from you chaos that you’re really good at lockdown, care to post some videos? Let’s play sometime bro!

For the rare case I log in to GW2, I play the story with my mesmer. It just feels natural this way, as he has been the reason I started GW2.

Then I get pretty much annoyed that stuff does not die fast enough and log on to my necro.

Maybe ANet will eventually fix the class in general PvE, but I would not count on it.

How big is the line to duel you warlord, I want in! :P

Those trees aren’t gonna chop themselves.

StickerHappy.8052:

Warlord of Chaos.7845:

Chaos Archangel.5071:

(… And I can’t fully quit until I can beat Warlord of Chaos in 3 duels straight. =/)

Maybe if you used GS more youd have a better shot at beating me. I keep telling you to use gs staff lol. Try it out sometime and then try to move to s/f gs. You wont regret it as I’ve gotten banned from multiple dueling servers playing s/f gs CI mes lol. (Mesmer OP tears are really refreshing to hear these days ya know)

I’ve heard from you chaos that you’re really good at lockdown, care to post some videos? Let’s play sometime bro!

I don’t have any recording software right now. I do have plans to get some equipment in the near future though

StickerHappy.8052:

Warlord of Chaos.7845:

Chaos Archangel.5071:

(… And I can’t fully quit until I can beat Warlord of Chaos in 3 duels straight. =/)

Maybe if you used GS more youd have a better shot at beating me. I keep telling you to use gs staff lol. Try it out sometime and then try to move to s/f gs. You wont regret it as I’ve gotten banned from multiple dueling servers playing s/f gs CI mes lol. (Mesmer OP tears are really refreshing to hear these days ya know)

I’ve heard from you chaos that you’re really good at lockdown, care to post some videos? Let’s play sometime bro!

Warlord is one of the best Mesmer I’ve ever seen, he could likely give supcutie a run for his money.

And yo Warlord why not use MSI Afterburner like Skcamow and I? It’s free, really easy to DL and use, and works surprisingly well.

Download link
Video tutorial

Chaos Archangel.5071:

StickerHappy.8052:

Warlord of Chaos.7845:

Chaos Archangel.5071:

(… And I can’t fully quit until I can beat Warlord of Chaos in 3 duels straight. =/)

Maybe if you used GS more youd have a better shot at beating me. I keep telling you to use gs staff lol. Try it out sometime and then try to move to s/f gs. You wont regret it as I’ve gotten banned from multiple dueling servers playing s/f gs CI mes lol. (Mesmer OP tears are really refreshing to hear these days ya know)

I’ve heard from you chaos that you’re really good at lockdown, care to post some videos? Let’s play sometime bro!

Warlord is one of the best Mesmer I’ve ever seen, he could likely give supcutie a run for his money.

And yo Warlord why not use MSI Afterburner like Skcamow and I? It’s free, really easy to DL and use, and works surprisingly well.

Download link
Video tutorial

Just letting you know I have dueled supcutie and beaten him on CI mes . I can beat him on shatter but not always. Also chaos, thanks for that. I am on my phone though so ill get back to you later.

I go back and forth between my Guardian and Mesmer often. If the Mesmer staff did more AoE damage (Guardian Staff 1!) then I’d play it non-stop. But I just play my Guardian more so when I need to farm events and Mesmer when I go into dungeons.

Because I’m too lazy to make an alt.

Edit: I was just in a bad mood when I posted this.

I find the concept of Mesmer to be very cool, and they’re fun to play. I’ve put so many hours into my Mesmer that I just can’t change classes. I’m a person that sticks with a Main and doesn’t focus on alts at all. I only have one level 80 and I’ve been playing since release.

Mesmer has the best style in the game. Also, I’m a masochist. I’m sticking with it despite regular hammerings in pvp.

Still fun for me for roaming in WvW. I can’t tell you why WvW roaming is still fun after more than 1000 hours of it, but I enjoy it.

You can do a lot by yourself (take a tower or fully upgraded camp with practice), and you can help almost any small group you run across.

Beautiful magic and although the GW2 Mesmer has very little to do with the GW1 Mesmer I have always felt a connection to the character type. It is also very powerful but not in an OP disgusting way because you are always vulnerable to die if you make a few mistakes – that makes winning feel good.

It requires you to adjust your playstyle depending on what you fight, you always have the ability to burst heavily and can turn fights around on an error forced or otherwise. You also can turn an enemies confidence against them and dodge/shatter dancing is really satisfying as they try to go for an easy kill and get blown up.

Main was a Mesmer in GW and that took me forever to get used to.
Tried and failed to do direct damage with spells, with no luck. Once I had my guild leader show me how it worked, I never looked back. It was the best match for me, making life hell for my foes.
GW2 new approach for the Mesmer took me by surprise, but OH MY GOD! Purple Butterflies! squee
After messing around with all the weapons, I have come to enjoy condition builds.
Traiting to cause both Confusion and Torment on shatter can make much the same effect as Backfire from GW. That “kitten ed if you do, kitten ed if you don’t” for attackers. Combine with “Portal” or “Blink” to break line of site in PvE, my preferred mode, and enemies will kill themselves before getting to you.
The Sand Giant in Dry Top has a devastating attack similar to this effect.

I have since made characters of every race and profession, but when I see another Mesmer out there…

http://imgur.com/i9cG9cZ

For 2 years now, the only thing that keeps me playing Mesmer now is the ability to amaze people on what we can do and the fact it perfectly fits my play style. Ive always wanted to show how powerful Mesmer is (why I help make lockdown builds with Chaos) and to showcase them to the world. It sucks that about 99% of our damage can be destroyed by aoe (please balance), but even with that and the bugs and the fact everything counters us right now, I can still do amazing things and can turn the tables of a fight.

To quote one of the best Mesmer’s that was a close friend of mine, Seven Mirror “you can nerf me to a clone, but ill still be one amazing clone”. (We’re getting pretty close to the clone state right now lol.)

Another way to look at it is this: If you are doing this well with a underpowered class, what happens when you get buffed? I am not sure whats going to happen to us in the preview, but I can 100% guarantee we will get a buff somehow, even if anet doesn’t understand Mesmer very well.

“I found that Mesmers were pretty underpowered compared to most classes”

“just about everything we can do, another class did better”

“lot of players refuse to dungeon with us because they see us as dead-weight”

Ha, welcome to the world of Rangers. It’ll be a long stay with a lot of disappointment to come.

Mesmers are just plagued with bugs and bugs and bugs and bugs and bugs.

There’s 0 class in GW2 that’s unviable for doing dungeons, but some are better than the others depending on the dungeon situation (for instance, you want to have 1 reflect heavy class for a dungeon that has a lot of reflect damage… this is just obvious).

As far as dungeons are concerned, Mesmers are viable for both casual and speedclear runs. But if you’re going to do GS Mesmer in dungeon and complain that your DPS sucks… well, it’s like complaining that your DPS sucks when you’re playing Warrior on rifle anyways.

On very short fights, Mesmer’s DPS is terrible, so if you’re on GS, it’s time to change your weaponset and you won’t be as much of a dead weight anymore!

Bryzy.2719:

“I found that Mesmers were pretty underpowered compared to most classes”

“just about everything we can do, another class did better”

“lot of players refuse to dungeon with us because they see us as dead-weight”

Ha, welcome to the world of Rangers. It’ll be a long stay with a lot of disappointment to come.

but rangers can still easy lvling to 80) What can not be told about mehmers)

Why do I keep playing Mesmer? That’s simple as hell to answer. Mesmer brought me here, period. I only started other classes once I’d gone 80 Mes.

I have a few problems with this thread:
The only time I ever see Mesmers not wanted are when a group is advertising for “Heavies only” which is really just saying that they’re dumb, they’ll die, and they’ll leave a dumb corpse (yay Asura joke!).

Also, Bonetti’s Rapier is a… well, Rapier. You don’t slash with Rapiers. I’m sorry, you just don’t. Unless you parrying an attack, which isn’t really an accurate word when using a Rapier, it’s more of deflecting than a parry, you’re simply going to be stabbing. Now, I do love my Bonetti’s Rapier, but there’s a reason why I have yet to actually transmute the skin onto anything as opposed to my go-to sword skin.
I might get a Bonetti’s Rapier as my off-hand when I finish my ascended off-hand sword. Well, that will be after I finish my Infinite Light because Wooden Swords are the best. Yes, I wield Wooden Swords. Deal with it. [Wooden Sword]

And yes, I can finish my Infinite Light today, I just don’t want to liquidate some of my assets and be “poor” (not really, I just like having some gold to fall back on if I ever splurge. plus I’m slowly working my way, it’s like making my Legendary all over again!)

I chose Mesmer because I enjoy the playstyle of shoving illusions in the faces of enemies to distract them while I damage them. And for that purpose alone, Mesmer is still enjoyable to me (soloing tough mobs).

But the moment I get into group play or situations where AoE would be really nice (both of which are situations that are 90% of GW2) I feel like the reject in the corner who is working overtime just to contribute and whose saving grace is a couple of utility abilities that no one else has.

I mean, just giving us some viable AoE alone would make me happy as hell playing my Mesmer. And some traits that give us steady/strong damage without relying completely on Phantasms and Clones would be killer.

And if Phant/Clone + damage is a concern, just give us stuff like: Trait that increases our damage output but lowers Phant/Clone (and/or Shatter).

Regarding rapiers in general, it’s technically untrue they cannot be cut with (though it depends on the make, some just have sharpened tips and are extra slender), it’s not quite as practical as the thrust… but in the mesmer case there IS some stabbing and I see the weaving more as illusory – it helps to make sense of the flailing animations at times. :P Also, both rapiers I’ve found in game (Lovestruck sword and Bonetti’s) are relatively wide and edged.

Aaand regarding the topic on hand, I have to say I kind of enjoy Necro and Engi more when I just am out and about doing things, however Mesmer is the nicest from a theme standpoint and it’s sort of there – I am mostly offput with the lack of Aoe options and the heavy reliance on passive phantasm play. I think if we are supposed to be so heavily tied to the phantasms the shatter should be designed around them so you’d use that more for PvE…or do -something- to make it feel more interactive than just spawning them. I only feel like I make clever choices with the Warden, and that’s about it.

Well I don’t anymore – or GW2 at all for that matter.

However it is still the most unique and enjoyable class in GW2, been a pleasure to play despite all the bugs and nerfs, and if I was given the choice of going back 2 years and starting over I would do exactly the same thing, no regrets.

Hopefully Anet realises the beauty of the mesmer class they have created, and how unique it has the potential to be – for any kind of class in any kind of rpg or mmo – and that they manage to bring it into a good position in the future.

Because it’s fun to play and there aren’t a lot of good ones around, which leads to a general surprise when people die to one.

Curunen.8729:

Well I don’t anymore – or GW2 at all for that matter.

However it is still the most unique and enjoyable class in GW2, been a pleasure to play despite all the bugs and nerfs, and if I was given the choice of going back 2 years and starting over I would do exactly the same thing, no regrets.

Hopefully Anet realises the beauty of the mesmer class they have created, and how unique it has the potential to be – for any kind of class in any kind of rpg or mmo – and that they manage to bring it into a good position in the future.

+1 from me

In the end, one will realize that it’s really time to move on. May it be a different prof or another game. I went with the latter, and having a great time in TERA with any class – balance. I still miss my Mes from time to time but I know kitten well that my skillset and time invested else where will lead me to greater rewards and satisfaction. This is coming from a Mes main since the head start. I hope for better changes down the road, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for it. As we all know, the process has been so excruciatingly slow over the past 2 years.

I haven’t touched my mesmer since my necro hit 80… i feel like i can kill anyone with my necro (i suck at fighting condo-thieves tho) easily spamming my terror chain which makes condition mesmers look like a joke. Then I rolled warrior. OMG! the mobility, the damage, the 30k armor, it’s so easy to play and face roll anyone getting in my way. honestly speaking after playing necro and warrior, i feel like my mesmer (PU Hybrid) is useless as crap as I have to depend on buggy illusions (can be easily killed) to deliver very limited damage.

neptunechild.4831:

I haven’t touched my mesmer since my necro hit 80… i feel like i can kill anyone with my necro (i suck at fighting condo-thieves tho) easily spamming my terror chain which makes condition mesmers look like a joke. Then I rolled warrior. OMG! the mobility, the damage, the 30k armor, it’s so easy to play and face roll anyone getting in my way. honestly speaking after playing necro and warrior, i feel like my mesmer (PU Hybrid) is useless as crap as I have to depend on buggy illusions (can be easily killed) to deliver very limited damage.

Nailed it right there in the bold section. Mesmer has been reduced to an impotent class which is sad because it has the greatest amount of potential to be unique of all the classes. ANet has goofed big time with the Mesmer in GW2.

To answer the original question: I am hopeful, but I don’t know anymore. I’ve been considering rerolling because there’s only so much disappointment I can take.

Helly.2597:

Because it’s fun to play and there aren’t a lot of good ones around, which leads to a general surprise when people die to one.

You have more chances to hear: “kitten cheese class, roll to real profession!!!11” because people for some reason think Mesmer is OP

I play it cause I love to play a Class which I know better than the Developer.

schnitzel.9018:

I play it cause I love to play a Class which I know better than the Developer.

This one is good. Kudos.

Esplen.3940:

schnitzel.9018:

I play it cause I love to play a Class which I know better than the Developer.

This one is good. Kudos.

Well i have to say it is not hard to get, u just dont have to play Warrior lulz

I honestly think the gw2 mesmer is the realization of what arenanet wanted to do with the gw1 mesmer, but didn’t have the capacity to do it yet.

Mesmer is just the most fun and the most creative of the bunch. An illusionist that creates clones of himself, disappears, teleports, and then blows up his clones? awesome. lol

Also the mesmer has a certain finesse to it. Maybe that was ArenaNets intention after all with the mesmer: you have outwit your opponent to win. :P

chaosmike.8405:

I honestly think the gw2 mesmer is the realization of what arenanet wanted to do with the gw1 mesmer, but didn’t want to deal with the kittenstorm of balancing it to do it.

Fixed that for you.

I’m finding mesmer super difficult to get into at the moment. I love the idea, just not the implementation I guess!

I feel like on my other classes, each weapon set/utility skill has multiple uses in multiple situations, but on my mes I feel like I need to change my utilities a lot because some seem quite niche, or I need to swap my weapon sets for different situations.

Then there are a whole bunch of bugs too, which means when leveling I can’t even be sure X skill will work properly or Y won’t bug out and get me killed. And now that traits don’t even become available until 30+ (and I agree mesmer relies alot on traits) it just makes the whole class unappealing.

When people talk about mesmer in gw1 (I didn’t play the game personally) it seems like it was way more fun in that game, and sometimes I get the feeling some people play mesmer in gw2 holding out hope it’ll be revamped to be more like gw1.

Just my opinion obviously but I wanted to share it being a newbie mesmer!

Halting strike kills on thieves via Mantra of Distraction or that moment when your iWarlock crits for 8k on an immobilised target because you’ve got oodles of vulnerability up and the interrupt has just bumped its damage multiplier up by another 28%, small pleasures really. Frankly if it weren’t for CI and lockdown I’d have given up a long time ago, or got much better at playing shatter (or D/D ele…).

Jim, iWarlock gets damage for unique conditions, not for total conditions (you won’t get >275% damage for having 25 stacks of Vuln on the enemy, it’s just 25% + 10%, aka total damage bonus of 37.5%.

Curunen.8729:

Well I don’t anymore – or GW2 at all for that matter.

However it is still the most unique and enjoyable class in GW2, been a pleasure to play despite all the bugs and nerfs, and if I was given the choice of going back 2 years and starting over I would do exactly the same thing, no regrets.

Hopefully Anet realises the beauty of the mesmer class they have created, and how unique it has the potential to be – for any kind of class in any kind of rpg or mmo – and that they manage to bring it into a good position in the future.

Yeah, I moved on to a sub based MMO. Finally letting this case rest.
It is not the game itself, it is the developer. Noone wants to wait two years for simple bug fixes ever. Or some quality content. Or at least something new and exciting to toy around with.

I am a very patient person, but enough is enough. See you on the other side, maybe… ^^