Guild Wars 2

I know this is a yee-old question but i’ve tried googling/checking forums but i can’t find any recent answers(like after April Patch)

I play a Mesmer as a main with a Phantasm Build w/ all Zerker stats. i know that iWarden does alot more damage and the reflects are amazing but it’s also slower and if the target moves literally 4 steps in any direction away from the warden it’s basically useless. Whereas the other to two does not have that problem and also iSwordsman attacks much quicker.

So i would like to know how much DPS these phantasms would do within short and long battles.

pve or wvw? iwarden in pve all the way

and iSwordman deals more overtime dmg than duelist cause of atk frequency

Wyrden.4713:

pve or wvw? iwarden in pve all the way

It’s for PvE. I do like iWarden alot too but like i said iSwordsman is faster and also i have to admit….

Dual Swords look way cooler

swordsman and duelist are pretty close

warden kinda blows

Warden is no good for damage— the advantages it has are entirely in utility (AoE damage, projectile absorption/reflection). Swordsman and duelist are preferred in terms of single target DPS by far, with Swordsman coming out ahead by a bit. If you are fighting a boss where you don’t need the Warden’s utility, it is almost always worthwhile to switch to pistol.

Assuming dungeons and running with meta build/gear/party, sorted highest to lowest.

• 2,051 dps – Duelist
• 2,016 dps – Swordsman
• 1,925 dps – Berserker (4 hits)
• 1,646 dps – Warden
• 1,464 dps – Berserker (3 hits)

In melee Duelist/Swordsman are more or less the same so it all comes down to Sword 4 being massive dps spike compared to to Pistol 5 situational cc making swordsman the go-to phantasm. If he keeps dying in melee then duelist is a better choice given you can summon him away from the danger. Warden is more of a utility phantasm and is used either for reflects/absorbs or for cheap cleave dps.

Berserker is a tricky one because it comes packaged with the famous greatsword, which is terribad dps when used in melee. However it is possible to use it effectively if you can avoid camping the gs, such as summoning zerker at start of the fight and then swapping to sword/whatever for the remainder of the fight. However, if zerker connects only 3 times instead of 4, you’re better off sticking with the warden.

Example HOW to use gs/berserker and still be effective:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Wz_BiHN3Q

And if you assume phantasms will die after only doing one attack chain, here is expected average dmg per unload:

• 20,260 dmg – Warden
• 13,305 dmg – Duelist
• 11,773 dmg – Berserker (4 hits)
• 7,943 dmg – Swordsman
• 8,830 dmg – Berserker (3 hits)

And if you exclude bleed dmg from Sharper Images (aka vs mobs who cleanse condis):

• 12,471 dmg – Warden
• 9,177 dmg – Berserker (4 hits)
• 8,314 dmg – Duelist
• 7,294 dmg – Swordsman
• 6,883 dmg – Berserker (3 hits)

Warden does score the highest per unload but given that he channels his skill for longer than eternity, it’s kinda pointless.

frifox.5283:

And if you assume phantasms will die after only doing one attack chain, here is expected average dmg per unload:

• 20,260 dmg – Warden
• 13,305 dmg – Duelist
• 11,773 dmg – Berserker (4 hits)
• 7,943 dmg – Swordsman
• 8,830 dmg – Berserker (3 hits)

And if you exclude bleed dmg from Sharper Images (aka vs mobs who cleanse condis):

• 12,471 dmg – Warden
• 9,294 dmg – Swordsman
• 8,314 dmg – Duelist
• 9,177 dmg – Berserker (4 hits)
• 6,883 dmg – Berserker (3 hits)

Warden does score the highest per unload but given that he channels his skill for longer than eternity, it’s kinda pointless.

Good info, but one question. Why does the swordsman damage increase when losing the bleed trait? am I missing something?

Good catch. Accidentally typed in 9 instead of 7… XD

Swordsman and duelist duke it out. The duelist stays in place, while the swordsman needs to move in. The one that works better depends on the fight – bosses with PBAoE’s are bad for the swordsman, while bosses that make you move with them are better for the swordsman.

Warden beats them both in a projectile fight if you have Warden’s Feedback. At least when it’s not bugging out.

Bring all 3, and choose the right weapon for the battle.

frifox.5283:

And if you assume phantasms will die after only doing one attack chain, here is expected average dmg per unload:

• 20,260 dmg – Warden
• 13,305 dmg – Duelist
• 11,773 dmg – Berserker (4 hits)
• 7,943 dmg – Swordsman
• 8,830 dmg – Berserker (3 hits)

And if you exclude bleed dmg from Sharper Images (aka vs mobs who cleanse condis):

• 12,471 dmg – Warden
• 9,177 dmg – Berserker (4 hits)
• 8,314 dmg – Duelist
• 7,294 dmg – Swordsman
• 6,883 dmg – Berserker (3 hits)

Warden does score the highest per unload but given that he channels his skill for longer than eternity, it’s kinda pointless.

Thanks this is actually pretty helpful! Right now i’m leaning towards Swordsman and then Warden occasionally if/when it’s needed since as said before, if the boss is mobile iWarden is basically just a paperweight.

Something that many players often overlook with phantasm attack chains is that they were supposed to be recasted rather than be unkillable. This concept changes phantasm damage and changes the issue with phantasm deaths in spvp or even pve.

If you recast phantasms during a phantasms attack you can get a sort of double hit which increases the damage. Phant recast should also be included in calculations of damage.

but isnt iSwordman dmg better than iDuelist over time cause of attack frequency?

i always thought thats the case

Wyrden.4713:

but isnt iSwordman dmg better than iDuelist over time cause of attack frequency?

i always thought thats the case

Yes, that’s why the DPS numbers are basically the same. I guess once you take into account the bleeds, which people have ignored previously but frifox included, duelist is 1% better.

Assuming full zerk swordsman is better by about 1%. Assuming full assassins (as I did in my posts) then duelist is better by 1%. Yeah, the difference came from the bleed stacks.