Guild Wars 2

I’m looking to see if anyone can recommend any approaches when attempting to 1v1 a skilled mesmer.

Currently I am very comfortable with 1v1s in sPvP with the sole exception of skilled mesmers. I have enumerated some approaches I have taken trying to 1v1 skilled mesmers specifically. Note that I main a thief and am not going to call mesmers OP in this thread.

Builds I have tried multiple times thus far (always targeting the real one before engaging): balanced, backstab, glass cannon, p/p burst, pistol whip, full vit and toughness.

As for my current build: I have a vit/tough and stealth->crit build with d/d and sb. Very solid damage output, high survivability and no cd phase as I use them in a rotation.

Atm in tournament play I will run towards the nearest player on my team as that is my temporary avoidance of the situation, but I don’t see this as a solution. I don’t feel that I am being out skilled most of the time, but rather not approaching mesmers properly.

Anet has said when you find something you’re struggling with look for a counter:)

Thanks in advance!

Take what follows with a grain of salt. I haven’t engaged in any tournament play yet myself, but I’ve been spending a lot of time in sPVP recently, since WvW is full of exploiters and hackers.

I run a Pistol/Dagger outlast build, with gearing for toughness and condition damage.

From what I’ve seen Mesmers generally don’t have a lot of burst damage. They can be almost as hard to pin down as a thief sometimes, but I’ve never felt threatened by one unless they have backup, at which point it becomes a very annoying fight. I’m not saying they can’t burst, since my in-depth knowledge of how Mesmers play is slight. I’m just saying I’ve never seen one do it.

So try the outlast build. As long as you can identify and stay on target for the real mesmer instead of the clones, you shouldn’t have any problems taking them down. Although it will take longer to kill them than you might be used to, which can lead to them either running for help, or lasting long enough for help to arrive. Use your own teamwork to counter.

Deadly Arts 30 (V)(VIII)(XII)
Shadow Arts 20 (V)(IX)
Acrobatics 20 (III)(VIII)

Hide in Shadows
Spider Venom
Devourer Venom
Signet of Shadows
Your choice of elite

It takes a little getting used to having a slower paced style. Heavy initiative use is generally bad, and good use of stealth, kiting, and dodges are key. You’ll be simultaneously weakening you enemies with venoms while healing. But this build can take on anyone 1v1, even Mesmers and Guardians if you’re careful.

The main weakness of the build is the lack of stun removal. If you’re up against a nasty 1v2 situation and the two people time their stuns/immobs right, they can put a serious hurt on you. Even a well timed single player with stuns can be trouble. But if you keep your cool, usually you should be able to pop Hide in Shadows or C&D to potentially reset the fight.

Here’s your answer:

Now, enjoy beating them. That’s what I do on them and it OWNS them.

Unlike Eliteseraph, I’ve seen mesmers with burst builds. They revlove either around shattering clones or powerful phantasms.

How should you fight this class depends on whether they’re aware of you or not.
If they didn’t see you, you can try bursting them before they get a chance to get their buddies. I’ve seen CnD→Steal→Assassin Signet→Backstab combo dropping glass cannon ones instantly. The second you realize they’re aware of you, you should have your shortbow out. AoE damage is the best counter to mesmers, so Cluster Bomb them like there’s no tommorow. If you can’t hit both real one and his pets, it’s usually better to focus on destroying illusions first.

Also try to have some endurance saved. Dodge+ firing CB at your feet is the diffirence between live and death when you see 3 clones running towards you.