Guild Wars 2

Ross Biddle.2367:

Threw this together quick

https://youtu.be/PQbfQ8huOLA

Terrible music. But a hybrid mes still gets thumbs up.

Ugh, this is the worst thing that has happened to mesmer since iLeap was gutted.

messiah.1908:

isnt it very hard to achieve during mid fight. right after the heal complete and before the recharge start… very very short window….

It’s probably around 0.5s window, so not too hard.

trooper.2650:

I usually use continuum just before my Signet heal to get an extra izerker out.

You should use CS right after signet heal.

iZerker -> Signet of the Ether -> CS right after the heal completes and before the CD starts counting -> iZerker -> Whatever you have time for -> CShift -> iZerker

With Chronophantasma you have 3 zerkers out and your signet heal ready. Also gives more time to do stuff in CSplit.

You can do double Ether Feast that way too or get a free shatter recharge with Signet of Illusions.

No target needed for DE. When you dodge while in combat, you create a clone that will attack the nearest enemy or critter.

This was what I was running on my mesmer in WvW before HoT. But it’s kinda hard to upgrade to Chrono.

I’m still experimenting with Chrono hybrid builds and so far Duel/Illu/Chrono and Dom/Illu/Chrono with a mix of Viper/Sinister/Zerker are my favourites. Haven’t tried with celestial gear yet, but I have some doubts due the lack of might on the non-Domination one.

I really like the new maps, although they were a bit confusing at first, especially the third map. I was a bit annoyed that I can’t do the new content with the elite spec unlocked, but it’s not that bad and the progression is pretty smooth, IMO. Makes finding a hero point so much more rewarding too.
Being an open world PvP junkie, I spend pretty much all of my time in WvW. Think I’ve only done one chapter of the living story. But since HoT I’ve been doing almost nothing but PvE. Although I don’t really need any more HPs on my Chrono and I could easily get them in WvW, the kitten hero points have become like an obsession to me. I just have to find them!

I think people who are complaining about grind don’t enjoy the journey. If everything was handed to you the instant you hop into the new map, after a week the forums would be filled with “There’s nothing to do in HoT! I’m bored!” -threads. Comparing to other themepark MMOs, there’s no grind in HoT.

Andraus.3874:

Noss.4105:

YOU! Yes, you who just scrolled down without reading. Don’t even think about posting before you’ve read the above.

I read it. And it’s well written. Hopefully this will help, But you have to realize players come from all different backgrounds in this game. There will still be posts about Mesmer being OP because someone played 5 hot joins and kept dying to the Mesmer. But thanks for writing this hopefully some people will inform themselves.

I didn’t write it. That’s all Chaos’ hard work.
I just tried to get some of the people who just scroll through the posts to actually read em before posting.

YOU! Yes, you who just scrolled down without reading. Don’t even think about posting before you’ve read the above.

I don’t mind, and I even encourage “X is OP” – threads, as long as they contain some logic and are based on facts.
Discussions about certain balance issues is a valuable indicator for Anet when they look to improve balance. I’m pretty sure they have some stats to look at how much certain classes and traits are played, and if the stats support the crying in forums, that’s a pretty good clue that something is wrong. PU was a good example.

But this thread. This thread should’ve been over after the second post, as the 66666 supermesmer with 2 amulets the OP described, is sadly a myth.

Ross Biddle.2367:

Also, If I play Mesmer, and I beat a Mesmer in a fight, decapping, killing, and capping his point, is Mesmer OP because I beat the other Mesmer, or UP because the Mesmer lost? The OP should be able to tell us; fountain of wisdom and all.

It means you’re OP.

Nerf Biddle, too much confusion.

Remember to read Lyssa’s Grimoire: The Mesmer Handbook. It’s stickied at the first page.

I’m sure every lady likes a guy who oozes glamour and knows how to use his staff.

The perma chaos armour is pretty impressive indeed.

Maybe he made a good impression on Lindsey and ran off with her and all that prize gold.

Send wedding pics!

Zmodd.5427:

That bar between Distortion and Continuum Split, it bothers me and I’m not sure why.

D:

Same. The “illusion dots” bother me too, looks like they’re a bit too much on the right. The middle dot should be at the middle of F3.

This is a disaster.

Fay.2357:

Nascull.5842:

how no skil it can be ? interupt with a perplexy rune give ure enmy 14 stack of confu and w8 and use 40% condie duration foods where is the time only skilful players where able to win the fights instead of a perplexy noob ? take his rune away and hes performing like kitten

By reading this post, I have been shuttled along a fast track to enlightenment. Truly, I have now seen the light.

Hallelujah!

Xyonon.3987:

I had a conversation with a Mesmer fellow today, about the very same topic.

I suggest to rework GS one like this:
While having a target selected and using your auto attack, a none targetable, just visual effect phantasmal version of yourself spawns at the target, wich attacks when you do.
The attack however will be the same as any GS auto attack chain, just ranged, so yes, CLEAVE!

It sounds so weird I used my AWESOME PAINT SKILLS to visualize what I just said! BEHOLD!!! xD

Yes please!

Epic paint skills, btw.

AlphatheWhite.9351:

Noss.4105:

And mesmer is not really a close range class. Sure, at times you venture to close range for some shatter goodness, but the “anchor point” is mid range.

GS1 is an extreme long-range ability. So…it’s still not good, even at the range you think we belong at.

Best damage is at 900+, but that’s not always the optimal place to be. You’re not locked to melee range with MH sword either.

Nah, don’t like it.
We’re no brutes, I rather shoot lazors than be at melee getting my clothes all bloody.

I think GS overall is our most “complete” weapon. Every skill is good and they all make sense.
And mesmer is not really a close range class. Sure, at times you venture to close range for some shatter goodness, but the “anchor point” is mid range.

What the hell, 137 replies to this thread. Glad I haven’t got myself involved.

By the way, you’re all wrong.

Just realized I never actually voted. Atleast three times I watched the videos, couldn’t decide who to vote and got distracted by something else while I was thinking.

I kinda wanted to vote for Ross, but I don’t want to encourage more KS warrior videos.

IMAGINED BURDEN Probably pretty bad in sPvP, but a fine trait for solo/smallscale WvW. The constant cripple is golden, high might stacks and coupled with Illusionist’s Celerity makes you a mirror blade machine gun.

I don’t get Bountiful Disillusionment. But if interrupt/lockdown Daredevil will be a thing in HoT, BD might become my favourite trait.

1. Look fabulous.
2. Be fabulous.

Fay.2357:

The 2 and 3 skills on the scepter are fine and strong. It’s the autoattack that’s the big stinker of the weapon.

I remember like an year or so ago the devs went on to fix the scepter in a balance patch.

They lowered the CD on #2 and #3. -.-

atlrising.5134:

Would they care if Mesmer players went on a strike and played other classes?

Many of us have played mesmer since the launch, through the good and the bad times. You’re not gonna get us off this fabulous profession. And I don’t know why we should go on a strike anyways. I’m loving my mesmer as much as ever!

Amityel.5324:

mesmer is still viable class……….dunno why you all think its not

wat do u mean………..we all?

denis.9487:

Noss.4105:

denis.9487:

Noss.4105:

denis.9487:

Simonoly.4352:

Reducing the added stealth duration to 50% was the right way to go and I think the game will be healthier because of it. I think it would be fine if the Might was removed from the random boon list now. Chaotic Interruption can provide you with all the Might you could possibly want- let PU be a purely defensive trait to aid new players.

So let’s reduce Mesmer even beyond pre patch trait revamp!!! Brilliant.

You think removing might from PU would be a nerf?

Yes considering not all pu use is conditional. Right runes and say Dom gm trait imagined burden.

Don’t know how conditions or Imagined Burden is relevant, but I’ll take aegis or protection over one stack of might any day. Whatever the build.

Requires imagination. Not everyone runs pu as a condition spec. So the might stack coupled with runes traits and wvw bonus(if there) could prove useful in a power build. Again not interested in going backwards yet that is our course at the moment.

Well you got quite an imagination.
Sure, one might stack is useful. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s probably the weakest of the boons PU provides. WvW bonuses or Imagined Burden is irrelevant, one might stack is one might stack.

denis.9487:

Noss.4105:

denis.9487:

Simonoly.4352:

Reducing the added stealth duration to 50% was the right way to go and I think the game will be healthier because of it. I think it would be fine if the Might was removed from the random boon list now. Chaotic Interruption can provide you with all the Might you could possibly want- let PU be a purely defensive trait to aid new players.

So let’s reduce Mesmer even beyond pre patch trait revamp!!! Brilliant.

You think removing might from PU would be a nerf?

Yes considering not all pu use is conditional. Right runes and say Dom gm trait imagined burden.

Don’t know how conditions or Imagined Burden is relevant, but I’ll take aegis or protection over one stack of might any day. Whatever the build.

denis.9487:

Simonoly.4352:

Reducing the added stealth duration to 50% was the right way to go and I think the game will be healthier because of it. I think it would be fine if the Might was removed from the random boon list now. Chaotic Interruption can provide you with all the Might you could possibly want- let PU be a purely defensive trait to aid new players.

So let’s reduce Mesmer even beyond pre patch trait revamp!!! Brilliant.

You think removing might from PU would be a nerf?

Stormbolt.7293:

Noss.4105:

I feel kinda bad about it, but I’m more excited about lockdown/interrupt Daredevil than Mesmer/Chrono in HoT.
Just imagine a Daredevil with S/P, Acro/Trickery/DD. Each interrupt will do about backstabs worth of damage, and they have loads of them.

Eh, Chronomancer and Daredevil lockdown are two very different beasts. Chronomancer is all about limiting options and subduing your opponent, while thief focuses more on raw interrupt DPS.

Dunno why you quoted me, I didn’t claim Chrono and Daredevil are alike.
I’m more interested in Daredevil because it brings so much new to lockdown/interrupt playstyle. It’s a whole different class afterall.
I can’t wait to play Chronomancer, but when it comes to lockdown it doesn’t bring as much new stuff.

I feel kinda bad about it, but I’m more excited about lockdown/interrupt Daredevil than Mesmer/Chrono in HoT.
Just imagine a Daredevil with S/P, Acro/Trickery/DD. Each interrupt will do about backstabs worth of damage, and they have loads of them.

I wouldn’t really recommend interrupt builds if you’re new to Guild Wars. To get the most out of the playstyle, you need some basic knowledge about all the other classes.

Builds with PU are probably a good idea to learn the class, since PU offers a shortcut to surviving as mesmer. However, be careful to not get married with the trait and rely too much on it to keep you alive.

nearlight.3064:

You absolutely need GS on an interrupt build for the damage alone, and either staff or sw/pistol work as offsets.

I disagree that you absolutely need GS on interrupt builds. I’ve ran Staff/SwSw a lot too, and it gets the job done well.

I might be naive, but I believe The Pledge will be fixed in the patch.

Great news. +100% duration really was boring and cheap way to improve this trait. Not that it even needed improvements, IMO.

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.

Reborn D.2769:

Remember when you can ileap after you illusion died :s

Aaaah, good times.

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.

Ross Biddle.2367:

Back then nobody ran torch but me

Hey hey hey! I ran Staff/Sw+Torch shatter for the first year or so when I started.

Remember when everyone ate iLeap → BF+Shatter combo?
Remember when Glamour confusion mesmers were a thing in WvW?
Remember when you didn’t need to slot condi cleanses?

MailMail.6534:

Noss.4105:

But looks like an interesting build. I’d try it with Master of Fragmentation too and see if it’s worth the tradeoff.

I always take Ineptitude over MF. I like the survivability it adds with its blind being on a single-target CD. Power builds aside, since this is a condition spec, I’d take this trait purely for the long duration confusion application.

I prefer Ineptitude too, but considering you’re building around Mistrust the AoE Diversion could be devastating.

Mistrust looks like an amazing trait, but it’s tough to be in the same tier with DE.

But looks like an interesting build. I’d try it with Master of Fragmentation too and see if it’s worth the tradeoff.

Seyiwaji.4082:

the phantasm is enjoyable?
Did you see the video on the link? How can a skill which not hit the chosen target be enjoyable?

i guess you guys just post random things without reading anything.

edit: Actually gonna edit out this post before it gets deleted for mocking or something.

In your video the shots won’t hit the targeted golem because there’s another golem in the way. This is pretty common for projectiles in the game and it’s nothing odd or bad.

You basically need one interrupt to bring the cooldown reduction in line with other CD reduction traits given that both skills are on CD.

Only thing I don’t like about this trait is that it (or should atleast) inflicts bleeds instead of vulnerability or something. But since condi builds don’t really have a good phantasm, I guess it’s fair.

apharma.3741:

So my question to the OP is, why is it ok for a thief to do all that you complained about on a greater level (they have more stealth, blinds, ability to reset and you can’t escape them) and not for a mesmer?

Everyone has given up complaining and accepted thieves as the overlords of the roaming “scene”.

This is what I run on my hybrid one.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAR7flknhG1YZawINwtGLnGEZAWQBKHRzDHaESaXA-T1SDwAMuAAvV/pnSs87PcSzQXlHLUCCSHAATcQOCASeIAECQxCA-w

Basically just upgraded version of what I ran before the trait changes. Been too lazy to get some sinister in there, but it’s on my list.

Oh, and nice vid!

I threw an idea somewhere here of having different colored dots for clones and phantasms on your “clone bar”.
If that’s what you mean, then I agree. Would be good QoL change.

I’ve had very similar build in mind for chrono, but dueling instead of inspiration.

Been running Imagined Burden lately in Dom/Duel/Illu and Dom/Duel/Insp, and it’s pretty kitten amazing trait in WvW. Probably not as good in sPvP though.

AlphatheWhite.9351:

And Master of Frag, which is 10% crit chance on Mind Wrack, which is about +20% damage on Mind Wrack on average (assuming not already capping crit chance).

+10% crit chance is roughly +11% damage.

apharma.3741:

As for the comment earlier about “you can’t just take one thing from a class and slap it on another”, they’re kinda doing that all across the expansion, wells, physical skills, thief is getting Mesmer type interrupt and just as Mesmer stealth is inferior to thieves so to is theirs slightly inferior to mesmer.

That’s different. Every class gets something.
If you just simply add the strengths of one class to another, it’s pretty obvious that’s not balanced.

Fay.2357:

Anyone ever wonder why 90% of complaints about PU always come from thieves?

The answer is that PU allows mesmers to compete with thieves, both in a direct contest and for a similar role on a team. Previously, thieves had no competition for roaming ganker/backcapper. Now they do, and apparently it stings.

I think about 90% of all complaints across these forums is by thieves.

AlphatheWhite.9351:

why is it not okay to have two heavy stealth classes instead of just one? Is it really so important that thieves get to be special snowflakes with the only access to invisibility? How does that even make sense beyond some ridiculous appeal to MMO tradition?

Oh, and I don’t have a problem with having 2 stealth heavy classes in game. But you can’t just take something from another class and slap it to another. Otherwise you could just take the strenghts from each class, mush it into one profession and call it balanced because “well the -insert class- has it so why is it OP on me?”

AlphatheWhite.9351:

Noss.4105:

Doesn’t change my opinion that mesmer’s stealth shouldn’t be on par with thief’s with just one(or two) trait point.

Except
1. It isn’t. Even selecting the 1 grandmaster trait and bugged adept trait available to make it competitive, Mesmer stealth pales in comparison to what a thief can put out. Fixing that bugged trait(as they should) is just gonna make the gap even bigger.
2. It was already abundantly pointed out that thieves get a lot of perks from their stealth that mesmers do not. 25% damage reduction, healing in stealth, cleanse while stealthed, etc., make thief stealth better than mesmer stealth, even ignoring the durations and access options.
3. Why the hell not? If the burst from stealth is inferior as you just conceded, why is it not okay to have two heavy stealth classes instead of just one? Is it really so important that thieves get to be special snowflakes with the only access to invisibility? How does that even make sense beyond some ridiculous appeal to MMO tradition?

1&2. I didn’t say it is. I said it shouldn’t be. As in you can’t compare mesmer’s stealth to thief’s, that uses over one whole traitline to support that mechanic, and whose class is basically designed around stealth.

3. I guess sarcasm doesn’t work over the internet. MB+MW combo from stealth is a bit inferior to backstab, sure. But I don’t think it’s as bad and easily avoided as people make it seem to be.