Guild Wars 2

Defektive.7283:

I used to like retaliation when my damage is so low I needed another outlet to help me be competitive. The retal trait is great if your going so heavy into defense that you’re almost another bunker. When you get far in, your team may as well drop your for a guardian for an Ele.

Hang on… 10 points out of Tactics into Defence, swapping Toughness during revive to extra Power and 1s immob into extra dps from retal is making this build into a bunker?

Defektive.7283:

Panda.6753:

I prefer to run with the -20% CD reduction on burst and I find I don’t need the immob on cripple so currently I run with 5s retaliation on inc crit.

Based on what you described, you’re running a completely different build than this. Your focus is more on defense. I’ve tried (and many others have) to go that heavy in defense but it’s usually not proactive. The RoI for sinking into this trees is just not consistent.

I have to disagree, retaliation dmg is quite offensive compared to the immob trait and I generate a lot of adrenaline so for me the skill CD reduction means I get to use my burst more often.

Defektive.7283:

Panda.6753:

Oddly though, I described this build as having a really low skill cap to my guildies. I find it a pretty easy build to employ.

I have also toyed with the confusion on interrupt trait. I interrupt a lot on hammer but tbh condi dmg is a little low for it to be worthwhile.

Confusion trait is nigh useless for any build. Avoid it at all costs. Consider that it only applies when you interrupt. They will be knocked down/stunned for some long the confusion stacks usually won’t do damage.

Well, I agree it is not worthwhile (as I mention) but for different reasons. Remember the stun and one KD are AoE – the chances of interrupt are actually pretty high. What makes it useless is the lack of condi dmg.

Defektive.7283:

As for your thoughts on low skill cap, consider this.
GS – AxeShield or Longbow is pretty much a fire and forget build. These builds are the lowest of the low in skill caps. The only thing you have to be remotely aware of are protection boons on the enemy and making sure a thief doesn’t 1shot you.

Hammer is the complete opposite. To be useful to your team not only do you have to be aware of Stability but you also don’t want to be using your stuns on CD. It takes a consistent eye on your enemy to know when Stability is down or whose lost their stun break. Once coordinated with your team i’ve found it to be better than Hammer.

Factor in sheath fakeouts and wiping chill for your teammates. Basically every other build is autopilot compared to Hammer.

Ok, I guess complexity is pretty subjective and is also somewhat dependent on your role within a team – but I feel that being aware of stability / dodge counts / stun breaks / blinks is something any player on any build should be aiming to keep track of.

The build is good and it works well in tourneys. I’ve had a lot of good feedback from team mates and opponents but I’m not sure I would consider it a high DPS burst build – it is mid to high whilst having a lot more going for it that in effect makes it able to take out opponents who otherwise have better sustain.

I have been running a very similar build for a while. I call it a control build, it’s a great build to run with a 100B warrior with +50% crit on stun traited.

I prefer to run with the -20% CD reduction on burst and I find I don’t need the immob on cripple so currently I run with 5s retaliation on inc crit.

Still swapping rune sets in and out but Lyssa is solid. AoE flame blasts + crit on weapon swap sigils.

Oddly though, I described this build as having a really low skill cap to my guildies. I find it a pretty easy build to employ.

I have also toyed with the confusion on interrupt trait. I interrupt a lot on hammer but tbh condi dmg is a little low for it to be worthwhile.

It’s probably not so much a case that they don’t read or don’t want to respond to posts on this forum as they would need to be very careful of exactly what they said. I’m sure the community would scrutinise every word and make sure any slight inaccuracy or wayward promise would never be forgotten.

I wonder just who they can mean by quick attacking enemies….

Levetty.1279:

Panda.6753:

Levetty.1279:

Panda.6753:

Morghana.6342:

" One of the best things about mesmers is you can have almost 100% swifftness uptime"

“Rune of the Centaur x6 and Mirror doesn’t give me anywhere near 100% swiftness uptime!”

Man using up all my runes to get something other classes get for minor traits or in weapons is an amazing idea.

Power, Swiftness Duration, Bleeding Duration and almost 100% Swiftness to yourself and nearby allies. In WvW what is not to like about this? For me it is perfect, it extends my crit bleed procs, means I don’t have to run Focus and the Power is nice for shatter/gs builds.

For WvW I will also always take mirror over any other heal skill because the amount of damage you can negate with 1s reflection at critical moments is almost always greater than anything else.

Illusions are your only supply of bleed and don’t get benefit from condition duration increases? Not everybody runs a Condition build in the first place? Condition builds are pointless in Zergs? We are giving up much better runes for something other classes get in weapons or with minor trait points?

You can use bleed procs on Sigils and the Staff attack also has a 7s bleed chance. I have a Grd, Thief and War at 80 as well as my Mesmer and I’d say after the Thief with the perma 25% Swiftness my Mesmer is the next easiest to keep Swiftness up with. I run a balanced build with good Condition and direct damage. Base Morale, I only need some Toughness to survive as well as on any other class.

So bottom line, you were wrong, it’s not something you’ll never hear a Mesmer saying. Because I will say it

Levetty.1279:

Panda.6753:

Morghana.6342:

" One of the best things about mesmers is you can have almost 100% swifftness uptime"

“Rune of the Centaur x6 and Mirror doesn’t give me anywhere near 100% swiftness uptime!”

Man using up all my runes to get something other classes get for minor traits or in weapons is an amazing idea.

Power, Swiftness Duration, Bleeding Duration and almost 100% Swiftness to yourself and nearby allies. In WvW what is not to like about this? For me it is perfect, it extends my crit bleed procs, means I don’t have to run Focus and the Power is nice for shatter/gs builds.

For WvW I will also always take mirror over any other heal skill because the amount of damage you can negate with 1s reflection at critical moments is almost always greater than anything else.

Morghana.6342:

" One of the best things about mesmers is you can have almost 100% swifftness uptime"

“Rune of the Centaur x6 and Mirror doesn’t give me anywhere near 100% swiftness uptime!”