I recommend sword instead of focus, because the mobs tend to move around much, especially as a mesmer who’s there in four. The Wardens attack is stationary and often doesn’t hit mobs that move away, but the Swordsman in 99% of all his leap attacks doesn’t miss a moving target. This leap also counts as finisher, so you can combine it with chaos storm from staff to make the Swordsman get chaos armor.
Until you reach lvl 60 your illusions will be pretty weak, regardless of the signet a/o trait, and you will have to resummon them more often during a fight. But as soon as you hit lvl 60 put at least 3 points into the Inspiration tree, because the second minor trait is one of the most useful ones and will noticably change combat experience: As long as you are close to a phantasm a/o the phant close to another one they will be constantly healed over time which will make them (and you) stay alive much longer. So two (or three) iSwordsman close together in most cases are not necessary to be resummoned, while you can either fight in melee too or stay in range and use the staff.
For the build it depends on the playstyle you prefer. Be it power or condition, shatter, mantra or a hybrid one, there are different builds. For leveling purpose I had the most fun with a non-shatter hybrid build: 0/2/5/3/4, because it doesn’t force to rely on phant damage only, but also allows to count in the staff clones to get good results, especially against champs and groups. When I want to use more phants, I simply take the fifth point out of Chaos and put it into Dueling for Sharper Images.
Mind that if you like a condition build, the third minor Chaos trait grants more condi dmg than additional two points in the “condi dmg” tree (Illusions) – so if not for the major trait slot but for condition damage only Chaos 5+Illusions 4 is better than Chaos 4+Illusions 6. Six points in both trees would be best for condi dmg boost, but then there are only two points left that don’t last for all the other (more) useful traits.
For condition removing either use Inspiration IV and Ether Feast or the Phantasmal Disenchanter, who also does a bit of damage and heals nearby allies (and grabs the aggro astonishingly often, despite of other dmg phants summoned). Only use the Mantra if you choose your traits for a mantra build. Two or even three PDs with Phantasmal Haste (Illusions X) against one or more mobs that apply many conditions, can support a party far superior than any other profession with condi removing capability I dare to say.
And some general tips:
- The order mobs in most cases will attack is: Phantasm > Mesmer > Clone
- If you have three illusions summoned and summon a fourth, either a clone will be replaced or, in case there is no clone, the phantasm you summoned first.
- Staff clones summoned by Phase Retreat do not need an obstacle-free line of sight to the target (eg. at the bottom of stairs, behind a wall, aso), while every other clone/illusion skill in such a case will go on cooldown but with no illusion summoned.
- Your illusions profit from all your stats except vitality (if you want to boost their vitality you’d have to choose the related traits a/o the signet): power, precision, condition damage, condition and boon duration, armor, critical damage and healing power. Whether they profit from toughness or not, I don’t know.
- Runes that affect these stats also have an impact on illusions. Sigils have no effect.
- Mesmers have no trait that permanently increases walking speed. There are just the Focus skill #4 and the Signet of Inspiration as source for the swiftness boon, so either on long cd or uncontrollable (but it occurs quite frequently). And the Superior Rune of the Traveller ofc.
- Mobs that you turn into a moa/tuna will attack with moa/tuna skills, which occasionally is far more dangerous than attacks in their normal form. Most players on the other side will just run away.
- All of your illusions’ and your own direct attacks will bypass any other (own) illusion standing inbetween, but mobs or other players (except Rangers with the trait) cannot shoot through your illusions to hit you, except for AoE attacks ofc. So you can also use them as a shield to absorp a few direct attacks like arrows, bullets, magic bolts or melee hits.
Thank you very, very much!