Guild Wars 2

NA, on Sorrow’s Furnace but don’t mind switching!

When, oh WHEN will we learn what this is and/or what its doing here? I assume it relates to either the Seers or the Mursaat, but I suppose it could be anything. Thoughts?

This is a fantastic idea! I think we may be the only class in the game that this may work REALLY well with. I main a mesmer in tPvP and usually run a shutdown/dps build, but used to run bunkers and support builds quite often. I’m NA and am on Sorrow’s Furnace, and would be happy to contribute to buying a server also! Thanks, let me know if I can squeeze in

As Duck as stated above me, I’m having a hard time figuring out what you’re really trying to do with this build. It seems you’d like to go full dps without sacrificing too much in the sense of surviving. I’d suggest taking out of Illusions entirely. Maybe put it into Dueling and grab Duelist’s Dicipline. Put the extra 5 points into Domination and grab whatever trait floats your boat for that tree. That would be traited for all out damage, and in that case I’d grab a few pieces of Soldier’s armor, maybe even another trinket or two for your survivability. I’d say berserker weapons are definitely the way you want to go though. What I also would suggest, is instead of pumping into dueling, put the extra 10 points from Illusions into Inspiration and grab Mender’s Purity or Persisting Images. The extra 5 points in Domination you have seems a little pointless to me, and I’d suggest either going 20 deep into it, or take out the extra 5 and trait it somewhere else (with 15 out of Illusions, that gives you 20 points to add around). Maybe go 30 deep in Dueling and 10 into Inspiration. But above all, if you are looking to survive longer, grab zerker’s weapons and swap out a few of your armor pieces with soldier’s, and an extra trinket or two. That’s just my two cents, let me know what you decide on and how it works for you!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNAraWlwzyoHTzgGb9IipHBHyJcoUcdVXJF42FC-ToAAzCpIaS1krJTTymsNNEZ9B

This is what I’ve been using in PvP but it can easily be modified for WvW. Take a few glamours and the confusion with glamour trait and you should be set for both roaming and zerging for loot bags. I have a thread about a condition-based interrupt build here if you want to get some more ideas:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Post-6-25-Interrupt-build-help/first#post2390081

skcamow.3527:

Allarius.5670:

TheKidHenry.5732:

Its great to see another mesmer playing with interrupts! I’m sure you saw that our builds are very similar. On the note of Chaotic Interruption, I love the trait… especially with a sigil of battle, I’m usually between 10 and 20 stacks of might at all times! I just weigh that against staff cooldowns, but usually I’ll trait for phantasms anyway so its not too bad. I’ll usually build slightly more toughness, definitely runes of the undead as opposed to getting some condition duration on there with runes to make up for it. Which do you think is more viable?

I think you might be confusing Bountiful Interruption with Chaotic Interruption, but I could be misreading you. Chaotic Interruption is the 30 point trait that immobilizes your target and applies blind, cripple, or chill on a successful interrupt. I have not been able to give up reduced staff cool downs for Bountiful Interruption, but I may have to give it a shot based on your suggestion.

I think in this case the rune selection is really just a matter of personal preference and play style. I don’t think you could go wrong by selecting undead for a condi build at all. I am actually using Lyssa more so for the additional precision and the 6 rune benefit; the additional condi duration is really just a side benefit. For me, I like being able to use Mass Invisibility as a full reset and I feel that the 6 rune benefit from Lyssa allows this.

The additional toughness from undead would certainly help with surviving an onslaught of burst whereas being able to drop all condis from Lyssa would help against opposing condis, in addition to Arcane Thievery. I find Illusionary Retreat, Illusionary Counter, and Chaos Armor to be sufficient for surviving burst in addition to the interrupt play style and standard Mesmer fare (Distortion, Blink, etc.).

Chaotic Interruption rules – good discussion on that trait used in power and condition builds in this thread: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Build-ChillRuption

I’ve personally been using combinations of condition duration runes and giver’s weapons (even on the power build). Runes of Ice work well, too.

@Allarius, I did mean Bountiful Interruption. I usually go with Staff reduction, but in some builds I find that my toughness is fine as is, and the cooldowns don’t affect me too much. The boost from BI is noticeable, to both survivability and damage perspectives. Although, Chaotic Interruption is an AMAZING trait also. My usual condition damage/interrupt build uses 20-20-30 using CI and BI. Sometimes I go 20-0-30-0-20, and thats really the two builds I’m testing out. Whether DE is really worth it or not, why I made the post ;D The builds are posted above, or in my other posts, but you should try them both out. 30-20-20 also works well, and is up there as an alternativie, though I usually use that with my DPS interrupt build though.

@Osi I’m gonna have to test it out. Like I said to Allarius, both my 20-20-30 and 20-0-30-0-20 builds are great condition builds, and I usually trait them for interruts (at least in sPvP). If you have time, try them out and tell me if you think DE is worth it for the build, and also which runes would be good for each? Maybe to make up for the loss of DE or loss of x, y, z.
Thanks!

Fay.2735:

Not enough Asura in this thread!

I agree! My Asuran mesmer >:)

Allarius.5670:

Since this is such an awesome discussion, and I love me some condi-control Mesmer action, I thought I’d throw my build into the mix as well.

The build I’ve been running is also focused on interruption and conditions: 0/15/30/0/25.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNAraWlwzipXTTjGb9IhpHEH5CHNjrn9yHwNA-TkAAzEFpKyVkpIZR2iGEsqA

I do not feel as though I ever have a problem pumping out enough clones, particularly with 25 in Illusions and reduced staff cool downs. In a team environment it is pretty selfish aside from tossing around a few boons, but the primary focus is on control and condi bursting. The key is really making sure to interrupt the important skills and shut down the opponent while pistol phantasm loads up bleeds, etc. Interrupting the right opponent at the right time is really the primary group support the build offers. Arcane Thievery is just an additional emphasis on the build’s goal, allowing for stability stripping or additional condition pressure. With the long cast times of Necromancers I find it does really well against them.

Since it IS an interrupt hybrid, I find Mantra of Distraction a complete necessity for the on demand daze. Chaos Storm and Magic Bullet are used more as control options, while the Mantra really puts the shutdown icing on the cake.

Pistol here serves a duel purpose, bleed stacking and the interrupt. I do not know how the community feels about Chaotic Interruption, but in this build I have had great success with it … it allows that little extra bit of control that helps land those phantasm bleeds or buys your team that brief moment to capitalize on an incapacitated opponent that is dazed/interrupted and immobilized.

But, this IS a condi/interrupt hybrid; I wouldn’t suggest it if you just want to go full out condi damage or do not like the interrupt play style.

Its great to see another mesmer playing with interrupts! I’m sure you saw that our builds are very similar. On the note of Chaotic Interruption, I love the trait… especially with a sigil of battle, I’m usually between 10 and 20 stacks of might at all times! I just weigh that against staff cooldowns, but usually I’ll trait for phantasms anyway so its not too bad. I’ll usually build slightly more toughness, definitely runes of the undead as opposed to getting some condition duration on there with runes to make up for it. Which do you think is more viable?

Osicat.4139:

Ok here we go, 20-20-30 spvp with bleeding, clone spammer and s/p + scepter/t. So far Im happy, seen 17 stacks of bleed at bets so far, could prob be higer but ppl tend to die alot so hard stack more.

So far I must say deuling is not only usable for condi builds, its a CORE tree to dig into nomatter if you go staff or not. The clones and phantasm bleed applying is one of the best dmg sources, with staff iven better. For PvP to be able to spam clones and saty in stealth while things die around you is pure love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBOpcTRsNT8

/Osicat

I do really like your website; kinda glad im discussing this with you because I do love what you do. So usually without DE I;m running with a build like this http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArfWlwzKqHTzgGb9IhpHBH5AHlir7dSKK9rB-ToAAzCuIaS1krJTTymsNNqY9B
Sometimes I’ll swap PU for chaotic interruption, sometimes move 10 into domination for the stun on daze trait. I love both of those builds, and it seems to lose a good 300 condition damage when traiting for DE. I’m really just wondering which does a better job wiping people on the ground. Is the extra clone production, (with on death traits, etc) enough sustainable damage to match that extra 300 condition damage? The build I use does a nice job not only bursting conditions but also surviving easily and locking down single opponents. I’d say that suffices well enough for “support”… though as the person above me said also, this type of build is sort of selfish. Does putting DE in and having those extra clones make you a better team supporter?

Hmmm I didn’t realize that. Do the clones on dodge follow your targets as well using the sword? And do they NOT when using the scepter? I know the ones summoned with the #1 chain skill are stationary, but if I have the scepter equipped with DE will the dodge clones not move either? Thanks

I usually run a condition damage/interrupt focused build in tPvP, that I have a thread for here:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Post-6-25-Interrupt-build-help/first#post2390081

The thread shows the many variations to the build, more defensive, more offensive, etc etc, but the build I usually run with is this one:

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9ICKFXX1R6hpVanWJF82FC-TsAAzCpIaS9l7LzXyvsfNEZ9xsCA

I won’t go into my favorite tPvP build, which is a DPS interrupt build as opposed to condition damage, because this thread was meant to work with condition builds….
If I go straight condition build in tPvP I usually use something like this:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArfWlwzKqHTzgGb9IhpHBH5AHlirXdSKK9rB-ToAAzCuIaS1krJTTymsNNqY9B

And my question is still with DE, is it really worth it? I have about 1700 condition damage with this build, so I’m melting people with conditions. I don’t usually think I have a problem surviving, so I wouldn’t need DE for the defensive side of the trait. The on-death clone traits are amazing, but I usually do fine spamming clones with my scepter that they die and spread conditions well enough as is. In the build I posted above, I don’t know what I’d take out of to give myself DE. Probably out of domination, so I wouldn’t lose condition damage, but then I have much less condition duration and the torch trait is a heavy loss in my eyes. If I used runes to make up for lost condition duration (taking 2x runes of Lyssa for the extra 10% duration, and then maybe a sigil of agony for bleeding), I still lose about 200 condition damage from the loss of runes of the undead. I don’t THINK this is as much of an issue in WvW, because I can take consumables for extra condition damage or duration, depending on which I need most.

TL;DR
Converting the above tpvp build to a WvW build, which trait line is worth taking out of for DE, and is DE even worth it for WvW? Which consumables would work well with the build to keep my stats the same if I did take out of either Domination or Illusions for DE?
Thanks!

So I’m mainly a tPvP player, and love my condition damage builds. Usually I run a condition/interrupt hybrid, but have been working with a full-out viable condition damage build. My question is: is Deceptive Evasion worth it? I’m usin Scepter/Torch + Staff, and my build is 20/0/25/0/25, taking Cripple on clone death and torch cooldowns, staff cooldowns and random condition on clone death, then 33% longer confusion and usually blinding befuddlement. I’ve swapped it now to 20/20/20/0/10, taking deceptive evasion. Without the extra 5 in chaos, (and since I use runes of the undead, I have about 1900 armor) I lose out on the extra 5% toughness to condition damage transfer. Then, I also lose 150 from the loss in Illusions line. Basically, I’m giving up about 300 condition damage (from 1770 to 1470) for deceptive evasion. Maybe I can rework the traits to be less dependent on spreading conditions on clone death without it? But I do love replacing my clones and watching them spread lovely conditions to my enemies. Also, is the 20 in domination worth it for torch trait? the 20% condition duration helps, and though I’d hate to part with my runes of the undead, I could get extra condition duration elsewhere.

TL;DR
Is Deceptive evasion worth 20 points in a useless tree for condition mesmers when traited for clone on-death conditions? Is the torch trait in domination worth going for with the extra 20% condition duration? Just looking for other people’s opinions/experiences with condition mesmers in tPvP (or WvW, I do a good amount of condition mesmer in WvW also.)

http://en.gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9ICKFXX1R6hpVanWJF82FC-TsAAzCpIaS9l7LzXyvsfNEZ9xsCA

I use this in tpvp. I’d obviously change traits around for a more aoe-oriented build, but I don’t really know what’s viable in WvW these days (obviously I’d like a build that gets me a nice amount of loot bags) for group play, roaming, etc.
’

@Advent
I’m running a condition spec in tpvp, and am switching over to WvW and PvE (though probably running more support or pure dps in pve) and was wondering how you got your condition damage so high? I have full exotic rabid gear (though not runed yet) and all rare rabid accessories (not enough money for exotic/ascended yet). What am I missing, I can’t seem to raise my condition damage much higher than 900 or 1k.

Thanks!

I’ve been running condition builds in tPvP for the past few months, and am thinking of returning to WvW. Now that I have the money to afford a new set of armor or two, I was wondering if Rabid gear is still my best bet for a condition-based WvW build, or if I’d be better of with Carrion. Also, if you have condition damage WvW builds, please post them here, as I’d like to see whats viable! I doubt I can just bring my tpvp build over :P

Thanks!

After many new updates and tweaks to the mesmer class, I was wondering if a full tank build is still viable for WvW. I’ve been playing a condition damage spec and some interrupt specs in tPvP the past few months to try and get on the leaderboards, and after all this gold and Badges from achievement chests, I finally have enough to get another few sets of armor. I know the Immortal Mesmer was AMAZING when I played it, and I didn’t even have full Soldier’s set for it at the time. Is there still a full tank/retal build available for mesmer? If so, is it still able to both survive well and take down enemies, as Pyroatheist’s Immortal Mesmer did? If not, I’m sure there’s at least a good tank build out there, and I’m sure Soldier’s armor is still the way to go, but I’d like some feedback on it, as I haven’t done WvW in a long time. Thanks!

Hello fellow mesmers! I’ve been testing several interruption builds in tpvp the past few weeks, and have assembled both a condition spec interrupter (found here: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Post-6-25-Interrupt-build-help/first#post2368006) and a DPS specced interrupter. Though I like condition damage builds more, I think this DPS spec works better in tPvP at least, or has been for me against whoever I’ve been paired up against. Give it a try, tell me what you think!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNAraRlwzyoHTzoGb9IipHBnvJckUYapWJF42FC-TsAg0CnIkSJlTKjUSpsSN+YJysCA

The Adept major slot in Dueling can be swapped for far-range manipulations as well. The runes and sigils aren’t set in stone, though The combination in the build editor seems to be the most efficient, or has been so far for me. You can also take 10 out of Chaos and put it into Domination, and then grab Confounding Suggestions. I’ll sometimes run this if I think the extra 100 power is worth it (though I usually don’t see a difference), but mainly this change can be made if you aren’t as comfortable with INTERRUPTING and are doing a better job just shutting down/blacking out opponents. This trait will make your mantra VERY deadly, as 50% of the time, both interrupting and stunning them, giving you free roam to burst the kitten out of your enemy. The condition damage build I have posted above uses this trait, but has a lot more accessibility to dazes, making the trait more viable, as this build only has the mantra. I wouldn’t suggest running with any other weapon – although OH sword would give you another daze for Confounding Suggestions, and I looooove the iSwordsman – this build does really well focusing on interrupts as opposed to blackouts. (Although, running with 30/20/20/0/0 and picking up CS then an OH sword would make for a good blackout build.)

Let me know what you think, thanks!

Fooling around with traits, I like taking Crippling Dissipation over Empowered Illusions, and Blade Training over Phantasmal Fury, but as stated above, each of these slight variations are personal preference, and situational! I have yet to try this in WvW, but I would suggest running with full exotic Rabid gear, Carrion weapons for the extra Vit, and probably rabid trinkets also, maybe some carrion thrown in for fun, or some soldier’s if you’re lacking defensive capabilities. If someone wants to try it out in WvW for me (as I don’t have the gear/money to buy the gear to suit the build) and let me know how it goes, I’d be very grateful!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9ICKFXX1R6hpVanWJF82FC-TsAAzCpIaS9l7LzXyvsfNEZ9xsCA

@OP I think that’s exactly how the skill should be working, in regards to the recharge. If you miss a skill, or someone drops into stealth or behind a wall while you’re casting, and it just cancels itself with the 5 second recharge (or whatever the cancel recharge is), there’d be no point in dodging in the first place. That’s one thing that makes the combat in this game so great. If you’re good enough to use terrain to your advantage, or use a well-timed stealth, then your opponent has wasted a skill, and you are therefor rewarded for a good evasion. If every time someone’s skill didn’t land properly due to block/evasion/obstruction, it would take a HUGE element out of combat in the game

Hey, I have found another guild, but am always looking for more people to form tPvP teams with, if you could send me a guest invite to your guild, and maybe (depending on how I like the other guild) in time would like to become a full-time member. Either way, I’d love to play with you guys, so send me an invite or a PM in-game. Thanks!

Sai Sayre

Awesome, thank you! I work every day except monday from 5-1030, so my main hours of play are between 11pm and 6am EST. I tend to wake up pretty late (330, 4pm) due to that schedule, but am getting back into a more normal sleep routine, so I’ll also be on between noon and 4pm EST. Thanks for the invite, see you ingame!

Count me in for NA! Sounds like loads of fun, where can I find your guys website (if you have one)? Message me or send me a guild invite in-game, Sai Sayre. Thanks!

I’m sorry, thats sorta the “base” of the build. After a few weeks of tweaking runes/sigils/trinkets/traits, I’ve found that this works the best (for my playstyle)

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9ICKFXX1R6hppanWJF42FC-TsAAzCpIaS9l7LzXyvsfNEZ9xsCA

Try it out, let me know what you think!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9ICKFXX1R6hppanWJF42FC-TsAAzCpIaS9l7LzXyvsfNEZ9xsCA

This is my final build. I’ve been testing all sorts of sigils/runes/traits/skills, and for a condition damage build that utilizes interruptions to a pretty full potential, this does a kitten good job in s/tPvP of both melting people with conditions, shutting them down, and staying alive. I’ve maxed all my possibilities of confusion, and manage to keep it up on an enemy pretty much 100% of the time, along with torment and other conditions, while interrupting/dazing the kitten out of them, most people drop fairly quickly, quick enough that the low health pool shouldn’t matter much (as long as you can dodge and use your skills defensively ;D)

This is very much like a build I’ve been running recently, mainly condition damage with interrupts, traited for them as well.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9ICKFb31R6hppanWJF82FC-TsAAzCpIKS9l7LTRyvsfNEZ9xsCA

The link to my thread, which gives slight variations to the build and a quick breakdown is found here:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Post-6-25-Interrupt-build-help/first#post2358825

Let me know what you think, and I hope it helps you find something really useful!

R20 pvp, I love tPvP and yearn to be on those kitten leaderboards. Been playing mesmer since release, consider myself a pretty solid player, and though I’ll still be staying in my home guild (buddies I’ve been with for 4 years now, dating back to GW1), I’m looking for a guild to do some tPvP with, raise my skill cap, and play with me so I don’t need to solo queue tPvP. I’m on Sorrow’s Furnace as of now, but could switch servers if I find the right guild. My Mesmer’s name is Sai Sayre, feel free to send me a PM or mail me here. My usual hours are between 11pm and 6am EST, but could be on anytime after 11am (I need my kitten sleep;D )and before 4:30 (I work 5-10pm Tues-Sun).

Thanks!

Been playing mesmer since release, and s/tpvp for the past few months straight, haven’t even touched fractals/southsun/sky pirates. I’m R20 and would consider myself a pretty decent player, with good knowledge of game mechanics and play. I’m in a guild currently, which I’ve been with for 4 years now, since GW1. I’d love to join either a pvp guild or just a competitive team to increase my skill and to get on those kitten leaderboards >:D

In-game name is Sai Sayre, feel free to send me a PM. I’m on for at least 4 hours a day, usually between 11pm and 5am EST, but my hours are flexible (though I work Tues-Sun 5-10pm)

Definitely hit me up in-game, Sai Sayre. I’m r21 and I’ve been playing Mesmer since release. I’ve been playing tpvp constantly for the past 2 months or so, and would consider myself pretty decent, my only problem is finding people to play with, so I usually join solo. I’m dying to be on those kitten leaderboards, so please let me know!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNAraRlwzyoHTzoGb9IipHBnvJckUYapWJF42FC-TsAg0CnIkSJlTKjUSpsSNEZ9xsCA

This is what I’m testing now, as a full dps with interrupts. I’ll be testing various rune sets and sigils, along with maybe a trinket swap depending on my survivability. If all works out well, I’ll make a thread just for it if you wanna try it out, and tell me what works best in terms of runes and such (and maybe sword in the mainhand instead of scepter?) let me know! Thanks

Its actually working very VERY well, though I might consider changing from a condition spec to a power spec if I was running with it. Make one condition damage based build utilizing interrupts, and one power based using them. Once I rework it to a power build, I’ll put it up and let you know!

The second build I posted there is what I’m using now. I took the last 10 out of Domination and put it into chaos for Chaotic interruption, and swapped my offhand sword for a pistol (sadly, as I kittening live the iSwordsman, and the daze/block) and am trying it now. I’ll let you know how it goes, and thanks for the tip, I didn’t even realize CI was in the GM slot of Chaos!

So for a while, I’ve been toying with my mesmer trying to create a viable condition damage/power hybrid using the scepter/torch in s/tPvP. After this patch, torment gave my builds a decent boost, but I also noticed we have a good amount of interrupt-based traits that could be very very useful. The main one is the grandmaster major trait in Domination, giving a 50% chance to cause a 1-second stun when we daze. This is an amazing trait, though I hardly ever see someone running it. The build I’ve been working with does a good job shutting down opponents with dazes and interrupts, and keeps a steady amount of damage and conditions on them.

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9ICKFb31R6hppanWJF82FC-TsAAzCpIKS9l7LTRyvsfNEZ9xsCA

Many things can be tweaked depending on gameplay.

If you feel too squishy for your style of play, as the build is squishy, run with:

-sigil of energy on the sword for maximum dodging (clone spamming) capabilities.
-6x runes of the undead for the extra toughness (the build hits about 2550 armor with it, and the condition damage ramps up to around 1600, but you lose some condition duration)

If your damage is too low for your liking:

-a sigil of force also works well with the build.
-5x runes of the nightmare and 1x rune of the undead (gain 128 condition damage, lost 25 precision and 10% condition duration)

For a more serious variant of the build, focusing more on defense than offense, but adding a little more aoe condition spread, take out the 20 from Illusions and put it into chaos, taking Debilitating Dissipation and Bountiful Interruption (or chaotic dampening). This takes a chunk out of your condition damage, but brings your armor close to 2700, and means that each time you replace a clone – and you’ll be doing that quite frequently – the clone will spread a random condition to your opponents. This also gives a defensive side to interrupting with BI, and has good synergy with your sigil of battle to stack up might, which (if you build up enough) can bring your condition damage back up to close to the original build. All the stats of this variant can be found here:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9IiJFBnvR6hppanWJF42FC-TsAAzCpIaS9l7LzXyvsfNEZ9xsCA

Usually with this variant, I’ll take out both runes of lyssa, add my 5th rune of the nightmare and grab a rune of the undead, for the 128 added condition damage. The main reason I don’t run this is because it has much less chance to keep a constant few stacks of confusion on my foe, and I love confusion. With a combination of confusion and torment, and a good amount of condition damage, between that and my clones I can 1v1 almost anyone, and is very good for shutting down gaurdians, thieves, or eles in teamfights.

If conditions are busting your balls too much, swap out the offhand sword for a torch and run with cleansing conflagration instead of either halting strike or empowered illusions

Those are just a few variants I’ve worked with. Try a few out, test the one that fits your playstyle and tell me what you think! Suggestions and criticism are always welcome, and I’d very much appreciate it, as you can see I’m trying to find the perfect combination myself.

I’ve been toying with condition damage builds for a while now, trying to find a viable way to use my favorite condition, confusion, with varied results. The other day I went ahead and built a hybrid build utilizing the many interrupt options we mesmers have. This is what I’ve put together, with relative success in tPvP and sPvP hotjoins:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzyoHTzgGb9ICKFb31R6hppanWJF82FC-TsAAzCpI+S9l7LzXyvsNNEZ9xsCA

The sigils and runes I’m still playing with, but this works quite well. The main objective is simple: daze the opponent at the right times. If you use scepter #2 for example, and land a torment, don’t daze! Simply run around and apply as much confusion as possible. Once torment is off, daze and hope for a stun. While they’re stunned, cast your iSwordsman or a Chaos storm over them, and continue to use your many dazes to keep them at bay while letting mass conditions+your phantasms do your damage.

I’ll swap out the offhand sword for a torch sometimes, and in that case replace the 20 in Dueling with chaos, grab either staff mastery or bountiful interruption (really personal preference) and either debilitation dissipation or Illusionary defense (again, preference, but if you go ID, then I’d say run BI with it. With DD, run SM, but that’s just what I like to run)

I might install some software soon to take some videos, and maybe I’ll update and make a “how-to-play” section. Let me know what you think, fellow mesmers!

I’m really having a hard time with this, and toying between precision and power, as to which would be better for this type of build, using mostly condition damage with a tad of pure damage, and sicne its coming mainly from phantasms im thinking of going more into precision, since I’d be using the iSwordsman most, and the bleeds and such can stack up. I’ll post a link to what I’ve been working with (if it doesn’t suck these next few games)

I’ve tried with a staff, I like it quite a bit. But I love the Sw/T combo, and like everyone else said, its pretty much the only viable way to use a torch IMO. The reason I’ve been toying with Scepter is because of torment, seeing if it is worth it. I also love the sword as an offhand, and the double blocks can do wonders for surviving, especially since one dazes, and dazes/interrupts can be traited to do some pretty cool things too.

I love condition damage mesmers, and I’ve been looking into utilizing interrupts and daze into a condition damage build. What I’ve come up with comes out to be a power/condi hybrid with some decent interrupt/blackout abilities. I’ve only been tweaking it in one night’s worth of sPvp/tPvP, so it still needs some work, but here’s what I got so far:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArfWlwzyoHTzgGb9IhJFBH5oUs9rT6hqf9pB-TUAgyCuMKY9x8DA

Like I said, it is a work in progress, and the runes, sigils, and trinkets are due for some serious trial-and-error, this is what I’ve been using most of tonight though. SoD and blink I’ve been swapping around, and the traits have maybe 10 points that could be placed elsewhere (mainly the last 10 in domination, though the XII trait really catches my eye and works well with the stun and burst idea here).
It’s supposed to be sustained damage, with some stuns thrown in. I like tankier mesmers, so I like to trait and build around a decent amount of survivability also. Criticism and suggestions would be appreciated!

@Embolism
I’ve been trying to find a full condition build, but all the ones I seem to come up with just aren’t really any good. I really liked the Immortal Mesmer, I tweaked it a bit to my liking, but I loved the playstyle of that. I’m trying to find a condition damage build with similar survivability, and I really can’t. The only reason I really run the hybrid is because it has better survivability than a full condition damage build. And honestly, I do pretty well with this build in hotjoins, and even do decent in tPvP. I mainly traited for surviving and confusion buffs (since it is total kitten without it these days), and it makes every clone I create explode in a deadly combination of conditions. I’d classify it as more of a shatter build than a condition damage build, because a good portion of my conditions come from death of my clones. If you haven’t tried it, give it a shot, tweak it around a bit and let me know what you think. Its really not as inferior to other builds as you may think.

@Ansau
The 25 in dueling really works well for a constant confusion uptime, so I don’t want to get rid of that. I’ve been toying with multiple utilities and the condition damage buff from SoD’s passive is really nice, and the stun can make or break teamfights if I land it on a gaurdian or ele at the right time. Also been toying with sigils, what do you think would be a better set up with those? I never liked the torch much either, but I’ve seen mesmers use it with incredible results, and been trying to create a viable build using it for a while, I’m not gonna give up on it now. This build is quite different from a stealth build I’d run, so PU wouldn’t really be something I’d want to use at least in this build. I’d save that for maybe a DPS based build, or something similar to the Immortal Mesmer utilizing a lot of stealth. I use this build for sPvP as I said before, so gear stats don’t come into play unless you were talking about trinkets. In that case, the reason I go with carrion is for the health and power bonus. iSwordsman and iMage both scale well with power (to my knowledge), and I’d rather go with more health than more armor, just as a personal preference. I’m definitely going to try out a rabid amulet tonight instead of the carrion, and let you know what I think.

To both of you, try this build out, tweak it, do whatever, and let me know if you find something along the same lines that works better for you. Always looking for new ways to improve this build, I’ve been working on it for a while!

To make life easier here’s a link to the build:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQRArc8flwzSqHTzgGb9IyJFQn0hmx2ddlZwbXIA-TwAgyCpIaS1krJTTymsNN+YVx+jZFA

Before this patch I had been trying to find a viable sPvP condition-based build with good survivability (similar to the Immortal mesmer, or such like that). I had it, then lost it with the patch. I tweaked a few things and have come up with a decent condition based build again, and I’m wondering if 1) torment is even worth it, and 2) if this even comes close to comparing to let’s say, a shatter build, or other such A+ PvP mesmer builds.

I’m using 0/25(IV, X)/0/20(IV, VII)/25(II, V), with full runes of the undead. I’m using Sw/T and Sc/Sw as my weapons with Sigils of Earth on mainhand and sigils of energy on the offhands. Carrion amulet with a rabid jewel for my trinket. Critics welcome, help wanted!

Name: Sai Sayre
Account Name: TheKidHenry.5732
Rank: 18

I’ve been taking both disenchanter and defender with my signet of domination. I’m wondering if its worth it to have the extra phantasm (retal damage, defender obvious reasons for keeping, and disenchanter as another condition removal) over blink. I think since I’m traited for torch skills to remove conditions, I’ll switch back to blink and keep defender, but again I’m just tweaking the build slightly each time to see what is more viable.

Although when I use all my skills with sc/t, I use the prestige last. I swap to staff when I’m next to my target to slow them, so when I come out from invisible I have a better chance of burning my target. It actually works out pretty well.

Oh yeah I didn’t modify sigils in that build. But I use the torch because of the condition damage, as this build revolves more around that. I also don’t really like iWarden, and the invisibility+burning from torch helps me survive more and the burning is awesome. Also I do mostly s/tPvP, so except for the reflects (which I’m not traiting since I don’t need that much inspiration, the other trait choices from that tree don’t go well with this build) and the pull, temporal curtain is more of a WvW skill. The torch just works out a lot better for what I’m going for in this build. I am still tweaking my utilities, swapping between disenchanter and defender. I’m also swapping just my traits (not the point spread) to see what works best. Very slight tweaks, lol. Try the build out, and let me know if you find something that does work better though. My dream is to have a sustainable condition damage build using the scepter with survivability as close to a bunker build (Immortal mesmer, retaliation mesmer, etc) as possible.

Found a pretty good combination, check it out and tell me what you think:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArfWlwzCqHTzgGbNJhZG9G5nFgSx29OJFq+1A-ToAgyCpIMSZkzIjRSjsGNKYBC

I’ll give it a shot, and let you know. Thanks for all the help btw, I don’t know why I’m so pressed for a good scepter build, but I will find it!!

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQNArcWlwzKqHTzgGbNJiZGBHydWAKFbn3VSBvdhA-TIAgyCpA

This is what I’ve been using recently, and its working better. I’m very close to finding that perfect build… more criticism would help!

I’ve also been taking a try at this “Hidden Fire” build I saw on the forums utilizing the torch. Its pretty alright, and I think if I somehow combine the build idea I have here and that one, I may figure out something pretty dope. Let me know!

Been doing a slight variation to this build the past hour or so. Its the same trait spread, minus GS trait swapped with III. I’m using Sw/T and Sc/Sw as my weapons which is the main difference. Runes of the undead, but with a carrion amulet+rampager’s jewel. Decoy, Signet of Dom and Blink are my utilities. I guess the main difference with the build I’m using is instead of swapping to a staff as a defensive weapon, I continue dealing condition damage with the sc/sw combo (I also love the illusionary swordsman). I was going to swap some traits around, but I’ve been using it in sPvP and this build is working pretty well for me. I’ve been trying for some time to create a viable sPvP build using the scepter and mainly condition damage, I may combine this build with the one I’m working on now which you can find here:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/SPvP-build-help/first#post2206049

Tell me what you think!

Thanks! I’ll try both of those out and see what works best. I’m starting to find that scepter is a much more difficult weapon to use WELL. I’m trying to find that perfect condamg build with it, without giving up too much of my survivability (I’m used to playing something very similar to the retal build posted above). I shall update you after a few rounds!

really i’ve been trying to make a viable scepter build for spvp, thats what this build is sortof revolving around. am I wasting my time? I just retraited with 0/20(IV, X)/25(V, X)/5/20(II, X)

i didnt mean to put two energy in the same set. and which weapons do you think deserve a trait? i like signet of dom for both passive and the active stun though.