Showing Posts For Vyl.7084:
So there is my build, the link to the build is in the video description.
Any comments on how to make it better, or any questions about how to keep phantasms from dying, why I use the build/weapons I do etc will be responded to.
If you’d like to subscribe I will be purchasing the full version of Fraps in the near future and posting various PvE min/maxing videos along with SPvP, WvW and Dungeon PvE all in high res. Hopefully*** with commentary. (Not annoying nerd commentary, I have an acting degree and over 2 years of extensive voice training.)
Firstly I’m currently uploading a recent video of PvE phantasm damage (3 duelists) – Check back in 1-2 hours when I make a topic.
Secondly, here is an old video: http://youtu.be/Pdz7tPk4hfM
Here is my build: http://gw2skills.net/editor/en/?fgEQNAR8alwzipXQTqGZNJxZGRH6oUgdvTqgqLfA3A
I also like swapping between a staff when necessary.
Ussually 2-3 duelists up at all times + zerker depending on the situation. Melee with sword when you can, or else range with greatsword and keep mind stab up whenever possible, the vulnrability is nice. So that is what I recommend.
When I was leveling I mostly used the Greatsword + Staff combination.
1 Mob.
Begin auto – attacking with the greatsword from Max distance.
GS 2 then 3 then 4, when they get close GS 5. keep auto attacking while strafing or moving backwards.
If it required it or things were on cooldown staff was pretty similar, I would signet to stun after I place down Chaos Storm and I would put up my warden and 2 and autoattack. I rarely had to switch between the 2 weapons on a 1v1 normal Mob fight.
What I USUALLY did, was pull 4-6 mobs at a time. I used Defender first, zerker, sword 2 sword 3 and then staff auto + chaos storm. Worked well for me. Also feedback does wonders vs ranged mobs.
At level 80 I do so much damage I rarely pull my staff out, I use sword pistol and greatsword. GSAuto > GS2 > GS3 > GS4 > Pistol 4 > Pistol 5 > sword 2 + 1. If the mob lives that long… (They don’t). I also get lazy and don’t swap at all sometimes, just GSAuto it to death or use the duelist + sword and kill them. I don’t tend to take too much damage if any at all.
While I agree with your analysis insofar that the question is one of uptime, I believe you’re ignoring a crucial part of the equation, by which I mean shatters. The fact that your build focuses on phantasms does not remove the shatter skills from your bar, and I think it’s fair to expect that in your low-uptime scenario, any good Mesmer is going to be shattering his phantasms rather than letting them die. So while he may not get perfect results on his shatters, his phantasms aren’t a total loss.
I’ll gladly concede that there are issues with post-shatter, pre-arrival illusion death, and I feel that’s an area that could use looking at. However, the fact that a smart player can turn sustained phantasm damage into regular burst damage (and utility, as appropriate) has to be considered in determining effective dps of phantasms in a long engagement. The comparison should be one between phantasm damage in a high uptime environment (plus final shatter) and phantasm damage and regular shatter damage (with clones, as necessary) in a low uptime environment. I suspect these numbers are closer than you might think, even assuming one-sided traits.
This is the most appropraite answer i’ve seen. I’m currently uploading a short video of sustained Phantasm damage, which I believe to be stronger than all other DPS on the condition that they remain up (Posting it later, and it’s from before I got 6x rune of the scholar). The post above is an excellent explenation on how to handle encounters that don’t allow for that.
Also a few tips for keeping phantasms up during fights.
-Place them all in different spots, duelists expecially, if you still have problems there is a perk in the Duelist branch for longer range (although, I don’t recommend building that way)
-You have a signet for more illusion health (50%) Also a perk that I do recommend.
-Berserker (AoE) There have been complaints about him not being sustainable damage in AoE fights due to vanishing after his target is dead, simple, perfect tab targeting and place him on a unit with more health who is not being focus’d
-Warlock, place him as far away from the fight as possible BEHIND the target, if he’s infront i’ve found he get’s the enemies attention faster (This in theory is also true for duelists.)
-Warden, +other melee’s. Placing feedback over these units does wonders for your damage. Also, time warden with a stun or slow to maximise his damage, chaos storming before will also reduce the chance he is killed.
I think we definatly have the chance to excel in PvP. I don’t however believe it’s a balance problem. Theif and Warriors are currently stronger imo.
There is a learning curve to fighting mesmer’s more than fighting the 7 other classes, that is certain.
I disagree whole-heartedly.
Shattering is a great skill, Confusion is an amazing mechanic and it’s there for either a. extra burst, b. condition damage, c. help the mesmer survive. And they work very well at this. The low durations just mean you have to L2P.
I like how the phantasms are, they feel like focus spells more than pets. They’re NOT pets.
Clone way? Minion bomber? Try to mix it up, clones and phantasms, you want a class that only does one thing and does it very well? Don’t want to weapon swap? Ouch, that sucks.
People do get punished for making the wrong decision, that’s what confusion is, also you can trait clones to put conditions to people when they’re killed. GG
Our weapon skills are fine, they combo well. Duelist + Stun + sword skills with the cripple teleport and high burst? Yes please, swap to GS push em away make them vulnerable, berserker and the buffed auto attack? Yes please.
I like the state of the Mesmer, then again I like to think I know how to play.
Depends, precision if you have sharper images and use phantasms that hit a lot (Duelist/warden). Crit % if you don’t take advantage of that trait and are focusing on Warlock i’d probably go for bigger %
The problem is they have to boost it in such a way where they aren’t even more strong in 1v1 situations (I’m sure many of you agree mesmers are VERY good at 1v1 pvp) while have the buffs be enough to satisfy the idea you’re proposing (as well as other aspects of the game such as PvE)
We can be strong in PvE. There are many different types of strength and power than the numbers we see above an enemy’s head. For example, when I PvE, unless I’m really going crazy pulling 5+ mobs, I rarely take any damage because I effectively use my clones to aggro drop. Clones are basically a free aegis. It’s amazing. That’s a special kind of power that no other class can boast of. No other class can go for hours without taking a single point of damage.
This. We don’t have a lot of burst damage but we have a ton of tricks that let us dwindle down our target and not take much damage.
I agree with the tricks part, but not with the lack of burst damage.
It’s all about the build and playing around traits etc.
My favorite thing about the mesmer is that my highest damage build doesn’t utilize the traits that max power/precision/crit, it’s the + phantasm and illusion damage.
I hit hard, mobs get destroyed quick, GS2 + 3 + 4 swap to sword pistol, 4 + 5 run up 2. If they’re not dead, get some gear bros, and change your traits. There are a tonne of ways to burst with this class, and frankly… I do much more damage than I expected to when I rolled a Mesmer, and things die quiiiiiiiiiiick
You have to realize that to fully take advantage of your class in this game, weapons need to be swapped out for different situations.
I swap between GS/Staff and the sword/pistol combination, sometimes using a scepter.
I disagree with so much of this, I like the Mesmer phantasm metagame, if you increase the survivability the burst will have to go down.
And the stuff about the berserker… he’s just different, I like how all phantasms are different and need to be used accordingly, also, try to summon the zerker on a different target than the one being focus fired. Pro tip.
Just don’t use Chaos Storm and Berserker on the same wave, alternate. Mind stab and GS 5 Works well for tagging.
You do have the right idea, i’ve tested both and condition damage isn’t even noticable. Stack the crit %
Well our GS just got buffed, so our DPS is going to be a lot better. Let you friend know.
Really? What’d we get?
It was fixed, it’s more responsive (starts and finishes quicker) as is mind stab.
And you’ll notice instead of doing 3 ticks of equal damage each will increase mine went from 215 > 215 >215 to 300 > 650 > 1000 (As an example)
Uhmmm…
http://youtu.be/Pdz7tPk4hfM
That’s before I got my 3 next set pieces and better gear all around. Now in lvl 75 I hit 10-20% harder than that.
10 Domination with Empowered Illusions
15 Dueling with Phantasmal Fury
25 Inspiration with Persisting Images and Compounding Celerity (2nd is optional)
20 Illusion with Compounding Power and Phantasmal Haste?