Guild Wars 2

Osicat has some nice tutorials and build guides that might appeal to your playstyle, though they are slightly out dated.

http://osicat.weebly.com/traitsgear-guide.html

Edit: Lol, I just noticed his guide is stickied at the top of the forum, so check that out too.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Critical#Average_damage_increase

Benjamin.8237:

No you’re wrong. It is increased critical hit chance. Not damage.

Critical hits produce critical damage…

Benjamin.8237:

Don’t use precise whack. It’s a wasted trait. Take compounding power because it directly affects mind wracks damage as well as your other damage.

3 clones with CP means first MW hit will do +9% dmg, second +6% and third +3%.

I don’t think precise wrack is a wasted trait. Increased chance of critical damage (up to +125%) seems better than +9% damage in my opinion.

It’d be cool if there was some kind of rental system. Give a vendor a few badges + gold then you could pick any exotic gear + rune/sigils you wanted. If you log out or leave wvw the gear would then be removed.

The problem is you’re running solo when you could form a gank havoc group to look good while your guardian buddy keeps you alive work more efficiently. If you’re forced to run solo, run like a coward avoid fighting other players head on. Instead, you should jump them when they’re not paying attention check their food, buffs, etc. then decide whether to run away because they have 25 bloodlust stacks engage or not. I’m sure if you keep trying you’ll eventually find some lone uplevels to murder get the hang of it.

Video examples of pu condi played aggresively:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheWingIsPurple

I miss being able to throw Veteran Wurm ice boulders at people in wvw.

Unload with Super Pistol skin

Mimic? Huh, they should call it gimmick! Amirite?

First world sPvP problems

If I could, I would replace all the garbage traits with clone generators.

Chaotic Revival → Chaotic Response
• Create a clone when you lose more than 10% health from one attack.

Retaliatory Demise → Deceptive Retaliation
• 50% chance to create a clone when struck while you have retaliation.

Disrupter’s Sustainment → Metaphysical Recovery
• Create 2 clones when you use a healing skill.

Blinding Befuddlement → Double Vision
• Create a clone when you blind an enemy.

Some of those would require cooldowns but I’m just throwing out ideas.

It’s not my own combo but I like the one from Wing’s (easyface) videos where he uses the prestige, summons iDuelist, iLeap + iSwap then blurred frenzy. I also like how he says it every time he does it, lol.

Perplexity are probably the best runes for a condi build on any profession, you can’t go wrong with them.

endersluck.4708:

I think you just want to make mesmers op by nerfing the hard counters.

Somewhat true, it’s like I have a nice house but my neighbors next door live in a mansion and play loud music.

I guess I don’t understand what you’re saying then. I don’t see why we need to look at an entire profession just to compare the skills.

If I look at traits then it makes Shadow Refuge look even better with cooldown reduction, blind from stealth, condition removal from stealth, and other Shadow Arts traits. Mass Invisibility has Prismatic Understanding and that’s it.

If I look at the dark combo field, I see other utilities and weapons skills that create useful combos with Shadow Refuge. Mass Invisibility has no combo field.

I can also look at rune bonuses since that’s something Mass Invisibility can do that Shadow Refuge doesn’t, but the 90 sec cooldown kills the potential.

What I’m saying is, if I start looking at builds + overall profession it just makes Shadow Refuge look even better.

mango.9267:

Then there’s the bigger problem of comparing skills in a vacuum, which should never be done.

Cast Time: 0.25 sec vs 1.75 sec – Shadow Refuge wins
Cooldown: 60 sec vs 90 sec – Shadow Refuge wins
Stealth: 10-15 sec vs 5-6 sec – Inconclusive (Shadow Refuge requires standing in the circle for 4 sec)
Healing: 1,775 (0.9) vs 0 – Shadow Refuge wins
Number of Targets: 5 vs 10 – Inconclusive (Unlimited allies for Shadow Refuge if they walk into it, but they’re unaffected by pulses)
Radius: 240 vs 1200 – Mass Invisibility wins

Overall it seems like Shadow Refuge wins but I’m just comparing numbers, is that still a taboo?

I see no problems with Shadow Refuge other than the cooldown. Besides Consume Plasma, It’s like one of the biggest middle fingers to Mesmers.

Typical Scenario:
You have a greatsword and Illusionary Wave is off its cooldown. The thief uses Shadow Refuge but luckily didn’t Shadowstep away first. You go to deliver the knockback but the ground is slightly uneven so the knockback fails. In panic, you use Mass Invisibility to buy time but you suddenly realize you screwed up.

In your mind you know the other player is laughing at you. He knows you wasted your pitiful elite and within a few seconds he will plunge his dagger through your back. When you drop out of stealth you throw out a few random dodges, then there’s a flash of a fire nova and it’s all over.

In conclusion, why the hell is Shadow Refuge’s cooldown 60 sec and Mass Invisibility is 90 sec?

They remain in the game to provide an excuse for losing.

Instead of screwing around with core mechanics a better approach would be to add more audio and visuals cues. For example, with the recent change to Point Blank Shot we see that a skill can be balanced simply by adding an animation.

Here are some possible effects that could be added to stealth without diminishing its potential:

Damage floaters visible

Right now the only way to know you’re hitting an invisible target is with auto attack chains and on hit/crit sigils.

Footprints visible in snow

This would have limited application but it would look cool when you notice it.

I’m sure there are better ideas for effects that could be implemented but these are all I can think of for now.

I think the current functionality is fine, just need to choose better boons.

Mind Wrack – Might: 10 s (3 stacks)
Cry of Frustration – Fury: 15 s
Diversion – Protection: 5 s
Distortion – Swiftness: 20 s

I think we’d all be better off finding out who came up with the trait, hunting them down and eliminating them from the gene pool, thus securing humanity’s future.

But seriously, I think something simple like changing increased healing power to increased healing effectiveness would be tolerable. Maybe something like +33% healing effectiveness.

rainpool.7189:

Stubie.5834:

Didn’t we already cover that I decided to go with a S/S GS build? Lol you two are a cute couple. I would like to thank Miku for the nice post and good read though.

So, this is how this thread goes:
1. You’re trying to find a staff/sc condi build for dungeons
2. Miku telling you to follow the general meta builds and explain why they’re effective
3. You’re still insisting on using staff/sc build
4. Pyro further explains why the meta build is better
5. Trying to prove that condi builds arent useless in dungeons
6. Pyro’s IRL example, therefore explaining party role(do dps)
7. You getting upset that no one gives you a non-effective build you want
8. – 11……….
12. Suddenly saying that condi builds are bad.
13. Another IRL situation
14. Saying that you don’t even run condi mesmer in dungeons.
15 & 16. Both showing confusing on what you wanted to do. First you want staff scepter, then saying condi is bad, then saying you dont run condi
17. To respond, you can do well with any build openworld, but you’re not gonna do damage in dungeons with whatever build. Why bother running dungeons if you’re using a selfish condi build?
18. A rough ingame proof
19. Suddenly saying that you’re running the meta build already and then laughing at the people trying to persuade you not to run condi

Whaaaa???

More accurate description:

1. Stubie asks for any staff/sc + x builds for dungeons/fractals
2. People jump to the conclusion he wants a condi build
3. Stubie says he doesn’t think condi builds are bad and just wants help either way
4. People continue to berate Stubie for something he hasn’t done yet
5. Likely fed up with the lack of progress, Stubie settles for using a meta build
6. Everyone goes home happy knowing all non-conformity has been squashed

DeceiverX.8361:

No, I’m pretty sure having more than double the base health pool and almost 70% more armor and the person playing explicitly using caltrops as a means of dealing damage through every single fight and in many cases NOT avoiding key bombs or attemping to negate damage in many instances or not having the endurance to do so is clearly not the result of those traits and damage avoidance effects being “the only thing keeping him alive.”

Not to mention he got low on several occasions/took damage which would have killed him on any other build from what is the direct result of not dodging and keeping low on endurance.

You’re seriously just QQ’ing now about thief base acro dodges being OP when what carried this player was dire perplex in every single fight.

It seems to me the challenge of “no weapons” only works because of the combination of a dire + perplexity and lots of evasion is all I’m saying. I think you’re overestimating the survivability of dire gear but I’ll correct myself by saying dodging is the primary means of survival instead.

I can sympathize with wanting to defend a class you like but I also enjoy playing thief so don’t put words into my mouth about Acrobatics being OP.

DeceiverX.8361:

Clownmug.8357:

Dondagora.9645:

Clownmug.8357:

NICENIKESHOE.7128:

I do wonder if mesmer can achieve the same thing by having 3 clone death traits with DE (probably with energy sigil due to clone demands), mantra of distraction (plus harmonious mantra?) with perplexity, and condi duration food etc. But that would probably be pushing it since opponents need to be actively destroying clones.

You can’t create clones without a weapon.

Really? Nothing happens if you decoy with no weapons?

It still stealths and stun breaks as if you used it untargeted.

DeceiverX.8361:

Less to do with thief and more to do with Condi Dire/Perplex just being overpowered in roaming. Engi can do the same exact thing if not better.

Feline Grace and Vigorous Recovery + Withdraw makes this a lot easier for thief than other classes. I don’t see how engineer would be better unless they’re using kits which would disqualify them from a “no weapons” challenge.

No, what makes this work is Caltrops and interrupts on Sleight of Hand + BV + TW with Perplexity runes while just being tanky off of Dire gear. Engineers and mesmers have a substantially better utility exploit for Perplexity interrupt setups and more burst conditions.

It’s genuinely just Dire Perplex condi builds being overpowered in WvW roaming. As soon as these builds move to Carrion or Rabid specs and/or without Perplex they become fair if not relatively underwhelming. It’s a demonstration that class balance is pretty much futile as long as we have mechanics like this and hardcore might-stacking on defensive builds attached to gear which vastly supersedes other combinations.

I’m not defending condi thief, but this video has little to do with the evades as much as it has to do with the sheer killing potential of the abuse of a rune mechanic and how overall tanky dire gear is. Most of the evasion was used for offensive purposes for caltrops rather than defensively, demonstrating that evasion durability has little to do with the problem.

You make it sound like the dodges did very little even though they’re the only thing keeping him alive and at the same time provide a way to constantly cover up the confusion stacks with cripple and bleeds.

Dondagora.9645:

Clownmug.8357:

NICENIKESHOE.7128:

I do wonder if mesmer can achieve the same thing by having 3 clone death traits with DE (probably with energy sigil due to clone demands), mantra of distraction (plus harmonious mantra?) with perplexity, and condi duration food etc. But that would probably be pushing it since opponents need to be actively destroying clones.

You can’t create clones without a weapon.

Really? Nothing happens if you decoy with no weapons?

It still stealths and stun breaks as if you used it untargeted.

DeceiverX.8361:

Less to do with thief and more to do with Condi Dire/Perplex just being overpowered in roaming. Engi can do the same exact thing if not better.

Feline Grace and Vigorous Recovery + Withdraw makes this a lot easier for thief than other classes. I don’t see how engineer would be better unless they’re using kits which would disqualify them from a “no weapons” challenge.

NICENIKESHOE.7128:

I do wonder if mesmer can achieve the same thing by having 3 clone death traits with DE (probably with energy sigil due to clone demands), mantra of distraction (plus harmonious mantra?) with perplexity, and condi duration food etc. But that would probably be pushing it since opponents need to be actively destroying clones.

You can’t create clones without a weapon.

How does confusion proc while someone is stunned/dazed?

AnniMira.2506:

Should the game be balanced so that it is not an instakill but at least 30-60 seconds? Even for average players, for majority players.

Of course, I don’t give up. As frustating it is, I continue 1v1’ing And I like my mesmer…

Build: 4/4/6/0/0 – III, X / I, X / III, VIII, XII
Armor: PTV, runes of mesmer
Trinkets: PTV
Weapon: gs + sword/torch, or gs + sword/focus; accuracy+force
Blink, portal, decoy, mass invisibility — or time warp in dungeons, at tequatl.

Biggest problems are the mouse and keyboard. Would game mouse with extra buttons help? Also the mouse pointer is lost in the screen: always hitting map, chat and menus of various kinds. Due the mouse problems, I avoided melee and skills gs3, blink, veil, null field, time warp for long time. Using them now, more everyday.

The lack of damage is probably due to the PTV gear you’re using. Also, you have the sigils of accuracy and force which don’t work with phantasms.

Just make it give like 5 seconds of superspeed if you already have swiftness. =P

As a mainly wvw player I don’t think PU builds are anything special after running into:
D/P Shadow Arts thieves, P/D condi thieves, S/D evade spam thieves, Meditation guardians, Terror necromancers, BM power/condi rangers, tanky D/D elementalists, etc.

And also non-build specific nuisances such as: longbow rangers, condi engineers, “nike” warriors, guardians/warriors in full soldier gear.

Anyways, the point is I play whatever I feel like playing because that’s pretty much what everyone else is doing.

Extra stats don’t matter to the zerg, more bodies is all they need. It’s only relevant to roamers who want the extra advantage along with their guard stacks, sigil stacks, food, etc.

More attention to Maimed huh? I guess Disrupter’s Sustainment will forever be the red headed step child.

Also, I’m surprised there was no announcement that Mimic would be changed back because it’s even more unused in its current form.

If you’re not using staff to stay alive you’re probably using lots of stealth instead. These people who call staff a crutch probably don’t realize that’s what they’re doing most of the time, hence the popularity of GS / Sw + T shatter and PU power builds.

I don’t know if mesmer is too difficult or not, I think it’s just that other classes are more straight-forward to play. Unfortunately, we have a form of resource management that consists of stupid and flimsy npcs. We have to take time to summon them, then they need to stay alive for whatever we need them to do. The only thing other classes have to worry about is their cooldowns or if they have enough initiative or whether they should use their burst skill (adrenaline) now or later.

So you want it to stack with other stealth and receives bonuses from PU and Shadow Arts traits?

I’m confused, SoR is still behind DH so what would they gain from helping GoM to secure first place? This just sounds like paranoia to me.

I partially support the idea. I would like the damage scaling of Mind Wrack with Illusionary Persona to be the default at the very least.

Anet has pretty much established the scepter as a condition weapon at this point, there’s no hope in changing it back. Maybe one day mesmer will get a main hand pistol as a replacement though.

You shouldn’t even bother avoiding it since it does about as much damage as an auto attack from a rifle or longbow on other classes.

This looks like a hybrid build which I’m not sure is a very good idea. But besides that I was wondering, why take Rending Shatter over Mental Torment other than for a cover condition?

• Population Cap
A simple cap could be implemented that limits the number of players on your opponents’ borderlands. This means a server would have a “homefield advantage” against higher population servers. The “homefield advantage” would make defending easier, boosting the server’s morale and motivating fare-weather players to come help their server.

• Merge Servers
I don’t think it’s necessary to merge servers permanently but temporary alliances during tournament seasons could work. The alliances could be something like a low rank gold server + high rank bronze server so that mortal enemies aren’t paired together.

This is funny and sad at the same time. Hopefully we’ll get a fix 6 months from now and then the real fix 6 months after that.

Because you need somebody to disarm the dynamite.

I used subliminal influence on you to make this thread. =P

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Elite-Mantra-of-Domination/first#post3710341

Roe.3679:

Funny how there are concurrent threads complaining about thieves and condi bunkers when roaming.

The moderators should roll together these and all similar future threads into a “I should win all the time and anything that beats me is cheese!” mega thread.

This isn’t thief specific, most players will try to run away if they’re losing a fight. They don’t want to lose their buff stacks and running back from a waypoint is annoying. Easiest way to prevent running is to let the other person think they can win. Fight outnumbered and you’ll rarely see anyone flee.

I wish Phase Retreat would teleport in the direction you’re moving rather than using a target or camera direction.

I’m in favor of improving the build site interaction as others have suggested. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated though, just show something like “Build PlayerX’s Flame Ram” instead of just “Build.”

Crius.5487:

Another idea is also making disabled siege immune to damage—then you have to decide, “am I going to disable the enemy siege or destroy the enemy siege?”

I like this idea. Right now it seems a lot of people waste supply on the grenades rather than just building counter siege.