Guild Wars 2

Question: With such a low crit rate, does Sigil of Torment actually proc all that often?

Also: When your trait that gives you Armor of Earth at 50% hp kicks in, does it use the Cooldown for Armor of Earth if you have it slotted as well?

I keep seeing people say that Signets are a bad Conditionalist choice. I’m relatively new to my Ele still, and came from a few years of playing a Mesmer, but to me the passive boosts, on top of using the “keep passives when activated” trait seemed pretty good…

If I want to run something like this:

http://tinyurl.com/ksl228h

What are some of the stronger utilities to use if Signets suck then? I don’t like Conjures, Glyphs don’t seem that good either, and I don’t get Regen/Vigor upon Cantrip use with this build…

(Note: The Signets are still assigned from when I had the “Keep Passive” trait assigned. Looking for what I should replace them with)

Not sure how I missed that one… Thanks Darox!

Couldn’t really find any discussion on it, so wanted to get people’s thoughts on Ether Renewal vs. Signet of Restoration as a D/D Roaming/Zerg WvW Elementalist? I like the idea of Ether Renewal when I can disengage for a second or two, but do you find it gets interrupted a lot, leaving you with no heal at all?

Cheers,
-E

The build looks good and all, and you’ve made a great post organizing it / explaining how it would be played… but there’s one thing that sticks out to me: You are going to do zero damage. You have very low Power. You have good crit, but low Crit dmg, and your power is already low, so your crits aren’t going to be that great.

I know in a Zerg train it doesn’t really matter because you just steamroll through things but… I just think there are a lot of better options to help your Zerg out (that can still include PU-Boon sharing), as opposed to you just staying alive a long time.

I wanted to get some opinions on what the current “Meta” build is for D/D elementalists. I’m a main Mesmer for a few years, but am getting really bored and frustrated with the class lately. I have an 80 Elementalist leveled up, and wanted to give D/D a shot again. I thought about using Staff as well, but it’s my understanding that in PvP/WvW Staff isn’t very good unless you are just free casting? I usually roam with mid-large groups.

Is D/D as viable as it was 1 year ago? Is it still super tanky/hard to kill when played right? I don’t want to be glass, but would like to be able to actually kill people as well…

Sorry if the build is posted 100 places on here. As well, any names of good D/D Ele’s that post videos that I could take a look at?

Thanks.

Thought I’d post my slight variant that I’ve been trying out for this build Pyro. Same basic idea with a few personal tweaks to suit my playstyle.

http://tinyurl.com/l9arkay

I lose a few seconds on my utility CD’s but… worth it for what I get back / how I like to play I think. Mostly WvW.

Hmm… I wanna try something like this then maybe, which is basically the build posted on your first post with a slight modification in weapon/1-2 traits…

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNArfWl0npVtlpxPNcrNSphY6fHndynXJZgDA-TVyCABAcEAwR9njPFApoJop9HyS5HFPAA90DMmSQRBpRA-w

I really don’t know how I’m going to get used to not having Clones on Dodge though, haha.

How’s that look?

Pyro. You’ve been replying to a lot of my threads about trying to find a build I like, and someone mentioned this one as a good Condition Damage WvW one. I read through it, and while I didn’t really understand it at first… after sitting here reading and researching, this sounds like an AMAZINGLY fun build. However, I also really like a Suicide Clone style build… so I decided to try and merge them.

Here’s what I came up with:

http://tinyurl.com/k48y7ag

It’s got the same premise, with the added bonus that you can play in the middle of the Zerg (after Mimic is on CD) and spread AOE Bleeds/Vuln/Confusion with clone spam tactics. I know the clone generation isn’t as quick as a “spam” build, due to no reduced cooldowns, but with Scepters auto attack, Dodge clones and the staffs generally low CD on Phase Retreat anyways… I think it sounds viable.

Any thoughts? Does the build still work in similar fashion? What’s the general “rotation” when WvW’ing?

Cheers. I like fresh builds I’ve never played the style of.

Hmm… Could you link me to some of the top Condition spec builds in the current meta, even if they don’t use Greatsword?

The problem I’ve found with Condi spec is that Scepter is super boring, and Staff’s auto is pretty slow/unreliable to hit things and it just feels like less damage than a Shatter Power build. So in WvW situations, I never get tags on anything. Plus they’re pretty bad in general for PvE yeah?

=/ Looks like I’ll stick to my GS/Sw-Sw Shatter for now then… Boo.

Build: http://tinyurl.com/k6sebvk

Hear me out.

I’ve wanted to play a Greatsword Condition based build for a long time. First because I really like Condition builds, and second because I happen to have Sunrise. I’ve been putting together ways it might work, and the build above is one I think actually has some great potential. I play mostly WvW in medium/large groups, so ignore tPvP and most PvE.

The GSword auto attack hits 3 times, giving you 3 chances for Might on Crit (1 second CD) and 3 chances to proc your high damage Fire AOE Rune(5 second CD). Mirror Blade bounces multiple targets, not only giving you more Might possibly anyways (boosting Condition Damage), but also giving you multiple chances to proc the Fire AOE, or just more Might from rune too. The Staff weapon swap gives AOE poison, again a good Condition.

This is where it gets real fun. It also plays like a Suicide Clone build. You want to have 3 clones up to maximize your passive heal. But you also want to overwrite your clones quickly and have them die so they apply massive damaging bleeds + confusion in an AOE as well.

You’ve got a TON of Toughness for survivability (and thus more Condition Damage), a passive Heal, condition removal with Resolve, amazing Might stacking opportunity, still 2 stealths if it gets nasty for PU, and a whole lot of ways to spam clones on short Cooldowns.

I think it would be a really effective AoE survival build for roaming in groups, with the ability to apply some nasty conditions to a lot of people…

Am I delusional, or could I make this actually work?

Just wondering if anyone’s got any powerful GS + Staff builds still out there. I know they were super popular back in the day, but not sure what changed to make them not as good. Back from a year-ish vacation.

Looking for something offensively focused still. Maybe a good might stacking GS/Staff build? Doesn’t have to be Shatter-based.

Why wouldn’t you go with the Rabid Amulet instead of Carrion? Generally speaking, toughness > health… and with your Rune choice, you get over 100 more Condition Damage with it, and a ton more crit. Power does nothing for you if you’re focusing condition.

Really great response Sinaya. Thanks so much.

I think you’re right that a few hundred Toughness isn’t really going to save me, but an extra 3-5k more damage on a crit or something might be enough to kill them before they kill me. Will give it a shot! I don’t like the idea of being full Glass, but Mesmer does have a nice niche of having a TON of getaway/immunity skills.

My one worry about my second build is against Condition Damage stuff, or condition damage in zergs. I often roam in 5-20 groups in WvW, so while I do hope to rely on some others keeping me alive, I fear I’m going to find myself dead a lot… =/

Appreciate the responses and suggestions guys.

I think I’ve come to terms that, the more I slightly shift my “Clone spam” build, the more it becomes closer to a “Sword Shatter” build. Which I’m actually okay with. I liked the clone spam style of play because it kept me constantly active, and I think Shatter does that same thing too. I’ve come up with the below to suit my style, but I’m pretty sure it’s your standard Shatter Power build.

Build: http://tinyurl.com/kzplmcc

Any suggestions on this, as a Sword based Shatter build would be great too!

I had posted yesterday about a build, but then went off-topic and put together this build in the process. I’d like some thoughts on it. Not going to wall of text you about it, just look and see.

Build – http://tinyurl.com/pu6v3md

I really need to find an effective GS build. I play strictly WvW/PvE(sometimes). Got Sunrise, so would like to show it off most of the time. I know Clone Spamming builds are based around condi damage… but could this build, with this gear, be played effectively like a Clone spamming build to apply Vulnerability/minor Bleeds, while still dishing out good GS based Damage? I really like the gameplay style of clone spam destroying. I even considered a GS with fire/bleed on crit sigil, and full condition dmg gear?

Willing to try weird, hybrid builds, even if they aren’t min/max. Lead me in the right direction! Help?

Aye, I know condition damage is the main reason for clone spam deaths, but I was thinking maybe a Power based one would work, if you’re only applying Bleed/Vuln stacks, on top of Vuln stacks with Daze Shatter and Mirror Blade. The bleeds would work more as an added pressure/waste of conditional removal. They still actually do some decent damage when you get 7-10 stacks, quite easily with this build.

On top of that, you’d play it as a Power build really, just spamming clones at the same time since Shatter builds are kind of a lost art. The extra 9% damage from having max clones is pretty huge for your base.

Not to mention your survival stats are pretty high too in my linked build.

I’ll have to give it a try. Perhaps a new sort of “Hybrid” WvW/PvE build. It’s not straight glass cannon power for PvE, but I bet it can dish out some good damage still for quick runs.

Question, since I’ve been looking into trying to form one but…

Would a Power Clone-Spam build work for WvW/PvE still, effectively?

Thought: http://tinyurl.com/pu6v3md

It’s got pretty good survival stats still, on top of pretty decent Power, and an extra 3% damage per clone out. So while spamming, you still retain that extra damage up until the point they all die/you shatter. I even considered Signet of (Clone Health +50%) to have better control.

Viable?

I might actually try something like this tonight instead…

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAR8cl0npRtlpxUNcrVSpxYqcO1Vo6MSGQClckyB-TFDBABGpEiH1fEc/hjUy0nmAAuAAepUwjjAQWKDoQJYe6AY4BEIKoMC-w

Sort of a “Clone Spam” GS Power build, where I want to just spam clones for Vulnerability/Bleeds, and still only shatter for massive burst/kills so I keep the 6-9% damage boost.

Looks like it might be fun.

I think you meant make it a 4 6 0 4 0 build, with Restorative Mantras.

And hmm… that’s an interesting idea. I do find it quite annoying after playing a bit to constantly keep both Mantras up for the 8% boost. Especially if it’s only for myself.

Does Restorative Mantras heal only those around me, or myself as well? Spam heals with Mantra of Pain sounds fun haha. Sucks it’s only only Mantra CHARGE and not USE. =/ Will have to think about that one.

Watching the views to this topic go up as your shot renders… #FeatureFilmsTakeForever

Mother of god.

I no longer have to spam 6. Thank you.

I’ve been running a pretty similar build. But I agree with the above poster that you shouldn’t be using a Staff, or really a Torch even, with a full Power/Crit based build. The only thing Torch gives you is an extra invis, on a 30 second timer. Not great when you compare it against say, a Pistol phantasm with a 3s Stun, or a Sword Phantasm alone.

Greatsword/Sword is the way to go for full Glass. Staff offers you nothing but defensive spells in this case, and if you’re full zerker glass, you don’t care about defense, you care about killing them before they kill you. Use Decoy and Blink as your defense getaways, and runspeed runes imo.

I’ve been toying with this build lately you might want to check out:

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQNAsaRnsISjaWmGmqB3aIR1YM9Ln0Cq6iUBUyO2G-T1SDwA9Uilf/BYqUkQJ4TlGvUXpyZAAqyAQ6DAYibwDAAA-w

It’s basically a clone spam Zerker build, with a few nice touches to help you stay alive a bit longer while you pound them. I also opt to use Soldier Chest/Legs, for the extra Toughness/Vit, as I WvW a lot, and hate running back to my roaming party. You lose a small amount of damage but, I think the 9% damage increase/reduction, if you’re smart about clone management, along with the perma regen, again if you’re smart, makes you a very formidable foe with good survivability still. Null field is the kicker though. Gotta have Condi removal.

Edit: You can even drop the 5/6 points for PU, and put into Domination to get Greatsword Training and some more Power. I honestly don’t really like PU that much with GS. I try to stay at range so my boons wear off before they can even find where I popped up after invis.

While the idea is good if you’ve got a VERY organized WvW guild… boon stacking is tough in ZvZ, because there are a lot of AoE strips usually. Mesmer Null Field being the main one that comes to mind.

I’m actually REALLY digging this build right now. Just tested it out a bit.

I went with this, for a bit of variance and catering to personal preference (Swiftness spam):

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fhAQJARWl0npRtlpxBNcrNyqBdqlg6s0lgW6NktAA-TZxCwAYuAAAOEAXeCAbLDga/BA

I’m using the 180 Cond. Damage Signet to boost my condi dmg a bit, since I’m using Dawn and it doesn’t have the Rabid stats. With a 6.5 second CD on Mirror Blade and Deceptive Evasion, I don’t see clone spamming being a problem. At all. I also took Runes of Centaur, because perma-swiftness is kitten. (I WvW a lot).

I also can’t afford Runes of Strength as of right now, but I have a feeling I’m going to love Swiftness spam too much to give it up anyways. Sorry Min/Maxers.

I plan to use this build for small group WvW, and might even try my luck at some PvE with it. I’m a Completionist so… almost got that Sunrise!

Any more discussion on this core build would be great.

It’s not a reliable enough way to dps someone down unfortunately. People have learned how valuable condition removal is these days, so solely relying on 1 type of condition that is easily spam removed by most classes leaves you grasping for another way to kill them.

I’m trying to put something together with a similar concept, but you need to utilize more than bleeds for a condition-esque spec. 1 condition removal, which any good player will have (especially en-masse in WvW) and you are suddenly doing pretty minimal damage and just running around being annoying, instead of killing.

Osi,

Could you give a quick list of “combos” you do with this play style?

For instance, do you always start with Torch stealth, then appear for Burn, then Torch 2 for a hopeful torment start? Do you try to only produce staff clones unless intending on shattering? Always use heal on CD for burn? Etc.

Thanks. Just looking for tips on a “sequence” to follow when possible.

Osi,

I’m assuming a build like this uses very situational shatters? And probably only ever daze/confusion shatter, unless downing a player?

I was looking at the Blackwater Mesmer build, but I like the fire offense aspect of this. Would they play similar? Always wanting as many clones out as possible, and preferably staff ones?

Are there any quick switches that can be made for a much larger, say defending a Zerg, style fight with this type of build?

Cheers,
E.

Edit: Sorry, not sure what you mean by “stacking on water wep.”? Can you explain? Been a while.

What sigils would you recommend instead of the linked ones in build?

Cheers.

Hey everyone,

Sorry if this is redundant with the new patch and all. I just installed the game again last night after not playing for probably almost a year. I’ve got a pretty decently geared Mesmer from when I quit (with Dawn too!), and am pretty interested in trying this lame, cheesy, OP “PU” build everyone keeps talking about.

I’ve taken a liking to the Hidden Cat 4.0 build that Osicat posted, but I’m just wondering if anyone could link me to a video of it in action (his, or your own), and am wondering if it’s still a viable build after this big April 15th Patch?

Can you really stay invis for long enough, and does it really do enough damage?

If I’m looking to use Sword/Torch + GS, what would my 3 main stats be?

Cheers,
E.

I usually use the Sigil that gives +10 condition damage on kills, or +7 if you can’t afford it. If you’re playing for longs periods of time, and nto getting downed (which you shouldn’t be a lot with this build/gear), then you usually keep an extra 200-250 condition damage from it.

I haven’t found anything really more beneficial than that. Because you don’t weapon swap very often, from my playstyle at least, anything on swap isn’t that great. You could consider the Fireblast AOE on crit, or bleed on crit, but it’s mostly playstyle.

Your sword/offhand in a condition staff build is mostly just for survival/utility/swiftness with focus in my opinion.

I rock a 0/25/25/0/20 build that I’ll link to at bottom of post. I run with almost entirely Rabid gear, have about 1400 condition damage, 30% armor reduction and 16k hp. I am VERY hard to kill, and if you don’t have condition removal – you die. My burns tic for 750~ and my bleeds for just over 100 per tic, per bleed. That’s somewhere close to 2-3k damage/tic a few seconds into battle.

Works great solo PvE, decently in dungeons (it’s mostly a suicide clone build, I rarely shatter), decently in WvW roaming. Not sure about tPvP.

Build: http://tinyurl.com/abjrqyy

You also have 3 different spells to get chaos armor from, so I have chaos armor like 75% of the time I’m in combat. (Feedback, Null Field, Chaos Storm + Phase retreat = chaos armor).

I really like having a character that can stay alive, and I really like conditions. So this is hands down the build for me. Tried a shatter build, amongst a ton of other builds, but could never get into it. I’ve solo’d end bosses in Explorable mode dungeons when everybody else has died for the last 25% at times.

Edit: 6x Rune of the Undead, for the extra 5% Toughness into Condition damage, giving you a total of 10% of your toughness (mine is around 1800) into condition damage, which equates about 150-200 depending on your gear.

I don’t think that’s quite how crit damage scaling works. It works as a multiplier, not as a direct % of the initial attack.

So you don’t just add another 25% damage, you raise the multiplier the higher you get, thus the more you have the more effective it is.

I think.

I rock something like this: http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fgAQBYExMjgD5QpA7yuyM4tLE

Staff PvE build, with full Rabid (Prec/Tough/Cond Dmg) gear and 6x Superior rune of the Undead (for another 5% of toughness to condition dmg). I use Staff and Sword/Focus offhand. I treat it sort of as a “suicide clone” build, where I want to constantly overwrite my clones so they explode and apply more crap to the target, but I also constantly want 3 clones up to apply Winds of Chaos (or Phantasm to hit hard). I have somewhere around 1500 Condition Damage with my gear. But even just full rares will get you about 1100.

Quite a fun build, and with that gearset I am very hard to kill. I easily solo anywhere from 3-4 veterans all the time. And under the right circumstances I’ve solo’d some Champions with it, depends on their abilities.

Cool story man.

I’m actually considering trying 20/25/0/0/25, to drop the “random condition” on death, and instead gain 3 seconds of confusion on clone death, plus allow me to get might on shatters. Since I do seem to shatter on Cooldown but still want to play it as a Clone Suicide build, and Mirror Blade (when close enough) is basically perma might stacking as well.

I know the confusion is only 3 seconds and would only do like 170 per stack, but it might be better than weakness/bleed/vulnerability I think if you consider the extra Might from shatters. I get tons of bleeds from having a high crit already, and Vulnerability from Daze shattering + Mirror Blade spam.

Will have to give it a shot tonight.

• Keep in mind, most of this is entirely related to PvE. I don’t tPvP/sPvP, and only ever roam with groups in WvW. I don’t care much for 1v1’s because 1) I’m bad or 2) Class balance is annoying. Although I think I could hold my own in a 1v1 still by kiting…

I like the idea of having 20k HP and at least 20% reduction from Toughness, but it’s just too much of a sacrifice to an already not-all-out DPS build. I only got downed maybe once last night, as with GS out majority of the time I’m at 1000+ range. Easy to avoid things at 1000+ range if you know the fights.

For WvW I usually roam ZvZ or in medium/large groups, so the same applies – I’d be hanging out at the back, or near a group of people, and as a Mesmer in a huge zerg if I get singled out I just Decoy, or GS#5 people away and dodge roll, or Staff swap and phase retreat, etc.

I guess my point is: I don’t need survival stats the way I play the game.

I was mostly gearing this towards PvE, and large scale WvW where clones exploding everywhere is useful. 1v1 this would be a bit too Glass Cannon probably to be effective, yeah.

It’s funny how you guys assumed this was a Shatter build though? I even said:

“I’ll shatter situationally or for a large burst (Mind Wrack) still, as long as I know I can get 2-3 clones up instantly again as well.”

With over 600 hours on my Mesmer, I’m well aware that clones on death traits don’t happen when I shatter… it’s annoying when people on forums assume nobody knows anything. The idea is to Shatter for a Mind Wrack burst, or huge Vulnerability stack (Shatter 3) to add onto Mirror Blades 9 stacks (when I’m close with the extra bounce), but only when I have the ability to immediately obtain 3 clones again for the 9% damage increase, and to continue the Ranged DPS/suicide cycle.

I have the ability to generate clones like crazy with this.

It’s similar to a Shatter builds trait allocation, yes, but the traits chosen are varying from that. I will admit I shattered more than I had initially intended when rolling CoF last night, but I still really like having the 2 on Death traits. Makes kiting stuff very easy – and kiting is fun.

I guess I don’t feel like it’s a full on Shatter build because I’m spending more time looking at clone positioning/CD’s, than I am Shatters. Shatters just happen to be a byproduct of the build/class.

Oh well.

I like the No helm/Shoulder look with a lot of armor. Updated my look tonight:

(Exalted Coat/Legs + Dawn mainly)

After playing this build tonight I can confirm:

A) It’s damage output is very substantial, and it plays sort of like a Shatter/Clone Suicide Hybrid, with great Auto attack damage using Greatsword.
B) It’s fun as hell

I rolled with Decoy, Blink and Null Field… Mirror Images seemed very unnecessary.

Try it out!

I’m currently trying to figure out if a build I want to roll is really “viable”, per say, or rather, if it is the most effective I want it to be – so I figured I would post it here and let others comment with their views of it.

First and Foremost: I like the Greatsword. I like the Staff. I also sort of like the Sword/Focus, but this build is going to be running a mostly Greatsword use, with Staff as defensive backup (as usual).

The build: http://tinyurl.com/cj7jpdx

Review:
3600 “Effective” power – which is quite high for a “Hybrid” build
40% Crit Chance
81% Crit Damage
16k Health
1000 Toughness (FotM minimum)
Swiftness on 20s cooldown with +20% duration
Clone causes cripple + random condition
+9% Damage for 3 clones, which is almost always
Dodge Clones

The general idea:
The general idea here is to be a Power/Crit Greatsword build, but with a little bit more fun than just standing there and letting your Phantasms whoop on people while your laser beam pews. Because I find Phantasm builds to be generally unreliable (and boring) in PvE, I don’t tPvP, and are a hit or miss in WvW, I like the idea of WANTING my clones to explode and be destroyed. So to me, after a Phantasm has been summoned and has done his initial attack, it’s more beneficial for me to explode it and cause (figurative) confusion and some effects. If it happens to stick around for another attack, great. If not, I’ll summon another as soon as the Cooldown is up. I’ll shatter situationally or for a large burst (Mind Wrack) still, as long as I know I can get 2-3 clones up instantly again as well.

I’m rocking full Berserker Gear with the Centaur runes – mostly just for the frequent Swiftness (I WvW a lot), but also the Bleed Duration and extra power doesn’t hurt at all. My trinkets are Berserker as well, but I leave some room in Geming these for health. This is more up to your gearing style though. I don’t have Ascended gear yet, and could probably swap out some gems once I had it for more DPS too. It’s a bit “Glass Cannon” style, but the kiting potential is huge with Cripples on clone death, and I strongly feel that Mesmers have enough tricks to stay alive that Vit/Toughness won’t help much.

I use a Greatsword as my Primary weapon because the Power/Crit causes my auto attacks to be quite deadly still with this gear/traits, and also because Mirror Blade gives me an illusion every 6 seconds. Not to mention dodge rolling clones from having Vigor so often on Crits.

The only downside to the entire build is that the Dodge Clones with Greatsword stand at range, so blowing them up by replacing them isn’t all that beneficial. But this is easily solved by some situational positioning, and is just that – situational – anyways. In PvE dungeon runs I find mobs to be chasing me or close enough usually anyways.

Thoughts? Sound effective? Sound fun?

I might try and go 20/25/10/0/15, so I can get Confusion on clone death as well. I’d lose my extra bounce on attacks, but if I’m sitting in GS mostly that only effects Mirror Blade, and I think as a “suicide clone/power” build it’d be worth it to have that extra confusion – especially with how fast I’m pumping out illusions and how fast they’d die. (Edit: then again maybe not, because confusion only tics for 153 with my gear).

I think my general “rotation” would be to have Mirror Blade on constant cooldown for clone dispatching, and I would probably utilize Blink in fights to blink in close, dodge roll out, back to max range so my GS hits as hard as it can. Running in and dodge rolling out when possible would be good too.

Without stacking 1000+ condition damage, I don’t see the Staff auto-attack beating GS in damage, especially when I’m wearing full berserker gear with a 40%+ crit chance and 85% crit dmg. Sure, it would be nice to sit in the fight as Staff and get boons and have my clones right there, but I think the damage potential of the build is higher with a GS on the back lines. In my build at least.

I’m more just discussing out loud to convince myself how I’m going to play this now. comments appreciated

Yeah I thought the same thing as Emanuel. If you want to play by just spamming MoP and auto attacks… Scepter is the last weapon to use.

http://gw2buildcraft.com/calculator/mesmer/?4.3|1.1g.h4|6.1g.0|1g.73.1g.73.1g.73.1g.73.1g.73.1g.73|1g.61.1g.61.1g.61.1g.61.1g.61.1g.61|k5a.k5a.a5.0.k37|0.0|31.35.3d.39.0|e

I am going to try and revitalize my old hybrid/active clones build as well. It sounds very, very similar to what you are trying to achieve with the Mesmer, which I as well hope to play it like. It doesn’t excel at everything 100%, but it’s got some pretty kitten good Power/Crit and Crit %, while also still being great at kiting with the 2 “on clone death” traits.

I went with full berserker + Centaur runes (mostly for the almost perma swiftness), and then berserker + beryl trinkets to give me a bit more HP, but still focus on killing stuff. I think as a Mesmer we have enough in our weapon arsenal (especially with staff as my swap) to stay alive, and if it reaches the point of someone beating on us: A few more vit/toughness isn’t going to help.

I’d keep GS equipped most often, and then Staff when kitten starts to hit the fan and I need some control. Hopefully this rekindles my love for the class and keeps me busy with clone Cooldowns and Shatters alike in a fight.

Curunen:
I was playing a “suicide clones” build before I left to level my Elementalist and LOVED it, but found that the damage just wasn’t enough because it was a) Condition Damage and b) unreliable.

Is Greatsword suicide clones really viable? I’d love to rock a GS/Staff build that focuses on more than just letting Phantasms do the work, or just Shattering every 10 seconds. I really enjoyed the Suicide Clones build when I played it but wearing Prec/Tough/Cond damage and having 1400 Cond damage, I still didn’t feel all that useful.

Especially because both staff/GS clones spawn at range on dodge and some effects(staff), thus negating any suicide effects in most situations…

Hey guys,

So I’ve played GW2 since release pretty much, with a month off a while back. I have over 600 hours on my Mesmer and have played almost every build style from Phantasm, shatter, suicide clones, condition staff, glamour… you name it.

I recently leveled an Elementalist to 80 and have about 100 hours on her now as well. I’m trying to decide which I want to invest the rest of my GW2 time in, and while I want to stick with my Mesmer, it just doesn’t feel as fun or active as my Elementalist.

Even with both Staff or D/D on Ele, nothing on my Mesmer feels as action-oriented.

What’s the most “exciting” Mesmer build you’ve played, and is there a way to make me love the class again? I’ve got a Dawn and about 85% of my Legendary mats, so I’m trying to decide whether I make a Sunrise on Mesmer and play GS (Phantasm or Shatter), or make a Bifrost on Ele and staff it out.

Anyone played both classes and had similar thoughts? What keeps you coming back to Mesmer?

Well, I would typically keep my same armor on that was linked in that build above when I swap to my WvW Glamour skills, because zerg vs zerg I just basically want to be able to tag/hit everything, and cause them a ton of damage. Without 20 points in power I can’t get that “confusion on glamour” trait unfortunately.

I am a bit bummed about losing my 9% damage reduction for PvE though… that’s huge. Mind you, I am shattering so frequently and have tanky gear that maybe the extra power (+vulnerability on shatter with the extra trait) will be more beneficial? Or equally as beneficial?

I just like the ability to swap Tanky PvE spec (or WvW roaming) and full Glamour Zerg-Tagfest, since I roll with a huge WvW guild that does a lot of huge fights.

I think I’m going to switch my traits to 20/20/0/0/30 instead of 10/20/10/0/30. Almost solely for the fact that I can then swap in WvW for a complete glamour build. But stick to my Tankyness when I am soloing/roaming/Dungeoning.

Yes. This is going to happen.