Guild Wars 2

That ileap would be cool though, and considered a huge buff. It’s essentially the offensive version of Staff 2.

• Lockdown: any of the meta power runes like strength, pirate or rock dog. Mesmer if I’m going with pistol over focus or playing CS.
• Condition: nightmare for most or undead if I’m going tank. I hear krait is legit.
• Other: RUNE OF THE PACK! It’s so legit, especially in the boon share Mesmer I’m running right now.

Dare I say… this is the best weapon set Mesmer has to offer.

This build has remained one of my all time favorites, but I’m going to start experimenting with another condition build.

It’s nice seeing condition builds that AREN’T PU.

Fay.2357:

While I disagree with all of these changes, part of Anet’s vision for the game is obviously removing mechanics that punish poor play, so that won’t get changed back.

And this right here is why Anet is inherently anti-Mesmer. We’re the profession that excels on just that: punishing sloppy playing.

I’m hoping they nerf iWarden back to what it was before the “buff”.

In a bizarro world, I’d imagine Mimic being able to literally enable you to use targeted enemy’s 5 skill. Now that would be cray.

Back on topic though, the more I think about it, the more I feel like this won’t fit into many builds. It really just seems like a watered down version of Arcane Thievery. Can’t wait to see how it turns out though. It’ll be interesting.

Love that classic CI set-up.

I think it’s entirely easy to see why this set is melee, and I don’t think people have ever thought differently? I think everyone unknowingly plays this set melee-style and if they don’t, they are probably losing fights.

Focus is not a ranged weapon in the least bit:

• Warden is summoned on top of the enemy and protects you from projectiles if you’re near. Obviously, this means you have to be near in order to be within iWarden’s bubble of wrath.
• Curtain is used primarily for utility: swiftness, yanking people off points or making a decent get-away. However it also is MOST opportune in setting up lockdown combos. Curtain—>Warden—>Pull—>Distraction—>Leap—>Frenzy—>Shatter (add in your second distraction if need be). I’ve done it before. The damage is killer. yikes.

Staff is obviously versatile in being melee or ranged, but you get the most bang for your buck if you’re in melee range:

• Autoattack gives you might/fury more often if you’re closer instead of having it bounce onto other enemies like you mentioned.
• Chaos Storm is great to lay down on enemies for the chill/daze, but the boons is where this skill shines most. You need to be on top of the enemy to get its full effect aka melee range.

Ross Biddle.2367:

MailMail.6534:

Mesmers can be really good for retaliation if you trait for it. There’s lots of sources, actually. Multiple ways through shatters, through blocks, phantasms. etc.

When the new pvp map came out, I made a retal Mesmer that worked gloriously. I don’t wvw, but I always imagined that’s what it’s like but on a smaller scale.

I agree, but then I never said there’s little way for a Mesmer to gain retal. The problem for mesmers is absorbing hits to proc it while you have it up.

In small scale, or 1v1 it has its place. But you’re talking zerg combat, and in zerg combat in the thick of the melee is where Mesmers suck most.

Ahh gotcha! That makes sense.

We don’t know what other reworks are going into effect, so let’s not be too negative, Captain! I’m hoping they give us a blast finisher on GS somehow.

Ross Biddle.2367:

If it does land weakness, then mesmers can move away from traiting it on clone death.

Very true, but it’s not like that trait has much competition in that line anyway! haha Maybe Master of Manipulation or Illusionary Defense in certain builds.

I’m just excited for whatever rework comes along. I’m one of the few who likes scepter a lot as as except for its auto attack.

Mesmers can be really good for retaliation if you trait for it. There’s lots of sources, actually. Multiple ways through shatters, through blocks, phantasms. etc.

When the new pvp map came out, I made a retal Mesmer that worked gloriously. I don’t wvw, but I always imagined that’s what it’s like but on a smaller scale.

My immediate guess is that they’ll make the auto attack add conditions. I’m guessing they’ll incorporate weakness, which ideally should be a hallmark condition of the Mesmer along with torment/confusion.

I’ve been running a boon share Mesmer for the last week. It’s pretty effective in combination with shout guardians.

This would probably be its best use, but I can’t see myself getting rid of Nullfield (condi removal & boon rip), Signet of Midnight (stun-break + boon upkeep) or Signet of Inspiration (duh).

The CD is going to be really important here, because in most other scenarios, it’s simply a poor man’s Arcane Thievery. Still, i’m VERY excited for changes to a utility skill that is essentially never used.

I’m crying. Mesmer for life.

We still didn’t see an update. These simple changes aren’t HARD to make now that they’ve implemented reward tracks. When small changes take a long time to happen, it makes me lose confidence in ANET’s attention to pvp.

Lopez.7369:

More than anything else, the lack of updates to the reward tracks makes me think they’re on autopilot with PvP and just milking it for all they can.

This is my thought too, and it’s a shame, because I saw the impact their release had on the community, and despite pvp purists’ complaints, I recognized it as a GREAT way to bringing new players into PvP and keeping them there for prolonged periods of time.

At this point, it just seems like they’re on auto pilot like you’ve said. I don’t think it’d be that hard to make a new track every patch would it?

I’ll keep the first post updated with all the fantastic ideas. This thread getting noticed by devs is on my Christmas list. Hopefully it doesn’t actually take that long. haha

The only thing wrong with this skill is the long CD. Other than that, I think it works perfectly fine. I use it in my lockdown builds.

uberkingkong.8041:

So what should GW2 do? Who knows, I’m not your marketing director, but I do know that trying to get people who dislike PvP to play PvP is a waste of time, and theres better markets out there with better potential for gains.

I think you’re missing the big reason why PvErs don’t like PvP in the first place. When it comes to the majority of players, it’s not that they dislike the format inherently. It’s the fact that there is no incentive to play it combined with the unwelcome environment that has been institutionalized since launch.

These are two things that ANET CAN change to make players flock to PvP, but they’ve done a poor job at both. Giving credit where it is due, I do sincerely think they’re getting better, so I’m hopeful.

We’ve got some fantastic ideas here. Let’s list them out:

• Black Lion Claim tickets
• Exclusive Back Items (or other cosmetics)
• Exclusive Finishers (to replace them being sold on the gem store)

Another offshoot idea is to increase the amount of tomes in region tracks. I know I’ve convinced a lot of PvEr friends that leveling up in PvP is more worthwhile, because they get to learn all their classes better than if they just played PvE. If tomes were even more accessible than they are now, that’d bring more people in who simply want to level extra characters.

I wonder what the devs think about this…

Jahroots.6791:

Yeah, PvE player here. Gotta admit the reward tracks are pretty sweet. Got bored of daily dungeons and decided have a go at PvP for Transmutation Charges and Tomes of Knowledge. It’s a dreadful game mode though, even more newbie unfriendly than Arah. Probably gonna farm two or three reward tracks and be done with it.

You’re right, it is unfriendly. It’s a shame that it is… The duty of ANET is to give players like you an incentive to play PvP which they’ve recently done a very good job at. They just need to sustain it…

Hopefully other pvp purists and hardcore pvpers such as myself will try to be more open minded about helping newer players and PvErs. ANET should also probably do more to teach players about pvp. The tutorial needs a major rework…

But to stay on topic, I think continued exclusive PvP rewards (new finishers for example or backpieces) should be a CONTINUED feature. This will keep completionists and PvErs coming back, and eventually they’ll get better.

Well I’m hoping for the best!! July 2nd get here already!

Remember the FLOOD of players coming in for the balthazaar back piece? As ugly as it is, there are PvErs who are hardcore completionists. Adding more unique items will bring those players back on a more consistent basis.

I can’t believe ANET hasn’t added another exclusive track since the feature patch. I can only hope they prove me wrong and we see one at the start of season 2. If not, I guess we’re back to the PvP community receiving attention on a tri-yearly basis…

Can’t believe no one else has replied to this thread. :O

I like this idea I guess, but it requires the same amount of work as simply making your build in a build editor site. You’d still have to switch apps to get to the saved picture.

Still, bumping this thread because I like the idea! <3

Before iWarden as buffed aka nerfed I was running a nasty lock down build.

The rotation went like this:
Temporal Curtain —> MoD —> iWarden —> Curtain Pull —> Leap —> Frenzy —> Full Mind Wrack (assuming you dodged a few times near the beginning). Add in the second MoD near the end if they try anything fishy.

Sometimes, I would catch multiple people in the full on attack.

LOVE that signet Mesmers are picking up steam little by little. I’ve been running my Malignant Inscriptions build since feature patch, and I’ve been doing exceedingly well. I really don’t care about the criticism I’ve gotten for using such a build…

Quite frankly, I’m rank 75; I’ve been facing tough organized teams; and it’s not often that I lose team fights with this build. Keep on pushing on Signet Mesmers!

I’ll check out this thread when I have more time. I’m loving the variants I’m finding on these build types.

Just a bump to see if people are still enjoying this build that I created? I’ve been sticking with it for a while now on one of my Mesmers, and I have to say: it has stood the test of time since the feature pack!

keenlam.4753:

MailMail.6534:

I don’t think the answer is buffing iMage. I think the better balance move would be to nerf Yaks mobility and evasion tactics.

Thats right, Yaks should be scared to stone and wet themselves whenever iMage is summoned.
Maybe an AoE Stun for 2s within 1200 radius whenever u use iMage.

Or better, making it have a pulsing effect for 4 seconds considering Yaks can obviously break stuns.

I don’t think the answer is buffing iMage. I think the better balance move would be to nerf Yaks mobility and evasion tactics.

Lanhelin.3480:

Regarding Open PvE: I still do not know exactly how to make all mobs attacking my illusions instead of me or what it is that triggers mob attention to an illusion during a fight.

My experience is that the initial aggro is what matters. You can be far enough not to aggro a mob but close enough to summon a phantasm/clone to throw the first attack. After that, it seems to be that it attacks things randomly and in no particularly order. I’m probably wrong, but that’s just how it appears when I PvE.

I honestly think the following reworks would make it more useful while not overpowering it.

• Increase radius: Will help to ensure that it actually hits and removes boons AOE. There’s no physical logic behind making this skill usable while moving i.e. Warriors impaling from behind. I don’t think 2 boons is fair considering Mesmers can strip pretty easily. I think the increase in radius helps to alleviate both of these issues.
• Count as a blast finisher: This adds minor support to an otherwise power heavy weapon.
• Reduce dmg by 20%: This compensates for the above buffs. It will hit more often and hit more people more often while giving your entire team buffs if used in a combo. No need to let it keep it’s high dmg.

Condition vs Power and why I personally prefer the former:

• Easier player style. It allows you to keep track of many more aspects of the battle instead of solely focusing on ensuring that your skill rotations go through. In most cases, if a power Mesmer will be squishier than most, so if you don’t burn them down quick, more than likely you’re doing down.
• Better AOE damage. Condi is the meta right now. There’s no doubt about that. Condis can and will most likely cripple a team quicker than zergs will. My build (shameless plug in my signature) adds three 4sec+ AOE condis consistently for the duration of any team fight.
• Long lasting conditions. Our main two conditions are obviously bleeding, vulnerability and torment. The first two are really easy to stack up, leading to an extremely weakened opponent. The torment on scepter will hit long hard in any build, especially with such a short CD.
• Durability. If a Mesmer is running condi, then most likely they’re on the tankier side as well. Carrion Mesmers are a threat, but face the same issue as zerkers as they’re super squishy. Most condition Mesmers will be able to hold their own in team fights even when being focused.

Overall, there are probably more reasons I can list why condi is my preferred role as a Mesmer. It should be noted that there are many reasons why Mesmer is great (some might say better) when focused on Power, but I saved those thoughts for a more appropriate thread.

Very true. I love seeing the “invulnerability” pop up SO often! If I were fighting me, I’d be so annoying. Also, the immob on ileap is really nice.

Do you use carrion runes instead of rabid, because that would make your build much glassier. I could see blurred frenzy doing a lot of damage.

Pyroathiest.4168:

Phantasmal haste makes phantasms attack faster.

Illusionist’s Celerity decreases the phantasm summoning cooldowns.

#NoobStatus

Does Phantasmal Haste not stack with Illusionist Celerity?

If indeed, this isn’t a bug, I’d suggest removing it completely since it essentially has no effect being one point after IC.

Just from glancing at this, I can see a lot of potential for spike damage. It’s almost scary!!

Oh you run sword on your signet build? I think that’s what Countless does too. The stun-lock chain with signet and pistol is pretty legit, especially against other casters like Eles and Necros.

I also think that at times, we forget that this is a team-oriented game. My team loves the synergy this build can add overall as well as being able to effortlessly do so much AOE condi damage.

Dyes will be up by a lot in a few months. For now, simply buy up while they’re cheap and watch the price slowly climb over time.

Euler.3259:

maybe if more people posted this complaint, there would be a chance of change.

No, I think people should simply be smarter and buy the exclusive dyes from the TP instead. Use your gold wisely…

<3

Welcome back!

Oh wait, someone said that Mesmer has the lowest skill floor of all classes? LAWL

I hear ya brotha!!! Decap engis aren’t balanced either, but I think overall, engi is more balanced than other classes. Let’s not derail the thread though with that discussion.

I think people who choose to main Mesmer are on the higher end of skill level (pats self on back). That being said, when the “average” player faces a decent mesmer main, they get frustrated because like someone said, they can’t just 1111 him to death.

eta – you’re right. I only play pvp, but I have heard that Mesmers lack a role in wvw other than using glamours.

I LOVE the concept of Courtyard.

My only complaint is that as a pvp purist, I really don’t like the zerg-ness of it. It’s a different play style but definitely enjoyable. 10v10 is a bit much though. I’d recommend the option for 5v5 maps as well.

Good job on the map design though. I love how easily it is to maneuver using blinks.

Additional post to say that I’ve always been the only officer in my guild of 400+ to pvp. Now, the entire guild is trying it out and loving the pvp scene. From a business perspective, this was a good move for anet and as someone that really enjoys my non-pvp guild, I’m really happy that they’re getting into it.

I’m currently rank 60 post-patch. I really enjoy the new changes. The reward tracks & wardrobe are exactly what I was hoping for.

The changes have really brought over a lot of PvErs, which I welcome. Let’s call a spade a spade: ANET hasn’t shown any interest in satisfying the pvp community since launch. Now that there’s a huge flood into the community, I think we’ll see more attention…which is a good thing. I’ll take what I can get.

That being said, there are still some situations needing to be remedied, all that I’m sure the toxic pvp community have touched on already in this thread… I’m just exhausted from kitten complaining all the time, so I’m trying to be more optimistic.

OVERALL: I’m much happier as a pvp purist than I was before, but realize there’s a lot more work needed to make pvp a truly competitive environment.

PLEASE FIX!

This has happened a lot more often since the new patch. The treb will be destroyed, yet it doesn’t show such on our map AND the repair doesn’t respawn.

This has never happened to me before despite me hearing such claims, but it has happened at least twice a night when I’m pvping since the new patch.