Guild Wars 2

yes it needs power traits and lots of buffs in numbers. It’s just very underwhelming at what it does.

Using the word ‘powerful’ depends on the context. In high level PvE, Chrono has unparalleled support able to carry groups with its Quickness and Alacrity output and distortion sharing. In other ways it is weak.

Too condi focused. You can pick up some defensive traits for Power builds but, make some traits that fit well with GS and Sword Ambushes. For now not one of them synergises with those two weapons.

Since this spec is selfish with all its traits it makes sense the first thing we’ll look at is its potential as a DPS spec. Firstly, the traits only point to only one possible role, which is Condi DPS. We already had a Condi DPS spec so we will just be replacing one of the traitlines we use, which might be Chaos.

It doesn’t change much from our current niche build and will just add more skills to the rotation, including Jaunt, Crystal Sands and Sceptre Ambush. Don’t even bother traiting for Infinite Horizon, cause Pistol Phantasms are still way better than Axe Clones.

Overall it just sucks, because it plays like core Mesmer and limits into one possible build only.

Axe auto chain is decent, but could use some buffs with numbers.

Axe 2 is a nice but needs a lot of tweaks. First it should need a small evade, even just half a second is good enough. Needs some work with its hit box.

Axe 3 is unusable when there’s terrain or if the enemy is moving. It doesn’t just hit… would be better if the hitbox was AoE to compensate its bad targeting.

All of the ambushes are not worth it. Would need a longer window for using Ambush skills and some tuning of numbers. Should deal more damage and be as close as Thief’s stealth attacks at least.

Esplen.3940:

Blades Of Fatalis.1279:

btw axe 3 DOES retarget phantasms, but it only teleports axe clones to the target. phantasms and other clones however are still retargeted. read the discription, if they arent its a bug.

You’re thinking of Illusionary Ambush, maybe? Axe3 says all axe clones and I haven’t tested with non-axe clones but I know for sure that phantasms do NOT retarget on axe3.

EDIT: Ok weird, I literally just tested this and the mage didn’t retarget and now it did. Hm. :/

It does retarget, just that Axe clones do a synced up attack.

Ambushes are trash. Even the Sceptre one is just a bit stronger. Sword Ambush is fine but in PvE it replaces one of your Phantasm with a weak clone. Also needs a longer window for us to cast the Ambush skill and more damage on them.

No functionality to help Phantasms. No Ambush for them. Would be nice if Infinite Horizon, would make them reset the cooldowns of their skills so that they can attack again and it wouldn’t need much work.

Utilities are okay, but core Mesmer already has nice skills for mobility, with blink and portal. Not one of them is worth more.

Traits are fine, maybe some fixes on it. From the looks of it, the first line focuses on clones, second line with defenses and the last one focuses on condis. Should have something to help with Power in PvE too, since they have to give sword and GS ambush as well.

Self Deception is a bad trait and will never be picked over the two. Change it so that it creates a clone for every Deception Skill you cast. Incentivizes usage of Deception skills over Blink and Portal. Or maybe a damage modifier of 10% whenever you cast a deception skills that lasts 5 seconds, which can be useful for both PvE and PvP power shatter builds.

The other two in the same tier are fine. One providing utility and one providing more condi damge.

Nomad’s Endurance really ticks me off. It says, THIS SPEC IS CONDI, when in reality you can also use Sword and GS with it. Should be made into 150 Power and Condi or if that’s too strong (lol it’s not) 100 power and condi.

Shards of Glass is decent, but currently our ambushes are not worth anything so better not pick up the mirrors. This skill will find more value as ambushes get better.

The other two are fine, specially the axe trait.

For the last line, all of them are fine and I would argue they’re really strong but some minor fixes.
Infinite Horizon, makes your clones more durable and deal more damage with Ambush, but even with this clones are still weaker than Phantasms which devalues the skills power significantly. Would be better if triggering it would reset Phantasm skill cooldowns as I said earlier.

I know that the Elite Spec for Mes isn’t really good, but there are other features and other elites that I’m excited about.

Frostball.9108:

Dondagora.9645:

Frostball.9108:

Fay.2357:

Frostball.9108:

Also id like to mention that my current build is only the strongest build i have yet to see myself. Im not saying it is the strongest build possible or it is what everyone will play in the future. While my build might be strong, we have only had a few days to look at these things and its most likely that its possible to even make a much better mirage build.

My main point is that in the games current state it will be a better option than chronomancer.

It’s not like gw2 is a complex game with complex mechanical interactions. There’s not that many ways to build a character, especially with the obvious restrictions of being a condie build that bursts without relying on clones. You can burst with shatters, you can burst with weapon skills, you can burst with ambush skills. That’s literally it. All of those methods have downsides, and chrono is far better at shatter bursting.

I think you’re just afraid to post the build because then people would see how not impressive the burst actually is. There’s no shame in being wrong you know, it’s ok.

Thats why im surprised people have so much trouble finding mirage any good. Whats the difference between streaming the build and posting the build?

Simple. By withholding the build here and now, for whatever stupid reason you can muster, you’re preventing us from talking intelligently with you about why you think the way you do. You’re essentially the same as a person who goes “this thing is 100% true. I have evidence, but, y’know, I won’t show it to you. Just take my word, it’s very compelling.” So don’t blame us for not trusting you, but we don’t trust you. Give us the build or stop talking about it. Those are your rational options.

Its alright not to trust me but its stupid not to try to see the potential in something and give it more than one go before you say its bad. Ill be streaming the build after pof release.

Yeah like all Mesmer mains only tried it once and never tried to make it work, thus we abandoned it. /s

Frostball.9108:

Refia Montes.3205:

Frostball.9108:

Levetty.1279:

Since you don’t explain why I am forced to presume you are wrong and everybody else is right.

Mirage enables things you normally couldnt do, like stack 20 confusion on enemies with cover conditions without trouble whilst still having good options for survivability.

Except Condi Chrono can do that too. With Moa, CS split condi burst it’s possible.

I said without trouble. And with chrono youre not going to be able to survive nearly as well.

You would since Shield, WoE and CS exists. Not to mention you run Insp trait line too.

If you think Chrono doesn’t have as much survivability, you’re wrong :P

Frostball.9108:

Levetty.1279:

Since you don’t explain why I am forced to presume you are wrong and everybody else is right.

Mirage enables things you normally couldnt do, like stack 20 confusion on enemies with cover conditions without trouble whilst still having good options for survivability.

Except Condi Chrono can do that too. With Moa, CS split condi burst it’s possible.

Levetty.1279:

I feel like people only read half of my post. Mirage is crap and does nothing, we all know this.

Phantasms are crap and don’t mesh with the mechanics of the game or with the Shatter mechanic. Useless in WvW, a pain in the ass in PvE and Shatter has always been better then Phantasms in PvP.

Moving away from Phantasms is a good idea. Mirage just moves away from them to go nowhere.

yes, yes moving away from Phantasms is a good idea, but transitioning into clones isn’t good too. It’s the same thing entirely, cause AI is stupid. But doing a whole rework of core Mesmer Phantasms and Clones would be too time consuming and not worth it in the long run as a lot of people do like the clone/phantasm play style.

If anyone would want it, I think a new Elite Spec could fill that gap. An Elite Spec that materializes Phantasms into a kit. Like using iSwordsman doesn’t give you a Phantasm, rather getting a new set of weapon skills from it…. buuuut that’s a long way down the road…. and many other ideas would be better maybe.

Levetty.1279:

MikeL.8260:

Refia Montes.3205:

Or you know, just make Mirage Cloak reset Phantasm skills.

That’s what I was thinking too, reset the attack of the Phantasms when you enter Mirage Cloak. That can solve several issues at once.

Except the one good thing about Mirage is trying to move away from Phantasms.

Well the only way Mes can do deeps is through Phantasms. Did some tests earlier, Mirage Axe clones don’t do enough damage compared to Duelist Phantasms.

Or you know, just make Mirage Cloak reset Phantasm skills.

Great more support! /s

We all know that it gets a bit hard when they’re going to make new ambush skill for each Phantasm. The easiest thing to do for Phantasms would be to make their skills reset whenever they get Mirage Cloak. Would work with PvE really well and PvP. Though it might be a bit strong.

The number of people thinking that Mirage Cloak has worse mobility than a normal dodge is way too high. Remember you can still move during cloak, and having superspeed allows you to cover more distance than normal.

The only time that clones don’t replace Phantasms the Sceptre Auto.

Vague Memory.2817:

Refia Montes.3205:

Vague Memory.2817:

musu.9205:

honestly this is not even surprise .

that heal skill lol requires mes stand still 3s in same spot basically suicide .

and what helseth said is for pvp

for pve like raid and fractal its even worse

Yeah agreed, it’s like well of eternity (but much worse), a PvE heal, because when does a mes stand still in one place for that long in pvp unless you want to get destroyed. I think only a few classes can get away with that, mes isn’t one of them.

Well of Eternity is a great heal in PvP :P It condi cleanses and has a really short cast time though.

I’ve rarely seen a mes run this or any of the other wells in pvp except grav well, because they are awful for mobility combat. I’ve tried numerous combinations of wells and it is obvious they were more made for zerg PvE or WvW.

Almost all Mesmer PvP builds use Well of Eternity. Just check out Metabattle, pro Mesmer streams etc.

Anyways back to the topic. The reason why False Oasis is bad, is because you don’t have most of the heal yet until 3 seconds down the cast time, Vigor isn’t much of a good boon to have, Mirage Mirrors are a hassle to keep track of, and the cast time isn’t as fast as WoE’s 1/4 second cast time.

Vague Memory.2817:

musu.9205:

honestly this is not even surprise .

that heal skill lol requires mes stand still 3s in same spot basically suicide .

and what helseth said is for pvp

for pve like raid and fractal its even worse

Yeah agreed, it’s like well of eternity (but much worse), a PvE heal, because when does a mes stand still in one place for that long in pvp unless you want to get destroyed. I think only a few classes can get away with that, mes isn’t one of them.

Well of Eternity is a great heal in PvP :P It condi cleanses and has a really short cast time though.

And yeah I agree with you. Power Mesmer has been struggling ever since.

Just to note: Chrono isn’t geared toward conditions, it’s just geared toward utility. Nothing in particular in Chrono is conditions, but the meta uses Condi Chrono which just means Mesmer in PvP is more effective at condis at the moment. Power Mesmer really needs some buffs.

I do like Mirage Cloak. It allows you to stomp, heal, do stuff uninterrupted which values it a lot in both PvP and PvE.

All the ambushes are bad. Even the scepter one.

Zenith.7301:

Refia Montes.3205:

In PvP standpoint:
Nope, Chrono is way better. Well of Eternity is still Mesmer’s best heal and the new utilities are way too much to be added in Mesmer’s kit. None of them can replace base Mesmer’s Blink and Portal, and for the third slot there’s a lot of already good options other than the Mirage ones. Jaunt is nice, but a lower CD Moa or Double Gravity is way better than Jaunt’s awful range and small damage. For the traits, it’s a mess. None of the traits feel impactful in a PvP standpoint, except for that GM one that allows you to stunbreak.

In PvE:
It just replaces the Chaos line in our condi builds. Though it is exciting that it may present a new playstyle with clones and ambushes rather than Duelist Phantasms, it pigeonholes PvE mesmers into only 1 build. It would be a lot better if it had some power traits as well to replace the Domi line in base Mesmer, just like how Tempest, Daredevil and Reaper caters to both builds.

Why the chaos line?

Dueling offers nothing for condi either as you won’t be using pistol or swords.

You’ll just run axe (or scepter)/torch+illusions (compounding power)chaos (10% toughness to condi, staff recharge trait)mirage.

And even then the spec will be pretty mediocre.

I guess 100Condi+18% condi duration is worth less compared to DE and Sharper Images. You will still run Pistol, I’m pretty sure, cause letting it even do one barrage then replacing it with a clone immediately is a DPS increase. Can’t really say for sure though.

In PvP standpoint:
Nope, Chrono is way better. Well of Eternity is still Mesmer’s best heal and the new utilities are way too much to be added in Mesmer’s kit. None of them can replace base Mesmer’s Blink and Portal, and for the third slot there’s a lot of already good options other than the Mirage ones. Jaunt is nice, but a lower CD Moa or Double Gravity is way better than Jaunt’s awful range and small damage. For the traits, it’s a mess. None of the traits feel impactful in a PvP standpoint, except for that GM one that allows you to stunbreak.

In PvE:
It just replaces the Chaos line in our condi builds. Though it is exciting that it may present a new playstyle with clones and ambushes rather than Duelist Phantasms, it pigeonholes PvE mesmers into only 1 build. It would be a lot better if it had some power traits as well to replace the Domi line in base Mesmer, just like how Tempest, Daredevil and Reaper caters to both builds.

All of the ambushes don’t feel that impactful :/

I don’t know why do they even bother making ambushes for Sword and GS if they’re not gonna interact well with Mirage trait line. Seems really kitten to me.

Esplen.3940:

I think the reason why they’re underwhelming is that they are all balanced around your clones casting them as well. Although it is weird that both Illusionary Ambush and Infinite Horizon refer to all Illusions and not just Clones. I feel like it would be better if your Clones innately got Mirage Cloak when you did and then those two things would allow your Phantasms to get it, as well.

Of course, balancing around Clones means we’re yet again held back by our Illusions.

eh… this just means Mirage builds in PvE will only be pigeonholed into being used as Condi DPS. Only one build… unlike other Elites like Tempest, Daredevil, Dragon Hunter, Berserker that allows multiply builds in PvE. Mirage sucks now…

FJSAMA.2867:

OriOri.8724:

Look at the rest of mirage’s skills. Our shatters didn’t get buffed, our utility skills and Axe skills deal pathetic damage. Its obvious that the damage issupposed to come from ambush skills, because there is no other place for it to come from.

If you are talk about dps this is probabily pve talk. And in pve mirage will bring an upgrade to base mesmer in terms of dps.
150 c dmg on vigor
A new utility thats not a dead slot
And Axe seems fine
20% c durarion

I dunno why everybody is crying for dmg on ambush skills. Not like they are easly accessed to make them a big dps increase even if they were backstab lvl of dmg.. And plus, clones dont dmg….
For me ambush skills should be all in the line of sword one. Utility. Like daze leap or etc utility. Pure dmg is boring and wont be a big deal.

Now if you mean power dmg, going mirage is a dps loss for pve. Our dmg mods are spread on domi duel and illu. Mirages seems to be a condi utility spec. In pvp i can see the utility for power shatter, but in pve its an irrelevant utility, so nothing to offer here. And thats fine. Chrono didnt offer a dps upgrade to mesmer but a support instead, and chrono is fine.
Maybe next spec will be a power oriented spec. Maybe with interrupts amd such… Mesmer have potential there…

I won’t wait for another 2 years for that… I mean look at Daredevil, a spec that focuses on dodging and it functions well for both condi and power. Should have been the same with Mirage, focusing on deceiving the enemy and dodging which should also work for both. :/

The only worthwhile ambush currently imo is Sceptre’s. While it has a long cast time I think it’s justified by the strength of the attack. Other Ambushes are just a little stronger than the regular autos…

Allarius.5670:

Honestly, by the looks of how things have shaped up, I fully expect power shatter mirage to be the default spec for PvP, at least initially. Mirage enables power shatter so rediculously well on paper.

Start with:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAsfhk1qBz0Q50gKzQzTAZAWwyB-TZxHABXXGw/HAw3HBgx3fAgTBAA

Mirage: Self Deception, Shards of Glass, Elusive Mind

Heal: False Oasis, Ether Feast, or Mirror depending on matchup

Utility: Illusionary Ambush

Elite: Jaunt

Optional runes: Lynx for additional mobiliy, Pack all around, Lyssa against overwhelming condition teams, Scholar

Optional amulet: Berserker

Role: DPS roamer, Asssasin

Eh… for Power Shatter the longer I think more about it, Chrono is a lot better. Sure the additional mobility is nice, but Gravity Well, Continuum Split and Illusion Shatter traits work better for Power Shatter.

Kadj.6725:

Refia Montes.3205:

I mean I see the synergy with the Domi line and PvP. Yes Power Mirage would work in PvP, but in PvE it has no place since in PvE Daze doesn’t matter. It’s just used for breakbars against bosses. :/

You’re running phantasms in pve anyway. And don’t kid yourself – chrono is permanently our role in raids. I have long held that if they don’t make perma alacrity+quickness available to more than just us OR so severely nerf them as to be useless, chrono will always be worth more than its slot.

And Daze will still inflict vulnerability even if the enemy is hiding behind a breakbar, if I’m not mistaken. The interrupt traits would need to vanish, but there’s still enough clone generation to consider shatters to some extent. (The theorycrafting is a little less fun with this one just because it doesn’t really take advantage of anything new, though.)

Well, I want more options in raids. Firebrand is gonna be an awesome support and it won’t replace DH’s spot as a DPS, Soulbeast will complement Condi Ranger builds and live alongside Druids, Weaver will push out Tempest in PvE but Tempest would still be used when there’s lots of pressure on bosses, Scourge will fix Condi Necros problems (maybe), Holosmith would end up being a good DPS option, Renegade would be good with Condi Rev. Can’t we be like Ranger or Guardian that can be viable as both support and DPS? The new two traits we got in Illu and Dueling pushed Power DPS to respectable numbers and with a really forgiving rotation with that. Was thinking if they added Mirage’s Ambush attacks, some damage utilities, I hope it would push Power DPS more with some buttons added to the rotation. Vulnerability doesn’t really matter since its always stacked at 25 at bosses.

Kadj.6725:

glenndevis.8327:

I just don’t like that with Infinite Horizon you don’t get much more since daze doesn’t stack.

Would have been nice to have a good power build with Mirage but looks like that’s not what Anet wants.

If you run Domination, 5 stacks of vulnerability (innate) for the Daze, and traited, daze is 1s Stun every 5s(7.5 with 0 endurance under vigor though, which you’ll probably always have).
You can go full interrupt within the same traitline:
-3 more vulnerability stacks on interrupt (innate)
-3 seconds of quickness
-Power Block for 1k damage+Weakness(+15s cooldown)

If you get all 8 stacks of vulnerability(even more if clones can also daze, should you take that trait) you’ll get 4% extra damage thanks to the third minor trait that provides bonus damage for vulnerability.

Basically, this may be one of the best-synergizing skills I’ve ever seen but no surely there’s no hope for power mesmer, power mesmer is dead, rip.

I mean I see the synergy with the Domi line and PvP. Yes Power Mirage would work in PvP, but in PvE it has no place since in PvE Daze doesn’t matter. It’s just used for breakbars against bosses. :/

glenndevis.8327:

The Sword ambush isn’t supposed to be high damage. It’s a gapclosing clone spawning CC skill.

I just don’t like that with Infinite Horizon you don’t get much more since daze doesn’t stack.

Would have been nice to have a good power build with Mirage but looks like that’s not what Anet wants.

What’s funny is, the only good ambush for PvE is Sceptre
Even Axe’s ambush is kinda samey with its auto.

Curunen.8729:

OriOri.8724:

Yea, those sword and GS ambush skills are extremely underwhelming. I get that they want to push us towards a condition build (though I don’t know why), but those skills are not nearly strong enough to be a DPS power spec. And sword’s ambush doesn’t make sense, is each clone going to summon yet another clone when it uses this skill? Will they replace themselves with the new clone? How is that going to work?

That’s a good question – will Sword clones essentially duplicate themselves if Infinite Horizon is traited? At least we’ll know in a couple of days.

What part of “Infinite” don’t you get /jk

FJSAMA.2867:

I dont think phantasms will have ambush skills, for several reasons:

- Phantasms dont have the #1 wep skill to turn into ambush
- Not a single ambush phantasm skill datamined so far
- Seems just odd for example a sword phantasm performing a scepter ambush

- Phantasms have one skill that may be set as their #1 skill. They may have a unique ambush with it.
- Phantasm skills don’t have a chat code which makes Phantasm ambushes much harder to find.
- Yeah that is true, maybe Phantasms have their own ambushes? We’ll see.

Irony is, the reason Mesmer’s PvE sustained damage is kitten is because of Mesmer’s bursty potential in PvP lol.

Levetty.1279:

Refia Montes.3205:

Anyone wanna get on a petition to make Mirage power viable?! Let’s do it after testing on beta weekend!

They would have to redo trait line and weapon skills. It is not going to happen.

The furture of Mesmer is going to be hoping that the other classes elite specs don’t replace chrono support in raids. Exciting stuff, definitely worth buying a new expansion full of non raid content for.

Not the whole traitline but some parts of it. I wish it should have been top=power, middle=defensive, bottom=condis.

Weapon skills would be easy to play around as it only needs values. For example the sword ambush just double the damage in PvE only just like Blurred Flurry maybe that would work. It is stupid crazy in PvP just like Thief’s headshot, so I won’t really touch the damage there.

As for the traits, there are things I’m okay with and there are things that I would remove entirely.

Self-Deception is crap, remove it entirely. Summoning 1 clone when you use Deception skills is okay!… but… only works with 2 clones? What? Would be better if it just gave you a damage buff whenever you used a deception skill or reduced cooldowns on deceptions. It’s just really bad :/

Nomad’s Endurance is fine… but focus on Condition damage… err should be a lot better if it gave both power/ferocity and condi instead. Gives 100Power/Fer and 100 Condi would balance the scales between Power and Condi builds for Mirage. Then again it’s still pretty weak.

Shards of Glass is weak in PvE but it’s only okay in PvP :/. 33% chance to make a Mirage Mirror… which explodes and deal kkitten damage and weakens? Weak.

And let’s just hope Infinite Horizon allows Phantasms to do Ambush moves… but with the way they’re designed I’m losing hope there.

I was hoping on using Sw/Sw with Focus on swap for pulls. Utilities having Signet of Ether, Power Spike, Crystal Sands, Illusionary Ambush and Jaunt for Elite. Would be a perfect set up when it’s gonna be coupled with a good Sword Ambush… but alas, the only thing it does is breaking Breakbars :/

Anyone wanna get on a petition to make Mirage power viable?! Let’s do it after testing on beta weekend!

[&Bq6wAAA=] <Mirage Thrust, sword Ambush. Pretty weak in terms of damage but has daze as a utility :/

Tis is sad truly. (at least it has a leap!… yeah)

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Split_Surge

someone got GS ambush. It’s better than the Auto by a bit but if clones do some similar damage this would be good.

Dondagora.9645:

So Mirage Cloak forces attacks to pass through you harmlessly… like a normal dodge? I get that it’s different to some extent, but the wording just feels forced and what we’re getting from it doesn’t feel like much. I guess this will be dependant on how much Ambushes affect our playstyle.

The difference is Mirage Cloak does so much more. It allows you to cast skills while dodging. In PvE and PvP that thing is huge, uninterruptable skills in the same time you gain an Ambush attack.

Yeah Vigor is more easily obtained. But there’s been calculations on Firebrand’s ability to maintain party wide permaquickness.

Yeah at least would be better if it was 100 Power and Condi or something similar that benefits both builds.

To be honest the new system is fine. I’ve been thinking if what if the ammo system kept going even when the Mantra charge is on cooldown.

For example we take Mantra of Recovery, CD 10, Recharge 20s. Mantra Charges get filled up 20 seconds over time but when you spend all of the charges the skill goes on cooldown just like usual. What I propose is that when it goes on cooldown, the recharge still happens in the background. When you can cast Mantra of Recovery after the 10 second CD, you either have a choice of charging it up for 2 charges, or wait for a bit and not deal with the pain of charging the mantra again for 10 more seconds for 1 charge. This allows Mantra users to have more flexibility with their 2 charges.

Then another example would be Mantra of Pain. 1s CD, 10s recharge. So after spending all your charges you can either wait a bit and not deal with casting the Mantra in battle to get one charge or charge the Mantra so that you get 8 might gain and 2 charges ready for use.

Well at least we got Illusionary Ambush for retargeting from Mirage, but it does suck with a long ass 30 second CD. Helps a lot in PvE.
I can see how strong it would be in PvP though, 1200 range blink that retargets your illusions and applies Mirage Cloak. Still it has to compete with Blink cause that skill is way too good.

Simonoly.4352:

Refia Montes.3205:

Pretty sure Ineptitude is a lot better than Mistrust. From Mistrust you only had 1 condition and can be condi cleansed easily, now you have two conditions and Blind is a pretty strong condition too. Also it compliments well with Blinding Dissipation, so just shattering you can immediately get a blind and 2 stacks of confusion.

Well I just dropped a Gravity well on a group and got 4 interrupts. Usually that would be 16 stacks of AoE confusion onto the four people within range of each other. But with this new trait it was, err, 2 stacks each and a blind. It feels a lot worse.

Yeah it does feel worse when you’re playing against someone that doesn’t have condi clear and stability.

Levetty.1279:

In raids:
If our best dps is power then Mirage won’t be used. Very dobtful that the sword ambush attack will hit hard enough to make up for the lost of damage increasing traits in either Dom, Duel or Illusions. Unless something crazy comes up like sword clones being able to do actual damage.

That’s not really the case. It’s really possible for Mirage to outdamage Domi. Chrono/Illu/Dueling has shown to have similar numbers when you only have added Continuum Split, Well of Calamity, Danger Time and Tides of Time to add to the DPS. It also gets better at large hitboxes. And consider that you gain endurance much more easier than the CD of WoC and Tides of Time and there’s also Jaunt and Crystal Sands to add to the rotation, it pretty much can outdamage Domi

With lots of conditions on Axe, it should be paired with a Condition Off hand. So, Torch would be an obvious choice since it inflicts lots of burns. For a second weapon set, either Focus or Pistol. Focus has that awesome pull that will really be valuable for its utility, while Pistol has Phantasmal Duelist which outputs lots of bleeds.

Pretty sure Ineptitude is a lot better than Mistrust. From Mistrust you only had 1 condition and can be condi cleansed easily, now you have two conditions and Blind is a pretty strong condition too. Also it compliments well with Blinding Dissipation, so just shattering you can immediately get a blind and 2 stacks of confusion.