Guild Wars 2

Here’s a build I posted awhile back (WvW version of course), focusing on blinds, reflects and a little support. If you can get the iWarden to cooperate, it works pretty good.
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Build-The-Utility-Wizard-PvP-WvW/

Qaelyn.7612:

skcamow.3527:

PU certainly has some nice staying power in PvP but you’ll rarely if ever see it in team play (especially as a bunker) due to the stealth heavy play style. Can’t hold those points if you’re in stealth.

Are there better options for making a bunkery mesmer? Stealth has the obvious drawback, but most of our other mitigation tools also have problems: blink takes you off point, staff #2 the same, and so forth.

This is prompting me to try to come up with a bunkery build that makes less use of stealth. But I still can’t see dropping PU if I’m going 30 in Chaos, and with a bunker build, I probably am. Even if I only use it for Decoy, it’s just worth taking, seems to me.

I’ve seen a couple here and there, maybe Pyro will post his some day
I’ve posted a build called the utility wizard which works decent, even better seemingly with the new heal signet in my limited testing. That one doesn’t run blink. As for phase retreat, you learn to use it at the far end of the circle so you appear at the opposite edge. There are some other really nifty phase retreat tricks you can do in PvP, just search youtube.

Yeah don’t ever feel guilty for playing a spec the game allows (a lot of folks disagree with this, whatever).

PU certainly has some nice staying power in PvP but you’ll rarely if ever see it in team play (especially as a bunker) due to the stealth heavy play style. Can’t hold those points if you’re in stealth. That said, you see it hot join/solo que because it’s such a strong trait and fun to play. Goes without saying, it’s more fun when you’re not dying as much.

Qaelyn.7612:

No, I didn’t on this particular opponent. I’ve tried it in the past and just found it evaporates pretty quickly.

To be clear, I’ll happily admit my (still) relative lack of experience in the game, and that may be a factor. I need more practice and I guess I may have to get used to the idea that I’ll have to get rid of one of my utility standbys and devote a slot to extra condition removal.

That may be the harsh reality as you continue to learn, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You’ll find that eventually you can roll without as much condition removal as you learn to recognize the mandatory cleanses versus the ones you wait out, how to counter the various classes, knowing when to use your stealth and dodging/keeping on the move.

EDIT: It also helps tremendously to watch other seasoned mesmers.

Thanks, I searched what I could and didn’t think about race specific skills. Nevermind then

Chaos Archangel.5071:

@Shadowkiller: I agree. I was a bit unsure about using IP without DE at first, but the sacrifice ended up well worth it.

@mess/alissah: And shadowplay is free? I’ll definitely check it out. I’ll definitely be hitting you up about that editing Alissah!

Shadowplay is free but 1) You have to have an nvidia graphics card and 2) It has to be model 600 or newer.

Good build, pretty much the exact spec of a build I posted awhile back, Chaotic Conditions. I run 0/25/25/0/15 post-patch and it works well. Pre-patch I ran 0/20/30/0/20 with chaotic interruption (CI). The problem with chaotic interruption in your build (and previously mine) is that there is only one practical way to proc it in chaos storm. I don’t count diversion in this build as a source due to the “clone on death” style. I also don’t count daze on the 2nd magic bullet bounce, since that’s more situational. Those to me would be spice in your lockdown tool kit.

So, CI here is a waste of a GM trait IMO. That’s why I personally took 5 from chaos and gave to dueling for confusion on-death, furthering the spirit of the build. I’ve thought about staying with 30 in chaos, taking bountiful interruption with chaotic dampening, but I’d lose the additional condition pressure which I’m not jazzed about.

For your build – if you go back to using PU it would make more sense, and I’ve seen a couple people post builds with that exact 0/20/30/0/20 spec post-patch so I know it’s being used out there to some degree.

I’ve been helping test StickerHappy’s build and I can confirm it’s originality.

You can use MSI afterburner, nice program for free. Also I can record a vid for you or had a thought – I could spectate you in PvP while recording. We can mess with that first if you want to see what you think.

Heal mantra makes a lot of sense when traiting MP. You have quicker access to cleanses, but you have to blow your CD’s to do it. Slotting RM would make it not as worrisome to blow those CD’s to cleanse.

Still not sold on persisting images. Keep in mind that by taking RM, you are AoE healing which means your phantasms in the area get that same nice heal you do. Also about the regen on phantasms, you’d still have that via phantasmal healing in any version of the build we’ve discussed.

I understand the hesitancy on the heal signet – honestly if you’re going with heal mantra you probably want to keep it that way for MP if anything else. If you took mantra of pain that’s a different story, but you’re pretty full on your utilities.

I look forward to hearing how your further experimentation goes.

blutstein.2468:

this is NOT a lockdown build

I don’t agree. While I see your point about the build not having any of the traditional lockdown traits, the OP states that lock down is just a utility aspect of this build. Illusion of vulnerability is actually a nice minor trait which procs on interrupt, of which there is a decent amount. Also I don’t believe you need the lock down traits to denote a build lock down. If they’re being dazed/stunned often, well I think that speaks for itself.

@recursive, interesting trait choices combined with utilities for a pretty unique build. A few thoughts:

• Have you thought about gearing for more precision in order to free up dueling adept for either blade training or mantra mastery (since we can take that in adept now)?
• How much is persisting images getting you? I’m wondering if restorative mantras would be a better choice, making you more survivable due to your use of two mantras in the build.
• I’m curious why you chose mantra of recovery vs. the standard ether feast. You might even get some good use out of the new signet with this build (especially if you took RM).
• I get why you went 15 into Chaos, but what if you could replace that passive defense with restorative mantras, take 5 from Chaos and go 30 into inspiration which would enable you to take persisting images and RM? Another option would be to take the 15 you put into chaos and throw them into illusions for IC. Quicker CD’s on phase retreat and iLeap makes you that much more slippery.
• Finally, have you played with halting strike vs empowered illusions? I have to imagine you’re interrupting often, half the time AoE (Chaos Storm/MB), and that trait could help with 1vMany scenarios.

Watch out, zombie sighting. Looks like this one has been running around for awhile. I believe that’s November of last year.

EDIT: Dang! Was trying to get inb4 Pyro. -_-

Regarding conditions, if you’re using what’s in the build link, you have a full condition clear when you use mass invisibility due to the lyssa runes. Not enough on it’s own IMO, would need augmented with something else. As was said, the iDisenchanter is a good choice since it still works with phantasmal haste and has the reduced CD.

Hm I think that’s better. Not sure about sword on both sets, but maybe it could work. At least you’d always have BF handy right off CD.

My opinion – take 10 from dueling and throw it into inspiration for the full 30 to trait your focus, which is invaluable in WvW. Also don’t forget about blasting on that curtain for nice AoE retaliation.

I didn’t have in mind to exploit this, but it would be great if someone could validate when it’s tested.

Given Chaos has said his/her peace, I don’t wanna belabor this topic, so I’ll stop after this. Love the attention this thread is likely getting, though.

The point being made is clear, but completely up to opinion after that. It’s important to keep in mind that there is a great deal of subjectivity involved when declaring a build is OP.

Many players feel the way Chaos does. For example, take your healing signet warriors and spirit rangers. Players fill the air with expletives whenever they approach one in PvP because in their opinion their opponent is playing a cheesy, skill-less build. Of course they don’t say anything like that when they have one on their team. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a dev on a PvP stream call out the fact that they believe spirit rangers require skill to play well. So here we have subjectivity at it’s best. One can say blackwater is cheesy and easy to play when others definitely would disagree.

I respect the opinion but I think it’s a bunch of QQ. I get the point yes, but it gets old. I understand a lot of players leave the game over this issue and that’s their prerogative.

The only thing I could remotely see done with the contest in the future would be to attempt to split the builds into two categories based on skill cap. Again though, you have the subjectivity of the judges. Maybe something like that could be done, but it just isn’t that simple. I honestly don’t like the idea but maybe others do.

As I stated above, if we want people to become more aware of the builds with a higher skill cap, it’s up to each individual to do it. Unfortunately, whining about it does nothing.

I can’t speak for Chaos Storm (good question), but for Chaos Armor I believe the way it works is that the random boon is given on 1st hit with a 1 second cool down, regardless of who is hitting you. The random condition is inflicted on any opponent who hits you, with a 1 second cool down. The cool down in that case is tracked by opponent.

Dekk.3459:

Contest Question:

There is a difference in dates (application or registration) between sections 4 & 5. Is the deadline for submission the 15th (section 4) or the 22nd (section 5)? Or what is the difference between build application and registration? Thanks

Application means you submit your build to be considered for the contest. The review board then determines if the build is unique and if so, approves it to be entered. At that point, the build is registered.

The original deadline for application was 12/15, but keenlam extended it to 12/22.

@Handin, you should submit this for the December build of the month contest
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/OMFG-Build-of-the-Month-Contest-December

@Pyro, any chance you could post a build link to show what you typically run with all decked out? I know intothemists.com has the 12/10 updates in their build editor.

EDIT: aaaand gw2skills.net is updated now.

Great feedback everyone. I wasn’t aware of the on crit bug, hm.

This is primarily for a roaming build that can jump into zergs here and there and be decent. They sound pretty good when considering zerg play due to the AoE. At this point I’m leaning torment on staff and doom on scepter as shinoobi mentioned. Would love to hear more experiences, keep ’em coming.

Xavi.6591:

The best armour is from TA. Get that armour and replace the runes and you or your illusions can proc a 1 second fear. It’s hilarious.

Please don’t fix. Ever.

Wait … nightmare rune #6 can proc off a hit to your illusions?

@Chaos, this is a build contest, so the judges are going to pick the build that performs the best relative to what it was set out to do, period. If that’s a “cheesy” build, easy to play spec, then so be it. If a build is that good, it should be exposed and popularized.

There is no bias to any build entered. Each one that progresses to the 2nd stage will be equally analyzed by the judges in order to discover the true potential and effectiveness. The judges aren’t going to focus on one build or another based on premise. An objective summary will be provided for each.

On another note, I too have noticed that most folks gravitate towards builds that are easier to play. There are many builds posted which are solid, but don’t get as much attention because they have a higher skill cap. What about any of this is a bad thing? You have easier to use builds and harder ones to master, creating diversity for a diverse player base.

Instead of refusing to review builds easy to play, I would rather encourage players to promote the builds that require more skill. It’s really up to all of us, starting with you and me.

Hey all, I’m close to refining a S/Sc-F WvW condition build. I currently use Doom and it’s very strong. With my build I’m going to be able to inflict every condition in the game (except fear), and there is a strong torment focus. Adding the sigil would be my 3rd way to proc torment.

The build is focused around AoE control and condition spam, is good for 1vMany and is why the torment sigil is so appealing, since it’s AoE. Even though it’s one stack, I’ve got 100% torment duration so it’s going to be a pain. I like the relatively short 7s CD as well. By taking the torment sigil, I lose a poison source but still have one in Chaos Storm, though RnG.

So I need to decide if 2 poison/2 torment sources in this case is better than 1 RnG poison/3 torment sources. Another thing I’ve thought of is to go with doom on one set and torment on the other.

I would love to hear your opinions on what would be more effective, and also any experience you personally have with the torment sigils if you use/have used them.

Qaelyn.7612:

Yeah, I should know that by now.

This thread has inspired me to try a build that has mantra of recovery on “auto-attack”. It’s fairly amusing so far.

So yeah, the build I linked with RM was really to highlight that part, not MP
For condition removal, you could still take it, but it seems like a waste. In that case, mantra of resolve or the disenchanter are good options.

Pyroatheist.9031:

BlackDevil.9268:

I never really found out how scepter > sword in zergs for people. You would have to find a really good target to use 3 on and hope the enemy doesn’t got good condition removal.
What’s so good about the burning is that it has a short duration that can be reapplied rather quickly. This makes condition removal in those 4.5sec pretty much useless if they continue to hit you.

I feel like this trick is more something you should use as damage boost, rather than your main damage. Might test it out soon when I got the gears together.

In this case, scepter provides a few things.

Firstly, sword just doesn’t do much for this build. Full dire really doesn’t make any use of the sword at all.

Confusing images does require a good target, but if you get a good target you can easily strafe much of a group with that one attack.

The scepter also provides a block/counter. In a big fight, you can’t generally aim where that block is going, but you do have the satisfaction of knowing that you just made someone’s day worse with a 5 stack of torment. In this particular build, the block also guarantees another proc of burning regardless of LoS or range, which can be amusing when people are shooting at you from or on a wall/gate.

Was thinking the other day about that “double whammy” block on scepter #2. Awesome. Same could be said for Sword #4 but obviously you’re not taking that.

Dawdler.8521:

skcamow.3527:

The biggest win for this signet I think will be phantasm based builds which use restorative mantras to augment the healing. Main reason is due to the ability to pop the signet for immediate phantasm skill recharges or emergency condition cleanse. You still have other healing available with RM.

EDIT: For instance, a build like this: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Build-Phantastic-Mantras

Lolwat? Does no one count?

Why would a mantra build ever want to use this crappy new signet when traited mantra healing is alot more effective. And by alot I mean ALOT.

Let me recount the healing (using my numbers, yours may vary), now in glorious hps on a similar 1 minute cycle and hopefully some bug fixes (menders on channel dont work? I honestly havent looked that hard lol, also forgot the channel time so there was too much cleansing/healing thrown in):

Signet (letting it tick with 3 ill, menders): 338hps / 0 conditions removed
Signet (letting it tick for 30s with 3 ill, then popping it, menders): 266hps / 2 conditions removed
Mantra (14s cycling, traited heal, menders): 580hps/16 conditions removed
Mantra (12s cycling (traited), traited heal, menders): 676hps/20 conditions removed

*lets just ignore AoE healing

How can you say that in a build with restorative mantras it will be the biggest win. Honestly? Just look at the numbers! Look at it!!!

If the signet pumped out like 600hps, sure it would be decent on its own but if you take into account menders there is no contest.

It would work if you used MoP or to a lesser extent, MoR. Idea is, if you should ever need to pop the signet (or maybe even want), you’re not completely hamstrung by the 35s CD; you have an additional healing source with RM. That was the point. The biggest win, maybe not, but that’s where the I think comes in – obviously this is going to need to play out a bit.

Qaelyn.7612:

That makes sense. But seems like an awful lot of build orientation towards healing.

True, but it also introduces an excellent team support element to the powerful phantasm spec.

@Kuzzi, check out some common, proven Mesmer builds posted in this thread for higher level tPvP:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/pvp/pvp/A-short-list-of-common-builds-in-PvP/first#post3143954

I would potentially add a full power phantasm spec to that list, but you lose a great deal of team support with it.

Other than that, there are quite a few that will work for mid/low levels. Check out the builds in this thread that say PvP/PvX: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/List-Find-your-Mesmer-Builds-Guides

As a plug for the many solid builds I’ve seen over the past few months, I nominate the following for the December BOTM contest:

Deathcon’s Dire Condition Build
Lahel’s Shackel’d
Witch’s Corrupt Build
Requiem’s WvW Mantra Condition Build
Menace’s Apex Predator
StickerHappy’s Phantasmic Interruptions
BlackDevil’s PU Hybrid WvW Build

These are just nominations – for any of these to be considered for the BOTM, the build owner must post in this thread the proper information detailed in this post: How to enter December BOTM Contest

Don’t be shy! This is your chance for your build to be tested and refined by some very friendly and helpful people.

The biggest win for this signet I think will be phantasm based builds which use restorative mantras to augment the healing. Main reason is due to the ability to pop the signet for immediate phantasm skill recharges or emergency condition cleanse. You still have other healing available with RM.

EDIT: For instance, a build like this: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Build-Phantastic-Mantras

For any serious bunker spec, I think it goes without saying that stability is necessary. To that end, I would think you’d want that mantra in there somewhere being it’s our only source of it.

Both are proven builds and are good in their own ways, hard to say one is better than the other.

Just choose one and have fun.

Pyroatheist.9031:

I remain mystified at how people manage to find these threads to necro. The forum search doesn’t even work kitten .

Dat Google.

Qaelyn.7612:

skcamow, got a link to your bunker spec? Curious to see it. I assume something in that build is giving the 250/s regen?

It’s the phantasmal healing trait, spec is here: The Utility Wizard

I was playing more of a condition focus today, taking the glamour traits to add a minimal amount of confusion, but hey, since bunkers are really built for dealing damage, I figure why not get the most I can. I also slotted BI instead of CD in Chaos. I’ll have to do that more in hot join/soloq, didn’t notice the absence of staff cool downs. 25 might stacks seemed pretty easy, so running close to 1,900 condition damage at that point is no joke in a bunker.

Well I did some testing with my utility wizard bunker spec in PvP. I’ll just say the healing signet is very strong, especially so if you have good healing power built in (say a conservative 900). You get the benefit of the 250/sec regen, plus 1,102 every 3 seconds from the signet (accounting for healing power), averaging out to 617 health/sec. It’s quite insane actually.

Keeping three illusions up is trivial. I just stood on the point, ingesting massive amounts of damage and I didn’t notice too much pressure until 3 or 4 focused me at once, slowly bringing me down.

Ok granted this was hot join, take it for what it is, but mesmer has some very, very impressive potential staying power with this signet.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

- Mender’s Purity: Is now a very enticing alternative to the 10 points in Dueling if taking Mantra of Recovery. This partially eliminates the need for iDisenchanter and alters the build a bit. Harmonious Mantras would be the better pick over CS if you go that route and Shattered Concentration would replace Mental Torment.

In the current build I’m running I go with mantra of resolve with mender’s purity and it’s honestly as good or even better in some cases than the disenchanter for condition removal for the sole reason that it’s controllable by you and on demand. What’s even better today is that I get an extra condition cleansed with the mender’s purity buff. This is from the perspective of a solo roamer/dueler, etc.

I was going to suggest this for your build but after some thought, the disenchanter at it’s default attack rate is still very strong and fits the shatter focus of your build given the short 16s CD.

Also, while harmonious mantras would be ever so tempting, if you took that I believe the build would lose some what makes it unique and effective, especially in light of today’s confounding suggestions buff.

eldenbri.1059:

Couple of questions:
- Has anything changed about scepter for Mesmers? It was discussed in the dev thread.
- Did anything change about the vigor-on-crit trait in Dueling?

No (not in patch notes anyway)

- Is craftable ascended armor in the game now? I didn’t see it in the patch notes, but there’s a gallery of armor images on Dulfy.

Yes

Phantasmal Haste is wonderful to use with the disenchanter – I have in some of my builds to great effect.

Regarding your build here, I admit at first glace it’s a bit of a head scratcher, but after dueling it last night for a few rounds I can see the potential. The MW’s really hit hard if you can’t cleanse the immob in time to dodge.

Couple of comments.

Due to illusionary invigoration moving to master, I’d change adept to precise wrack.
You’re gonna love the confounding suggestions buff today.

I’ve found (through dueling you), confounding suggestions can be really nasty. There was a lot of conversation about this trait when the 12/10 announcement first broke – is it worth it, should this just be a longer daze (like they initially were going to do), how is this different than CI, etc.

My experience is, that daze is actually fine if you don’t use a skill to blow the CD. Honestly I don’t notice the daze too much. But if those endless dazes you have in that build turn into stuns, suddenly I have to blow stun breaks or I’m likely going to eat a ton of damage. So I think that’s the key thing with that trait, as long as you have enough of a daze flow to really make things difficult.

I will even go so far to say the duels I won, I didn’t feel as locked down (trait didn’t proc). But the ones I lost I was totally debilitated. So there’s the RnG … but it’s quite effective I must say.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

It’s one of the most difficult traits to use effectively though, but can really pay off especially with properly juggling Signet of Illusions (the active refreshes phantasms) & Illusionary Invigoration.

… Hm, I just might try to build around that.

The 90s CD’s are so sickening though it’s tough to waste a slot on the bar for the signet (you should try it though). Traiting signet mastery helps. Good that today at least illusionary invigoration gets a 30s decrease in CD, but bad it’s being moved to master.

blutstein.2468:

oh look another 20/20/30 build with a new name. its been the 10th?

Nothing personal, so sorry, don’t want to read any further. I’m somehow tired of this setup.

btw, there are other traits to take in dom, dueling and chaos besides those taken with blackwater. I think folks tend to forget that.

Noss.4105:

I haven’t seen too many builds here that focus on CI, so dunno what blutsteins problem is.

Especially when his build is clone spamming condi build with perplexity.

I have a build (chillruption, see signature) which focuses around CI but yeah you don’t see too many out there and I’m just now starting to see more pop up.

Qaelyn.7612:

They seem to be my bane of late. Well, I guess they are the bane of a lot of folks, but any tips on beating them? I don’t know the class at all, something I probably should rectify by playing one I guess.

They seem to have both insane defense and lots of condition cleansing, making it pretty hard to take them down.

I’m currently running a phantasm/PU hybrid and tinkering with a shatter build, though I haven’t run shatter in a “serious” engagement yet.

Thanks.

Offensively, I’ve not found it difficult to bring a necro down with either condition or power builds. To your point, they have pretty good active defense against both specs. Honestly it’s more of a game of attrition most of the time.

So, condition management is key. If you get that right, you can outlast their condi-spam ftw. Best way to do that is to slot the iDisenchanter or what I’ve been doing lately is taking mantra of resolve along with traiting mender’s purity. This provides very strong defense against conditions on relatively short cool downs.

One other tip, signet of spite has a very obvious animation (google if you’re not aware), and can be dodged with practice.

MrSilver.5269:

Nretep.2564:

MrSilver.5269:

Do phantasms benefit from your base precision/crit and crit damage?

Not from crit.

So what is the base crit for phantasms? 0% and with fury 20%?

My understanding is that phantasms get your critical chance and critical damage universally with one exception being the modifier you get while using the sigil of accuracy (+5% crit chance).

Edit: Adding to that base, they get an extra 20% crit chance from phantasmal fury.

To better explain, anything that affects your personal precision stat will carry to your phantasms and illusions. For example, buffs from food or maintenance oils. The sigil of accuracy is a buff to your personal critical chance percentage, not precision specifically, so that does not carry over.

You always have passive regen from phantasms as well, but that varies of course on how much healing power you have. The potential healing that could take place with this signet plus regen is huge though. In a bunker-ish build with decent healing power the hps is pretty crazy, assuming they will stack.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

Nevhie.6079:

Just plz give mimic Stability for it’s Duration. I will be very happy!

It already practically invulns you x_X

Exactly, so why don’t I see this skill used more in the not so prevalent mesmer bunker spec (honestly asking myself this question)? Most bunkers will take staff, so proc’ing the initial projectile block from your own WoC gets you the free blocks after.

vinceftw.5086:

skcamow.3527:

I haven’t seen the vid yet, but let me just say I’m elated one of “the originals” is back!
Definitely one I learned a lot from in my early days as a mesmer. Welcome!!!

Now, if we can just get osi and seven to do the same …

Osi has been logging in a few times over the past few weeks but not for very long. He has uploaded a new video I believe.

Yeah, saw his vid which was great, but he’s not really “back”

Jon Peters talked about how he’d like to see Mimic more supportive. Below was my idea back in that 12/10 patch thread. I always liked the block capabilities of mimic, but have never liked that an initial projectile block is required to get to those other three, and honestly always found it kinda cheesy that you can proc that first one yourself (which probably wasn’t the initial intent)

• Block up to 4 attacks. Increase the cool down to 30 seconds and make the duration 3 seconds.
• Whatever Mimic blocks, you do a non-OP amount of PBAoE damage and transform the blocks into aegis on yourself for 5 seconds, AoE if you blocked more than one attack. 2 blocks = 2 allies get aegis, etc.
• If it didn’t block anything, grant only yourself aegis when the skill ends. The mimic bubble blows up creating a blast finisher.

Some of that could be too OP.

Or … just leave it as-is, because to Pyro’s point, if used properly and in the correct situations, it’s very strong right now. I think some of it is surface dismissal and lack of really digging into the skill to see it’s true capabilities. The way the skill functions right now is really cool, and a couple minor tweaks to it is probably all it needs.

That’s a decent build. Not too sure about taking torch for a support role though.

Playing the healer in WvW can be sometimes challenging (but not impossible), primarily because you have to be able to safely position your phantasms to provide party regen. Other than that, there’s really no reason to have that high healing power.

Have you seen this build: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Build-The-Utility-Wizard-PvP-WvW

It’s very similar in premise to yours and may give you some more ideas. It can be built in a few different ways depending on the focus. The WvW build focuses primarily on blinds and reflects – the PvP build is blinds/reflects/heal. If you try to focus on all three you’re not doing a whole lot of damage, but you’ll provide significant support.

The nice thing about going into the Chaos line is you get more boon support with BI and extra boon duration. You can easily swap signet of midnight for signet of inspiration for some nice boon share possibilities. Inspiration adept is great for flexibility as you can choose glamour mastery or medic’s feedback to suite the needs of the team. Come this Tuesday, this build will be able to run both blinding befuddlement and dazzling glamours together by only going 20 into illusions (plus picking up the illusions CD with the illusionist’s celerity move to 15), which I’m really excited about.

I haven’t seen the vid yet, but let me just say I’m elated one of “the originals” is back!
Definitely one I learned a lot from in my early days as a mesmer. Welcome!!!

Now, if we can just get osi and seven to do the same …

Did you intend to take Ilusionary Persona or Imbued Diversion as you have it? Typically shatter builds take IP.