Guild Wars 2

Dazed and Confused
20/0/20/0/30 http://tinyurl.com/bomvxeh

This build focuses on applying conditions of blind/confusion/daze along with staff conditions. The Blinding Beffudlement trait is key to this build, as blindness will play an important role in constantly keeping confusion on foes. Shatters, of course, are the other mechanism.
Blindness will come from these sources:

The Prestige
Illusionary Counter > Counterspell
Signet of Midnight
Chaos Armor

Clone generation is very important and you should have plenty with scepter’s ether clone/counterspell. In essence, through blinds and shatters, confusion should always be on the foe. They can remove it but you will just keep applying it.

Carrion gear was chosen due to the focus in the domination line and not much need for precision. Hence, power is respectable and that is important for the retaliation which will come from the Phantasmal Mage and Confusing Cry.

The main damage sources are confusion and retaliation. Understanding when foes are blind retaliation doesn’t proc, it essentially means that if they’re blind, they’re going to damage themselves from confusion and if they’re not blind, they will take retaliation damage.

Scepter/Torch is the primary weapon and swap to staff while S/T skills are on cooldown.

Playstyle
1) Get 2 scepter clones out (via ether clone or illusionary counter) and Phantasmal Mage
2) Allow mage to apply his 3 stacks, run in and cast The Prestige and Signet of Midnight simultaneously for 2 blinds (2 confusion stacks)
3) F2 shatter while casting confusing images
4) Scepter #2 (if not on CD) for 1 blind/confusion stack (or you can save for later)

If using IP, you should now have about 12-15 confusion stacks (+/- a couple due to cooldowns) on the foe. Note in #3, you can do during the Prestige channel. Though you’re no longer in stealth, the burning burst and confusing images provides a decent damage spike.

Juke from here using scepter/torch if you can to buy time for your attack chain (note you don’t always have to wait for the mage).
If you want to burst on top of this, use Mirror Images then a free shatter slot.
If in trouble … swap to staff. You can still get some nice confusion sustained.

Using Chaos Armor (either Staff #4 or Chaos Storm > Phase Retreat combo) will cause confusion 66% of the time when you’re hit due to the 33% chance confusion and 33% chance to blind.

When in situations faced with many opponents, use Imbued Diversion and when solo, use Illusionary Persona, generally speaking, though IP will likely be what you take most of the time. The domination line ensures nice vulnerability stacks on the foe when you daze or interrupt, which will happen often (use that 2 second stun from Signet of Domination!).

The blindness applied is mostly AoE (The Prestige/SoM/Counterspell), so that goes well with the AoE confusion coming from shatters.
You will generally be within 600-900 range most of the time to blind with Prestige/SoM. Illusionary Counter is priceless for that reason.

If you want to apply the most confusion possible quickly, just follow the above attack chain w/burst. If fast enough, you can end up with 16-20 stacks on them easily.

As an alternate playstyle, you can always hang out with staff, get your clones/warlock up and debilitate with staff conditions. With condition damage at these levels, it should keep some nice pressure on them. Then you can bring shatters in as you wish.

Condition removal comes with using Torch skills. It could also be managed via Lemongrass Poultry Soup (instead of Rare Veggie Pizza). I’ve also personally swapped MI for the Disenchanter phantasm, which is nice to use for an extra clone due to it’s quick recharge.

There is flexibility with the build. Possible skill alternates:
Illusionary Defense instead of Debilitating Dissipation.
Illusionary Invigoration instead of Confusing Cry (if you don’t care about the retaliation).
Rending Shatter (one of my favorites)/Crippling Dissipation instead of Signet Mastery.

I hope to get some video up soon.

Comments/Critiques welcome!

There is some good discussion and build ideas on this thread about using GS/Staff if you haven’t seen it:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/rampagers-gear-build

The build I posted is basically a shatter build with some nice condition damage applied via clones. Gaiawolf mentioned Illusionary Elasticity. That trait is paramount when using GS/Staff IMO. Playing a shatter build with ranged weapons is a lot of fun but you have to think a bit more about your shatters so you can run in with your clones to proc IP. That presents advantages tho too, once you’re in melee range you can GS#2 for 6 stacks of might, Chaos Storm (stand in it for a couple seconds to get the boons), then phase retreat.

One other thing I like to do is shatter F2 while ranged, run in w/clones and after they shatter, dodge, pop mirror images and F1 shatter. This gives them 9 stacks of confusion which gives a respectable damage spike.

Yep, with GS#2, Shattered Strength and food you are pretty much perma-might solo. This build melts nicely when in a party with guardians/warriors giving you the full 25 stacks.

If you like GS/Staff and run with Rampager’s, here is a shatter/condition build I run with often with that gear. It’s a basic shatter build spec but with added condition damage.

Staff/GS clones give respectable bleeding w/crits. You are loaded with boons with Staff skills and might from GS mirror blade (large amounts of might is great for this build, hence the Orrian Truffle/Meat Stew food). Illusionary Elasticity provides a great fun factor with some extra damage from both staff auto-attack and GS mirror blade.

I typically run with Mirror for heals to keep up swiftness w/Centaur Runes. It’s also nice for projectile reflection. Of course you could use something else for runes if you don’t care about the swiftness, such as Adventurer (Condition Dmg/Power) or Fire/Strength (Power/Might Duration).

http://tinyurl.com/cmw9xaz

That’s a tough one – I find the warden gets killed halfway through his attack about 1/2 the time. When he’s able to finish, I’d say he’d be the one. I ran HoTW last night with the build I posted and on Ginva he got a 7880 crit on his last attack, which is pretty nice.

iZerker is strong, but better for AoE. Without a doubt the warden will do the most damage but will get killed the fastest. You could make a case for iWarlock as a boss will generally have many unique conditions, thus high damage attacks (especially if they crit).

I misspoke before – actually my build is more a variant of Fay’s Hecate build.

And yes I understand not wanting to dump harmonious mantras. I played with them for awhile per Fay’s Hecate build, but found it was actually lessening my ability to heal allies and I wanted more precision. So I traited more in dueling, getting nice condition damage utility from my illusions with the understanding the power I’m losing is going to come back with the superior sharpening stones.

One nice thing about mantras (if you take more than 1), is spam MoP while charging MoR to limit downtime the most. Then when you have to heal, charge MoP really quick first and heal while that charges. Most of the time that back and forth activity heals allies nicely and if the team is in trouble I’ll stop what I’m doing and run in, charge quick and back to fighting.

Of course if everyone is jamming you can just attack at will.

Another suggestion would be to look at Pyroatheist’s Phantasm/Support build. It also uses HM and actually looks a bit similar to mine with some minor variations:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Guide-PvE-Supporting-Phantasm-Build

Have you tried playing w/out HM in a RM build?

I think you’re on the right track. I use a variant of Fay’s Panacea build that is more of a damage focused phantasm build with a secondary support role using Restorative Mantras.

DPS is very high and the support it provides is great, ~2700 heals every time I hit MoP or MoR. Not to mention you are very tanky with high armor and vitality using primarily Soldier’s gear.

The theory behind it is detailed in Fay’s OP on the mantra support build (as well as other mesmers using the same type of build):
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/New-Website-Fay-s-Builds-Guides-Mantras/first

My build:
http://tinyurl.com/a95ugq7
http://tinyurl.com/anajlmu

Hope this helps

And that’s exactly it – it depends on the build you are running. I sometimes run a Shatter/Condition build with Staff/GS and Illusionary Elasticity is king. The might and extra damage from the GS and Staff are well worth taking the trait when using these 2 weapons. If using Staff or GS and <MH whatever>/Pistol off-hand, the extra bounce/confusion from Magic Bullet is cool as well.

Bunda, agreed, I love running with GS/Staff with a condition based shatter build. I posted a build on this other thread.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Berserker-vs-Rampager-staff-shattering

While we both base the build off Rampager’s armor, your differences in traits are interesting, going with 10 inspiration. I personally liked the 5 in Chaos for extra regen/survivability and toughness/boon duration.

Build changed slightly since that post. I don’t sacrifice speed since I use Centaur runes and thus use mirror heal and earth sigils to synergize with the runes.
http://tinyurl.com/a6bp7t3

You have a solid build here IMO.
Questions-
What do you use for trinkets and weapons? All Rampager’s? I personally mixed those up to get respectable precision/vitality/toughness.
What is your condition damage? I run at about 700 base which gets buffed with tons of might I’m constantly giving myself w/GS and Staff, plus shatters, plus food (Bowl of Meat Winter Vegetable Stew).
Also you mentioned PvP-how does this build hold up there?

Yeah Chaos gives the toughness and boon duration which really is nice in this type of build. I sacrificed that for precision/crit dmg and have great balance across the attributes. Basically I throw up a bunch of staff clones and wear them down with conditions, coming in with shatters for burst damage when necessary.

Fay, you know I love the mantra based builds (you made me a believer for sure) and also very much appreciate the new Gaia build as this past couple weeks I have been taking a break from the phantasm/mantra support build to craft a condition/shatter build myself. I’m having a great time with it and may try yours out as well. I play GS/Staff for an all ranged style. I’m 20/20/5/0/25 but the 20 in chaos vs dueling is intriguing …

Yeah I know what you mean, my phantasm/mantra build is my favorite build to play. It’s a derivative of the many other mantra builds out there.
But I always wanted to try a Condition/Shatter build using Rampager’s armor. I think I’ve struck a very good balance between condition and raw damage using a GS and Staff since I also wanted all ranged. It’s been a blast to play.
http://tinyurl.com/a6bp7t3

I soon want to try a full 30/30 mantra build again as well. I did awhile ago when I had no idea how to play with mantras but now that I do I’m looking forward to giving it a try.

Yeah makes sense, just simple math really but I see it’s very good to keep in mind when you’re putting pieces together to maximize your stats, e.g. assuming crit dmg is the same, 2500 power with 30% crit chance is probably not as effective as 2000 power with 60% crit chance.

Osicat.4139:

1500-2k power 500 power is a 33% increace of your total power. The higher your power gets the more you need to gain same %. This mean that when you start climb towards 2k power a % increace in crit dmg and overall dmg is more worth.

Is this documented anywhere on the wiki or just something you discovered in testing on your own? I don’t see anything on the power or damage pages. It would be nice to know where the sweet spot ends and you start dipping into diminishing returns.

Does anyone here still play GW1? I pretty much dropped it cold when GW2 was released.

I’m currently testing a Staff/GS condition/shatter build based around Rampager’s Armor. The all glass cannon shatter build with berserkers is way fun to play but I wanted a change-up and also add more balance with vitality/toughness and play a pure ranged style.

The build I’m working with is pretty much decked out like a typical shatter (20/20/0/0/30) but one difference is you are using the illusionary elasticity trait which affects both weapons in this case. You are laying conditions on like crazy with the staff and to a lesser extent, GS (vuln) while at the same time gaining valuable boons from both. While you hear a lot of talk about a shatter build contradicting a condition build, I find that with this build you are pressuring the enemy then coming in with shatter bursts (F1,F2) as necessary. So I’d say you are shattering a little less than a pure shatter build but not much. It’s a lot of fun to run with. These are the specs I’m after:

3k Att
750 Cond Dmg
17k Health
2k Armor
50% Crit Chance
50% Crit Damage

Runes are currently up in the air. I’m considering Adventurer, Altruism, Fire, Strength, Air, or Centuar.

One other thing I really like about this build is that every trait and every attribute buffed by the trait choices are being used strategically. Often times you create builds where there are one or two attributes you don’t really use or care about. I know with build theory-crafting you shouldn’t worry too much about that, but it’s cool that every attribute is used in this one.

It’s nothing too fancy but a nice change of pace. If you’d like my gear choices I can provide – they are kinda all over the map due to trying to balance things out.
http://tinyurl.com/cmw9xaz

skcamow.3527:

I wanted to make an edit to this build as as result of playing more with it:
http://tinyurl.com/avdksu7

The build was changed to a pure phantasm spec with restorative mantras retained. Dom/power is lower but you’ll get power from the armor and additional buffs using food to make a very tanky gear setup with high power.

Traits-most are static for the phantasm build but you can play with 1st tier Illusions. I will switch Compounding Power with Confusing Cry at times. This can provide nice sustained retaliation when used with the Illusionary Leap/Temporal Curtain combo field. With all the armor/vitality you have, retaliation can be effective and will bring foes down faster.

Hopefully my final modification of this build:
http://tinyurl.com/bjvrjsk

Just couldn’t do without Warden’s Feedback with a build which relies so heavily on the Focus for damage/control/speed. Also traited higher in precision as that attribute was too low for my liking. The result is a very well balanced, high damage, tanky phantasm/mantra support build I (and my teammates) have come to appreciate.

Gear changed up a bit as well. Now we’re Weap=Berserker, Armor=Soldier, Trinkets(Spine)/(Earrings)=Magi, Amulet=Berserker, and Rings=Soldier. Don’t forget the nourishments as well (Sharpening Stones) as they are key to getting power to respectable levels.

I would categorize this as primarily a Phantasm build with restorative mantras added. You could probably call it a Phantasm/Mantra hybrid.

This has resulted in some of the most fun I’ve had playing GW2 since the betas and I have Fay to thank for providing the initial idea (at least the 1st time I saw it). Love these forums and the insight everyone provides.

Check out Kai’s guide. Many players have found it to be very helpful in leveling.
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/mesmer/Lazy-Kai-s-Guide-to-PvE-Leveling-Guide/first

EasymodeX.4062:

Err, they use the same slots. Unless you’re using a mix like 4 and 2 or 2 and 4, in which case you probably want to specify the #.

Or if you were referring to the weapon slots, but you said ‘Armor Upgrades:’. You could have been referring to the accessory slots as ‘armor’, but you probably would have said Exquisite or ‘gem’ or ‘jewel’ and not Orbs, so that seems unlikely.

Ah, yes that makes sense. What I meant was that I use Runes of the Pack for all six armor pieces and use the gemstones/jewels to buff the trinkets (amulet/rings). Was just using the orbs due to not having enough mats or $$ yet for exquisite jewels.

But your response brings up a good point I have never considered in using jewels/gemstones to upgrade armor/weapons. Not sure if there is a benefit to doing that on armor versus using a full 6 slot rune set but it certainly opens up a plethora of possibilities.

EasymodeX.4062:

1.

Armor Runes: Rune of the Pack
Armor Upgrades: Knight’s specs (Emerald Orbs)

Wat.

Can you elaborate on why taking runes of the pack or emerald orbs with this build doesn’t make sense? I’ve since gone a different route with the jewel buffs (though retained the runes).

EasymodeX.4062:

2. Use good tradeoff slots for Berserker. I don’t recall 100%, but I think the accessory inlay gems were the best, followed by the helm item slot or something. Berserker weapons were average or something for priority between “% and not %” item mixes.

Check the gw2wiki equipment affix page for some numbers to assist.

Edit:

Actually helm’s bad. Priority for Berserker is Exquisites > Shoulder/Boot/Gaunt > Amulet/1H > Earring > 2H > Chest > Leg/Helm/Ring

E.g. avoid using Berserker on Leg/Helm/Ring where possible.

Thanks for your suggestions. I didn’t realize that about the percentage differences in the various gear; in my build I’m using mostly Soldier’s gear though.

The concurrent charge/cast ability of the mantras is the one of the biggest reasons this build works and doesn’t frankly fail miserably. If in a little bind, charge MoR. While that is charging (and healing you/your allies), spam MoP. By the time you’re done doing that, MoR is ready, but MoP is also immediately available due to no CD. Charge MoP again, and while you’re doing that (and healing allies with that charge), cast MoR. You can go back/forth over and over until you are back to full health all the while giving a very generous buff to your allies, and yet still doing some damage while you are healing. If you spec high enough into prec/crit dmg you can get some very nice MoP dmg spikes.

Don’t forget too you can cast certain skills which have no casting time while your mantras are charging and they won’t interrupt them. Decoy is a favorite but there are a few others, just experiment. Point being that you’re not completely disabled while charging the mantras.

skcamow.3527:

Fay – many thanks for sharing the mantra build idea. It steered me in a different direction with build creation as I had been trying many different options before I ran across yours. I played around with the build as you had it but ended up with a hybrid phantasm/mantra build which I’m very pleased with. It provides a nice balance of damage, control and support and not too squishy. This is all for PvE/dungeons at the moment.

All Knight’s armor and the rest of my weaps/accessories are zerker stats.

http://tinyurl.com/arx3hvj

I swap signet of illusions for other utilities as needed.
Thanks again for posting!

I wanted to make an edit to this build as as result of playing more with it:
http://tinyurl.com/avdksu7

The build was changed to a pure phantasm spec with restorative mantras retained. Dom/power is lower but you’ll get power from the armor and additional buffs using food to make a very tanky gear setup with high power.

Weapon: Berserker GS
Weapon: Berserker Sword and Focus
Armor: All Soldier’s (Power/Toughness/Vitality) on Rings/Earrings/Accessories/Spineguard
Masterwork-Light armageddon on TP
Rare-Strong or Conjurer on TP
Exotic-Take your pick from dungeon/karma vendors
Armor Runes: Rune of the Pack
Armor Upgrades: Knight’s specs (Emerald Orbs)
Nourishments: Superior Sharpening Stone (Hardened if cash poor)
Nourishments: Food-Plate of Truffle Steak (Steak and Asparagus if cash poor)

With both nourishments applied and Vitality and Toughness you get from the gear, power is spiked nicely by the stones. I discovered using the stones and afterward searched the forums to find others have as well (so it’s definitely not a new idea!).

With an Exotic GS, Rare Sword-Focus and Masterwork armor:
Power should be GS: ~2035/3,200 ; Sword-Focus: ~2015/2,900 Attack
Vitality should be ~1560/22,000 health
Toughness should be ~1394/2,149 armor

One drawback is that prec/crit dmg is a bit low. This is why I go with the Berserker’s weapons and Emerald Orbs (Precision). Crit Dmg can increase by using Beryl Orbs vs Emerald, but we can improve precision a bit. Rune of the Pack provides great utility for this build.

You get even more power buffs using these runes and swiftness duration with Temporal Curtain. 3rd slot buffs healing power/restorative mantras plus I like the 4th slot which is a great support utility. 6th slot buffs lacking precision nicely and I believe in full exotic gear you would probably hit the desired 40% chance.

Skills-switch feedback with anything else you want – another mantra, Sig of Illusions (if Anet fixes it someday), another phantasm for even more party regeneration etc.

Traits-most are static for the phantasm build but you can play with 1st tier Illusions. I will switch Compounding Power with Confusing Cry at times. This can provide nice sustained retaliation when used with the Illusionary Leap/Temporal Curtain combo field. With all the armor/vitality you have, retaliation can be effective and will bring foes down faster.

You have phatasmal healing in Inspiration and since you are so tanky, you can run in to charge mantras/heal allies and take a few blows easily.

I’ve played around with this build for a few days and I’ve never felt so tanky/unstoppable as a mesmer (PvE). I guess that’s what happens when you go with Toughness/Vitality for secondary attributes but usually when you do that you lose a lot of something else. With this build you don’t have to sacrifice too much of one attribute.

I’ve not played this in WvW so I’m not sure how it would run there but it works great for PvE roaming and dungeons. Main source of damage is obviously going to be Phantasms, which hit hard. Again, the numbers above are with mostly Masterwork so you can imagine how much higher they will be with full Exotics. I will post all those updated numbers when I get to that point.

If you’re not a fan of builds based on food this may not be for you but it’s worth mentioning that even w/out the food, in full exotic gear you’re still in pretty nice shape, very tanky and nice power.

Hope this helps someone and am open to any suggestions on refinement!

Fay – many thanks for sharing the mantra build idea. It steered me in a different direction with build creation as I had been trying many different options before I ran across yours. I played around with the build as you had it but ended up with a hybrid phantasm/mantra build which I’m very pleased with. It provides a nice balance of damage, control and support and not too squishy. This is all for PvE/dungeons at the moment.

All Knight’s armor and the rest of my weaps/accessories are zerker stats.

http://tinyurl.com/arx3hvj

I swap signet of illusions for other utilities as needed.
Thanks again for posting!

Xelnok.2397:

You can buy rare “strong” Armor with rabid stats on the tp for 25 to 30s a piece

Excellent, I found it on the TP, Rare Strong Conjurer armor. Thanks

Salacious.7358:

I use this armour and run a duel sword, scepter/torch based weapon set.

Interesting. Condition damage builds almost always use a staff from what I’ve read, but you do not … any particular reason why and can you offer insight into your choice of weapon sets?

Ah OK will check those out thx

Hi, I’m wanting to try out a condition build and use rabid gear to do it. In trying out other builds I typically buy masterwork gear to test, but I haven’t found masterwork rabid gear. Can it be crafted, maybe a karma merchant? I know I can get it exotic but not ready to do that yet.