Curse

Reeburn · Jan 06, 2012, 03:04 AM // 03:04

Well hey there (new to GW Guru),
I often run Old Ascalon's hulking stone elementals for granite slabs n' such as a mesmer (my main) and I've looked up time and time again for solo Mesmer builds... I was hoping for pure mesmer, but seeing as how mesmers lack all but two or three [situation-dependent] self-heals, no luck. So I made my own, and I was hoping for some feed back on it! It's not...perfect...but I've used it about 10 times or so, and it works wonders but somehow it doesn't seem...right..

Click here to see the build, and/or here's just a simple list of what I have goin' on.

Fast Casting = 6+1
Illusion = 12+4
Inspiration = 11+1

Ineptitude {Elite}
Physical Resistance
Images of Remorse
Clumsiness
Wandering Eye
Signet of Clumsiness
Spirit of Failure
Ether Feast

My goal in the build (because of the obvious lack in mesmer heals) was to prevent damage by stopping their attacks. Spirit of Failure (my mediocre energy management) + Ineptitude gives my target a 100% chance to miss and adjacent targets a 90% chance to miss... The interrupts provide amazing AoE burst and further damage prevention but eh...

Any tips or suggestions to better what I'm trying to go for? (I'd like to focus my build around Ineptitude however...and I would prefer to keep it pure mesmer.)

Soryuju · Jan 06, 2012, 05:29 AM // 05:29

Just curious, why Images of Remorse? I admit, I haven't personally used the skill, but the conditional damage and degen don't seem that impressive for the cast time.

Also, if energy is an issue, maybe consider going for some Inspiration skills other than SoF. It sounds like you're letting the Elementals get close enough to attack, so Channeling could be something to explore. It doesn't cost much and lasts for a long time, and if you're balling up large numbers of enemies so your Illusion spells can go to work, it should be returning lots of energy every time you cast a spell. Another option would be to drop both SoF and IoR and run Drain Delusions alongside a throwaway hex like Fragility, Web of Disruption, or Phantom Pain.

In either case, you could lower your Inspiration spec to improve your Fast Casting, which will cut down the long cast times of Wandering Eye and Clumsiness while also dropping the recharge on your spells. If you find Channeling works for you, how much you spec is just a question of how often you want to be recasting it. If you try the DD+ Hex route, I'd go with a 9+1 spec, which hits the breakpoint for DD to return 16 energy. A 9+1 set in Inspiration will also let you raise your Fast Casting to 9+1, which should be a considerable improvement for your damage and defense.

Just some ideas. I'm not really used to trying to farm solo with a Mesmer, so I can't promise anything I said will actually work, but it should at least be worth a shot.

Reeburn · Jan 06, 2012, 05:44 AM // 05:44

Really I only chose IoR because it's cheap and practically spammable due to the <5 second cooldown. My build allows the elementals to attack me (that's how I'm able to output damage; their attacks activate my interrupts). My fast casting is juuuust high enough for it to almost seem instant. I activate the skill, my mesmer makes a quick little twirl, and bam! ~50 damage + degen. But, like you said, it honestly isn't all too impressive in the long run.

I considered Channeling when I bought SoF, but I can't ball up really more than about 4 at a time. They get to me at different times and I can't cast until they're all at my door or else I'll be stuck with only a couple being damaged and the others scraping up my face as my defenses are on CD. The major problem I have with SoF is the cost...good lord..
I considered Drain Delusions too actually! I think I might actually go with that one to replace SoF...I just need a skill that would greatly help with an end effect...and I think Phantom Pain would do the trick! Thank you!

I will surely lower my inspiration. I only kept it up to 12 because that was the lowest rank in which SoF granted +3 energy per hit; 9+1 it is then!

I'll try these out in the morning; thank you so much, Soryuju!

The Drunkard · Jan 08, 2012, 08:50 PM // 20:50

Drop clumsiness and the energy problems should go away; stick with sig and wandering eye for your damage (on a 40/40 set). When using PR I'd only use it for pulling, and don't try to maintain it. Channeling also gives you a energy return if you're using sig. With channeling you can also run blessed armor, with helps with damage reduction.

If you want a good self-heal and don't mind going into a secondary, go /A with Shroud of Distress, and you won't have to worry about heals.