Curse

Abnormai · May 10, 2008, 11:53 PM // 23:53

So, when I first came to Guild Wars, my first character was a mesmer, purely for curiosity as I had never seen another class like it in any other game.

I quickly deleted her to have more room for newer, less confusing characters.
The one thing I had trouble with when I started playing was remembering what each skill did! Especially when all the mesmer skills just seemed to look the same. As now I have two monks, two paragons, two of almost every character, and even so, one new mesmer, which has great new armor.. weapons, and even a few builds I've made.

One thing I have realized is the mesmers cabability of fast casting, and I like it... i've even designed some Me/E builds that are just as effective (have tested) or more effective, as an E, with no energy problems.

But what I have failed sight of is the true beauty of mesmers. I dont want tricks like URSAN, Ebon vangaurd skills, title tracks from the kuzicks and luxons or any thing that could be put on any other player; no taking advantage of sig of illusions + mursaat, because I don't do those kinds of things on any of my other characters. And I think that the mesmer should have enough potential to be great without taking advantage of those things.

Given, simple mesmer skill builds are quite effective so I hear, empathy, backfire....

I want to see builds that are inspired by mesmers, used by mesmers, something unique.
Signet of illusions is amazing, and with it mesmers can turn into almost any use of character, however, I also dont want to rely on one good build.

One thing I seem to struggle with is low energy on a Mesmer, and I really hate sitting there in combat while my team mates work their butt off and I'm waiting for skills to recharge.

One thing that has amazed me is peoples use of IW; and I think a meelee mesmer is a very fun idea. But is there any way to be a melee mesmer without IW? And if you must use IW, how to make it as effective in PVE As other mesmer builds?

And the more threads I read, the more people I ask, I still get the same answers for why mesmers are their favorite character;

"Kick butt Armor"
"They look sweet"
"They just rock"
"Black out"
"Sig of illusions"

Other than the kick butt armor, and gorgeous faces... what makes a mesmer?

I tried interrupt with a lot of characters, and I don't like interrupting on my ranger, or a mesmer... so that is kind of out of the question. (only character i've seemed to manage it with is paragon with disrupting throw) and yes, that is quite sad.

So at a pathetic attempt to be different from the other "make me like a mesmer threads", or "find me a mesmer build that does things like an E",

I want an honest to gosh mesmer build, not pure mesmer skills.. and there can be title skills in there.. just dont fill it all up. I want to see the potential of the mesmer in the skill bar. To see that it couldnt work with another character, only a mesmer.

(And I am interested to know if Melee mesmers can at all be effective in PvE)....

With that being said, to those who assist me (and others) in learning about this in detail; there will be rewards.

Double edit; -.-; I am strictly looking for PvE builds, and to make long stories short, I'm bad at timing interrupts - and what I'm looking for is a build that does tries to do one thing well; instead of doing a bunch of things. Like MM's do one thing, Monks do one thing (generally, monks heal, mm's make minions, eles can have builds where they just spam damage). I remember glimpsing at a mesmer build that caused conditions to spread quite well? Thats one thing to me. but I am also interested in a half decent PvE Melee build..

Edit post; if you try to post builds, please post in a manner where i can save template right off page. The hassle of getting the skills and/or putting them together destroys the excitement lol.

TrippieHippie89 · May 11, 2008, 12:07 AM // 00:07

well i play mesmer almost constantly in pvp, and of course i take him into pve from time to time, here are some of the builds i use

[build prof=Mesmer/Monk][Ineptitude][Clumsiness][Wandering Eye][Cry of Pain][Cry of Frustration][Power Drain][Pain Inverter][Resurrection Chant][/build]
[build prof=Mesmer/Monk][Ineptitude][Conjure Phantasm][Images of Remorse][Cry of Pain][Cry of Frustration][Power Drain][Pain Inverter][Resurrection Chant][/build]
[build prof=Mesmer/Monk][Signet of Judgment][Bane Signet][Signet of Rage][Castigation Signet][Purge Signet][Hex Eater Signet][Mantra of Inscriptions][Resurrection Chant][/build]
[build prof=Mesmer/Elementalist][Fevered Dreams][Ether Nightmare][Accumulated Pain][Glyph of Immolation][Enervating Charge][Lightning Orb]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Resurrection Signet][/build]
[build prof=Mesmer/Elementalist][Signet of Illusions][Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support][Summon Ruby Djinn][Pain Inverter][Auspicious Incantation][Arcane Echo][Energy Burn][Resurrection Signet][/build]
[build prof=Mesmer/Necromancer][Energy Surge][Arcane Echo][Energy Burn][Ether Nightmare][Cry of Pain][Cry of Frustration][Necrosis][Resurrection Signet][/build]
[build prof=Mesmer/Necromancer][Signet of Illusions][Pain Inverter][Ether Nightmare][Necrosis][Mark of Pain][Web of Disruption][Cry of Frustration][Resurrection Signet][/build]
[build prof=Mesmer/Ritualist][Signet of Illusions][Ether Nightmare][Pain][Vampirism][Bloodsong][Anguish][Recuperation][Summon Spirits][/build]

GaladrielMoloch · May 11, 2008, 12:08 AM // 00:08

Are you aiming this at PvP or PvE? and if PvP what areas do you play in? (i.e. RA/TA/AB/GvG/HA/HB). If GvG/TA/HA and you are not running a gimmick and you don't like interrupting your chances are limited. If you are having trouble timing your interrupts (rather than just not liking them), take skills like Migraine or Frustration that slow casting times so you can work on your interrupt skills (pay attention to your enemies movements as well, people stop to cast spells).

Running different but effective builds in RA/AB is possible, but expect to be flamed when they don't work. PvE anything works really as long as the build synergies.

If you are having problems with energy, you are overlooking inspiration magic. Mesmers are very good at energy management and their key role in high end PvP is midline/backline shutdown with such skills as power drain, inspired hex/enchantment, drain enchantment etc.

So taking all of that into consideration, can you refine what you want any :P?

Stormlord Alex · May 11, 2008, 12:13 AM // 00:13

IW is really quite bad. The damage is, to be blunt, pathetic, and you gotta waste the rest of your bar on defensive-type shit buffs so nasty monsters with pointy teeth don't blow your 60 AL ass up.
You use IW for 'fun', not because its effective. Some silly people seem to get this mixed up.

Anyho, as for PvE mesmer builds - basically, [[cry of pain] is your friend. Use it. Echo it. Triple echo it. Blow shit up.

Alongside Cry, the echo skills, and whatever trigger hex you're gonna use for it ([[ether nightmare] generally seems good. AoE and all that jazz); you'll need energy management to support your Cry spamming - try [[gole], [[power drain], or [[auspicious incantation] with a big 25e spell such as [[deep freeze].

Then with the rest of your skills, you can throw on either nasty hexes that rely on stuff being dumb to work - AI will happily slug through [[backfire], [[empathy] or [[diversion] regardless; oooor you can throw on party support (PvE skills like [[ebon battle standard of wisdom] for instance].

or something like that.

DarkSpirit · May 11, 2008, 05:58 AM // 05:58

IW is not popular nowadays. But if you really want to explore IW, look into [[Signet of Stamina], and [[Flurry] as a Me/W or as a Me/A:

[build name="Me/A IW Build" box prof=Me/A ill=12+1+1 dead=3 sha=12][Illusionary Weaponry][Deadly Paradox][Death's Charge][Feigned Neutrality][Dark Escape][Return][Illusion of Weakness][Resurrection Signet][/build]

use a crippling scythe of enchanting.

You may want to try out an Artificier build. An artificier mesmer build uses the artificier insignia to raise your mesmer's armor by equipping signets into your skill bar. Since you rely on signets, your mesmer also doesn't need much energy. Here is a pvp example:

[build name="Me/A Artificier Build" box prof=Me/A fas=3+1 ins=12+1+1 dead=12][Signet of Midnight][Signet of Shadows][Mantra of Inscriptions][Iron Palm][Entangling Asp][Signet of Toxic Shock][Shadow Walk][Resurrection Signet][/build]

With 4 Signets and artificer insignia, your mesmer has 60 + 4*3 = 72AL.

Katari · May 11, 2008, 06:09 AM // 06:09

[build prof=m/w fastcasting=3 swordsmanship=12 tactics=12][dragon slash][you move like a dwarf][steelfang slash][save yourselves][for great justice!][great dwarf armor][flurry][shield stance][/build]
SY! mesmer is made of win. Well, as much as any melee mesmer is. I didn't die that many times when H/Hing warband of brothers or destruction's depths with it.

Stormlord Alex · May 11, 2008, 08:11 AM // 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katari

[build prof=m/w fastcasting=3 swordsmanship=12 tactics=12][dragon slash][you move like a dwarf][steelfang slash][save yourselves][for great justice!][great dwarf armor][flurry][shield stance][/build]

[brawling headbutt]>>>>[you move like a dwarf] on a DSlasher.

Tyla · May 11, 2008, 08:16 AM // 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex

Alongside Cry, the echo skills, and whatever trigger hex you're gonna use for it ([[ether nightmare] generally seems good. AoE and all that jazz); you'll need energy management to support your Cry spamming - try [[gole], [[power drain], or [[auspicious incantation] with a big 25e spell such as [[deep freeze].

You can also use [[Guilt] and / or [[Shame].
You can practically rely on those things as energy management in PvE.

And Dark, I would seriously go /N for Plague Sending on an SoM Mesmer.

Abedeus · May 11, 2008, 08:21 AM // 08:21

Lol nice build Katari. Now I've got a reason to get mesmer to Factions xd

But DS is better than IW even on Mesmer anyday, any time. You get adren for SY, damaging spells, is harder to counter (especially with the amount of ench shatter in PvE), you can use knockdowns (SPAMMABLE knockdowns) and you have higher damage output. Because you have at least 34 + sword damage. Oh and you protect your team too.

In PvP, anyone that will see you use IW will just wait 30-40 seconds till you try to recast it, then he will knockdown you/interrupt/shatter/drain/rape it.

Beren985 · May 11, 2008, 10:08 AM // 10:08

Here is the build I mostly use while vanquishing; for NM you can change Backfire for Mistrust as the monks don't suppose that much of a problem.

OQdTAQB7VyGcBSDgDQFoIwFAjD
[build prof=Me/A fas=8 dom=12 dead=10][Cry of Pain][Assassin's Promise][Empathy][Backfire][Energy Burn][Shatter Enchantment][Guilt][Sunspear Rebirth Signet][/build]

This works in a very simple manner; just cast Empathy and folloy with Cry of Pain for a nice AoE damage, then cast Assassin's promise and call the target, and finish it off with Energy Burn and Shatter Enchantment if he is enchanted. When the enemy dies, rinse and repeat since you'll have all your skills recharged and ready to use thanks to the Elite. If you start to run low on energy pick an offensive caster and cast Guilt.

Pretty much that is it, hope it helps

Alex the Great · May 11, 2008, 11:31 AM // 11:31

for pve, [cry of pain] and [necrosis] are epic use them

kostolomac · May 11, 2008, 01:07 PM // 13:07

As alex said , for pve [Cry of Pain] and [necrosis] are your good friends. , [Diversion] against bosses is extremely handy , [Echo] is also an awesome elite in pve , need energy - echo [Guilt] , need damage echo [Cry of Pain] , I dont really run illuson in pve so i dont know much about it , inspiration in pve would be much more powerfull if the monster had energy pools like us. And one important thing , one mesmer build is rarely good in all areas , use wiki to see what you're up against , it really helps , minor changes in your build can make a great difference.

Katari · May 11, 2008, 05:52 PM // 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormlord Alex

[brawling headbutt]>>>>[you move like a dwarf] on a DSlasher.

Problem is that I'm a lazy scrub sometimes, and getting a normal hit then steelfang slash in before the 2s KD is over requires me to actually pay attention to what's going on.

Tyla · May 11, 2008, 05:56 PM // 17:56

3 second KD*
Warriors have Stonefist Insignia.

DarkSpirit · May 11, 2008, 06:00 PM // 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyla

And Dark, I would seriously go /N for Plague Sending on an SoM Mesmer.

It depends on the build. You dont need to go /N for Plague Sending on this one, although I have other Me/N SoM builds that do. A little blind doesn't hurt the mesmer in that Me/A build and it is fun to use in TA/RA.

Tyla · May 11, 2008, 06:05 PM // 18:05

It isn't really for removing blind, it's for the spread to adjacent range which can be thrown anywhere.
Also the fact you can use it on any condition applied to you.

If monsters are occasionally split up, it could help a little bit.
And with a bit of speccing you can always run Auspicious Incantation and Chiliblains for your energy management and a sexy AoE enchant removal.

DarkSpirit · May 11, 2008, 06:11 PM // 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyla

It isn't really for removing blind, it's for the spread to adjacent range which can be thrown anywhere.
Also the fact you can use it on any condition applied to you.

Then you would lose out on the other assassin skills. It really doesn't matter whether you spread them to ADJACENT (i.e. extremely small range) foes or not. Besides most enemies in RA/TA spread out alittle more and SoM recharges after about 5s in the build.

Quote:

And with a bit of speccing you can always run Auspicious Incantation and Chiliblains for your energy management and a sexy AoE enchant removal.

And that is another beauty of signet builds, besides giving mesmers a huge armor boost, you also dont need as much energy.

Tyla · May 11, 2008, 06:19 PM // 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkSpirit

And that is another beauty of signet builds, besides giving mesmers a huge armor boost, you also dont need as much energy.

Most of the greatest Mesmer skills, such as Diversion, Shame and Shatter Enchantment take up energy.

With Signet builds you're getting the same but less, decent usage of your build or better energy management goes a long way.

isamu kurosawa · May 11, 2008, 06:24 PM // 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrippieHippie89

[build prof=Mesmer/Ritualist][Signet of Illusions][Ether Nightmare][Pain][Vampirism][Bloodsong][Anguish][Recuperation][Summon Spirits][/build]

Um.........binding Rituals are not spells

DarkSpirit · May 11, 2008, 06:25 PM // 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyla

Most of the greatest Mesmer skills, such as Diversion, Shame and Shatter Enchantment take up energy.

With Signet builds you're getting the same but less, decent usage of your build or better energy management goes a long way.

To each his own.

Even in signet builds, you dont have to bring ALL signets either so you can bring other skills like diversion with some signets if you so chooses.

There are not that many useful signets in the game but having 4 campaigns help. With [[Mantra of Inscriptions] global fast recharge, less energy dependencies, no need for energy management, and armor boost, you get to spam your signets however much you want unlike traditional mesmers who have to watch their energy. They can be useful for certain roles.

In PvE, mesmer signet builds turn the two usual complaints about mesmers being too fragile and frequently running out of energy, into their strengths by boosting their armor and lowering their dependency on energy at the same time. Some mesmer signet builds have such a low dependency on energy that they can use energy intensive skills that are normally difficult to incorporate into other traditional mesmer (or even necro) builds (e.g. Holy Wrath) and still remain effective.