Curse

Absolute Destiny · Apr 07, 2011, 07:13 PM // 19:13

What are some good skills to use with IW on a Mesmer primary?
Flurry has no attribute requirement, so it's definitely going into the build, but beyond that I have no clue.

Also, what kind of equipment works best?

I've been running a Domination damage build for awhile, but I want to try something new and IW seems to be a unique playstyle for the Mesmer profession.

Sir Baddock · Apr 07, 2011, 08:21 PM // 20:21

PvX is your friend, IW Mesmers are nothing new, they come in many forms, 55 IW UW Farmers were the days. If you actually are interested it's mostly IW Me/W with a Sword or Me/D with a Scythe or Me/A with Daggers.

The rest of the skills are yours, go nuts.

AndroBubbles · Apr 07, 2011, 08:24 PM // 20:24

IW is certainly interesting in that it changes the playstyle of the mesmer a bit, but it's vastly inferior to almost any casting-based build.

To actually answer your question, you could run things like signet of clumsiness, riposte/deadly riposte. You want to take as little time as possible with secondary skills since your primary focus is attacking, but you want those skills to augment your damage effectively. I'm not sure if cyclone axe works with IW (remember it won't work with riposte/deadly riposte), but try out some aoe skills that do not require adrenaline. I think arcane conundrum might be worth looking at as well. It'll provide you energy later when you need it and will assist your team with mitigating caster damage.

Psyco Psymon · Apr 07, 2011, 09:48 PM // 21:48

i use a ranger mesmer iw build i say go ranger secodary and use beast mastery for the increased attack speed might even add a pet for degen

Giro · Apr 07, 2011, 10:21 PM // 22:21

What I use:

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Me/x.

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Me/W, using cyclone axe for AoE IW.

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Me/W, without cyclone axe (for example, if you want to use a scythe).

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Me/R, with a pet.

For any of the builds (except #2, which requires an axe), you can use an axe or sword for the best attack speed, or a scythe for the chance to hit 3 foes. If using axe or sword, you can also use an offhand or shield (even without attribute points, max shields give 8 AL).

Haggis of Doom · Apr 07, 2011, 10:32 PM // 22:32

The sad truth is, if a Mesmer wants to swing a weapon, not using Illusionary Weaponry would yield better results.

Lanier · Apr 07, 2011, 11:11 PM // 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haggis of Doom

The sad truth is, if a Mesmer wants to swing a weapon, not using Illusionary Weaponry would yield better results.

so? he asked for an IW build

I would go /r for the pet and the IAS.

FoxBat · Apr 07, 2011, 11:40 PM // 23:40

Flash enchants open up new angles for abuse, albeit you'd need drunken master for your IAS. Something cheap like aura of thorns, which you can teardown with eremite's attack for a full AoE sweep.

Haggis of Doom · Apr 07, 2011, 11:53 PM // 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanier

so? he asked for an IW build

I guess that's true considering the thread title, but I think OP is open to other non-traditionally-mesmery approaches

Quote:

Originally Posted by Absolute Destiny

I want to try something new and IW seems to be a unique playstyle for the Mesmer profession.

Brandon118 · Apr 08, 2011, 03:01 AM // 03:01

I like using Symbolic Celerity with Signet of Strength because you aren't actually hitting them. Could ework with Healing Signet or some other signet.

Giro · Apr 08, 2011, 04:15 PM // 16:15

Signet of Strength won't work because that adds damage to your attacks, which aren't hitting. I think you meant signet of stamina, which adds to your total life.

The Josip · Apr 08, 2011, 09:02 PM // 21:02

If you're looking for melee mesmer build but not necessarily IW, check this thread:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/p...t10442017.html

It's pre-Dervish skill update build, so it won't be good now. But that's not the point. You can use that thread to create your own different melee build.

My suggestion is (if you can interrupt) to use Psychic Instability elite skill and build from there. In this way you will at least utilize your mesmer primary attribute. This elite alone is very powerful. I don't know how it is in PuGs, but if you're playing with heroes this elite is better than Panic in 99% PvE areas.

Unless you have a fetish on IW, you should avoid it. It's really bad, because your melee damage is going to come from all the buffs (splinter, SoH and such). Empathy alone does more than IW, IMO.

Pierre Francese · Apr 27, 2011, 12:20 AM // 00:20

Feigned Neutrality/Dark Escape are good because IW attacks don't cancel either of them.

Illusion of Weakness is also nice as it gives you some needed protection for being in melee range.

Mike Jack · Apr 30, 2011, 02:39 AM // 02:39

Illusionary Weaponry
Clumsiness
Wandering Eye
Ebon Battle Standard of Honor
Phantom Pain
Drain Delusions
Arcane Conundrum
Glyph of Lesser Energy

Illusion=12+2+1
Fast Casting=10+1
Inspiration=8+1

Notes:

* Don't use Illusionary Weaponry, its just there to take up your elite slot, the added defense, and maybe as a cover enchant.
* This is a standard Illusion PvE skill but with a gimped elite.

Kraviec · Apr 30, 2011, 06:28 PM // 18:28

How about flash enchants? They don't take much time to cast, so they don't disturb attacking that much and provide you with some pressure

LexTalionis · May 01, 2011, 11:45 AM // 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kraviec

How about flash enchants? They don't take much time to cast, so they don't disturb attacking that much and provide you with some pressure

Because Me/D would be grossly inferior to D/Me since you can't get reliable IAS (Heart of Fury won't work, it's adrenal, so you need Pious Fury, which is also a Mysticism skill).

Kraviec · May 03, 2011, 10:44 PM // 22:44

No, I mean enchants like "inflict crippling, after 20sec deal 30dmg to all adjacent foes". They're instacast and do nice stuff without need to actually hit.

LexTalionis · May 04, 2011, 09:49 AM // 09:49

You're missing my point: Why do it on a Mesmer? Can you give me a single compelling reason that Fast Casting is better than lower base armour and Mysticism? Illusionary Weapons doesn't get significantly stronger on a Mesmer because he or she is a Mesmer, even with +4 to Illusion Magic - it's only a 8 damage per hit difference.

Your idea here is similiar to using a Warrior fully specced in Domination to cast Panic or Energy Surge. You *can* do it, but why???

Kraviec · May 04, 2011, 02:37 PM // 14:37

For fun. IW builds, in most cases, are inferior to whatever melee could bring. You usually use them to farm or play different, with non-esurge/panic/ineptitude build.

Urcscumug · May 06, 2011, 03:07 PM // 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giro

even without attribute points, max shields give 8 AL

Just a quick note: all shields that are non-unique (ie. not green, not quest rewards) with AL>=8 give 8 AL. I don't know where the urban legend about halved AL comes from, but it's not true. In other words, any drop shield with AL 8-16 will do, regardless of requirement; doesn't have to be max.