Curse

mlandry · May 26, 2010, 02:25 AM // 02:25

Hey,

I figure everyone else is as tired as I am of using Ether Nightmare + Echo + CoP so I figured I would share my build with those that want to try to play a real mesmer.

Stats :
Domination : 12+1+3
Fast Casting : 10+1
Inspiration : 8+1
Healing Prayers : 2 (rest)

1. Empathy
2. Mistrust
3. Cry of Frustration
4. Unnatural Signet
5. Panic
6. Shatter Delusions
7. Drain Enchantment
8. Ressurection Chant

Radiant Armor. 1 Vitae Rune and highest vigor (you don't really need higher than minor IMO but if you've got cash to burn go ahead).
I don't have a perfect weapon really. I just use an Insightful Staff with "Hale and Hearty" and Fortitude. Probably a better combo out there (maybe a 15/-1 energy focus could be useful, I didn't try it out).

This build is actually pretty newbie friendly for people that aren't used to mesmers because there's one only interrupt that you actually need to time. Panic and Mistrust do their own thing and Empathy is... Empathy. The only thing to watch out for is that Panic can interrupt a target that you were planning on using Cry of Frustration on so it be careful not to waste it.

It's a pretty energy intensive build so you can't spam non stop but it's pretty spammable if you're fighting enemies with enchantments. Drain Enchantment is my favorite energy management skill but use a different one if you wish. It's also why I use Unnatural Signet, since it deals decent damage and doesn't cost any energy.

Usage is pretty simple.
-Start off with Panic when the enemies are still clumped up.

-Against melee units : Empathy -> Unnatural Signet (X2) -> Shatter Delusions. Of course, use other skills in the mean time while you're waiting for your signet to recharge (IE spamming Empathy or targetting the casters). It's much more effecient to use the chain on the middle enemy of a clump of melee units or ranged melee units.

-Against casters : Panic should be kept up if there are large clumps. Mistrust should be used in the middle targets as well to spread a ton of armor ignoring damage but it's good even if the enemies are spread out because of the massive damage. Use it even if it only ends up hitting one target. This part might be harder for newer players to mesmer because both of these skills are energy extensive but once you get a feel for them it's not too hard to decide when to use them. A decent chain of Panic, Mistrust, Cry of Frustration and Shatter Delusions can destroy a group of casters pretty quickly.

-Cry of Frustration should be used on dangerous targets. Of course, it's preferable to use it on clumps of enemies but odds are you won't have enough energy to spam it too much so it's not meant to be a big damage dealer. You can change this to Cry of Pain if you want but I didn't want to use PvE only skills for this build. Another option is Power Spike if you want to focus on one target instead but remember that it can only interrupt spells.

-Against groups of enemies with mixes of melee and caster units you will need to pick targets. There isn't a huge difference in decision making versus large groups. You should have enough energy to use empathy and unnatural signet on melee units while keeping most of your attention to casters. Shatter Delusions only costs 5 energy and you have a lot of hexes so make use of it.

Alright, so it's not a very complicated build but it's nice to use something fresh. I didn't have any trouble in HM with it but feel free to suggest improvements.

Lanier · May 26, 2010, 04:00 AM // 04:00

This does look energy intensive for the e-management you have chosen to bring. I would go Me/e and bring along Gole over Rez chant.

I'm also not to sure about Shatter Delusions. It doesnt really synergize well with the hexes you have chosen as they both are both a little expensive to be throwing away with shatter and empathy is really too good to shatter anyway. Its ok with panic but typically, unless an enemy moves far enough away from the other enemies that panic wouldn't do anything, shatter just isnt worth it. Wastrels Worry would work well in this build with all of the interupts.

mlandry · May 26, 2010, 04:09 AM // 04:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanier

This does look energy intensive for the e-management you have chosen to bring. I would go Me/e and bring along Gole over Rez chant.

I'm also not to sure about Shatter Delusions. It doesnt really synergize well with the hexes you have chosen as they both are both a little expensive to be throwing away with shatter and empathy is really too good to shatter anyway. Its ok with panic but typically, unless an enemy moves far enough away from the other enemies that panic wouldn't do anything, shatter just isnt worth it. Wastrels Worry would work well in this build with all of the interupts.

I'll try out Wastrel's Worry but I'm definitely not using a build without a ressurection skill. I've been in too many groups where no one brought any except me and I really hate people who don't bring one.

Diab Soule · May 26, 2010, 04:27 AM // 04:27

I have been running

1. Panic
2. Wastrel's Worry
3. Overload
4. Cry of Frustration
5. Mistrust
6. Unnatural Signet
7. Auspicious Incantation
8. GoLE

Shatter Delusions could be used with Mind Wrack I guess for nice damage and low recharge times on both skills. Curious to know what others are running/their thoughts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlandry

I'll try out Wastrel's Worry but I'm definitely not using a build without a ressurection skill. I've been in too many groups where no one brought any except me and I really hate people who don't bring one.

You could buy some Scrolls of Resurrection just in case.

Arctica · May 26, 2010, 06:39 AM // 06:39

Ehm, maybe I am wrong, but I am not sure if reactive hexes like empathy and mistrust work well with Panic.
When I use Panic - mainly on a hero, to be honest - I usually focus on interrupting. So my current Panic build is something like this:
- Panic
- Cry of Frustration
- Power Spike
- Wastrel's Worry
- Drain Enchantement
- Power Drain
- Optional
- Optional

Optional may be a hard rez and another domination magic skill, like Spiritual Pain, Overload or Shatter Hex, depending on the area.

To be honest, I began to love using Illusion magic on my mesmer: Ineptitude, Wandering Eye, Clumsiness and Frustration are really great

Smarty · May 26, 2010, 08:56 AM // 08:56

My latest version is

Mind Wrack
Panic
Empathy
Overload
Unnatural Signet
Power Drain
Drain Enchantment
(Optional - currently Res Chant, EVAS or Energy Burn)

Mind Wrack + Overload is too good not to abuse, Empathy's always good in PvE, and Panic's great. If I wanted more interrupt than I can get from Panic and Pdrain I'd bring a second mes with PI rather than load more rupts onto my own bar.

Infanta · May 26, 2010, 05:31 PM // 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diab Soule

I have been running

1. Panic
2. Wastrel's Worry
3. Overload
4. Cry of Frustration
5. Mistrust
6. Unnatural Signet
7. Auspicious Incantation
8. GoLE

Shatter Delusions could be used with Mind Wrack I guess for nice damage and low recharge times on both skills. Curious to know what others are running/their thoughts.

You could buy some Scrolls of Resurrection just in case.

how does mind wrack work with shatter delusions?

The Drunkard · May 26, 2010, 11:09 PM // 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infanta

how does mind wrack work with shatter delusions?

Mind wrack is spammable, just apply and then shatter for AoE damage.

Personally I prefer ww+cop+shatter, but that's just me...

FlyMoto · May 27, 2010, 01:51 AM // 01:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Drunkard

Mind wrack is spammable, just apply and then shatter for AoE damage.

Personally I prefer ww+cop+shatter, but that's just me...

shattering ww works pretty well too (although you do miss the ww damage) and doesn't cause you to lose the fun damage increase from mind wrack (and will be recharged by the time you are done shattering).