Curse

BigTru · Jul 12, 2005, 06:17 PM // 18:17

Sorry if this has been posted before, but everytime I find a Mesmer build, it doesn't say whether or not it is for PvE or PvP... and since most Mesmers are PvP only, I assume...

So what exactly is the job of a mesmer in PvE (they are rare... don't remember partying with one even though I've ascended 3 characters already) and what are some good builds?

Epinephrine · Jul 12, 2005, 06:41 PM // 18:41

Well, I have a PvE mesmer, and I am very effective vs casters, but much less so vs melee. My current lineup is Domination/Inspiration and has only 2 inspiration spells (Ether Feast, Energy Tap) on it, the other 6 are domination. I typically use 2 interrupts (Power Leak and Power Spike) to mess up casters, though I will sometimes sub in Cry of Frustration instead of the Power Spike (particularily if there is no ranger around), Shatter Hex for good AoE damage vs hexing opponents, Empathy vs melee, Diversion to stop skill spammers, Backfire vs casters. That's 8 spells - I am one mission from ascending her, this setup seems rounded - diversion works wonders against the one skill wonder creatures - that monk boss in Thirsty River is a cinch if you land a few diversions for example - he has nothing left to cast. Backfire is a good standard PvE spell; the interrupts are great fun especially vs foes with longer casting times (Hydras are easy).

Wouldn't say it's a "great build" as I am progressing her fairly slowly I am only just now ascending, but I manage alright. Big bosses are easy, you find yourself laughing when you see a blue/red/dark green/purple glow on an enemy, and really hating melee mobs.

I can't recall my exact point distribution, I have 2 minor and a superior rune in so I think it's around a 16 domination, 7 or so fast casting and a nice 10 or something in inspiration (12, 6, 9 base, until I get my extra attribute points)

Lord Tekster · Jul 12, 2005, 08:27 PM // 20:27

domination and illusion, mesmers are great in PvE because they can cost tonnes of damage in a short space of time. for example:
arcane echo then backfire followed up by conjure phantasm and phantom pain. This means they have a health degeneration of 7 and if they cast a spell they get hurt badly. Knowing npc's they cast the spell and take the 140 odd damage, then i usually cast shatter delusions and energyburn/surge thats around 300 damage in the space of 2 seconds if your good.
Mesmers also have decent area attacks such as epidemic (good with rangers poison), chaos storm (always bring it), energy surge (my favourite skill - 80 damage to every nearby foe and 10 energy off the target), also energy drain skills such as signet of weariness are good.

kirgr526 · Jul 13, 2005, 02:12 AM // 02:12

Having played a Mesmer for a few months I have to say there is nothing more fun in PvE. I tend to be more generalised than a PvP Mesmer, mainly as if you go primary caster-hate, warrior-hate, etc, there are going to be instances where you are twiddling your thumbs (ie using your staff). I tend to ignore my secondary profession (unless farming, only managed to farm Mergoyles with only Mesmer skills : P).
I go heavy domination/inspiration/fast casting with what ever is left in illusion (don't use any skills from that where more points would give me more than extra couple of seconds on the spells).
Skills I mostly always have on my skill bar: backfire (god this skill rocks in PvE, always use on any monks), conjure phantasm, empathy (both these pretty self explanatory), energy tap and arcane echo.
Others I swap in and out of the other three slots: cry of frustration (nothing better than seeing #%*! above foes heads), clumsiness, crippling anguish, mind wrack and spirit shackles (hey, if Mergoyles can do it to me, I can do it to them, tend not to use these now I'm in higher level areas), ether feast (mainly if I'm soloing), phantom pain, the burdens, illusion of weakness.
Basically, my Mesmer ends up being a "Stop Hitting Yourself" build with some health degeneration built in.
Remember, even in PvE, your best targets are spell casters, as they'll go down fast, other classes are just a matter of patience to take down. Mesmers are a bit under rated, but a good mesmer can make missions like thirsty river so simple its not funny (War: Now lets kill the monk, Mes: What monk? oh you mean that thing that resurrects? Killed that ages ago.) and lets not talk about the mirror (killed him in well under 10 secs).