Curse

Inspirational Muse · Sep 28, 2005, 07:43 AM // 07:43

bleh...it's a basic energy denial/mind wrack build. It works quite well though.

Inspiration 13
Domination 13
Fast Casting 8

Energy Drain (e)
Energy Tap
Ether Feast
Ether Lord
Mind Wrack
Hex Breaker
Diversion
Res Sig

I am rather fond of using Ether Lord. Many people seem to think it's worthless. In this build, it works quite well. Cast mind wrack, then ether lord. Then drain their energy with enegy tap and drain, getting mine right back from losing it all to ether lord while their energy regen is most likely going to be at 1 pip or less for 9 seconds. Keep spamming mind wrack, diversion, and the draining spells over and over. The only problem it runs into is when the enemy runs out of energy to drain, I can't gain much...but the build takes so little energy to operate it's not that big of a deal. Also, i've been debating about switching Hex Breaker out for something else. Maybe Wastrel's Worry? Perhaps another stance. Not sure which one to use though. Lately i've been so frustrated with being interrupted that i've actually been considering Mantra of Resolve...although I probably won't use it(since it conflicts with Ether Lord).

Any thoughts?

Bast · Sep 28, 2005, 08:06 AM // 08:06

Imagine what you could do if you stopped dicking around with Mind Wrack and switched to a second target and drained that one too!

Drop Mind Wrack because it's shit and find another drain skill or Arcane Echo Energy Drain if you don't want to change too much. Then work on draining two monks down. Being able to do that well and consistently is far more valuable to your team than doing tiny amounts of damage to a character that's already drained and useless.

Switching out the stunningly good Hex Breaker for the lackluster Wastrel's Worry is a bad idea.

Inspirational Muse · Sep 28, 2005, 08:13 AM // 08:13

yeah you have a point. When I first designed the build, it didn't have mind wrack at all. I believe I used...inspired hex or an enchantment removal in it's place. and it IS a pain having two monks on team. i'll switch back or pick up arcane echo, like you said. I was testing mind wrack...if only it did more damage.

Bast · Sep 28, 2005, 08:16 AM // 08:16

It's more that it's so unreliable and prevents you from maximizing the energy denial you can cause. Kinda silly to use whatever energy Wrack costs, then pay 5 energy to drain 1-2 energy from an empty monk and do a little damage.

You may also consider sticking Power Leak in there. It's brutal if you can pull it off.

Eonwe · Sep 28, 2005, 11:17 AM // 11:17

Mind Wrack is well... just listen to Bast. I really don't want to get started on Mind Wrack.

Silmor · Sep 28, 2005, 12:20 PM // 12:20

A problem with Ether Lord is also that if they have Inspired Hex handy, you just gave up 5 energy (optimally) to provide them with fresh energy instead, which works counter-productively. Having it just sit there on your bar staring at you until your energy is down to 5 is similarly not too productive.

Dont Look At My · Sep 28, 2005, 01:14 PM // 13:14

you just have to use mind wrack well, its the perfect take down for warriors, like this:

*Mind Wrack
*Arcane Echo
*Spirit Shackles

You cast Spirit shackles, then you drain all his energy with energy drain/tap. Cast Arcane echo, and start spamming mind wrack. As the most warriors are dumb enough, they keep attacking you. If he wants to use his healing signet, use an interruption skill.
if he stops attacking you, and you still have lods of energy.
Use:
*Shatter Delusions.
*Arcane Echo.
*Wrastel's Worry.

Start spamming shatter delusions after you casted wrastel's worry on you.
this can be fitted in one build, with some energy management. Its really good against warriors and rangers.

Sigil · Sep 28, 2005, 01:21 PM // 13:21

You may want to look into Panic (e). At 13 dom you should get @ 20 secs of -2e, if you hit panic -> arcane echo -> ether lord, you can get -5e degen for 9 secs and -2 for 11 more after that on multiple targets. Follow your ether lords with etap or pdrain, and carry power leak if you are decent with interrupts. You should still not have any energy problems, even with Panic's 25 casting cost.

Dont Look At My · Sep 28, 2005, 01:58 PM // 13:58

lord of ether is a bit risky, as decribed a bit more up here.
Just imaginize the situation, as the mesmer here did, and hit Lord of Ether at full energy (which is not really best way to do it), and the ennemi has Hex Breaker?
All your energy is gone for nothing.

Vusak · Sep 28, 2005, 02:30 PM // 14:30

thats why you use mind wrack, the perfect mesmer cover/preemptive hex.

Bugeater · Sep 28, 2005, 02:43 PM // 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dont Look At My

you just have to use mind wrack well, its the perfect take down for warriors, like this:
...
You cast Spirit shackles, then you drain all his energy with energy drain/tap. Cast Arcane echo, and start spamming mind wrack. As the most warriors are dumb enough, they keep attacking you. If he wants to use his healing signet, use an interruption skill.

The problem with this skill is that it requires a player who's "dumb enough" to work on. In that case, you don't really need this skill since a dumb player is easy to beat anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dont Look At My

if he stops attacking you, and you still have lods of energy.
...
Start spamming shatter delusions after you casted wrastel's worry on you.
this can be fitted in one build, with some energy management. Its really good against warriors and rangers.

So here's your backup plan if the player isn't dumb. So in this case mind wrack hasn't done any good at all and you're better of not bringing it.

It's not that Mind Wrack doesn't do what it's supposed to or that it never works, it's that it only works on weaker opponents that can be beaten using skills that also work against stronger opponents.

Dont Look At My · Sep 28, 2005, 05:11 PM // 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

The problem with this skill is that it requires a player who's "dumb enough" to work on. In that case, you don't really need this skill since a dumb player is easy to beat anyway.

well it is supposed to be for arena fights, and to be honest, 100% of the warriors were dumb enough to just go on attacking. Some Rangers might not be, but the most part will. Most Warriors are dumb enough, because they just get a Paladin prebuild and play PvP. Flame me on that, but it's just like it is. And even if they are experienced, they rely on their monk, and as warrior you always have a bit too much high confidence. But as mesmer dmg doesnt get absorbed by armor, its as effective as if you would attack someone other, because you keep the monk busy, so he cant spend 100% on healing himself and squishy teammates.

Raine Chrysamere · Sep 28, 2005, 05:41 PM // 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bast

Imagine what you could do if you stopped dicking around with Mind Wrack and switched to a second target and drained that one too!

Drop Mind Wrack because it's shit and find another drain skill or Arcane Echo Energy Drain if you don't want to change too much. Then work on draining two monks down. Being able to do that well and consistently is far more valuable to your team than doing tiny amounts of damage to a character that's already drained and useless.

I couldnt agree more. I play a mesmer and when you can shut down both monks and have someone else take care of the 3rd monk, its amazing how fast they go down because of the lack of heals. If you can focus on 2 targets you will be highly valued by your team, and the other team will know it as well.

Mr Jazzy · Sep 28, 2005, 06:08 PM // 18:08

mind wrack sucks, because alot of time i keep my targets energy at constant 0. then they never get hurt!

energy denial works better on two targets.

Moskel · Sep 28, 2005, 06:18 PM // 18:18

Mind Wrack is not a good way to do damage unless you orient a whole hexing/energy denial team around it. Ether Lord/Malaise/Wither are all crap as long as focus swapping works.

Run something like this and make your whole team happier....now you've got a hex removal that you can also use back and it gains you energy. You can spam Diversion since you've got two energy drains.

Ether Feast is nice when you know you want to drain just a bit of energy from somebody and don't want to waste much time (Energy Tap is garbage 5/3/20, the 3 hurts, Ether Feast 5/2/8 can drain almost as much energy though it doesn't give you any back it does give health which can help from time to time).

Spirit Shackles/Aegis really could be anything, this build was setup to help against the FoTM Ranger Spike teams. AE->ED->ED let you drain 2 of their spikers, while you can Diversion/Shackles the others. With that and an extra Aegis you hopefully soften up the first spike enough that your team can turn the tide.

Energy Machine

Mesmer/Monk
Level: 20

Fast Casting: 9 (8+1)
Domination: 9 (8+1)
Inspiration: 16 (12+4)
Protection Prayers: 6

Energy Drain [Elite] (Inspiration)
Arcane Echo (Mesmer other)
Ether Feast (Inspiration)
Inspired Hex (Inspiration)
Diversion (Domination)
Spirit Shackles (Inspiration)
Aegis (Protection Prayers)
Resurrection Signet ()

Bast · Sep 29, 2005, 05:34 AM // 05:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dont Look At My

you just have to use mind wrack well, its the perfect take down for warriors

This is where I stopped reading.

Taking down Warriors? Why? First, there are better ways to kill warriors than with an energy drain mesmer. Second, you kill warriors last because they're a hell of a lot easier kills when they're not getting heals. Third, using Mind Wrack well is a waste of energy, time, effort, and a character slot on a team. Fourth, there are better targets for energy denial than warriors. Fifth, stop being a newb please.

Arcane Echoing Mind Wrack. Lol.

Oh man.

cookiehoarder · Sep 29, 2005, 11:05 AM // 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bast

This is where I stopped reading.

Taking down Warriors? Why? First, there are better ways to kill warriors than with an energy drain mesmer. Second, you kill warriors last because they're a hell of a lot easier kills when they're not getting heals. Third, using Mind Wrack well is a waste of energy, time, effort, and a character slot on a team. Fourth, there are better targets for energy denial than warriors. Fifth, stop being a newb please.

Arcane Echoing Mind Wrack. Lol.

Oh man.

It's actually kind of fun in 4v4 arenas xD Mind Wrack+Spirit Shackles

Dont Look At My · Sep 29, 2005, 02:10 PM // 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bast

This is where I stopped reading.
Taking down Warriors? Why?
Oh man.

Well no personal offence, but then I dont think you should post on me if you don't read my posts. If you would have read the post following that one, you should see why it's a very good tactic.
I think I don't have to say more to that.

Dont Look At My · Sep 29, 2005, 02:13 PM // 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookiehoarder

It's actually kind of fun in 4v4 arenas xD Mind Wrack+Spirit Shackles

well thank you. Bast can only say crap because
1) He can't really imaginize why that should be a good combo.
2) He never really tryed it.

Well if you post shit and try to laugh on someone and you don't know what you're talking about. You make yourself look like an idiot.

TheStonedOne · Sep 29, 2005, 02:14 PM // 14:14

i gues he means that mostly warriors get saved for last , since they mostly arent the factor that decide a battle