Curse

Pinkegobox · May 13, 2006, 05:55 PM // 17:55

Hi all,

Thanks for taking the time to go over this with me.

I am very new to Guild Wars and I am interested in making a Mesmer. As far as I can tell it is about control of movement/spells and then some damage as well which is something I enjoy. I started a Role Playing char, but I assume that means I can PVP as well. That being the case I am looking for the a good build for my char.

I have read the threads stickied at the top but there is alot of lingo I am not getting. I am not sure what to look for in my secondary class, but if anyone has any simple ideas or advice to get me going that would be much appreciated. Thanks all!

tuperwho · May 13, 2006, 06:13 PM // 18:13

Mesmers can do anything from damage to interrupts, to prevention of whatever your target wanted to do.... basically, then can dominate any battle in role-playing (PvE) or PvP. So your choice is a good one. And starting as role playing is a good choice, as it will help you learn the dynamics of battle and how to best choose and use skills. Now, as far as a build, affraid I can't help you too much. There are just too many variables. What campaign do you have (factions or prophecies)? What role do you want to fill? Do you want it for PvE or PvP? So as to not be a total jerk, though, here are some things to think about. The best resource would be just reading these forums, though. And as far as a secondary, mesmers already have versatility and energy management (inspiration line). Monk is a popular choice, as it can give you a re-useable res skill, and also some healing/protection.

PvE:
I've had success with domination and illusion. In Illusion, Illusionary weaponry, combined with Illusion of weakness, phantom pain, and distortion (there are some specific build in the forums, but I like to leave some flexibility) can be a lot of fun early in the game. Also, conjure phantasm is great early, and can still have uses later. However, I found myself going with clumsiness and ineptitude in the long run.

In the domination line, backfire, empathy, wastrel's worry, and shatter hex do well in PvE.

I will often mix both domination and illusion skills in my builds, though.

PvP:
Two of the popular builds are energy denial and interrupt. Both are in the domination line. E-denial consists of putting mind wrack on a target, then using energy surge, energy drain, signet of weariness, etc. to steal their energy. This is usually targeted at a monk... you damage them, and make sure they don't have energy to cast with. Interrupt is simple in concept... take the interrupt skills. Then just learn when to use and which to use in a given situation. Other PvP options include degen (will rely on the addition of a secondary like necro or ranger, though), and the lovely combo of phantom pain and shatter delusions to inflict deep wounds.

Anyway, there's some to think about. If you want to give some more info or ask more specific questions, holler back

Edit: As far as the lingo goes, feel free to post anything in particular you're unsure of. Otherwise, guildwiki has a nice resource here: http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Categor...26_Terminology

Pinkegobox · May 13, 2006, 06:23 PM // 18:23

Thanks alot man. That was a great response, and link, for someone like me who is new.

As far as my role goes I like the idea of manipulating situations, and more to the point I dont really mind being a support character especially if I can support the team by being a thorn in the sides of the opponents. I know Me as my primary but reading up on the link I saw the battery concept, which could be interesting to combine with the Mesmer, as could a Monk like you mentioned. I am open to anything, but thanks alot for your help!

Terra Xin · May 14, 2006, 10:13 PM // 22:13

Yeah, three things you have to watch out for in both PvP and PvE:

1) You are almost 100% likely to be targeted first, in some occasions, they would try to kill you before the monk. In PvP, there are some others think that mesmers are weak, yet when a warrior comes at you... bow... and kill them^^

2) IMO, Mesmers have the capability of creating builds to counter any other build that is out there. But it is best to focus your skills on countering one build, than to have yourself spread out too far. A good mesmer will know alot about other classes as well... as should all classes.

3) The concept of Mesmers is to feed misconceptions into your target. See? People think we're weak, but it's just a strategy to have them run into a brick wall.

Eaimirth Etaivella · May 15, 2006, 03:23 AM // 03:23

We still cannot counter the boon prot though...which drives me insane. Please do not use degen of any kind in pve as it isn't useful in terms of dps. Shatter hex on the other hand...

Pick Me · May 15, 2006, 02:16 PM // 14:16

I have never faced a boon prot monk - because I don't play PvP.

However, could you bring Shatter Enchantment or Drain Enchantment or Inspired enchantment to remove the usefulness of a boon prot? Inspired enchantment might be better to bring as it is spamable (1 second cast, instant recharge).

Conjure Phantasm is good when you go against someone under the protective bond or life barrier or protective spirit enchantment. It goes through those and eats away at your foe's life.

As for secondary profession for PvE, Necromancer and Rangers are good choices. The mesmer can spread conditions and create damage from both instilling conditions and even when they are cured. Necromancers do well with healing themselves and regaining energy (elite - Offering Of Blood). Since you are a primary mesmer, you won't get the benefits of Soul Reaping.

Necromancers and Rangers both have some good healing and condition generating abilities. With the spell Fragility, you can cause damage when they have conditions on them (poison, fire, bleeding, disease, blindness, etc.) Necromancers can create poison (usually self inflicted) and disease (elite skill). The necromancer can transfer conditions from self to others (self inflicted poison, then transfer it to others). Fevered Dreams can also spread new conditions on to other foes (elite). The rangers can use fire, poison, bleeding (elite) and inflict it onto enemies. You can also become a great trapper with a mesmer.

You can only have 1 elite at a time (unless you have an elite and capture other elites in the same area), so choose what type of character you want carefully.

Elementalists are good for creating spamable conditions (blinding flash), but sucks when it comes to self-healing.

Remember, you are a spellcaster, so your armor won't be very good. Stay away from melee if you can. This is why I wouldn't suggest an assassin, unless you can get in and out very well.

Hope this helps.

Francis Demeules · May 15, 2006, 03:16 PM // 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

You can only have 1 elite at a time (unless you have an elite and capture other elites in the same area), so choose what type of character you want carefully.

Arcane Mimicry

The majority plays as Me/Mo for infinite rez spell. Bring one rez and the other is your build set. using Fast casting, you can rez a member of your team very quick than a monk.

Why using offering of blood while you have inspiration attribute to gain energy. For the example, energy tap, remove the energy of the target and gain the double. There is many possibilities to gain energy in this attribute.

Eaimirth Etaivella · May 15, 2006, 11:39 PM // 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

However, could you bring Shatter Enchantment or Drain Enchantment or Inspired enchantment to remove the usefulness of a boon prot? Inspired enchantment might be better to bring as it is spamable (1 second cast, instant recharge).

It reduces the power; but is only a minor annoyence sadly.
Inspired hex while being instant recharge; takes 20 seconds to use again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

Conjure Phantasm is good when you go against someone under the protective bond or life barrier or protective spirit enchantment. It goes through those and eats away at your foe's life.

Most boonprots carry inspired hex as well

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

As for secondary profession for PvE, Necromancer and Rangers are good choices. The mesmer can spread conditions and create damage from both instilling conditions and even when they are cured. Necromancers do well with healing themselves and regaining energy (elite - Offering Of Blood). Since you are a primary mesmer, you won't get the benefits of Soul Reaping.

Well only reason I see ranger is for tiger's furry on a IW sadly =/
Fragbuild used to be powerful in the past; and still is but mendailment kills the build in the current arena and for pve it is too slow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pick Me

You can also become a great trapper with a mesmer.

How?

LightningHell · May 15, 2006, 11:49 PM // 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaimirth Etaivella

Well only reason I see ranger is for tiger's furry on a IW sadly =/
Fragbuild used to be powerful in the past; and still is but mendailment kills the build in the current arena and for pve it is too slow.

You could Me/R for Serpent's Quickness.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaimirth Etaivella

How?

He/She probably mixed up R/Me and Me/R.

Eaimirth Etaivella · May 16, 2006, 02:30 AM // 02:30

Ahh true serpents quickness; they really need to hurry up and reduce mantra's cost to 5

Pick Me · May 16, 2006, 02:32 PM // 14:32

The use of R/Me or Me/R that can be a good traper is by using Mantra of Concentration+Trap (if needed, use throw dirt or signet of midnight). You can also use Mantra of Resolve + Trap (only good if you have lots of energy) but you can also cast Spirit of Failure to help on that.

Francis Demeules, you mentioned Archane Echo. That is not an elite. Yes, it can copy an elite spell, but the cost of casting it 15 energy and an elite (unless its a low energy elite) can be very costly. Large groups of monsters and you are a N/Me, then it becomes worth it (as you cast 2 SS, then watch as monsters fall quickly and replenish your energy via Soul Reaping). As for Inspiriation Magic, Energy Tap gives you upto 12 energy for the five you use, plus recharge time of 25 seconds. A bit too long (even if you want to use Archane Echo on this, I wouldn't - doesn't work all that well). Inspired Enchantment and Inspired Hex are good, but not always practicle to bring along. Leach Signet, Power Drain, and Spirit of Failure are good, I grant you that. I mention OoB because while it costs some life, it grants you 18 energy instantly.

Eaimirth Etaivella, you mentioned that the fragility build in PvE is too slow. Not many monsters have Mend Ailment, and the use of Melandru's arrow or poison arrow or even apply poison does the trick. As fragility does damage to each condition inflicted and cured. So who cares if mend ailment is used, more damage still done.

Avarre · May 16, 2006, 03:21 PM // 15:21

Mend ail heals more. Stacking hexes on a single target in PvE is a horrible move, mobs shouldn't last long anyways and no more than maybe 2 skills on your bar should be aimed at each target.

You can't trap as Me/R, not in 100 years would your energy by effective enough for that kind of torture. And no, fast cast doesn't work on traps.

OoB grants you net 13, be reminded of cost as well.

Boon prots can be brought down by mesmers, albeit only somewhat. Constant and careful use of edenial and enchant removal (feedback <3) can limit their energy, and while focus swapping keeps them functioning they are still drastically reduced. You're there to reduce the boonprot enough for your team to win, not to kill it yourself

Eaimirth Etaivella · May 16, 2006, 11:19 PM // 23:19

I ment 1-1 the mesmer cannot "kill" a boonprot...while they can kill everything else (I had a thread on this awhile ago...we came close but no sure way of winning)

And yes I still stick with my "degen sucks in pve" tactic and will stand by that till the end of time. If anything is "alive" after 20 seconds...I have no idea what the mesmer is doing wrong. In pvp yea I can understand that fine but even with -10 degen...thats 20 hp a second- and I would like to point out Wastrel's worry beats that damage hands down (ZOMG!). Fragility has sucked since the nerf; and most skills in pve are geared towards multi target (my fav being shatter hex) or simply screwing up a single target entirely (my fav being power block...yea those shadow monks have a real fun time working through that one a.echo->powerblock=2 disabled shadow monks... the ele/necro/something gets the credit for it of course or anet gets a complaint about a game glitch...but whatever) Anyway; I will continue to fight against fc nukers+degen mesmers in pve till the day...well they become good.