[Game Update Notes: December 3, 2019]

MesmerIllusionary Counter: Reduced the number of clones created from 2 to 1 in PvP onlyPhantasmal Warlock: Reduced the number of warlocks summoned from 2 to 1 in PvP only. Increased the vulnerability applied per hit from 2 stacks to 4 stacks in PvP only.*Chaos Vortex: Reduced bleed duration from 8 seconds to 4 seconds in PvP only. Reduced burn duration from 2 seconds to 1 second in PvP only. Reduced torment duration from 8 seconds to 4 seconds in PvP only.

So... Staff Mesmer is now useless now in PvP as all damage got cut by half... Staff Mesmer is already really easy to counter in PvP, and the damage takes quite a while to ramp up. I am mainly against the changes to Chaos Vortex. The other 2 changes are okay.

Staff Mesmer already got a nerf because of the chaotic interruption change, which I find useless now because it recharges skills at random, and the chaos storm change.

[Potential Future Balance Changes - PvP]

@"Cal Cohen.2358" said:Condi MirageWe understand that Mirage Cloak is a big point of contention and we’ve been having discussions internally, but it isn’t something that we’ll be ready to action for this update. As we get closer to our desired solution we’ll start to talk about it more with you all, but in the meantime we’re looking at some more general changes. Primarily toning down clone generation and reducing some damage potential of staff, pushing it more toward a utility kit.

• Illusionary Counter: Reduced the number of clones spawned on block from 2 to 1 in PvP only
• Phantasmal Warlock:
  • Reduced the number of warlocks spawned from 2 to 1 in PvP only.
  • Increased the vulnerability applied per hit from 2 stacks to 4 stacks in PvP only
• Chaos Vortex:
  • Reduced bleed duration from 8 seconds to 4 seconds in PvP only.
  • Reduced burn duration from 2 seconds to 1 second in PvP only.
  • Reduced Torment duration from 8 seconds to 4 seconds in PvP only

I don't know about "reducing some damage potential of staff". That's a significant reduction of power for staff mesmer since most of the damage on Mirage Staff Mesmer is from Chaos Vortex. Basically making offensive staff mesmer not viable anymore. They already nerfed Chaos Storm last patch. Chaotic Interruption was also nerfed badly as well, which worked well with Chaos Storm. They should have kept Chaotic Interruption's original skill, but increased the recharge time for PvP only.