Crow.2851

Hello Fellow WvW Mesmers, Preface2018-2019 has been rough for WvW Mesmers patch wise, leaving a lot of builds off the table and prohibiting the class from making meaningful contributions to WvW zerg fights. I've seen a few GS Power Mirage builds floating around, but those aren't what I'm looking for. I don't think that Mesmer can really compete with the AoE damage output of other classes commonly found in zerg fights, so I wanted to make a build that leaned harder into the unique support tools that Mesmer has access to. Those being personal invulnerability, boon up-time, veil, mass invisibility, and Melee range boon removal. Yes... that does mean I'm seriously considering Dune Cloak. The BuildFor a long time I've wanted to experiment with Inspiring Distortion + Desert Distortion + Blurred Inscriptions for small bursts of invulnerability and extra group aegis. With the recent changes to Auspicious Anguish, and the engine provided by F4 + Signet of Illusions, I thought this build would be a good way to test invulnerability against zerg spikes. Will it be gimmicky and unreliable? Most likely, but that's kind of where I feel Mesmer is at in this particular game mode. Dune Cloak adds an extra boon strip to melee pushes, and because I'm really just a veil and rally bot for my squad I didn't see much purpose in Elusive Mind or Infinite Horizons. Traited Mass Invisibility is an underrated way to protect downs and clean up your zerg's tail. I would rather be running Portal over Illusion of Life, but it's called for more often by commanders. Changes and Improvements1) What utilities would you like to use more as a zerg support Mesmer? Not exclusively to this build, I'm curious about what you think Mesmer can contribute.2) If the build had more illusion generation would Illusionary Defense be a better choice? Most zergs will kill you outright so it might not be worth it.3) What runes/sigils might you use for this weird build? Playing a healer isn't my forte, so I don't know if better support runes/sigils could be chosen. TLDRCan a full support Mirage in WvW make meaningful contributions to a zerg? http://gw2skills.net/editor/?PiwAw2ZlVwEZZMFGKeOT1PbA-zVZYPR3UF8YYnRmKhulBecA-wThe armor layout is on my poor kitten budget, but would be more effective with full Minstrel.

When fighting roaming 1 shot builds? It's a bit obnoxious. I've never been a fan of perma stealth thieves or cloaked gank squads, but every video game has players who enjoy camping more than actively engaging. Just have to be on point with your interrupts, evades, and gtfo options when they do appear. When combating zergs? It's a cool mechanic. Whether you're doing a coordinated stealth push, using the invisibility to secure a rez or stomp, or dropping a stealthy siege disable on a raiding party, I think stealth is a healthy tool for the game mode. I wish more folks utilized target painters, Warclaw sniff, and classes with reveals for handling stealth heavy opponents. If you see a blob with Mesmers or Scrappers, expect some sneaking shenanigans.

I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. It happens to me when I try to dodge an attack in the middle of the axe AA chain and try to make use of the ambush skill. I just end up standing there doing nothing :/

Probably a Blurred Inscription Chrono, using multiple signets during Continuum Split can give a disgusting amount of distortion. What weapons were they running?

Update: I have successfully re-geared and made some minor changes to what I'm running. Here is the new build and my commentary. http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAnfWnsnZPjy0EoZFaK0wNN1ywwsbNL4GlZGECjk/6P/1fZA0a/CA-jFDCQBV4BAYV1fYq+gHcABEjyvyqEkCHIgDeIE0nGGAcACe2+DX4MAEA4AY8mX8xDgUAVJ0C-w With the recent changes to Master of Manipulation I've been giving it another shot over Decent Into Madness. I miss having the second Chaos Storm, but gaining a reliable heal/reflect/escape tool in via Mirror has been nice. The nerf to Evasive Mirror also prompted me to have a better response to bear beasts and other scary projectiles, especially with how squishy my build has become. Having access to Arcane Thievery again has made my spikes far more consistent and gives me a response to Spellbreakers and Scrappers. Hope it doesn't get nerfed... quickness, slow, super speed, boon rip, and cleanse on one button is sooo juicy. Questions after a few days of roaming: 1) How much of a DPS drop would I take from changing to Desperate Decoy from Phantasmal Fury? I chose it originally for more damage, but I don't know how much a difference it actually makes for my clone's damage output. The stealth/clone from Decoy seems more helpful for my cool-downs but I don't like how passive it is. 2) I'm not sold on Sigil of Doom for my Axe/Torch, are there any sigils that you might recommend with this build? I might be underestimating it's effectiveness since poison is a good cover condi that can help me win the tempo against healers, but I feel like there is an option out there with a higher impact. 3) What is the consensus on Chaotic Interruption? I feel like I've only seen people trash on it in these forums and I haven't really used it. Since I have Arcane Thievery to strip stability I've been getting more consistent interrupts, which could be snares and more might for spikes. Thoughts? I'd probably go back to running Decent Into Madness to trap folks in storms. Thank you everyone for your advice and benchmarks, I'm really satisfied with how the build is coming together.

As cool as this sounds, I don't think it would fly alongside Jaunt, the Mirage target breaks, or other Mesmer teleports. That would be lot of un-telegraphed movement options on one class. I also don't think it would interact well with Infinite Horizons.. it's shame we don't get a full second of superspeed.

You seem more interested in stating opinion than in discussing alternatives, so I might not linger here for long. For my PvP power Mirage I've never known the F1-F2 combo because I'm new to power builds, and though I use Great Sword and Sword/Torch the build's focus is on boon removal and Desert Distortion sustain. Condi staff will always be a staple because well... it gives a lot of different condis and self sustain. I've seen interesting Torch/Pistol condi builds in these forums before, and scepter has been seeing the light of day more often since it's changes (though we'll see how that lasts considering recent nerfs). To me these builds are each unique, which is why asked for specific examples.

Just out of curiosity, what are the 2 builds you are referencing? I've been playing condi Mesmer since beta and have enjoyed a variety of cookie flavors.

Thank you everyone for the advice. Since my work schedule heavily restricts my play time it is hard to re-gear and experiment with new builds. Especially when it comes to trinkets, I don't have many useful pieces laying around. That's why I've been rocking Dire for so long haha. Having theory crafting support saves me a lot of time so I am grateful. I'll aim for Grieving armor and weapons with celestial trinkets if I can get them. I'd prefer a tankier build with more sustain, but if 2k power and 35% crit chance are the benchmarks for hybrid then there is a lot of fat to trim. I've been enjoying the longevity provided by Tormenting runes, so I'll likely continue using those alongside axe. Even if the damage is better on Scepter 3 there are so many reflects running around that I want to keep my options open when I have to auto attack.

Hello Again Mesmer Forums, PrefaceWith the introduction of the Warclaw and the recent nerfs to Mirage I am revisiting my roaming WvW build. It's impossible to know how the mounts will impact the meta, but chances are high that I won't be needing Traveler runes for all my hiking needs. I want my build to have high mobility options within combat for chasing down stragglers, but I'm trying to experiment with more damage oriented rune sets. Since I don't have a lot of experience with other runes, I figured y'all would have the best suggestions. The BuildIs now about survival, mobility, and sustained hybrid damage with a focus on condition damage. Staff is the base weapon which I use to for group fights and might stacking via Chaos Vortex and Deceptive Evasion. After building some condition pressure with auto attacks and Chaos Armor I usually swap to axe torch for a burst and then disengage. Hybrid has been a blast to play, though I miss having a high duration time for my conditions. With the Orrian Truffle and Meat Stew I'm able to get up to 15 might stacks in most skirmishes before switching to axe, but I don't have many ways to sustain the might while in axe, besides Mind Wrack. Changes and Improvements1) What runes would you recommend for increasing my DPS between conditions and power?2) Would Aristocracy be a viable option? They are what I have on my attached build. I'm creating a lot of mirrors now that I've switched to Desert Distortion and I have multiple Chaos options, so lots of Weakness triggers. I don't do dungeons so I'm unclear if they Aristocracy is worth grinding for.3) Because confusion has been nerfed should I consider Perplexity and Riddle of Sand? I'd be losing the sustain of Illusionary Membraine, but the damage output would increase.4) I've also been toying with the idea of Krait so that I can open up my axe sigil for something more damaging. Seems like a more fun build than viable haha.5) Do you think this build would be viable for Fractals, Dungeons, or PvP? TLDRCats are faster than Traveler runes so I'm looking for new Runes. What would you recommend for this hybrid condi roamer?http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAnfWnELDlphVoBGMDMMjFcjqMAatfxf9f/638CChRC-jlSHQBC4JAAgTAgb0HMPVcQz+DHR5h8OEAbUJYBViVP1DCAcAY8xHf8xHPSBUlwK-w My last forum:https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/58411/wvw-chaos-condi-mirage-feedback-request-and-ih-vs-dc-question#latest Bless~