NICENIKESHOE.7128

All I can say is......most of my patients would probably be dead if I worked at ANet's pace.

Alac application is going to be quite unreliable unless you spec at least 3-4 wells, which is pretty much similar to before but you saved the hassle of mimic. Quickness application however can now ditch wells all together and just slot whatever utility since no point in well of action. Unfortunately it may meant you need to aim 100% boon duration and tie yourself to shatter storm though.

So virtuoso just lost their condi builds. Power core trait nerfed to compensate for party fury. Chrono lost what little alacrity they have left, now will be <100% even if you specifically build for it over quickness. Narrowing it down to quickness only. You're telling me this is a buff?

You know it'll get time warp treatment instead though.

Time warp literally got SoH treatment with the CD increase then functionality nerf without compensation. That makes it 2 of 3 base mesmer elite having same issue 😑

Think you tried to explain that 4 times in different ways already.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-strike-missions-balance-and-rewards/ "Forming a Squad: Skill Target Caps in PvE Currently, forming a squad for 10-player content requires juggling specific roles between subgroups based on target caps. Some roles, such as alacrity and warriors’ banners, have a target cap of 10 players, while almost all others–such as most healing, quickness, and other boons have a target cap of 5. Originally, the 10-target cap on renegade (and later mirage) alacrity were because there were so few options to fill this essential boon role. Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons will give engineer, guardian, and thief support builds access to alacrity; and elementalist and necromancer will be able to provide quickness. With these added options, now is the right time to simplify this aspect of squad formation. Most 10-target skills and traits in PvE will have a maximum target cap of 5 in the expansion, matching their current target caps in PvP and WvW. Generally, this’ll mean that for each subgroup in a squad for strikes or raids, you’ll want a healer, a source of quickness, and a source of alacrity, though we expect expert theorycrafters to find ways to combine some of these roles!" Also "Ritualist's equipment provides a large increase to condition damage and vitality, and a small increase to concentration and expertise." Pretty handy for chaos/illusion/mirage though that's an unusual build in PvE setting, would've been better if its condi/precision/concentration/expertise like many were requesting TLDR version is MOST 10 men cap skills will be reduced to 5 men and raid/strike will play similar to fractals Probably won't affect alacmirage so much as revenants given alacmirage are mostly used in largos/SH fights which are already heavily stacked with mirages. But would mean alacmirages need to slot more concentration on other bosses given you can't rely on other alacmirage on 2nd group Well I guess we should start theorycraft a heal/quickness/alacrity chrono now because quickness/alacrity chrono is going to be more non-essential as those 2 boons are handed out like candies

Served as food /15c

Not quite sure this is the right forum to invite people to try mirage... But I'm glad you liked it 😊

When we look at other elite specs like Willbender (more PvP oriented) or Bladesworn (more PvE oriented), both of which has no "survival/block", "power" or "condi" that virtuoso has. They felt much more specialised (whether good or bad) than their existing build. Honestly a lot of traits in Virtuoso is already a half copy of existing core or mirage traits: 1. Sharpening sorrow is redundant outside of small expertise rise, Dueling trait already give perma fury without relying on 25s CD skill. 2. Bleed on blades overlapping bleed on illusion crit in Dueling, in a minor dueling trait! 3. Redundant vulnerability stacks that base domination mesmer already have high access to with 2 minor traits and can near capped on 25 when bursting/interrupting with F3 I felt like if we're back in Cantha, they might as well bring back Hex for mesmer or similar concept with "shutdown" or "lockdown" mechanics, something they've taken out of GW2 mesmer over the years. They're already bold enough to have major new mechanics changes, why not introduce things like Calculated Risks, Mistrust or Frustration. Or have a unique condition tied to blades in 3rd line that causes foes deal damage to allies/self whenever grant boon etc, given GW2 is a much more boon heavy game nowadays.

Honestly I want to dual wield shield as a chrono

Bunker chrono was removed in PvP with nerfs to core traits 2 years before they remove distortion on continuum split, in particular Signet of inspiration AND bountiful disillusion plus other things like shield nerf Back to the topic. Knowing ANet's lack of commitment/resource or severe stubbornness to admit being in the wrong, I highly doubt they'll revert changes unless there is major screw up like illusionary persona removal from chrono making it completely unviable. Chrono still have viable support spot in PvE end game (though not optimal) so I don't think they'll prioritize unnerfing without realising all their EoD specs are bloated with ridiculous numbers/extra effects (like the 5s charge up 350k-450k one-hit bladesworn build last night).

I remember the day it was nerfed, as well as ANet's explanation was that it "promotes passive play" and they wanted to move away from it. Highly doubt they'll bring it back. Gosh back then clone destruction procs cripple and random one condition out of 3x bleed/3x vuln/weakness with 2 separate traits on the same line...or confusion but that needs to dedicate into separate major trait in different line, making it unviable. It is far from the power creep we got today.

Honestly wouldn't say quit, still use chrono/mirage in raid when leading my guild. But I gotta say I'm using guardian more often now including gradually taking over its raid roles. I've spent 3352 hours on my mesmer including all PvE/instanced PvE, PvP main side noder (+multiclass) to mid Platinum, WvW in small scale roaming with dedicated guild in the past and also in zergs nowadays. Think the only thing I haven't tried on my mes is leading WvW zerg.

Don't think we're on the same page here, ranger NEVER had their core mechanics turning into projectile in the past 9 years. Why are you keep saying mesmer should follow rangers footstep and "learn to play"?

Like I said, mesmer has no such trait or skill. What you are trying to achieve by derail that into "ranger has no such trait"? What you haven't achieve is explaining how virtuoso is going to play around without their professional mechanics. Btw I multiclass into plat including SB/druid. Don't BS me into saying that I don't read or don't know Ranger meta. I've played decapper with druid since HoT and SB before all the nerfs

Really? That's the best argument you can bring? https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Unblockable_(effect) Sure you can argue SB meta don't use it because they can play around with other skills like CA or SB professional skills or swap to melee set. But the fact is the tool is there.

Love the comparison, never knew turning into soulbeast or druid can be reflected, or that most professional mechanics they have can also be reflected. Let me just swap my virtuoso to chrono mid battle or just equip this trait that gives unblockable in case I meet a healbrand/tempest...oh wait, mesmer has no such trait or skill.

At least it can't be reflected! Oh wait

Someone did the calculation. In general nerf for most bosses with buff for few slow attack bosses. Calculation table

Bladesongs need unblockable trait at the cost of damage or pierce. The interruptible animations (esp F1 with 3/4 second CD) is already a counterplay. Honestly going from destructible illusions to one-dodge mirage and now reflectable projectiles.......at this stage Mesmer should be renamed Masochists.

There needs to be a GM trait that makes bladesong blades unblockable so it can't be reflected. (With probably trade-off like 15%-25% damage reduction in pvp/wvw). This will allow virtuoso to finally give mesmer proper role in WvW outside of niche veil/portal bot, while not making it OP with pierce and unblockable. Otherwise I agree with pretty much everyone here. The new traitlines are uninspiringly boring, copied existing effect that base mesmer already have access to with few sprinkled extra while not allowing different playstyles among different traits. This also makes other base traitline felt very much like lost of opportunities when picking them given the overlaps. Virtuoso should have a line that focus on lockdown (one that basically was nerfed/removed from base mesmer over the years), one that allows power presence/blade effect like the unblockable trait mentioned, and one that gives blades condition outside of generic bleed (like poison/burn that mesmer has rare access to now).

Need more blood benders ...wait a sec...

Malicious sorcery does not stack with quickness because spaghetti codes. The 2 clones I meant were skill 2. You'll be surprised by how many raid groups failed 25 stacks of vulnerability lol, most of the time 15-20 stacks which is still around 5-10% less damage. Also unfortunately boon strip is about the only unique thing heal mesmer can bring, so kinda toss between HB (for boons) or HS (for barrier/res and some boon strip but less heals/stab/quickness) depending on your situation.

Has anyone tried party up multiple weavers and see how high they can lift target?