What weapon(s) would like to see added to the Mesmer next elite(s) ?

[Kulvar.1239]

With a next expansion already announced, I think it would do good to share players preferences with ArenaNet.

In my case, here are the details of my preferences :

Longbow & Shortbow: Mesmer already have several range weapons, so adding more is not necessarily what I would choose first. Though the aesthetic of a bow is nice. I can understand wanting to use Pharus or The Dreamer on Mesmer.

Pistol MH : The pistolero style already exists with the Thief and Harbinger, but the archetype could get an interesting flair and panache with the Mesmer. Though possibly redundant with Virtuoso.

Rifle : One of the least available weapon in the game. Though I don't see it add meaningfully to the Mesmer and would rather see it added to a more fitting class like Ranger.

Hammer : A big heavy melee weapon with an interesting twist, like they did with Revenant Hammer or Mesmer Greatsword, but still melee, could be an interesting direction for a Mesmer elite.

Mace MH & Mace/Mace : Mace can have quite a regal appearance while being a historically effective blunt weapon. Adding some mystique to their strikes could be interesting too.

Warhorn : More of a support weapon, it would compete with Chronomancer and I don't see it as a good thing.

[Infusion.7149]

Actually, it hasn't been announced. It has been hinted they are working on it and new elite specs may not even happen; it could just be a content patch.

I just hope it isn't projectile for whatever is chosen. That is one of the major reasons why you gain close to nothing with virtuoso in competitive modes: dagger is projectile, as is staff (auto/clones), scepter (auto/clones), and pistol offhand.

Of all the ranged weapons probably shortbow fits the best although since shortbow is mainly a condi weapon it competes with 1200 range staff, 900 range scepter, and 1200 range virtuoso daggers when traited. The way a DPS shortbow could be set apart is through use of longer cooldown non-projectile AoEs or cone attacks to contrast with staff/scepter/dagger mainhand. I don't expect crude martial weapons such as mace, hammer, or projectile rifle to be used. Unless longbow is offered with 1500 range it would not do anything special for mesmers. 

The only way I see a mace being "regal" as you put it is if the weapon is a power melee weapon with confusion stacks to retain mesmer's identity or a completely different take would be a purely defensive weapon that outputs shielding in the form of barrier (not much mesmer flavor there), chaos armor or whatnot. Think of Queen Jennah and the dome barrier she makes, especially if you use a "gavel" skin that suggests someone in charge of bringing a meeting to order. Revenant hammer may be ranged but revenant at its core is still a mostly melee class. 
(edit 2: The main dilemma with a defensive mesmer support mace without alacrity or quickness is the inability to compete in the current state of the game. It would instead have to be a tankier melee DPS version most likely and that isn't an attractive proposition generally unless you are the heal "tank", see chrono tank if you remove boon support and give it heals.)

It is quite possible that offhand dagger or offhand warhorn are options too. Offhand dagger could be pure DPS or CC unlike offhand sword or offhand focus; warhorn could be a more healing type of weapon as opposed to a boon output as shield does.

Really though condi virtuoso is sort of a half-baked spec since daggers don't actually offer condi unless traited. If shortbow were to offer bleeding and confusion , torment , or burning as the main effects it would be a more effective condition weapon. Mesmer doesn't need yet another condi variant however it could use a support weapon similar to staff on revenant or guardian. 

In addition, chrono is currently the strongest largescale WvW mesmer spec and virtuoso is strongly countered by projectile denial. (Roaming mirages tend to run tanky stats to get around the one dodge limitation, but staff is still projectile.) Any spec that relies on clones is inherently at a disadvantage if the shatters are required to do damage. Most PvP mesmers are using some form of condi or bunker mirage despite the one dodge limitation but with the restoration of distortion to chrono I could see some players opting for a variant of power shatter.

So all in all, the number one option I see on this list is warhorn as a support offhand and possibly shortbow AoE condi weapon.

P.S. there should be a new glamour trait.

Edited November 4, 2022 by Infusion.7149

[phokus.8934]

27 minutes ago, Infusion.7149 said:

Actually, it hasn't been announced. It has been hinted they are working on it and new elite specs may not even happen; it could just be a content patch.
 

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/arenanet-studio-update-the-future-of-guild-wars-2/

"One last update before we go: we’re happy to confirm that there will be a fourth expansion for Guild Wars 2!"

[Curunen.8729]

Hammer

I really want a two handed weapon for once... We have 2H ranged, 1H melee and ranged, but don't have proper 2H melee with cc heavy spec - our version of Untamed.

Edited November 4, 2022 by Curunen.8729

[Infusion.7149]

1 hour ago, phokus.8934 said:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/arenanet-studio-update-the-future-of-guild-wars-2/

"One last update before we go: we’re happy to confirm that there will be a fourth expansion for Guild Wars 2!"

There's no mention of elite specs, nor is there a date.

edit: the full context is 

Quote

One last update before we go: we’re happy to confirm that there will be a fourth expansion for Guild Wars 2! We mean it when we say we’re focused on the long-term. This is a very early confirmation (the earliest we’ve ever done this, in fact), so don’t expect news anytime soon. Expansions take a very long time to develop. 

EoD was "announced" 2020 and launched 2022.

Edited November 4, 2022 by Infusion.7149

[mungozen.2379]

I think a build focused on 0 - 900 range would be interesting. I don’t think the weapon matters much tho. 
 

Shortbow and MH Pistol already fit the bill.  I would prefer to start with one of these I think.  Ranger/Mesmer hybrid  

Rifle could be redesigned as a Shotgun.  Make all the skills cone attacks to upset people who like their AoE round. Engineer/Mesmer Hybrid 

Dual Maces given the GS treatment to be a 900 range weapon instead of exclusively melee would be fun and funny.  Guardian/Mesmer hybrid  

longbow, hammer, warhorn, meh. 

[Opopanax.1803]

Shortbow, but with a crossbow style theme.

 

Actually, I'd just prefer they introduce a crossbow as a new weapon type...

[phokus.8934]

5 hours ago, Infusion.7149 said:

There's no mention of elite specs, nor is there a date.

edit: the full context is 

EoD was "announced" 2020 and launched 2022.

You said the expansion hasn't been announced but it was so I'm not sure what your reply really means.

[Infusion.7149]

1 hour ago, phokus.8934 said:

You said the expansion hasn't been announced but it was so I'm not sure what your reply really means.

Expansion doesn't necessarily mean there is a new elite spec. Plus they stated it was earlier than the EoD development information. I guess my idea of announcement is different in that they actually tell you what is in it (contentwise) or what the name of the expansion is. 

i.e. WvW alliances have been in the works for how long?

[draxynnic.3719]

17 hours ago, Infusion.7149 said:

The only way I see a mace being "regal" as you put it

Maces were commonly used as a symbol of authority. If a future mesmer elite spec built on a domination theme, I could see mace working.

[Eekasqueak.7850]

Hammer with a spacial deformation theme with lots of teleports could be fun. A non condi focused melee spec with good mobility. 

Edited November 5, 2022 by Eekasqueak.7850

[Fueki.4753]

I'd like Mesmer to get access to Shortbow with a Bard-themed elite specialization.

[Infusion.7149]

9 hours ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

Maces were commonly used as a symbol of authority. If a future mesmer elite spec built on a domination theme, I could see mace working.

To expand on that possible idea, I think a mesmer version of guardian's mace but with revenant condi DPS as an outline would be kind of neat if executed properly as a more support-oriented defensive weapon than sword is currently. There's very few maces ingame that fit the mesmer illusion aesthetic however, other than maybe hardlight, abyssal fractal, alchemist, etherbound, imbued holographic energizer, and Bright Inquisitor if you have a neon theme. What did you have in mind?

Auto = confusion stacks instead of heal and power DPS, else capitalize on weakness in domination traitline

#2 skill maybe regen and a heal since mesmer regen output is poor after chrono nerfs, chaos combo field 
---> #2 skill offensive option applies weakness (in line with most maces) or blind to synergize with Ineptitude trait in Dueling

#3 skill a one hit block for everyone when traited via distortion (so traited with inspiration it is 2s base duration of AoE aegis)

Barrier would probably be too cookie-cutter; aegis would only be balanced if you were required to trait inspiration to share it.

This would lean towards a cDPS healer since any pDPS healer is typically inherently low damage due to harrier stats. I'm not sure what other kind of option Arenanet would go for as we have a pDPS, cDPS mirage and virtuoso, cDPS alac mirage, pDPS quick StM chrono, pDPS alac chrono (kind of meme level with well spam though).
It is entirely possible to play heal chrono but it is quite a weak archetype.

Shatters would probably capitalize on weakness, maybe some blind, and confusion. In essence it could be a heal spec with soft CC that requires staying in the fight as opposed to evasiveness as on mirage or range as on virtuoso. The one thing mesmer is relatively lacking is some sort of heal output on the mainhand which most common healers have (druid staff, ele staff or dagger, mechanist mace and scrapper med kit, guardian mace, revenant staff).

The gain compared to core could be Diversion is an ammo skill or Cry of Frustration turns into an ammo skill. Essentially giving more potential Restorative Illusions interactions but in exchange for an entire traitline.

Some minor traits could be:
* Confusion does (X)% more damage against passive (non-skill using) targets to make it more relevant across the game. Confusion against a CC-ed target is actually less DPS than bleeding right now.
* Glamours apply confusion
* Blocking , distortion, or evading applies resolution


What did you have in mind in terms of skill expression as Arenanet would call it?

Edited November 5, 2022 by Infusion.7149

[katte nici.9483]

I would pay full price for Mesmer not getting another elite spec.

[draxynnic.3719]

14 hours ago, Infusion.7149 said:

What did you have in mind in terms of skill expression as Arenanet would call it?

Pretty much the opposite of what you were thinking, actually. The themes of domination in GW1 were punishment, direct damage, interrupts, and energy denial, commonly with one of the group depending on another. Now, energy denial isn't a thing in GW2, confusion is already commonly available on mesmer, and mesmer already has a number of defensive weaponsets, so I think a domination theme might... well, if a melee weapon, it might well be similar to spellbreaker daggers. Power DPS, CCs, and skills which have extra effect depending on what the target is doing. But note that "if" - it could also act as a ranged weapon focused on power damage and control.

Mind you, this is more spitballing about mace in general. Mesmer currently has a lot of options for offensive support but lacks good options as a healer - I could see the next elite spec being more support-oriented than this interpretation of mace would facilitate. However, I think the general concept of a mace being a symbol of authority, power, and, well, blunt force could make it a suitable weapon for a mesmer who plans to do with magic what a mace traditionally does through physical impact.

And in that theme, it doesn't need to have a skin with an illusory theme. But there are a number of options that could work (chaos also comes to mind...) and ultimately the weapon that usually really captures an elite specialisation's aesthetic is the associated weapon.

[Infusion.7149]

7 hours ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

Pretty much the opposite of what you were thinking, actually. The themes of domination in GW1 were punishment, direct damage, interrupts, and energy denial, commonly with one of the group depending on another. Now, energy denial isn't a thing in GW2, confusion is already commonly available on mesmer, and mesmer already has a number of defensive weaponsets, so I think a domination theme might... well, if a melee weapon, it might well be similar to spellbreaker daggers. Power DPS, CCs, and skills which have extra effect depending on what the target is doing. But note that "if" - it could also act as a ranged weapon focused on power damage and control.

Mind you, this is more spitballing about mace in general. Mesmer currently has a lot of options for offensive support but lacks good options as a healer - I could see the next elite spec being more support-oriented than this interpretation of mace would facilitate. However, I think the general concept of a mace being a symbol of authority, power, and, well, blunt force could make it a suitable weapon for a mesmer who plans to do with magic what a mace traditionally does through physical impact.

And in that theme, it doesn't need to have a skin with an illusory theme. But there are a number of options that could work (chaos also comes to mind...) and ultimately the weapon that usually really captures an elite specialisation's aesthetic is the associated weapon.

If we go with a CC theme it could still have healing of some sort. I mean the revenant staff is a prime example of this. You'd probably model #3 skill to be CC instead of a shielding effect then?

Auto #1 is some sort of slow or weakness on auto instead of confusion because of domination theme (see revenant mace which applies weakness)
Skill #2 some sort of power damage with an offensive-minded disabling condition such as slow, chill, etc 
Skill #3 hard CC (daze) leap with damage that removes protection and stability, although in competitive modes it probably would not do any damage on its own so removing specifically those 2 boons would make it relevant for competitive modes--- see warrior mace

The existing trait most similar to what you have in mind is probably Power Block which inflicts weakness and causes longer cooldowns.

Traits for a CC spec with some support (not alac/quick) might be:
* slow you apply lasts % longer
* 10% pDPS boost vs weakened foes in PVE, 5 to 7% in PVP/WVW
* 10% pDPS boost vs CC-ed targets
* CC will apply regen or outright PBAOE heals in an area -- turns offhand sword, pistol, torch, or focus into pseudo heal weapon
* Disabling a foe results in heals for a semi-support role since quick/alac won't be existent on the spec
* % DPS boost vs weakness or chilled targets
* CC effects apply might in an area because many DPS specs are outputting might and fury now
* some sort of interaction with Chaos Armor on staff and ethereal fields (i.e. glamours)
* gain ferocity based on precision if is meant to be mainly a CC DPS as mesmer needs precision to crit cap --- see Blood Reaction on Berserker , Ferocious Winds on elementalist , Practiced Tolerance on thief
* gain precision, additional precision based on your healing power if it is meant to be a hybrid heal DPS without condition damage

Minor trait should probably have a health bonus to make it more able to stay in melee.

CC DPS using mace with sword or mace with focus and sword mainhand , expected auto DPS with all DPS traits ~ 18K vs typical targets and 20K vs CC-ed targets
---> expected full pDPS rotation around 34-36K DPS in line with spellbreaker and DPS scrapper

 

[Salt Mode.3780]

I hate to be "THAT" person but I don't want anymore new mesmer specs until they fix the current ones and have a direction on where mesmer is going to be or going.

[Dadnir.5038]

What weapon I'd like to see added to mesmer? Same answer since pre-HoT: Pistol MH.

Edit: I've already fullfilled my bard fantasy years ago after crafting the 1st gen legendary focus, "the minstrel".

Edited November 7, 2022 by Dadnir.5038

[Flow.2947]

i find it funny but how about Hammer melee, allay target able sopport healer 5 targets. 

shatter f1 heals F2 clenses F3 Stab F4 distort F5 barrier 

blast finishers and ethernal fields.

 

but after the fixes of the current mesmer

[Varis.5467]

Main hand pistol with monstrous looking phantasms please, with the OG phantasm mechanic.

 

I need my Bayonetta fantasy. 

[Unstopapple.1937]

A big hammer. Just BIG slaps. Slow, painful slaps. Want confusion? Cast hammer to the enemy's freaking head. Wanna daze them? Daze them with a big slappy hammer to their big dumb head. Just slap out some clones around the enemy, and dab on them with a mind shattering hammer slap. No fancy gimmicks like a ranged hammer or whatever mesmer GS is. Just hammer. Do a knock up with a hammer slap from below, then slap theme away like a baseball just to have it all be fake news and they were sitting there being slapped with a hammer the entire time as they are teleported back.

[agrippastrilemma.8741]

Hammer, possibly with a kinesis theme

SB second pick

[Levetty.1279]

Hammer

Animations similar to GS auto where it uses magic to move it around but actual melee strikes instead of ranged.

Edited November 11, 2022 by Levetty.1279

[Kulvar.1239]

Among the existing hammer skins, there are quite many that would look nice on mesmer.

Among them, I really like the Shimmering Aurora Hammer.

[Flow.2947]

There is no mention of focus MH yet and it is also not considered in the poll.
Blinds + blasts + daze all aoe 900 range.