Omgadnowai
New member
http://gw2skills.net/editor/en/?fgAQJARWl4zyoHSTiGa9IBKFYP7keA7Uv6SKutsB;ToAA2CooKyUkoIbRuikFt YIC
Well, here's the build I'm going to be trying out at release, that's for sure. This build is one I plan to use for sPvP, at least for the sake of testing, and one that seems really heavy on the damage output. It revolves around the use of the Staff's Winds of Chaos auto-attack and the Greatsword's Mirror Blade bounces to deal damage from afar. It also uses Mantras, mostly defensively, but also potentially to land a kill.
The build benefits from the presence on Illusions on the battlefield, specifically getting a 3% damage increase per Illusion (up to 9%), which compounds with increased damage for EACH readied Mantra. Illusions are fairly easily refreshed in the build, thanks to the fact that both the Staff's auto-attack AND the Greatsword's bouncing abilities generate Clone fodder, on top of the dodge-generated Clones from Deceptive Evasion (Dueling's second passive trait).
Why do we care so much about Illusions ? Well, Vulnerability stacks are applied when you Shatter illusions, as well as Confusion; this stems respectively from the Rending Shatter and Illusionary Retribution traits, and it makes you even more threatening.
The Greatsword's auto-attack is made stronger by the Sigil of Superior Battle attached to it, which grants you 3 stacks of Might after a weapon swap (135 Power/Condition Damage) on top of the extra 50 granted by the Greatsword Training trait, for a total of an extra 185. This is substantial amount. Add to this the 52% critical strike chance and the extra damage granted by Compounding Power and Empowering Mantras, along with the burst damage offered by CHAINING two Mantras of Pain, and you get a very bursty and threatening Mesmer.
To exemplify the potential for burst, remember that using Time Warp triggers the Runes of Lyssa's (6) effect, removing all your conditions and granting you every single boon for 5 seconds, which is just a perfect window of opportunity to abuse your bursty abilities.
As for the Staff's skills other than Winds of Chaos, they serve as defensive assets more than offensive; they let you escape (Phase Retreat) and cleanse yourself (Chaos Armor), as well as generating a Combo field in which to sit in case you need to charge a Mantra or another. Switching to the Staff also generates 50% of your Endurance, which allows you Dodge once and, thus, trigger a Clone spawn from Deceptive Evasion. Needless to say, your 52% critical strike chance lends itself well to the combination of Deceptive Evasion and Critical Infusion which, every time you land a critical strike, gives you a 100% increase on Endurance's recharge time, generating more Clones even, which in turn increases your damage output, etc.
I think this build truly has potential, at least insofar as I understand sPvP and its constraints; quick fights for quick capture of key points.
PS: As of the last stress test, Mantras have slightly longer cooldowns, BUT can be activated three times instead of two with the Harmonious Mantras trait. Still a high burst build.
Well, here's the build I'm going to be trying out at release, that's for sure. This build is one I plan to use for sPvP, at least for the sake of testing, and one that seems really heavy on the damage output. It revolves around the use of the Staff's Winds of Chaos auto-attack and the Greatsword's Mirror Blade bounces to deal damage from afar. It also uses Mantras, mostly defensively, but also potentially to land a kill.
The build benefits from the presence on Illusions on the battlefield, specifically getting a 3% damage increase per Illusion (up to 9%), which compounds with increased damage for EACH readied Mantra. Illusions are fairly easily refreshed in the build, thanks to the fact that both the Staff's auto-attack AND the Greatsword's bouncing abilities generate Clone fodder, on top of the dodge-generated Clones from Deceptive Evasion (Dueling's second passive trait).
Why do we care so much about Illusions ? Well, Vulnerability stacks are applied when you Shatter illusions, as well as Confusion; this stems respectively from the Rending Shatter and Illusionary Retribution traits, and it makes you even more threatening.
The Greatsword's auto-attack is made stronger by the Sigil of Superior Battle attached to it, which grants you 3 stacks of Might after a weapon swap (135 Power/Condition Damage) on top of the extra 50 granted by the Greatsword Training trait, for a total of an extra 185. This is substantial amount. Add to this the 52% critical strike chance and the extra damage granted by Compounding Power and Empowering Mantras, along with the burst damage offered by CHAINING two Mantras of Pain, and you get a very bursty and threatening Mesmer.
To exemplify the potential for burst, remember that using Time Warp triggers the Runes of Lyssa's (6) effect, removing all your conditions and granting you every single boon for 5 seconds, which is just a perfect window of opportunity to abuse your bursty abilities.
As for the Staff's skills other than Winds of Chaos, they serve as defensive assets more than offensive; they let you escape (Phase Retreat) and cleanse yourself (Chaos Armor), as well as generating a Combo field in which to sit in case you need to charge a Mantra or another. Switching to the Staff also generates 50% of your Endurance, which allows you Dodge once and, thus, trigger a Clone spawn from Deceptive Evasion. Needless to say, your 52% critical strike chance lends itself well to the combination of Deceptive Evasion and Critical Infusion which, every time you land a critical strike, gives you a 100% increase on Endurance's recharge time, generating more Clones even, which in turn increases your damage output, etc.
I think this build truly has potential, at least insofar as I understand sPvP and its constraints; quick fights for quick capture of key points.
PS: As of the last stress test, Mantras have slightly longer cooldowns, BUT can be activated three times instead of two with the Harmonious Mantras trait. Still a high burst build.
