Mesmer/Warrior before Illusionary Weaponry

[SirBecel]

Hi all,

I created a Me/War in preparation of using IW, but I realize IW wont become available much later in game (perhaps at 20). Is this build still viable for PvE without the use of IW? How should I play this character out going thru the RP contents? Just be a pure Mesmer without worrying about the Warrior part?

Thanks,
Becel

[Axehilt]

Mainly I would focus on being a 'pure' Mesmer - mostly because I find Mesmer skills in general to be very fun and rewarding (because you do more reacting to situations instead of just spamming attacks.)

There are definitely some Warrior skills which will be useful for a Me/W in PVE though. Most of my PVE characters so far focus on their primary class and only use their secondary as 1-2 flavor abilities.

[DIEnamic]

IW builds are pretty much dead now since Hundred Blades was made into an elite skill, meaning you are just a melee char doing mediocre damage. If that still sounds fun to you, go ahead and level up somehow to get IW :(

Maybe a Me/Mo would be a solution? I don't know :tired:

[SirBecel]

I still enjoy playing a pure Mesmer, even if the secondary class is ignored. :) Hmm.. wonder what 1 - 2 skill I can take adventage from a seconday class being a Mesmer.

SirBecel

[Sadow]

I still enjoy playing a pure Mesmer, even if the secondary class is ignored. :) Hmm.. wonder what 1 - 2 skill I can take adventage from a seconday class being a Mesmer.

SirBecel

If you're not looking into putting any points into anything, an Elementalist is always a good choice - Lesser Energy Glyph is good in a pinch when you find yourself with 5 energy and a charging enemy.

[Feynt]

Distortion works amazingly well in 1 on 1 and small mobs of monsters to keep your health loss low, at least as far as raw physical damage goes. Using just adrenaline skills and Distortion, you can take down most monsters rather easily and dodge most of the time. If you're a mesmer primary, you get the 5 energy you spent to cast Distortion back by the time you can cast it again, and then a bit more so it keeps you out of energy debt.

Alternatively you could use Physical Resistance for +40 physical armour, or the appropreate Mantra for whatever spells you're facing to reduce damage and still use spells. I recommend Distortion the most though.

[Tsume]

IW builds are pretty much dead now since Hundred Blades was made into an elite skill, meaning you are just a melee char doing mediocre damage. If that still sounds fun to you, go ahead and level up somehow to get IW :(

Ah not another anti IW statement :P. Trust me the IW builds are not dead, and by no means are they 'medicore' in damage. Your looking at upwards of 32 damage with each swipe, and with runes your pretty much up to par with what a warrior will be putting out with Adrenal skills. And as a bonus, your doing this with every swipe, unlike the Warrior, whom most will average out to less damage over a given time frame compared to an IW wielder.

I loved IW with Hundred Blades, but when you look at it...the build was a monstrosity. Immense Dmg at a very fast recharge rate, and a cheap cost. How many skills had cost 5 energy, did over 60 damage a burst (I had it up to 80 at one point) and had such a quick recharge time? There is very little doubt in my mind that Hundred Blades was made elite specifically to counter the overpowering IW builds it produced.

But the IW builds are far from dead my friend. They still have great damage output and combined with speed buffs and target slowing skills, they can still strut their stuff.

But to the point...what to do with an IW build before it gets IW?

Well the way I see it you have to options. Either go mellee and use a combination of damageing warrior attacks and Mesmer skills that really compliment them and help keep you safe. Evading damage with stances and enchantments, and you would want Ether Feast in there. Put on some skills that give the target a chance to miss or Ineptitude if you can get it before IW, as it blinds the target and makes them miss.

Alternatively you can go more pure Mesmer, and possibly invest in Tactics for Healing Signet and a choice stance if you would like. Degeneration is great for PvE.

Hope that aids you.

[Skallagrimson]

So ya say that the IW builds are not dead, eh?

Any chance ya got one up yer sleeve? ;) I just got it and am looking to use it. Right now I am trying to squeeze it into my R/Me but it doesnt feel right.

I am doing Tigers with it, but at 11 illusion it doesnt seem to cut it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Rizzy]

Weird, I thought I had already talked about this.

Anyways, take this build.

Try to even out your domination and swordsmanship, 4 to illusion and 3-4 to fast casting.

your line of skills should be

Sever Artery
Gash
Conjure Phantasm
Empathy
Backfire
Distortion
Sprint
Res sig

This built is a sure fire monk/spell caster and sometimes a warrior killer.


First target the monk with Backfire and empathy so they cant heal nor attack, build up your adrenalin till you can sever artery, then make a gash which reduces their hp by 20%, and then conjure phant, you'll see their HP start leaking out.

against warriors, use empathy and start distorting yourself, while causing them to bleed, gash and conjure phantasm.

If you dont have enough to Illusion magic, Distortion is a hecklot taxing to your ene.

[Rizzy]

So ya say that the IW builds are not dead, eh?

Any chance ya got one up yer sleeve? ;) I just got it and am looking to use it. Right now I am trying to squeeze it into my R/Me but it doesnt feel right.

I am doing Tigers with it, but at 11 illusion it doesnt seem to cut it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Lets see.. I managed to get my Illusionary magic up to 15... which makes my IW do 40 .

I weild a Fellblade, one of the fastest swords in game so I feel.

I switch on Flurry with that sword and IW...

I do a constant damage of 80+ per second since one warrior swipe = almost 3 flurry swipes with that.

[hahnsoo]

I weild a Fellblade, one of the fastest swords in game so I feel.

I switch on Flurry with that sword and IW...

I do a constant damage of 80+ per second since one warrior swipe = almost 3 flurry swipes with that.
Fellblades are faster? I thought all swords had the exact same speed all across the board.

Also, Flurry just increases your attacks to approximately once per 1.0 seconds (maybe a little faster). You do more damage than the usual once per 1.3 seconds rate, but you certainly don't do 80 per second, even with Max Illusion magic.

The main utility of IW is that it always hits regardless if you are blind or your opponent is blocking and evading, and you don't take counter-damage from Retribution or similar skills. You don't gain Adrenaline, and you'll never get a Critical hit out of the attack, so it's not so good for spiking damage.

[TraceHardon]

Well I went the same route so I can tell you how it went...

Prior to getting IW, I went "pure mesmer" route. That is, Warrior was my 2nd class, but I did nothing at all with it.

When I finally got IW I switched over and have been having a lot of fun with it :)