Mesmer/Warrior

[Rhaka]

Hey all, I'm new to the game and am trying to settle on a build.

I'm interested in an all-out anti-caster character. From what I can see, I can toss a few nice Domination things in with some Swordsmanship interrupts and Inspiration heals/drains to get a fairly decent character. However, since I'm new, and usually magic/melee isn't that great together in games, I have my doubts. Any advice/comments?

[Gwyndion]

I'm also quite new, but i doubt that'll work, mesmer is medium range, warrior is close range, warriors need high defence, which mesmers dont have, warrior skill need swords etc, while mesmers usually se canes, staffs etc... see the trouble?

I dont think that would mix well, I think a Mesmer/ranger is better

[Tikoko Delight]

Me/W is pretty good in PvP given the right set-up, but Me/W in PvE is just.. ugh, no matter what you do you will always get aggro on the first hit, you will always be an energy sink on your monks

i went back to hell's precipice as Me/W to grab 100 blades for ****s and giggles, and i ended up just standing at the back casting dots and firing my illusion staff, since i went basically completely IW and distortion and whenever i would go in to melee i would take aggro on the very first hit.. and die in 2 - 3 hits

i would definately not recommend doing Me/W from the start, but after you ascend you can try it out for yourself. i like mesmer/ranger myself, barrage just chews up newb missions :P but a tapping me/mo or me/e can be quite effective as well

[Jaif]

There's a Me/W template in the PvP characters. Try it out yourself and see. If you like, then go for PvE character and do it your way.

-Jeff

[Feynt]

Me/W can work fabulously. With 4 Illusion magic Distortion costs 2 energy per dodge, and while it's active you can dodge things 75% of the time. Dodging means no damage, and no damage is good. Plus, since it casts quickly, you could combine it with Channeling to help stem the loss of energy. If you raise Illusion magic to 12 (which I recommend) Distortion only costs 1 energy per dodge. And as a bonus, you can toss Conjure Phantasm out for a very long 12 seconds of health loss on a foe while you beat them down. ALSO with Illusion magic being so high, Illusionary Weaponry (your elite spell of choice) will do 34 damage, replacing whatever weapon you happen to be holding for 30 seconds (that's 30 seconds of hacking things for 34 armour piercing damage, every swing).

The downside to Me/W is your attack skills have to use as little (or no) energy as possible. That means swords are right out. So either hammers (high damage, lots of adrenaline skills, but they're slow) or axes (comparable speed to swords, decent damage, almost all adrenaline skills). Also while you do have access to armour which grants protection against physical attacks (rogue's armour) it's not even close to a warrior's thick hide. At best you're a rookie warrior wearing Lion's Arch class armour when you get to the last town and make your best set. However since you're dodging most of the time, a hit or two now and then isn't so bad.


Tips for game play:

Avoid large mobs, Distortion is only meant for smaller groups of less than 4 enemies. More and you'll be sapped of energy in your first two Distortion.
Defer to your caster heritage against mesmers, necros, and elementalists. A Backfire, Diversion, and/or Arcane Conundrum can make these enemies die just as easily as your axe, but let the others do the hacking while you lock them down.
Accept that you are supplimental tanking. You aren't meant to take the brunt of the main wave, but rather to focus it towards the warrior primaries and make sure the healers/real casters aren't harassed.