Is it possible to play a mesmer in PVE with henchmen/heroes primarily and not have difficulties? I've been experimenting with one and find that they are fairly weak in PVE and tend to die often. Yes I can shut down the mesmer/monk mobs, or do some damage to the warrior mobs when they come in but I haven't found a build that really "works" for me yet.
Any suggestions?
Is it possible?
tarbok1
Redfeather1975
I have played through with henches for a number of classes.
I still play with people, but wanted to know if every area was henchable with any profession.
I've found that it is so far, and I'm sure other people would agree.
Although i imagine a mesmer would be a little more difficult.
Bosses are very easy with the right skills, but mesmers aren't designed for quick and dirty fights. It's more about being prepared with the right skill set.
I found that for trash mobs Spiritual Pain+Arcane Echo+Assassin's Promise or Glyth of Renewal was good.
I still play with people, but wanted to know if every area was henchable with any profession.
I've found that it is so far, and I'm sure other people would agree.
Although i imagine a mesmer would be a little more difficult.
Bosses are very easy with the right skills, but mesmers aren't designed for quick and dirty fights. It's more about being prepared with the right skill set.
I found that for trash mobs Spiritual Pain+Arcane Echo+Assassin's Promise or Glyth of Renewal was good.
Avarre
It's not hard at all. Don't try to play it as shutdown, but rather as mass damage - Cry, Mistrust, Spiritual Pain, Demise, and just wreck havoc.
Redfeather1975
Yeah, the PVP mesmer mindset won't get great results in PVE.
You have to adjust and use skills differently. Like the fact that mesmer's can copy spells and their damage is armour ignoring and stuff.
There are some good skills for PVE. Let's hope they stay that way.
You have to adjust and use skills differently. Like the fact that mesmer's can copy spells and their damage is armour ignoring and stuff.
There are some good skills for PVE. Let's hope they stay that way.
LightningHell
In PvE, mobs aren't worth to be shut down - they get killed quickly anyway. Focus on damage.
the_jos
Reconsider your play style.
I've yet to get my mesmer through a large part of Elona, but my monk is progressing steady now.
I've had difficulties with the Dzagonur Bastion mission (PuG did it), but the rest was not that hard.
Stay away from aggro and let the rest of the team do the damage.
Same goes for the mesmer.
You are not the primary damage dealer.
You should make it easier for your heroes/hench to deal damage.
Or to evade damage.
Call targets and focus on an other enemy yourself.
If you have prophecies, consider Ineptitude.
Nightfall: Signet of Clumsiness
Core: Clumsiness
The casters in PvE cast right through those.
I know, it's not the mass damage a Ele or Necro can do, but it's nice to have an enemy almost down before the rest of the team gets to focus it.
What skills are you currently using and with what attribute points?
I've yet to get my mesmer through a large part of Elona, but my monk is progressing steady now.
I've had difficulties with the Dzagonur Bastion mission (PuG did it), but the rest was not that hard.
Stay away from aggro and let the rest of the team do the damage.
Same goes for the mesmer.
You are not the primary damage dealer.
You should make it easier for your heroes/hench to deal damage.
Or to evade damage.
Call targets and focus on an other enemy yourself.
If you have prophecies, consider Ineptitude.
Nightfall: Signet of Clumsiness
Core: Clumsiness
The casters in PvE cast right through those.
I know, it's not the mass damage a Ele or Necro can do, but it's nice to have an enemy almost down before the rest of the team gets to focus it.
What skills are you currently using and with what attribute points?
Alex Morningstar
Here is what I have been running around with lately with my nightfall mesmer after running over to LA for a few skills.
Attributes:
16 Domination (Headpiece + Sup Rune)
10 Inspiration
9 Fast Casting (minor rune)
[skill]Energy Surge[/skill][skill]Spiritual Pain[/skill][skill]Power Drain[/skill][skill]Arcane Echo[/skill][skill]Mistrust[/skill][skill]Chaos Storm[/skill][skill]Wastrel's Worry[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]
AE either Energy Surge or Spiritual Pain, throw Chaos Storm at casters (preferrably in midcast) to disrupt and drain their energy, yes it will scatter them. Add in some Mistrust and Power Drain. Spam WW inbetween. Between me, the heros and any guildies I am with mobs don't really like this build.
Attributes:
16 Domination (Headpiece + Sup Rune)
10 Inspiration
9 Fast Casting (minor rune)
[skill]Energy Surge[/skill][skill]Spiritual Pain[/skill][skill]Power Drain[/skill][skill]Arcane Echo[/skill][skill]Mistrust[/skill][skill]Chaos Storm[/skill][skill]Wastrel's Worry[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]
AE either Energy Surge or Spiritual Pain, throw Chaos Storm at casters (preferrably in midcast) to disrupt and drain their energy, yes it will scatter them. Add in some Mistrust and Power Drain. Spam WW inbetween. Between me, the heros and any guildies I am with mobs don't really like this build.
GourangaPizza
sorry if what I ask is off-topic, because I do not want to start a new thread for a small query. Is there any general PvE illusion builds out there? Degen skills are not working really well because most of the time things go down too soon before the degen had its full effect.
Currently I'm running:
Ineptitude [Elite]
Clumsiness
Conjure Phantasm
Arcane Conundrum
Channeling
Power Drain
Ether Feast
Res Signet
Currently I'm running:
Ineptitude [Elite]
Clumsiness
Conjure Phantasm
Arcane Conundrum
Channeling
Power Drain
Ether Feast
Res Signet
Rockby Quickfoot
Here is what I do with my Mesmer in PVE. He's my main character and this has worked through all of Prophecies, Nightfall, and I'm working on Factions now. I'm a Mesmer/Monk
Empathy
Backfire
Conjure Phantasm
Energy Surge
Power Spike (I intend to replace this with Echo to Echo Lightbringer's Gaze/Energy Burn or Surge)
Energy Burn/Lightbringer's Gaze (If engaging demons in combat)
Heal Area (Quick self heal that doesn't rely on there being an enemy to target, like using Ether Feast)
Rebirth
I have 15 Domination, 11 Illusion, I think 9 Healing Prayers (enough to put Heal Area at 110 HP), 7 Fast Cast, and two leftover in Protection Prayers.
When I go into battle, if there's a cleric, I cast Backfire on him, cover it with Conjure Phantasm. Usually kills itself with it's own healing spells, Backfire does 140 damage. Empathy on warriors or dervishes. When it recharges, Backfire on any eles or other casters in the area. Energy surge and Energy Burn for quick spikes. Up till now I've used Power Spike if the opportunity presented itself, but I'm not too good at that and usually I'm too late, so changing that up for Echo is something I plan to do soon. Heal Area if you need a fast heal and Rebirth when saving the party from a near wipeout. I've saved many, many a party with Rebirth
EDIT: For the last guy who asked about Illusion Builds while I was writing my post. Generally, I've tried to use some Illusion spells and mix it up like that, and I used to be all about Illusion back in the day, but I've found Domination is just much better for slaying. It's easier to go with than Illusion since the degen is usually never realized on a monster.
Empathy
Backfire
Conjure Phantasm
Energy Surge
Power Spike (I intend to replace this with Echo to Echo Lightbringer's Gaze/Energy Burn or Surge)
Energy Burn/Lightbringer's Gaze (If engaging demons in combat)
Heal Area (Quick self heal that doesn't rely on there being an enemy to target, like using Ether Feast)
Rebirth
I have 15 Domination, 11 Illusion, I think 9 Healing Prayers (enough to put Heal Area at 110 HP), 7 Fast Cast, and two leftover in Protection Prayers.
When I go into battle, if there's a cleric, I cast Backfire on him, cover it with Conjure Phantasm. Usually kills itself with it's own healing spells, Backfire does 140 damage. Empathy on warriors or dervishes. When it recharges, Backfire on any eles or other casters in the area. Energy surge and Energy Burn for quick spikes. Up till now I've used Power Spike if the opportunity presented itself, but I'm not too good at that and usually I'm too late, so changing that up for Echo is something I plan to do soon. Heal Area if you need a fast heal and Rebirth when saving the party from a near wipeout. I've saved many, many a party with Rebirth
EDIT: For the last guy who asked about Illusion Builds while I was writing my post. Generally, I've tried to use some Illusion spells and mix it up like that, and I used to be all about Illusion back in the day, but I've found Domination is just much better for slaying. It's easier to go with than Illusion since the degen is usually never realized on a monster.
Dean Harper
Mesmer is not used as shutdown in PvE, it is meant to kill quickly with skills in the Domination line like Energy Surge, Empathy, Spiritual Pain, Backfire, Chaos Storm, Energy Burn, Wastrel's Worry, and Mistrust. Illusion can also work well if you focus on the skills Sig of Clumsiness, Clumsiness, Conjure Phantasm, other degen skills, and an elite like Crippling Anguish. Either way, you have to deal a good amount of damage and have at least two monk heroes or henches backed up by Ether Feast and a energy skill, one of the most popular being Leech Signet. In a sense, you need to focus on being an elementalist type damage dealer in a Mesmer's body. (Me/E with ele skills works really well too.)
P.S: How do you put skill tags in your posts?
P.S: How do you put skill tags in your posts?
Dean Harper
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockby Quickfoot
Here is what I do with my Mesmer in PVE. He's my main character and this has worked through all of Prophecies, Nightfall, and I'm working on Factions now. I'm a Mesmer/Monk
Empathy
Backfire
Conjure Phantasm
Energy Surge
Power Spike (I intend to replace this with Echo to Echo Lightbringer's Gaze/Energy Burn or Surge)
Energy Burn/Lightbringer's Gaze (If engaging demons in combat)
Heal Area (Quick self heal that doesn't rely on there being an enemy to target, like using Ether Feast)
Rebirth
I have 15 Domination, 11 Illusion, I think 9 Healing Prayers (enough to put Heal Area at 110 HP), 7 Fast Cast, and two leftover in Protection Prayers.
When I go into battle, if there's a cleric, I cast Backfire on him, cover it with Conjure Phantasm. Usually kills itself with it's own healing spells, Backfire does 140 damage. Empathy on warriors or dervishes. When it recharges, Backfire on any eles or other casters in the area. Energy surge and Energy Burn for quick spikes. Up till now I've used Power Spike if the opportunity presented itself, but I'm not too good at that and usually I'm too late, so changing that up for Echo is something I plan to do soon. Heal Area if you need a fast heal and Rebirth when saving the party from a near wipeout. I've saved many, many a party with Rebirth
EDIT: For the last guy who asked about Illusion Builds while I was writing my post. Generally, I've tried to use some Illusion spells and mix it up like that, and I used to be all about Illusion back in the day, but I've found Domination is just much better for slaying. It's easier to go with than Illusion since the degen is usually never realized on a monster.
Just wondering, where does your energy management come from? (Take Leech Signet instead of Power Spike, you get energy from spells, and if its not a spell, you still interrupt them.)
Also, you cant Echo Esurge because they are both elite skills
And instead of Energy Burn, id suggest Spiritual Pain, it does more dmg.
Empathy
Backfire
Conjure Phantasm
Energy Surge
Power Spike (I intend to replace this with Echo to Echo Lightbringer's Gaze/Energy Burn or Surge)
Energy Burn/Lightbringer's Gaze (If engaging demons in combat)
Heal Area (Quick self heal that doesn't rely on there being an enemy to target, like using Ether Feast)
Rebirth
I have 15 Domination, 11 Illusion, I think 9 Healing Prayers (enough to put Heal Area at 110 HP), 7 Fast Cast, and two leftover in Protection Prayers.
When I go into battle, if there's a cleric, I cast Backfire on him, cover it with Conjure Phantasm. Usually kills itself with it's own healing spells, Backfire does 140 damage. Empathy on warriors or dervishes. When it recharges, Backfire on any eles or other casters in the area. Energy surge and Energy Burn for quick spikes. Up till now I've used Power Spike if the opportunity presented itself, but I'm not too good at that and usually I'm too late, so changing that up for Echo is something I plan to do soon. Heal Area if you need a fast heal and Rebirth when saving the party from a near wipeout. I've saved many, many a party with Rebirth
EDIT: For the last guy who asked about Illusion Builds while I was writing my post. Generally, I've tried to use some Illusion spells and mix it up like that, and I used to be all about Illusion back in the day, but I've found Domination is just much better for slaying. It's easier to go with than Illusion since the degen is usually never realized on a monster.
Just wondering, where does your energy management come from? (Take Leech Signet instead of Power Spike, you get energy from spells, and if its not a spell, you still interrupt them.)
Also, you cant Echo Esurge because they are both elite skills
And instead of Energy Burn, id suggest Spiritual Pain, it does more dmg.
Katari
Assasin's Promise
Spiritual Pain
Unatural Sig
Mistrust
Ressig/Rebirthsig
Phantom Pain
Spirtual Pain
Energy Burn, Backfire, an Interupt, whatever
16 Dom
16 Deadly
If you trust the group enough, replace PP/SD with some interupts, or some other hexes. Or if you fon't trust them, Dash/Return work well too.
Spiritual Pain
Unatural Sig
Mistrust
Ressig/Rebirthsig
Phantom Pain
Spirtual Pain
Energy Burn, Backfire, an Interupt, whatever
16 Dom
16 Deadly
If you trust the group enough, replace PP/SD with some interupts, or some other hexes. Or if you fon't trust them, Dash/Return work well too.
Renegade26
A guildwiki development of what Katari has written, that works excelently in Nightfall: http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Build:M...tural_Assassin.
Alex Morningstar
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Harper
P.S: How do you put skill tags in your posts?
[ skill]Skill Name Here[ /skill]
Like that, sans the spaces inside the tags. I'm pretty sure the spelling of the skill has to be exact too.
Like that, sans the spaces inside the tags. I'm pretty sure the spelling of the skill has to be exact too.
Dean Harper
i tried that and it didnt work....
Terra Xin
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Harper
i tried that and it didnt work....
The skill names are case sensitive. So if you entered:
[skill ]energy surge[/ skill]
instead of
[skill ]Energy Surge[/ skill]
(removing the spaces in the brackets...)
then it's not going to show. This also applies to shouts... making sure you include "" tags, as well as the exclamation mark at the end... including any capitals - "Watch Yourself!" - like that.
Anyway, if PvE had more variety in how you go about killing things, rather than just click click click click = dead, then I think the Mesmer would be able to use some of their more... left out skills.
[skill ]energy surge[/ skill]
instead of
[skill ]Energy Surge[/ skill]
(removing the spaces in the brackets...)
then it's not going to show. This also applies to shouts... making sure you include "" tags, as well as the exclamation mark at the end... including any capitals - "Watch Yourself!" - like that.
Anyway, if PvE had more variety in how you go about killing things, rather than just click click click click = dead, then I think the Mesmer would be able to use some of their more... left out skills.
Rockby Quickfoot
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Harper
Just wondering, where does your energy management come from? (Take Leech Signet instead of Power Spike, you get energy from spells, and if its not a spell, you still interrupt them.)
Also, you cant Echo Esurge because they are both elite skills
And instead of Energy Burn, id suggest Spiritual Pain, it does more dmg. I have no Energy management program I just use em sparingly at times >.> And yeah I realized what I said later and that I couldn't Echo Energy Surge.
Also, you cant Echo Esurge because they are both elite skills
And instead of Energy Burn, id suggest Spiritual Pain, it does more dmg. I have no Energy management program
I just use em sparingly at times >.> And yeah I realized what I said later and that I couldn't Echo Energy Surge.
Maca
here what i was runnig last few days, pretty easy to do most of the missions in NF.Even Shiro with hero/hences allthough i used [skill]Psychic Distraction[/skill] , works great on him.
16 dom
10 insp.
9 fc.
[skill]Empathy[/skill][skill]Backfire[/skill][skill]Ether Feast[/skill][skill]Energy Surge[/skill][skill]Spiritual Pain[/skill][skill]Cry Of Frustration[/skill][skill]Guilt[/skill][skill]Rebirth[/skill]
often replace something ( cof, backfire...) with power drain, but this build is pretty easy to play and does a lot of dmg ( for mesmer:P)
about illusion your build seems pretty stanard to my knowladge, but i would replace channeling and Arcane Conundrum with something else, maybe images of remorse, its cheap skill and channeling is not really that good in pve unless you are planing to run into the mob:P
16 dom
10 insp.
9 fc.
[skill]Empathy[/skill][skill]Backfire[/skill][skill]Ether Feast[/skill][skill]Energy Surge[/skill][skill]Spiritual Pain[/skill][skill]Cry Of Frustration[/skill][skill]Guilt[/skill][skill]Rebirth[/skill]
often replace something ( cof, backfire...) with power drain, but this build is pretty easy to play and does a lot of dmg ( for mesmer:P)
about illusion your build seems pretty stanard to my knowladge, but i would replace channeling and Arcane Conundrum with something else, maybe images of remorse, its cheap skill and channeling is not really that good in pve unless you are planing to run into the mob:P
jedi mad hatter
The build I normally use is similar to that, and gets the same kind of results:
[skill]Empathy[/skill][skill]Backfire[/skill][skill]Mistrust[/skill][skill]Spiritual Pain[/skill][skill]Wastrel's Demise[/skill][skill]Echo[/skill][skill]Energy Tap[/skill][skill]Resurrection Chant[/skill]
[skill]Empathy[/skill][skill]Backfire[/skill][skill]Mistrust[/skill][skill]Spiritual Pain[/skill][skill]Wastrel's Demise[/skill][skill]Echo[/skill][skill]Energy Tap[/skill][skill]Resurrection Chant[/skill]
Dean Harper
I use:
[skill]Echo[/skill][skill]Spiritual Pain[/skill][skill]Energy Burn[/skill][skill]Unnatural Signet[/skill][skill]Drain Enchantment[/skill][skill]Leech Signet[/skill][skill]Ether Feast[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]
it works pretty well in most situations, including FoW and UW.
[skill]Echo[/skill][skill]Spiritual Pain[/skill][skill]Energy Burn[/skill][skill]Unnatural Signet[/skill][skill]Drain Enchantment[/skill][skill]Leech Signet[/skill][skill]Ether Feast[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]
it works pretty well in most situations, including FoW and UW.
=DNC=Trucker
After playing every character in the game, I think the mez was the absolute easiest to play with henchies. I am not sure exactly why, but I feel the mesmer has the best outlook of the battlefield without getting to "into" what they are doing. This includes calling the right targets as you shut them down for the quick kill.
example: Monk is focused on healing the party, so he/she has a hard time keeping them henchies on the right target. I had the hardest time with all henchies when monking, sometimes they just stop attacking cos you are not on a target...
Just an example of how different actions/classes affect your experience.
example: Monk is focused on healing the party, so he/she has a hard time keeping them henchies on the right target. I had the hardest time with all henchies when monking, sometimes they just stop attacking cos you are not on a target...
Just an example of how different actions/classes affect your experience.
teh constantine
I have to agree with DNC, for the most part. I found that several of the NF missions were much easier when I was the mesmer. I will say, that prophecies was a quite a pain cause of all the melee mobs, and factions also. Mesmers FTW.
salamanca
I tried using a mesmer as my first character and the results were so lousy it is still the only character I ever deleted.
I went back to the class as a primary with my last slot two weeks ago. PUGed Factions with henchies and heroes dragging me between missions.
With that under my belt I am soloing Nightfall with the mesmer and heroes. So far, I have had exactly one mission I needed to repeat more than once for masters. Here is what I am noticing:
Your degen abilities need to be damage dealing effects, forget the spell interruption. Too many targets have no "spells" to cast. Use your attacks to lock a target for the henchies, degen them with phantasm or empathy (or both) and move to another target.
Trust your tanking and healing to the Henchies and keep the hero slots open for a MM and a Prot. Monk. The third slot is the option package to add some pucnh in the weak point of the creatures you face. (I've been using the Elementalists a lot in here but it also frees a spot for whatever required hero the mission calls for)
Don't rush anywhere. take time to clear mobs and recharge. I get in a hurry and I die. You will likely do the same.
Change skills often for the area and the objectives you face. Plan ahead and plan for your fights. Knowing what you need makes all the difference.
Of course, I'm just on the mesmer to collect armor styles so what do I know.
I went back to the class as a primary with my last slot two weeks ago. PUGed Factions with henchies and heroes dragging me between missions.
With that under my belt I am soloing Nightfall with the mesmer and heroes. So far, I have had exactly one mission I needed to repeat more than once for masters. Here is what I am noticing:
Your degen abilities need to be damage dealing effects, forget the spell interruption. Too many targets have no "spells" to cast. Use your attacks to lock a target for the henchies, degen them with phantasm or empathy (or both) and move to another target.
Trust your tanking and healing to the Henchies and keep the hero slots open for a MM and a Prot. Monk. The third slot is the option package to add some pucnh in the weak point of the creatures you face. (I've been using the Elementalists a lot in here but it also frees a spot for whatever required hero the mission calls for)
Don't rush anywhere. take time to clear mobs and recharge. I get in a hurry and I die. You will likely do the same.
Change skills often for the area and the objectives you face. Plan ahead and plan for your fights. Knowing what you need makes all the difference.
Of course, I'm just on the mesmer to collect armor styles so what do I know.