Mesmer skills

[FnG] Lazz

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2005

Fun 'n' Games

W/Mo

Hi all

I have recently descovered two spells which are Backfire and Power Spike. Both are great - when they work.

The question is, are there any exceptions to the spells that the enemy casts in order for them to work? I have been doing some PvP recently and noticed that sometimes when for example I use backfire, the enemy player doesn't take any damage when doing a skill and when I do power spike (interruption), the other player will just continue using the spell without interruption. For a start I thought I was just seing things but now it seems to happen about 30% of the time or so.

Any ideas why?

Buzzer

Buzzer

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

Australia

It seems you are confusing spells with skills. Anything which can be put on your skillbar is called a skill. Spells are a large subset of skills which are only used by Necros, Eles, Monks and Mesmers. Having said that, these professions also have other skill types such as stances.

Now in the event you described, the player hexed with Backfire either was not using spells, or your Backfire had been removed without your notice.

Power Spike also only works against spells. In this situation, the enemy was either using a non-spell (which aren't interrupted by Power Spike) or had anti-interrupt defences such as Glyph of Concentration.

So as a rule of thumb, don't waste these good skills on warriors or rangers unless you must.

Lady Lozza

Lady Lozza

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oz

Angel Sharks

Me/N

Note: To the best of my knowledge, signets are not classified as "spells" - therefore to interrupt them you must use a skill (like cry of frustration) which interrupts skills and not just spells.

Lord Sabir

Lord Sabir

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

Legions of Twilight

W/Mo

Common skills that aren't affected:

Healing Signet
Troll Ungent
Rez Sig

Also, only use interrupts on big spells, like Fireball and Meteor Shower, etc. Don't waste energy trying to stop small spells like Flare and Lighting Javelin.

Mavrik

Mavrik

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

Alaska

I could swear I have interupted troll ungent... but I know it was maybe once in a 100 times I tried. However for example casting backfire on a bog skale is hilarious. He'll cast himself to death without you needing to do anything. But you gotta remember backfire only lasts about 7 seconds right? That means that in most causes, you'll only see it effect its target once or twice at most. Unless its a skill spamming bog skale

Grimm

Grimm

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

N/

Here is the hierarchy:

Skills
...Signets
...Attacks
......Bow Attacks
......Melee Attacks
.........Sword Attacks
.........Axe Attacks
.........Hammer Attacks
.........Lead Attacks
.........Off-hand attacks
.........Dual Attacks
...Spells
......Enchantments
......Hexes
......Weapon Spells
...Rituals
......Nature Rituals
......Binding Rituals
...Stances
...Shouts

I'm probably leaving a few types out, but you get the idea. It's important to *carefully* read skill descriptions and understand which affect spells, skills, signets, etc.

Jasrak

Jasrak

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

Canada

A/N

Cry of Frustration ftw.