Mesmer or Elementalist?

I deleted my monk because I was just basically tired of healing. Now, I wanna make an ele or mes, but I dont know which ones better. I like ele's because of all the things they can do, But I also have an interest in mesmers. What one is better for PvE?

Try both. We can't force you to choose one.

Both are pretty bad for pve... but Elementalists have one or two uses.

Go for that. (Or better yet... E/Me, if you just HAVE to be cool and try mesmer)

EDIT: Look at my next post... jeez people.

Well actually, mesmers rock later in PvE.

But Fast Casting is pretty useless in PvE, with a couple of minor exceptions, so Ele/Me has almost all the possibilities of primary mesmer.

Sorry, I meant main class mesmer is worthless in pve.

I play a mesmer in pve, I think they're much more fun than an elementalist, but the downside is you probably won't get in a lot of groups due to the majority that think they're useless. I don't know, try playing each profession, and see which one you have more fun with.

I play as a mesmer is PvE and have had some difficulties getting into groups, so I had to do all the ring of fire missions and bonuses with the henches. That said the mesmer class is by far the most fun that I've played.

To answer the OP's question, all classes are useful in PvE, don't think about other people when you're making your choice, go with your gut instinct.

Once you get a couple of elites in your skills package, Mesmers rule. Some of the regular spells are really powerful as well.

Spamming Wastrels Worry every second on a boss can be devastating. I had a hard time getting into groups until the desert, but once I got to fire islands they seemed to want me more. Mesmers can do so much, the problem is that people don't notice it.

Warriors are thinking their whacking is doing the trick, while you know with all the yellow numbers you are posting that it is really you.

Look at it this way, if a group is asking for a mesmer, then there is a good chance that they know what they are doing.

And if anyone is complaining about Chaos Storm being a problem because of the AOE effect, it is probably one of the best defensive spells out there for a caster who is being swarmed.

Sadly, this is the attitude that Mesmers face in PvE. It's absolute nonsense, but people don't notice the effectiness of a good Mesmer in PvE.

I haven't played main mesmer in PvE yet, but my friend plays one. And everytime I have him in party (and the rest henchies) the hardest group of enemies are suddenly very easy... Also my sister played lots of characters and says that her mesmer character was by far the easiest to play with.

If your mesmer is not wreaking absolute havoc on a group of foes, you're not using him right. A mesmer with Fevered Dreams and a single strong warrior and necromancer around can inflict monumental damage on a bunched mob very, very quickly. I've seen groups go down before some warriors could even get there because of that plus a simple Ele AoE.

Don't listen to d4nowar, s(he) doesn't know what (s)he's talking about

Elementalists are quite fun, especially if you are the BSU (Blow Stuff Up) type of person.

Good memsers take a lot of skill to play, much more than just "pick one target attack until dead, move to next target." Mesmers can be extremely powerful throughout the game, just not in ways that are flashy that most people see.

My first character was an Ele and I love him. My 5th was a mesmer and one thing I am having a lot of fun with right now is being a fast casting Me/E.

I like the fire line of spells but on big drawback for them is the time to cast. So I put my points into fast casting, the rest in fire and speed zap away. One big drawback is that without energy storage you generally have about 50% of the available pool of energy that an ele has. But if you go with strong energy management (I use double attunement), I can nuke better than my ele can with my mesmer.

So choose what you want, ele for more direct point and shoot, or mes for subversion and guile.

Mesmers are great classes, But they are the hardest class to find a group for. It would be easier to get groups with an elementalist, but mesmers are something I don't see a lot of.

Mesmers are a class that it takes a lot of skill to play with, they are awesome with the right skills.

I would suggest a Me/E or an E/Me.

Prepare to die, heretic.

There are numerous threads on Mesmer board and Screenshot forum showing mesmer capability... such as the UW clearing by 8 mesmers. They are in no way useless, but some people are too ingrained in liking things that make big flashy lights and don't notice.

Correction, you've never played as or seen a mesmer in PvE, thus you think they are worthless for it.

Sorry, do you have any evidence for this?

Just because you don't know how to play one doesnt mean its worthless. All the classes are great in PvE. There are plenty of areas that were hard with other classes that my Mesmer breezed through. Now the invers is also true - but the Mesmer is a very tactical class to play - probably requiring some of the most skill and experience to run.

I will say if you like seeing big damage numbers pop up often - don't play a mesmer. Sure there are a few skills but most of what you do is only judeged by the speed at which the health line turns pink and goes down

Aye. Fast casting may not look like much on paper, but I find time is a valueble resources even in PvE. Sometimes, getting your spell off before the enemy finishes something can be incredibly valueble, and even when it isn't so time-sensitive, every fraction of a second you're not casting spell A is a fraction of a second you could be casting spell B.

Overall, however, there are few things apart from using each other's armour and runes that an E/Me cannot do that a Me/E can't and vice versa - a Me/E can't pull off the comboes that require a massive energy level such as triple echo nuking, of course, but will generally do better at using the more time-sensitive skills and builds that rely on casting quick-recharge spells in quick succession (with appropriate energy management skills). However, if you're deciding between the two, I'd suggest giving each a go; but if you take one as your primary and the other as your secondary, you should be able to use that character to fulfill whichever of the two roles you feel like playing at the time.

I wouldn't say either is bad PvE. I think people that don't know how to play them PvE think they are bad. I have both in PvE and in all honesty I would go Ele/Mes. Fun combo, plenty of diversity, good damage.

I played a Me/Ele, and although I had to call myself an Echo Nuker to get into some groups, I actually had a lot of fun fast-casting Meteor Shower...

One of the big complaints about Ele AoE spells is they take so long to go off, that groups have moved or died by the time the spell goes off. I don't have that problem...

As for energy management, Mesmers have lots of ways to get energy back.

I guess the main question is, what do you want more: Front end energy or fast-casting?

Oh, and what armor do you like better?

Another advantage of Mesmers is their items and runes tend to be cheaper than Eles....

of course, female Ele's dance owns female Mesmer!

Feh, just look at his profile under his avatar. Seems quite trollishly provocative on purpose to me, and he's had it like that for some time.

To the OP: I won't repeat what some have said here about the mesmer class. However, in my experience, I've had 2000+ hours on my primary account, and I've had numerous characters come and go in that time. The only one that's stayed since the second day I've had this game is my mesmer. That was eight months ago. And I still play him for hours and hours every week.

Its true that its hard to get into groups as a Mesmer but its because 90% of the people that play this game know crap about it and they are just mainstream, going with the current build. Which is to me just shows how unimaginative the majority is.
Check the screenshot forums and see what mesmers can do.

And how do you figure fast cast is useless in PvE.
I can get almost the 3rd Metor shower while an ele is just finishing up casting one.

And you are???
How is a mesmer useless in PvE?
Mesmers can play any class easier than any class can play any calss.
Fast cast anyone?
Have you gotten to the Chaos Planes in UW, lets see if you can clear it without a mesmer.

=============

To the OP, listen to the good people

As for getting into groups, I honestly had about 0 problems getting into a group as my mesmer when I played through.

The hardest for some reason was Riverside Province. Other than that I got into groups as fast as any other profession whenever I advertised. Maybe I was just lucky.

ascended both elementalist and mesmer, Ele is good and easy to get group, but i found it little boring to play for me.

mesmer...what can i say, very fun to play and powerful as hell in pve as well as pvp. Reason why people think they are worthless in pve, I just cant understand...there are no valid grounds for such opinions.

Elementalist is maybe more flexible and versatile what comes to secondary professions, but power of maximized mesmer domination for example and with good tank you soon notice how good shatter hex is forexample.

Mesmer is my choise, but have fun whichone you wish to choose anyway ^^

hf

I had such a blast trying a mesmer during the Factions preview - I can't wait for it to release so I can have the extra slots to make a permanent one. It'll be my first Factions character for sure.

Seemed more fun and more powerful than my ele to me, but maybe it was just the shiny-newness of it.

speedy, i can tell, its not shiny-newness

Dont listen to noob d4nowar, I play all professions and I like mesmer the most. In pve, simply put the majority are noobs and/or ignorant. Noobs dont have skill which is required when playing mesmers. And they only judge from visual effect (warriors swinging weapons, eles cast meteor etc). While most of mesmers' work can hardly be seen by other people.

*looks around*

Again? We have to have another "Mesmers Rock/Suck" thread again?

Geez... To my fellow Mesmers who posted in this thread, just let it go.

So you think mesmer are only good for pvp? ..

To the OP, you should try both (if you have two free slots) to see which one fits your playing style. We can tell you all the advantage for playing as mesmer or elementlist but it really up to you on which class suit you better.

They both have a lot of pluses to them. In PvE it's all about speed. Do you want to be pt'd early on in the game or later? Elementalists are awesome and get lots of invites early on because of their aoe's and high energy but by the time you make it to the crystal desert and the fire islands mesmers true power shines through.

I have one of each and I must admit that I love my nuker more, try that.
If you're not happy with it I'd try the mesmers.

Mesmer. Eles are nearly useless in PvE, since SS single-handedly owns every ele nuke... and when was the last time you've seen a non-nuker ele in PvE?

Another useless person saying that Mesmers and Eles are useless in PvE.
HMMMM when were you when no one wanted Necros in their groups.
You are just one of the mainstream people that jump on current builds.

You think SS would kill a monk with Mark of Protection.

Think again.

Fast Cast Me/E or Archane E/Me

Either are fine, i used both in air spikes and nuking

Well, according to the fact that you must decide Mesmer OR Elementalist primary and you only have one slot left, I would recommend Elementalist.

I have both, a primary Mesmer and a Elementalist. And having ~80 Energy is much more useful than FastCasting in PvE. You can easily be a decent Mesmer as primary Elemtalist, but you will lack Mana as a Mesmer trying to be an Elementalist.

But keep in mind, you can only add runes from your primary profession to your character.

Ele/Me (playing Mesmer) --> Lots of Mana(80+), not highest damage (runes!)

Me/Ele (playing Mesmer) --> Less Mana(40+), ideal damage (runes), Fast Cast

Choose Elementalist, Energy Storage makes him a good allrounder!

Mesmers are good in PvE if you take like a necro secondary for mass degen. They can really throw some degen down. Ele's are not totally useless so long as you get away from the idea of tossing AoE's around.

Here we go again. Lets start with the topic at hand, which was the OP's actual question.

Both classes have their advantages, ofcourse one is more wanted than the other. In all honesty you can run Me/E or E/Me and have a similar effect either way, but if you wanted more, say diversity, then you will need to make a choice for yourself. The best way to do it would be to go through Pre sear with one, see if you like it and if you don't well, poof.

Lets list some advantages to see if any may suit your liking.

Elementalists:
~ Ability to deal "noticeable" AoE damage. See Ensign's Why Nuking Sucks for more.
~ Ability to spike and condition.
~ Ability to slow/snare large groups of foes with simple spells.
~ Energy to run many things, like monk builds.
~ Able to offer significant party defense and foe immobilization.

Mesmer:
~ Ability to control the flow of battle, but requires alot of attention.
~ An ability to run Anti-War/Ranger or Anti-Caster. But rarely both.
~ Can deal significant spike damage but conditional.
~ Can run other class builds with Fast Casting.
~ Ignores Armour

Now... shame on everyone who dragged this thread into yet another hell hole of "Mesmers are leet" vs "No they aren't". If you see a troll for god's sake don't feed it, you reduce yourself to its level and make yourself just as culpable and stupid. If you really think mesmers "OWNZROSS" great, I agree but keep it to yourself. There is no need to drag yet another thread into Mesmer self glorification, we all know its not the be all end all. Same applies for trolls who start these idiotic preceedings, keep it to yourself especially when you know that every body and their grandma will jump at the slightest liable of Mesmers. It really does no one any good.

If you are a mesmer who is compitent and has no inferiority complex or problem with how others view you then, please don't antagonize. If you worth your weight in skill then why the hell do you care?

Oh and the above applies to Elementalists as well.

Anyway... I am done. Ciao.

CHOOSE MESMER. I am an elementalist and I still say so. Sure they have the annoyingly crappy riverdance but male elementalists have the annoyingly crappy seinfeld dance.

WHY? Because Mesmers will be buffed to the max in Factions whereas Elementalist skills that we are getting in Chapter 2 are UTTER CRAP. Take for example, Lightning Hammer. 25 Energy, 15 recharge and same damage as Lightnign Orb which is only 25% armor penetration.

Mesmers ignore ALL armor, can remove hexes, interrupt, disrupt, and utterly dominate the enemy. If my elementalist was not so old (since 2004 or 2005 Beta Previews when there were skill charms... and rings...) I would never have kept it.

When I made it I foolishly though I have 80 energy so it should be much better than fast casting. But that was because rune traders were non existent and all I found were minor runes. Elementalist have Zero damage potnetial with fire magic once you get to higher level areas like Ring of Fire Islands, Sorrow's Furnace, and Fissure of Woe. All they are good for is the knockdown.

Water and Earth on the other hand...are good for support through wards, conditions, and hexes. But who wants to support (besides me) when you can interrupt, disrupt, and dominate? Greater flexibility goes to the mesmer. Right now all you can hope for as an elementalist is to use a seocndary for high energy skill like Heal Party...

ill not get drawn into this again save for one comment ...

if you dont want a mesmer in your group, you dont have a clue what a mesmer can do

beyond that, to the OP ... have fun with either

Yea... can't forget the awesome Earth Magic.

Obsidian flame makes me happy to be alive

Uh oh, I envoked the mesmers wrath. Let me clear something up.

I never meant to say that mesmer skills are completely and utterly worthless in pve. There are quite a few which are practically required for many builds. And I'd always accept mesmers into my group, no prejudice against them.

I'd accept a primary mesmer getting their secondary skills off faster too, nothing wrong with that, as cast times can be a pain sometime.

Heck, I started a mesmer on the second or third BWE after starting with an R/Me(Pre-nerf, the good old days) in the WPE. Two of my pve characters still have mesmer secondaries, so I don't just ignore the entire class. It was fun and of course then I didn't know much. Second character I made after release was a mesmer. I made it probably a month after release, and only deleted it a couple of weeks ago. It all started off well. I was throwing down some serious damage and shutting down enemies with the best of them.

It was then that I noticed that some of my team mates with rangers were shutting down(EDIT: Meant interrupting... good call) better... and my elementalist, warrior, ranger, and necromancer team mates seemed to do their damage with the most consistancy. The monsters probably felt *poke poke poke poke poke SLAM poke poke poke poke poke poke poke poke SLAM* as a result of my attacks or *Draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain*.

Once the AoE nerf came, my favorite skill became worthless. Chaos Storm was destroyed. I screamed in agony when I first tried my old and effective build. Arcane echo storm storm surge burn + smite hex on a warrior if i'm in a hex heavy area spelled destruction to basically everything I was fighting.

Even after that, my team mates would run on to the next group while I stayed behind for a minute and said, "Hold on guys, I got 30 seconds of waiting to do before my next zomg explosion."

I tried the Illusion thing, and even then I knew that degen or energy denial in pve was a silly thing, especially for a mesmer. I fought back against my energy woes with my mesmer energy management skills. They were handy. I used them. There were a few staple skills that shut down annoying mobs that I'd carry in when the situation came up, and cry of frustration usually found its way onto my bar, just for a neat little AoE interrupt.

I never said I was the best mesmer in the world. There are others among you that can stake claim to that title, with their millions of exp points ^^.

I just noticed that once the AoE nerf hit, other classes would just benefit so much more from having mesmer as a secondary, rather than playing as a mesmer primary.

So to respond again to the OP: Choose mesmer if you want a pretty looking toon and a fairly unique experience imo, or choose elementalist if you want to be more practical with the things you do, and want to be able to use more of those high cost skills that you never had a chance to use before.

The above post is for pve, I have a completely different opinion for pvp. I'm a 'he' btw.