Shooting for Legendary Survivor as a Mesmer - Advice?

I've played several low-level and a couple PvP-onry Mesmers a while back (last summer), and just recently got back into the game. I gave Rit and 'Sin a try, didn't like them. Messed around with some other classes... but nothing just has that Mesmer feel to it.

I don't know if it's the clothing or what...

Anyways, as soon as I get off work (Been reading forums all night and getting excited... 3 more hours /sigh) I'm going to make another Mesmer and get started. I want him to be my main (after 4 weeks of playing every other class for 2-8 hours a day, I've finally decided), and I want him to rack up as many titles as possible - including the effing Survivor titles.

I'm not looking for any specific uber one-build-to-rule-them-all or anything... just some general advice from other Mesmers who have made the attempt, or Mesmers who have succeeded to the top. What did you do? General playstyle? When to hench, when to PuG, when to blackmail guildies? I'm probably dumb for trying this with a Mesmer, especially when I haven't played one in a very long time - but hey, why not? Nothing forces "Learn2play" faster than the complete terror of not dying - ever - or I start from scratch.

Enough rambling from me - what say the rest of you?

Illusionist with illu of weakness and distortion. You're alot safer that way Try to hench generally, taking it slowly and letting the hench take the brunt of battles, unless youre playing with people you know.

Mm... reminds me of hardcore d2 playing... pk was fun

Yeah, EXACTLY. Hardcore D2 was the only way to fly - but only if you actually did it the right way and not have level 99 friends rush you through everything then go slaughter cows eleventy billion times (boring). My biggest HC D2 "rush" was tanking Nightmare Diablo with my Druid using Cyclone Armor and a TON of fire/lightning resist gear at level 46 - standing there and taking his lightning breath with less than half health loss, while level 60+ were getting killed.

But enough of that! There are more important matters at hand!

I'll have to look into this... "Distortion"... (Sorry, it's 4:15 AM, I'm at the end of a 6-day work week, and I've had about 4 Mountain Dews in the last 3 hours - HYPER)

Anyone else? On my Elementalist Survivor (work in progress) I was using +health armor, and Illyana's Staff (I know it's not for Eles... shush) for the nice +15 energy, +30 health, 10/10 HCT/HRT all spells and she's level 19 almost 20 and doing superb. More health than henchies = less agro = less dying = Survivor!

So... for Mesmer-specific, would you recommend farming the XP (safe build+location would be appreciated) or just henching/guild-exploitation...ing... through quests and missions and elite capping at every opportunity (Calculator shows 180 elites x 5k XP a pop = 900k XP - WOO!)?

Meh, I mainly soloed myself through d2hc, got a little help through some areas from my level 80 friend (who died to lag shortly later), got myself runeword gear to start off... collected some ears... whee

I'd move along through missions (more tyrian, because canthan imo are easier to die in), albeit slightly slower to keep yourself at a higher level than the place you were in. I'd especially watch out for afflicted areas (soul explosions are teh loss) but canthan missions are also very fast xp if you have a strong group and you're already level 20. As I said, illu is probably safest to run, thanks to IoW and distortion.

Illusion and Inspiration skills keep you alive, and it's good to know what you're facing. For example, against Jade Brotherhood, you can pack either Distortion, Phys Resistance or Mantra of Flame (Distortion would probably be best), which would all keep you alive longer. Illusion of Weakness also helps, as does the occasional Ether Feast. Pack interrupts against caster heavy areas, and don't rely on tanking yourself, since you're a Mesmer and therefore the weakest armour class out there.

Heya Captain,

I havent got this on my mezmer although she is my most played ive achived this title on my necro through cantha.

Now not knowing where your planning to start (personally i would choose cantha.)

I would go Mez/Mon taking rebirth or some sort of perma rez. Also Healing breeze to fight degen which your henchies may not realize that your more important than say the warrior whos dying and almost dead.

Beyond that from cantha watch out for Unweclome guest quest (healing breeze should make this less stressful on your nerves) as the Miasma is a pain - same again on Zen Dajiun, just be careful dont stampede through at low levels you wont have the HP to survive the degens.

I could get guildies for most of your missions, that although henchies are fine, With Vizunuh you will prefer to not have to drop out because your guildies will support you.

In cantha your not limited to farming Xp - just be careful and you can complete missions and quests, makes it feel earned =) - Stay away from the Am Fa quest Meet your masters & drink from the corrupted cup unless you have guildies/friends with you.

Naru Soulfire

I did my fair share of D2 soloing, but for the most part, we had a group of GameFAQS.com forum-goers in the BSB channel on USEast that only played with each other, traded with each other, etc. We kept out hacked/duped items and PKers that way, and it actually makes the game VERY challenging on Hardcore. Act 3 + lag = death.

On-topic: IoW + Distortion seems QUITE nice, and I'll probably add in Spirit of Failure to balance out Distortion. So it looks like I'll be running with primarily Illusion+Inspiration and some FC thrown in for great justice. Now to find some other spells to round things out before I end up spamming Conjure Phantasm on everything that moves - research time!

I can't wait to get off work. GAH! Only an hour and a half! *goes back to "work" - aka monitoring security systems - aka playing Mario Kart DS and browsing the internets.*

My only regret about GW is they don't have an equivelent to the two great horrors of d2hc, that is flayers (KYAAA~!! zergrush!) and black souls (stealth lightning spike gg?).

Tengu are close, but still too slow

Quote: Originally Posted by Dragannia

Sorry, I missed the other two posters while I was replying. =(

I'll be starting in Cantha. I finished up to Closer to the Stars with my Ritualist so I know a bit of what to expect - i.e. NO DRINKING FROM THE BLOODY CUP! Zen Daijun on my Survivor Elementalist wasn't so bad. I had to "ragequit" on a PuG for the first and ONLY time when they were getting slaughtered on the fifth pull in. I ran it with henchies and had NO troubles, same with the following attribute quest, then I got guildmates to help me net the Master rating on it the next day.

I fully plan on bringing Ether Feast - <3 healing + less energy for mobs. I was also planning on using a Monk secondary for the hard res.

I wish my skillbar was bigger.

Quote: Originally Posted by Avarre

*notes that you should not pvp until title completion*

Personally I go with Domination Magic + Inspiration.

Cry Of Frustration
Power Spike
Power Leak
Spirit Of Failure
Power Drain
Mantra of Lightning (outside of cities areas in the mainland)
Mantra of Fire (in city streets of the mainland - ie: not jungles)
WW
Shatter enchantment
Signet of Disruption

This isn't a build, these are skills you should try to get. Distortion eats away at your energy until you have 0. It temporarily keeps you alive but at a high cost. Illusionary Weakness is very good, but keep an eye out on what kills enchantments.

You can hench any quest (not city mission) with ease as a Mesmer. City Missions, most do require you to have people, make sure you have a monk or ritualist as a 2nd profession. It will allow you to get into groups easier.

-1 per dodge is not a high cost!! /rage

and yeah... no pvp till title completion... not that you'd mind, d2hc players should be made of iron will and lightning reflexes, but your team might mess up and get you killed

Hell Baal was really...hell...with Hardcore. -_-

I would just go pure Domination with 3/8 illusion for Distortion.

Definitely go Illusion, and I would take a Monk secondary.

Distortion/Illusion of Weakness/Illusion of Haste (to run away) are your best friends. Taking Physical Resistance (or Elemental in certain areas) is also a good idea to help your crappy armor level.

The standard Monk survival skills (i.e. see Whammo troll-killer builds) are needed to make sure you don't die later in the game.

Quote: Originally Posted by LightningHell

Meh D2 is NOTHING compared to some "blood gulch sniper matches" on halo for the pc...
spawn->dead...several times, within nano-seconds after spawn. The only way you "might" live is that you pray during the respawn time they DIDN'T get more ammo...to kill you more. Flag capture is beyond suicide.

Well I'd like to thank everyone who responded - but unfortunately after getting to level 12, I just couldn't bear doing all the Shing Jea quests AGAIN (this is like my 12th new character in the last three weeks - alt-itis sucks). My Mesmer is on hold until further notice and I've gone back to my Survivor Elementalist (just finished Nahpui Quarter with her, 215k XP and no deaths ^_^b). If anyone here wants to help me out with quests or elite skill capturing, feel free to look me up - IGN: Archmage Aurora

IMO, In Cantha PvE, an all-purpose Me build looks like :

Clumsiness
Images of Remorse
Power Return
Drain Enchantment
Ether Feast
Ward against Melee
Capture signet
Rez

It's just an example. General rule is :
2 anti-W skills (with at least one degen)
1 interrupt
1 energy management
1 melee defense (ward is one of the best)
1 survive skill
Capture+rez are obvious

Ward against Melee is better than Distortion, because you can protect not only yourself, but also your healers.

Ahhh good old HC D2. Chicken was for sissys.