Me/E Arcanis' Armor Buster

I tend to like damage that either ignores or penetrates armor.

Thusly, I'm not the normal mesmer you tend to see. In fact, I've been called crazy, a noob and an oddball on many occassions when people see this build. Go ahead and say so, because it works well and your comments dont really bug me.

First off: I hate Majors and Superiors, thusly, I only use Minors. I suppose this build would be alot more powerful with those runes, but I dont like the health cost needed.

Fast Cast 5+1+1
Dom: 10+1
Illus: 10+1
Air: 10

Energy Surge {E}
Energy Burn
Chaos Storm (used less since the patch)
Conjure Phantasm
Phantom Pain
Lightning Strike
Envenerating Charge
Chain Lightning

This is a PVE Build. I dont do much PVP, and when I do its not with this.

I always start out by Surging the Mob. Usually right after comes the Chain, get to get the damage heavy on in the first few moments. Switching targets is obviously the key with this build. The point is to get as much damage going on as many targets as possible so that the whole party has an easier time of dealing the majority of the damage. I usually pick on the monk first. Using my Lightning spells to really cut into their armor, then if a tank is near by using Charge on him to give him weakness. Conjure and Phantom are used on one target first, then Conjure is cast again on someone else when it has recharged. Usually, when using this build and going along with a hench party most aggro encounters dont last long enough for anyone to take considerable damage.

Chaos, since the patch, is only cast as needed, and usually just to get the warriors away from the casters.. or me. It used to be a lynch pin in the build but it has become less so, and is better off being used on a monk in regular situations because it causes the monk to break off whatever they were doing and run away. Leaving the others heal-less for a few moments. Surge is used when ever I can, and Burn usually right along with it on the same target. I tend to take some time to let the Exhaustion wear off before I cast Chain again.

The masks I wear change depending whether I think I'm doing enough damage or not. Thus being able to change Dom or Illusion to 12 instead of 11.

Hm hm...before someone yells "where's the Backfire and the Power Drain and the...the Mesmerness?!", let me say that, as I play alongside Arcanis the Omnipotent frequently, this guy's more useful to have around than 95% of the Elementalists I've ever seen. Skill counts for a lot, and a heavy spell-cannon is a heavy spell-cannon regardless of the armor it wears. So, if it helps, think of it as an oddly-dressed Elementalist :P

*Edit*: changed Impotent to Omnipotent, under threat of early demise...o_o...

I might take out the illusion for some energy management via inspiration.

Although you attest that encounters are short, you sould have to wait 30s between encounters, and no encounter could last longer than 45 or so.

So i'd break off phantom and phantasm for some inspiration, at around 9 or 10. Drain enchantment, inspired hex are my favs, but spirit of failure protects you and gives mana.

Props for an original build.

I want to do a primary Mesmer as well, and was thinking of something a bit different, though I'd like to try a Mesmer/Elementalist based on Earth skills.. but I'm not sure it's viable...

The problem with Earth is that its by far the most expensive Energy-wise of the 4 elements. Using the right Glyph can help overcome that, but you're still gonna need a good supply of energy all the time. Earth Attunement will be a must, and Inspiration magic energy gains aswell.

Superb! i like to do wierd things that people dont usually do it, and this is very nice.

for pvp the earth skills can be quite helpful. I was so tired of getting pummeled that I tried a build with armor of earth and ward against melee and it worked quite well.

I'd change lighting strike for unnatural singet. Does more dmg.

No nrg management. A spell that causes Exhaustion... Chaos Storm... If you stick to degen and spike mix I think you will be way more effective than doing degen, spike, and e-denial, with no self-heal, no nrg management, and no protection skills.

Bored much?

Pulled up this topic from awhile ago.

As for the no energy management no self heal and no protection.... never has bothered me once.

Is it because of the BiPs or your innate +7 energy regen?

This thread may be ancient.... but damn that build looks crap. 3 attribute lines and 2 of them off breakpoints at 12 stats by just 1? The entire mesmer line is armour ignoring... so why break into Air for 25% penetration.

Just a guess anyway... can't remember what hte old breakpoints were.

Oh, didnt even look at the post date. It's all Eroth's fault! :-)

But yea, Arcanis, this looks like a drop it and leave it in the past build. :-p

Echoing Hella Good. However, I'd like to point out to any new player in the Mesmer forum: Don't use Chaos Storm, Lightning Strike, Enervating Charge, Chain Lightning as a Mesmer primary. And remember to bring a resurrection skill.

This may be an old build, but I think it's awesome. My standard build is pure domination with a res or rebirth and signet of capture tacked on, and that does pretty well in most cases, but the Armor Buster build is satisfying for its ability to do direct and immediate damage. It does suffer from insufficient Mana, though. This would be better for an Ele/Mes than Mes/Ele I think.