Following build is designed to guide you through your first playthrough, or simply offer you a decent and reliable Core build if you are on Free to Play account.
Mesmer is very unique profession, being master of illusions and deception they will try to disorient an enemy with their clones while dealing massive damage both from afar and at close range.
This build is oriented around summoning powerful Phantasms enhanced with boons and buffing your own damage in the process with very good application and high uptime of , and extremaly good generation.
Build Fundamentals
Mesmers can summon up to 3 Clones that can later be shattered with skills F1-4, more illusions you have, the better effect of the shatter skill will be, and your shatters are:
Mind Wrack
Cry of Frustration
Diversion
Distortion
Use
Mind Wrack for damage whenever you have 3 Clones, other shatters have different applications,
Cry of Frustration is useful for condition damage builds, but
Diversion is a useful and strong Crowd Control skill, and
Distortion is extremaly strong defensive ability.
While leveling,
Mirror Images is a reliable source of Clones you can unlock early, but this build will be mostly summoning Phantasms instead, much stronger versions of Clones that perform specific attacks and shortly after disappear and are replaced with regular Clone.
Note: Clones despawn when your target dies.
Your Phantasms will be the bread and butter of your damage. During fights against stronger enemies, you might want to follow engage combo to abuse Phantasms generation utilizing
Phantasmal Warden from the Sword/Focus weapon set and using
Signet of the Ether to reset all the Phantasms, but when fighting multiple weaker enemies, just stay on your Greatsword as it alone deals massive damage.
In this build, you can generate Phantasms with
Phantasmal Warden,
Phantasmal Berserker, and
Phantasmal Disenchanter.
As far as weapons go, your Greatsword will be your main one, the auto-attack (
Spatial Surge) alone is a very powerful damage skill, especially against further enemies.
Mirror Blade and
Mind Stab should be used off-cooldown, keep in mind that
Mind Stab will interrupt most of your other skills, so make sure to let your previous attack finish casting. Additionally
Mirror Blade is a great attack when facing multiple enemies, as it gives you a very good ramp-up when bouncing between targets.
Illusionary Wave can get you out of a rough spot by knocking back your enemies.
Sword/Focus offers very good cleave damage with
Blurred Frenzy which is also long evasion, so it’s relatively safe to use in melee range, if you are facing multiple enemies, pull them in one place with
Temporal Curtain
Into the Void and use
Blurred Frenzy for very good damage spike. You can then
Weapon Swap, use
Mind Stab on the group and
Illusionary Wave to give you some space to then continue attacking at range.
Skills
Your skills are a mix of offensive and defensive tools.
Phantasmal Disenchanter is your highest damage utility skill, not only dealing damage but removing boons from enemies, which will be useful later in the game. Your
Mantra of Pain is another good instant-cast damaging utility applying a good amount of , you should use it off cooldown.
Build lacks healing as
Signet of the Ether is used to reset Phantasms skills, so you have to rely on other defensive abilities from weapons and utilities like
Blink for a quick escape (and breaking out of any hard Crowd Control effects like knockback). The high uptime of this build offers will also help you to counter some pressure.
Your elite skill can be changed to anything really,
Mass Invisibilityis a nice disengage ability and a good tool to go through enemies if you don’t want to fight them, and
Signet of Humility is extremely powerful Crowd Control skill that should always be taken when fighting enemies with Defiance Bar (Breakbar).
Crowd Control
Alternatives
Skills
Any skill other than
Phantasmal Disenchanter and
Signet of the Ether can be changed to best suit your current need.
Traits
If you need more support for your group, or you simply struggle with using abilities fast enough and enemies are killing you easily, try swapping
Dueling for:
Since this build is designed to be your entry point to Guild Wars 2 world, let’s start with the basics, if you haven’t checked the guides below, give them a read to make yourself familiar with game basics.
Game basics – first steps in Tyria This short guide contains answers to the questions you might have on the first days of your adventure, such as where to look for tips, how to look for a group (LFG), what are the most important parts of the interface, and more! Game systems and mechanics Downstate, dodging, skills tied to weapon types, heart quests, and meta events, it all can be overwhelming for the new player. This guide attempts to answer all your questions, even those you don't yet know you have. Gearing guide for PvE This guide aims to teach you about the easiest, fastest, and most importantly, cheapest methods of acquiring your first entry-level equipment for instanced PvE content. Introduction to the Mesmer Mesmers are a unique profession in the MMORPG world, They are masters of illusions and deception, powerful mage-fighters that create clones of themselves and manipulate reality to distract the opponent.
Don’t try to invest in Runes and Sigils before you acquire proper level-80 Exotic gear with Berserker’s stats as transferring upgrades is not possible without destroying the item, and retrieving them during the process has a small chance with most salvage kits.
From drops, crafting and level-up rewards pick items with Power, and on later levels supplemented by Precision and Ferocity.
Unlocking skills
If you’re looking up this build as you’re leveling through the wide world of Tyria we recommend unlocking
Mantra of Pain and
Mirror Images.
The first specialization at level 21 should be
Domination as it offers the most useful traits in early levels. At level 45 get
Illusions and finally at level 71 unlock
Dueling or
Inspirationdepending if you need more damage or struggle with surviving.