Mesmer - Mantra Backline

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Welcome to the Builds Archive. See the ones that gathered dust, were orphaned by their original writers, or became obsolete by balance patches. We keep the orphan builds together and salute the veteran builds that held a position in the good, great, or meta categories.

Focused on: Direct damage, Support.

Designed for:

World vs World

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Overview

Mantras are an effective way to deal heavy damage on the front or backline without overextending.

Skill Bar

First Weapon Set

Greatsword

Utility

Elite

1½

Spatial Surge

Shoot a beam at your foe. The farther away they are, the more damage you deal.

₃Damage if range is less than 300: 132

₃Damage if range is between 300-600: 165

₃Damage if range is between 600-900: 198

₃Damage if range is greater than 900: 231

Number of Targets: 3

Range: 1,200

¾

8

Mirror Blade

Throw an illusionary greatsword that bounces between targets, damaging foes and giving might to allies. It creates a clone at its first target.

Damage: 273

₃Might (10s): 90 Power, 90 Condition Damage

₃Vulnerability (3s): 3% Incoming Damage

Number of Bounces: 3

Combo Finisher: Physical Projectile

Range: 1,200

Unblockable

¼

12

Mind Stab

Thrust your greatsword into the ground, damaging foes and removing 1 boon.

Damage: 246

Number of Targets: 5

Radius: 240

Range: 1,200

¾

20

Phantasmal Berserker

Phantasm. Create a phantasm that uses a whirling attack to damage and cripple foes.

₄Damage: 812

₄Cripple (1s): -50% Movement Speed

Number of Impacts: 4

Number of Targets: 5

Range: 1,200

½

30

Illusionary Wave

Push back all foes in front of you with a wave of magical energy.

Damage: 73

Knockback: 450

Number of Targets: 5

Range: 450

2¾

10

Mantra of Recovery

Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will instantly heal you when activated.

Extra Toughness While Channeling: 600

Number of Casts: 2

30

Blink

Manipulation. Teleport to a target location.

Breaks Stun

Range: 1,200

2¾

1

Mantra of Pain

Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will damage your target.

Extra Toughness While Channeling: 600

Number of Casts: 2

2¾

20

Mantra of Distraction

Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will daze your target.

Extra Toughness While Channeling: 600

Number of Casts: 2

1¾

90

Mass Invisibility

Manipulation. You and all allies gain stealth for a short time.

Stealth (5s): Invisible to foes.

Number of Targets: 10

Radius: 1,200

Second Weapon Set

Sword/Torch

Mind Slash

Chain. Slash you foe to make them vulnerable.

Damage: 146

Vulnerability (5s): 1% Incoming Damage

Number of Targets: 3

Range: 130

½

12

Blurred Frenzy

Strike your foe with a flurry of strikes, distorting the space around you, making you evade attacks.

₈Damage: 584

Blur (2½s): Evade all attacks.

Number of Targets: 3

Range: 130

¾

12

Illusionary Leap

Clone. Summon an illusion that leaps at your target, crippling them. After the initial leap, the clone will execute the Mind Slash sword chain.

Damage: 1

Cripple (1s): -50% Movement Speed

₂Vulnerability (5s): 2% Incoming Damage

Range: 600

30

The Prestige

Disappear in a cloud of smoke blinding nearby foes. Reappear three seconds later, burning nearby foes.

Damage: 244

Stealth (3s): Invisible to foes.

Blindness (5s): Next outgoing attack misses.

Burning (3s): 984 Damage

Number of Targets: 5

Radius: 240

Combo Finisher: Blast

¾

30

Phantasmal Mage

Phantasm. Create an illusion that burns foes and grants fury to allies.

Damage: 252

Fury (3s): 20% Critical Chance.

Burnig (6s): 786

Number of Bounces: 3

Range: 1,200

Weapon Variants

• Staff can be brought over Sword/Torch for
  Chaos Storm

  ¼

  35

  Chaos Storm

  Create a magical storm at the target location that applies random conditions to foes and random boons to allies.

  Damage: 129

  Aegis (3s): Block the next incoming attack.

  Retaliation (3s): Reflect incoming damage back to its source.

  Swiftness (3s): 33% Movement Speed

  Chilled (1s): -66% Movement Speed, -66% Skill Recharge Rate

  Poison (4s): 134 Damage, -33% Heal Effectiveness

  Weakness (2s): -50% Endurance Regeneration, 50% Fumble (Unrestricted)

  Daze (1s): Unable to use skills.

  Number of Targets: 5

  Radius: 240

  Combo Field: Ethereal

  Range: 1,200
  . Sword/Torch serves as a defensive weapon set due to
  Blurred Frenzy

  ½

  12

  Blurred Frenzy

  Strike your foe with a flurry of strikes, distorting the space around you, making you evade attacks.

  ₈Damage: 584

  Blur (2½s): Evade all attacks.

  Number of Targets: 3

  Range: 130
  being an evade and
  The Prestige

  30

  The Prestige

  Disappear in a cloud of smoke blinding nearby foes. Reappear three seconds later, burning nearby foes.

  Damage: 244

  Stealth (3s): Invisible to foes.

  Blindness (5s): Next outgoing attack misses.

  Burning (3s): 984 Damage

  Number of Targets: 5

  Radius: 240

  Combo Finisher: Blast
  granting stealth and blind.

Slot Changes

• Mantra of Distraction

  2¾

  20

  Mantra of Distraction

  Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will daze your target.

  Extra Toughness While Channeling: 600

  Number of Casts: 2
  ⇒
  Veil

  ¼

  72

  Veil

  Glamour. Create a wall that grants stealth to you and your allies.

  Stealth (2s): Invisible to foes.

  Curtain duration: 6 seconds

  Combo Field: Light

  Range: 900
  if there are few mesmers or commander requests it.
• Blink

  30

  Blink

  Manipulation. Teleport to a target location.

  Breaks Stun

  Range: 1,200
  ⇒
  Mantra of Concentration

  2¾

  25

  Mantra of Concentration

  Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will break stuns and grant stability to nearby allies.

  Extra Toughness While Channeling: 600

  Number of Casts: 2
  if your zerg is fighting in a limited space. This skill is most effective when attacking keeps and you must move through CC fields. For open field fights, bring Blink to allow repositioning and prevent over-extension.
• Mass Invisibility

  1¾

  90

  Mass Invisibility

  Manipulation. You and all allies gain stealth for a short time.

  Stealth (5s): Invisible to foes.

  Number of Targets: 10

  Radius: 1,200
  ⇒
  Time Warp

  ¼

  180

  Time Warp

  Glamour. Create an area that warps time, granting you and your allies quickness while slowing enemies.

  Quickness (1s): Skills and actions are 50% faster.

  Slow (1s): Skills and actions of enemies are 50% slower.

  Number of Targets: 5

  Pulses: 11

  Duration: 10 seconds

  Radius: 360

  Combo Field: Ethereal

  Range: 1,200
  for greater zerg support.
• Mass Invisibility

  1¾

  90

  Mass Invisibility

  Manipulation. You and all allies gain stealth for a short time.

  Stealth (5s): Invisible to foes.

  Number of Targets: 10

  Radius: 1,200
  ⇒
  Polymorph Moa

  1

  180

  Polymorph Moa

  Transform. Turn your foe into a moa bird.

  Duration: 10 seconds

  Range: 1,200
  if you wish to target or harass the enemy commander and break up the zerg.

Specializations

AdeptMasterGrandmaster

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Trait Notes

• Halting Strike

  Halting Strike

  Deal damage when interrupting a foe.

  Damage: 304
  is optional if bringing
  Veil

  ¼

  72

  Veil

  Glamour. Create a wall that grants stealth to you and your allies.

  Stealth (2s): Invisible to foes.

  Curtain duration: 6 seconds

  Combo Field: Light

  Range: 900
  over
  Mantra of Distraction

  2¾

  20

  Mantra of Distraction

  Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will daze your target.

  Extra Toughness While Channeling: 600

  Number of Casts: 2
  .
• Far-Reaching Manipulations

  Far-Reaching Manipulations

  The range of your manipulation skills is increased.

  Range Increase: 300
  is used to relieve excess pressure on the Mesmer. Thieves harass backline casters but have limited access to 1200 range teleports- allowing you to escape them. The extra range also prevents over-extension in case your zerg moves too far away. For these reasons, Far-reaching Manipulations is used over
  Mantra Mastery

  Mantra Mastery

  Reduces recharge on mantras.

  Recharge Reduced: 20%
  .
• Deceptive Evasion

  Deceptive Evasion

  Create a clone at your current position when you dodge.
  can be swapped to
  Protected Mantras

  Protected Mantras

  Gain toughness while channeling mantras.

  Toughness: +600
  for additional defense while channeling mantras. Take note that a backline mesmer shouldn't be constantly suffering pressure and will gain less from this trait in normal circumstances compared to deceptive evasion's shatter support.

Weapons

First Weapon Set Main Hand Greatsword Stats: Berserker's Superior Sigil of Fire 5 Superior Sigil of Fire 50% Chance on Critical: Trigger a Flame Blast for area of effect damage (240 radius). (Cooldown: 5s) Superior Sigil of Air 3 Superior Sigil of Air 50% Chance on Critical: Cause a Lightning Strike. (Cooldown: 3s)	Second Weapon Set Main Hand Sword Superior Sigil of Energy 9 Superior Sigil of Energy Gain 50% of your endurance when you swap to this weapon while in combat. (Cooldown: 9s) Off Hand Torch

Sigil Variants

• The second weapon set is defensive,
  Superior Sigil of Energy

  9

  Superior Sigil of Energy

  Gain 50% of your endurance when you swap to this weapon while in combat. (Cooldown: 9s)
  is optional as is the second slot.

Equipment

Armor Head Stats: Soldier's (Power/Toughness/Vitality) Superior Rune of Strength Superior Rune of Strength (1): +25 Power (2): +10% Might Duration (3): +50 Power (4): 20% Might Duration (5): +100 Power (6): +20% Might Duration; +5% damage while under the effects of might. Shoulders Stats: Soldier's Superior Rune of Strength Superior Rune of Strength (1): +25 Power (2): +10% Might Duration (3): +50 Power (4): 20% Might Duration (5): +100 Power (6): +20% Might Duration; +5% damage while under the effects of might. Chest Stats: Soldier's Superior Rune of Strength Superior Rune of Strength (1): +25 Power (2): +10% Might Duration (3): +50 Power (4): 20% Might Duration (5): +100 Power (6): +20% Might Duration; +5% damage while under the effects of might. Hands Stats: Soldier's Superior Rune of Strength Superior Rune of Strength (1): +25 Power (2): +10% Might Duration (3): +50 Power (4): 20% Might Duration (5): +100 Power (6): +20% Might Duration; +5% damage while under the effects of might. Legs Stats: Soldier's Superior Rune of Strength Superior Rune of Strength (1): +25 Power (2): +10% Might Duration (3): +50 Power (4): 20% Might Duration (5): +100 Power (6): +20% Might Duration; +5% damage while under the effects of might. Feet Stats: Soldier's Superior Rune of Strength Superior Rune of Strength (1): +25 Power (2): +10% Might Duration (3): +50 Power (4): 20% Might Duration (5): +100 Power (6): +20% Might Duration; +5% damage while under the effects of might.

Accessories Amulet Stats: Berserker (Power/Precision/Ferocity) Ring 1 Stats: Berserker's Ring 2 Stats: Berserker's Earring 1 Stats: Berserker's Earring 2 Stats: Berserker's Back Stats: Berserker's

Equipment Variants

• Superior Rune of Strength

  Superior Rune of Strength

  (1): +25 Power (2): +10% Might Duration (3): +50 Power (4): 20% Might Duration (5): +100 Power (6): +20% Might Duration; +5% damage while under the effects of might.
  can be swapped for any preferred power based rune.
• Superior Rune of the Traveler

  Superior Rune of the Traveler

  (1): +8 All Stats (2): +5% Boon Duration (3): +12 All Stats (4): +10% Boon Duration (5): +16 All Stats (6): +25% Movement Speed; +10% Condition Duration
  or
  Superior Rune of Speed

  Superior Rune of Speed

  (1): +25 Vitality (2): +10% Swiftness Duration (3): +50 Vitality (4): +20% Swiftness Duration (5): +100 Vitality (6): +20% Swiftness Duration; increase movement speed by 66% when under the effect of swiftness
  if swiftness isn't being applied enough.

Food & Consumables

• Superior Sharpening Stone
• Bowl of Asparagus and Sage Salad

Usage

• Since mantras must be channeled after use, they work well in the ebb and flow of zerg vs zerg. Fights last a limited time and are followed by regrouping, letting a mesmer refresh their mantras for the next push.
• Power Return

  1

  Power Return

  Instantly heal yourself.

  Healing: 2,620
  will remove 2 conditions when traited with
  Mender's Purity

  Mender's Purity

  Remove a condition when you heal.

  Conditions Removed: 2
  . With 3 charges on a 10 second cooldown, a mesmer can forgo other condition removal.
• Mantra of Distraction

  2¾

  20

  Mantra of Distraction

  Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will daze your target.

  Extra Toughness While Channeling: 600

  Number of Casts: 2
  should not be used on the frontline of a zerg due to their high stability uptime. Even if you daze several targets it's unlikely you'll gain great effectiveness. It's much more reliable to interrupt backline necromancers and elementalists.
• If you choose to target the frontline, aim for the commander(if you can find him) with
  Mantra of Pain

  2¾

  1

  Mantra of Pain

  Mantra. Meditate, charging a spell that will damage your target.

  Extra Toughness While Channeling: 600

  Number of Casts: 2
  for heavy damage. When the commander dies the zerg tends to lose coordination and lets your frontline wipe theirs.
• Using
  Time Warp

  ¼

  180

  Time Warp

  Glamour. Create an area that warps time, granting you and your allies quickness while slowing enemies.

  Quickness (1s): Skills and actions are 50% faster.

  Slow (1s): Skills and actions of enemies are 50% slower.

  Number of Targets: 5

  Pulses: 11

  Duration: 10 seconds

  Radius: 360

  Combo Field: Ethereal

  Range: 1,200
  will create an ethereal field. If your frontline blasts or leaps through it, they'll gain
  Chaos Armor

  35

  Chaos Armor

  Give yourself chaos armor, which gives yourself random boons and your foe random conditions whenever you are struck.

  Chaos Armor (5s): Give yourself random boons and your foe random conditions whenever you are struck.

  Protection (5s): -33% Incoming Damage

  Regen (3s): 390 Heal

  Swiftness (3s): 33% Movement Speed

  Blindness (3s): Next outgoing attack misses.

  Confusion (3s): 65 Damage On Skill Use

  Cripple (3s): -50% Movement Speed

  Range: 1,200
  for additional boons. Staff lets you open a zerg fight with
  Chaos Storm

  ¼

  35

  Chaos Storm

  Create a magical storm at the target location that applies random conditions to foes and random boons to allies.

  Damage: 129

  Aegis (3s): Block the next incoming attack.

  Retaliation (3s): Reflect incoming damage back to its source.

  Swiftness (3s): 33% Movement Speed

  Chilled (1s): -66% Movement Speed, -66% Skill Recharge Rate

  Poison (4s): 134 Damage, -33% Heal Effectiveness

  Weakness (2s): -50% Endurance Regeneration, 50% Fumble (Unrestricted)

  Daze (1s): Unable to use skills.

  Number of Targets: 5

  Radius: 240

  Combo Field: Ethereal

  Range: 1,200
  which also creates the field.

Counters

• Thieves can be troublesome due to stealth uptime, high pressure and blind. It's best to avoid them.
• If an enemy zerg runs into your backline you must reposition and avoid them. Backliners are there for DPS not tanking, trying to fight in melee range won't work.