Virtuoso - Power Virtuoso

The community gave this build a rating, making it top-tier: Great

Focused on: Strike damage

Designed for: Open World and Open World General

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

Easy

This build was last updated on August 08, 2025 and is up to date for the August 19, 2025 patch.

Overview

Power Virtuoso is a relatively simple build with good burst damage. Virtuosos cannot summon clones. Instead, they stock Blades. This has the disadvantage of clones no longer tanking for you, but the advantage of Blades persisting after combat unlike clones which die after the fight.

Power virtuoso has great burst damage, but lacks boon generation compared to power chronomancer which shines in longer fights.

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Skill Bar

Weapon 1: Dagger

Weapon 2: Sword

Weapon 3: Spear

Weapon 4:

Healing skill: Signet of the Ether

Utility skill 1: Rain of Swords

Utility skill 2: Mantra of Pain

Utility skill 3: Blink

Elite skill: Thousand Cuts

Weapon Variants

Spear - Usage of land spear requires Lowland spear from Janthir Wilds.

• Greatsword - replaces spear for players without Janthir Wilds, requires the trait Bountiful Blades
• Mainhand Sword - can replace dagger to trade damage for the strong defensive utility of Blurred Frenzy and boon removal of Mind Spike.
• Focus - Can replace offhand sword for the very helpful pull of Temporal Curtain, but you lose acces to the block of sword and its slightly higher damage.

Skill Variants

Healing

We default to Signet of the Ether which combines healing and damage by refreshing your phantasm skills. In rare situations, another option can be considered:

• Ether Feast - sacrifices damage for its higher healing or condition cleansing.

Utility

We default to:
Rain of Swords provides good AoE damage. Shouldn't be replaced unless really needed.
Mantra of Pain provides instant cast damage. Can be replaced.
Blink provides great mobility and stun break. Can be replaced.
If you want or need to run other skills, here are some suggestions:

• Mantra of Resolve - condition cleanse for yourself and nearby allies.
• Feedback - projectile reflection.
• Mantra of Concentration - personal stunbreak and AoE stability.
• Portal Entre - utility.

Elite skill

We default to Thousand Cuts for its good damage. If required, it can be replaced by:

• Signet of Humility - deals high cc for deleting break bars.

Specializations

Dueling: Top, Bot, Top

Illusions: Mid, Mid, Top

Virtuoso: Mid, Mid, Mid

Variants

• Bladeturn Refrain - sacrifices damage for extra defense.

Domination

Domination can be taken over Illusions if you are playing in a group providing you permanent Quickness and Might.

Domination: Mid, Mid, Top

Variants

• Bountiful Blades if using greatsword.

Equipment

• Ascended gear is not required.

Rune: 6 Superior Rune of the Scholar

Infusion 1:

Infusion 2:

Relic: Relic of Fireworks

Weapon 1: Dagger

Weapon 2: Sword

Sigil 1: Superior Sigil of Force

Sigil 2: Superior Sigil of Accuracy

Weapon 3: Spear

Weapon 4:

Sigil 3: Superior Sigil of Force

Sigil 4: Superior Sigil of Accuracy

Main stats: Berserker

Head stats: Assassin

Legs stats: Assassin

If you are gearing this character from zero, start with exotic quality gear. Search the trading post for "Zhed" armor, "Uzoku" dagger, "Bonetti" sword, "Impaler" spear, and "Ebonblade" greatsword. Upgrade to ascended gear as you progress. See also: Guide:How to Gear a Character.

• We default to Relic of Fireworks, but you can use Relic of Zakiros to trade a minor amount of damage for sustain, Relic of the Cavalier to start combat with boons, or Relic of Durability for a little extra defense.
• For defense, equip the highest tier Jade Core you can afford. Use defensive food or skills if required.

Consumables

Budget consumables are acceptable for use in open world.

DPS

• Prioritize Steak Ascended food.
• Plate of Spicy Moa Wings / Bowl of Sweet and Spicy Butternut Squash Soup
• Superior Sharpening Stone / Tin of Fruitcake

Defense

• Bowl of Orrian Truffle and Meat Stew
• Fried Oyster Sandwich
• Bowl of Lemongrass Mussel Pasta

Farming

• Prioritize Steak Ascended food.
• Birthday Blaster / Feast of Delectable Birthday Cake
• Peppermint Omnomberry Bar
• Sharpening Skull (and variants)

Usage

This build plays very similarly to core mesmer. Clones are replaced by Blades and persist after combat. Shatters are replaced by Bladesongs. Once you stock 5 Blades, use Bladesong Harmony.

Damage

The build is very simple to use.

• Prioritise your phantasm skills for damage and Blade generation. Use Signet of the Ether to cast Phantasmal Lancer twice, but only when empowered by Clarity from Mind the Gap.
• On dagger, spam Bladecall and Unstable Bladestorm off cooldown.
• Only use Bladesongs when you have 5 Blades stocked to get 2 back from Infinite Forge. This is extremely important because, unlike condition virtuoso, your Blade generation is quite slow.

Defense

• Never stop moving, get out of enemy attacks or dodge them.
• When using sword, Blurred Frenzy dodges incoming attacks for 1 second. Use this to avoid attacks instead of dodging.
• Illusionary Riposte is a block.
• If you need condition cleanse, slot Mantra of Resolve.
• Imaginary Inversion is an extra dodge and removes conditions.

Crowd Control

• Illusionary Riposte ⇒ Counter Blade - daze.
• Bladesong Dissonance - daze.
• Mental Collapse - stun if used with Clarity from Mind the Gap.
• Illusionary Wave - knockback (greatsword only).
• Temporal Curtain > Into the Void - pull (focus only).