Mesmer - Core Power Mesmer

The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good

Focused on: Strike damage

Designed for: Open World, Open World General and Open World Core

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on January 15, 2023 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

Core Power Mesmer open world build that has moderate damage and is a good introduction to the Mesmer class as a whole, needing to rely on its clone generation and shatters to succeed.

Skill Bar

Sword/Sword

Greatsword

Utility

Weapon Variants

• Focus - CC and area damage / vuln

Skill Variants

• Phantasmal Defender - phantasm that taunts
• Portal Entre - an incredibly powerful tool available to Mesmers. Use it to transport others to places they might not normally be able to reach or to shorten distances when looping back to areas.
• Feedback - if having trouble with projectiles.
• Mantra of Concentration - if you need multiple successive stun breaks.
• Signet of Humility - if fighting champions or bounties with defiance bars.

Template Code

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Specializations

• If you are not using a greatsword, replace Bountiful Blades with Empowered Illusions.

Equipment

Ascended gear and stat infusions are not required; you can use exotic gear with the same stats.

Head
Berserker

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Assassin

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Sword
Berserker

Sword
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Greatsword
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

Infusion
x14

Infusion
x4

• This set uses the same gear as Build:Virtuoso - Power DPS, making it good for general PVE. This is because it is simply not worth it to get a gear set optimised for core mesmer. It relies on virtuoso's Quiet Intensity trait to reach 100% critical chance.
• If you do not have stat infusions, switch your head armor to Assassin stats.

Consumables

Food

• Any ascended food is superior to any other food you could use. Steak for power, flatbread for conditions. Budget versions of these foods exist and are acceptable.
• - farming
• , - DPS
• - defense

Utility

• (and variants) - farming
• , - dps

Usage

Damage

Your highest damage skills are Phantasmal Berserker, Phantasmal Swordsman, Phantasmal Disenchanter, and Mirror Blade.

Burst Opener

Against bosses and other durable enemies, try to follow this opening burst.

1. Phantasmal Swordsman from range
2. Weapon swap before entering combat
3. Phantasmal Berserker
4. Phantasmal Disenchanter
5. Signet of the Ether
6. Phantasmal Berserker
7. Weapon swap
8. Phantasmal Swordsman in melee
9. Blurred Frenzy
10. Phantasmal Disenchanter
11. Auto attack. Most of the auto attack damage comes from the third skill, Mind Wrack

Rotation

Begin with the Burst Opener denoted in the above section. Keep auto attacking until you can begin this rotation.

1. Blurred Frenzy
2. Phantasmal Swordsman
3. Weapon swap
4. Phantasmal Berserker
5. Mirror Blade
6. Mind Stab now all your damage skills are on cooldown, so use auto attacks until the next step is ready.
7. Phantasmal Disenchanter and keep auto attacking until the next step is ready.
8. Phantasmal Berserker ⇒ Signet of the Ether ⇒ Phantasmal Berserker
9. Weapon swap
10. Phantasmal Swordsman
11. Blurred Frenzy
12. Phantasmal Disenchanter

Repeat from step 1.

Notes

• Cast Mind Wrack with 3 clones.
  • If you want to minmax, you can use Cry of Frustration if Mind Wrack is on cooldown and you know you will have 3 clones again by the time Mind Wrack comes off cooldown. If you're unsure, just don't use Cry of Frustration because it is a minimal damage increase.
• Cast Mantra of Pain off cooldown.

Defense and sustain

• Remember you can dodge attacks with Blurred Frenzy, or block them with Illusionary Riposte.
• Distortion is an amazing skill to make yourself invulnerable, with the duration increasing with each clone shattered. If the boss is doing a long attack you can use Distortion to completely ignore it and keep doing damage.
• You have essentially no sustain but, in exchange, you deal really high damage.
• If you find this playstyle too complicated you can swap Signet of the Ether for Ether Feast. This simplifies the rotation by reducing the number of times you use phantasms, and you can get more healing and more often from Ether Feast, but is a huge damage loss.

Crowd Control

• Signet of Humility
• Diversion
• Illusionary Wave
• Illusionary Riposte ⇒ Counter Blade