Build:Mesmer - Core Power Mesmer (2024)

This build was last updated on May 26, 2024 and is up to date for the March 19, 2024 patch.

Overview

Core Power Mesmer open world build that has really good burst damage and good sustained damage. It also serves as a good introduction to the Mesmer class as a whole, needing to rely on its clone generation and shatters to succeed.

Skill Bar

Weapon Variants

• Focus - can replace offhand sword to trade some damage for the really strong ability to pack mobs together with Temporal Curtain.

Skill Variants

Most mesmer utility skills focus on utility instead of damage. This build recommends Mantra of Pain Phantasmal Disenchanter and Blink for a balanced mix of damage and utility. But you can consider other options.

• Phantasmal Defender - phantasm that Taunts, but it has a really long cooldown and bad damage.
• Portal Entre - a utility skill used to transport yourself and others. Useful to shorten distances when looping back to areas or during jumping puzzles.
• Feedback - to reflect projectiles.
• Mantra of Concentration - if you need multiple successive stun breaks.
• Mantra of Resolve - if you need to cleanse dangerous conditions.
• Signet of Humility - if fighting champions or bounties with defiance bars.

Template Code

Specializations

• If you are not using a greatsword, replace Bountiful Blades with Empowered Illusions.
• If you are levelling up your character, unlock your specializations in this order: Domination -> Illusions -> Duelling

Equipment

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

• 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 optimized for core mesmer. It relies on virtuoso's Quiet Intensity trait to reach 100% critical chance.
• Rune of Superior Rune of the Dragonhunter and Rune of Superior Rune of the Scholar are interchangeable.
• 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, traits, or skills if required. If necessary, use Knight trinkets.

Consumables

Budget consumables are acceptable for use in open world.

DPS

• Prioritize Steak Ascended food.
• /
• /

Defense

Farming

• Prioritize Steak Ascended food.
• /
• (and variants)

Usage

Damage

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

The general idea behind the build is to use all your Phantasm skills, then reset their cooldown with Signet of the Ether, and use them again. This provides really good burst damage and good sustained damage. All of these phantasms will become clones after attacking, allowing you to shatter them for great damage with Mind Wrack. You could also use Diversion for crowd control or Distortion for invulnerability.

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. Mirror Blade
8. Mind Stab
9. Weapon swap
10. Phantasmal Swordsman in melee
11. Blurred Frenzy
12. Phantasmal Disenchanter
13. Auto attack. Most of the auto attack damage comes from the third skill, Mind Spike

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 whenever you have 2 charges.
• Mind Stab will interrupt whatever you're doing (except using your heal skill) to cast it. So be careful not to interrupt yourself during an important skill like Phantasmal Berserker.

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