Build:Me/A Illusionary Weaponry UW Farmer

A Mesmer build using Illusionary Weaponry and a Scythe to reliably farm the Smite Crawlers of the Underworld. The whole run can be done either solo or with a team of heroes assisting you in clearing the Labyrinth's chamber. The variant with heroes allows you to kill the Skeletons of Dhuum while playing solo lets you keep the entirety of the gold coins drops (~1k per run).

Attributes and Skills
[build prof=Me/A ill=11+1+3 ins=6+1 fas=2 sha=12][Optional][Channeling][Sympathetic Visage][Ancestor's Visage][Illusionary Weaponry][Shroud of Distress][Dwarven Stability][Dark Escape][/build] If playing without heroes :



If using heroes to clear the chamber :
 * - This summon will allow you to kill the Skeletons of Dhuum in an 1v1 situation. Let the summon tank the Skeleton once you get under 50% hp.
 * - This spell also allows you to 1v1 the skeletons, but is riskier than Summon Ruby Djinn.

Armor

 * Standard armor set with full Stalwart Insignias, 2 runes of Vitae and the highest Vigor rune possible.

Weapons

 * A Scythe with a +5 energy mod and a Shelter or a Fortitude mod. No Zealous/Vampiric mods.
 * A one-handed weapon with a Fortitude mod and a shield with a +10 vs Slashing inscription and a Fortitude mod (Keht's Aegis is perfect for this). This will be the set you'll use during the run.

Grasping Darknesses (only if playing without heroes)

 * Take the quest "Clear the Chamber" from the Lost Soul, wait ~5 seconds then aggro the Grasping Darknesses spawning from the southwestern corridor with Dark Escape, under Dwarven Stability. Cast Mantra of Resolve when in position for the kill. Ice Wastes patrol map.jpg
 * Cast Sympathetic Visage, wait ~3 seconds, then cast Channeling, Illusionary Weaponry and Shroud of Distress. Autoattack the Graspings to death while cycling your Visages. Repeat the same procedure for the two other groups.
 * If a Dying Nightmare followed you to the kill spot, let it remove your Dwarven Stability then cast Sympathetic Visage followed by Illusionary Weaponry and Shroud of Distress. Autoattack the Dying Nightmare then resume your kill sequence.

The Run (only if playing without heroes)

 * Switch to your one-handed weapon/shield set.
 * Watch the eastern chamber. Time your run carefully so you don't aggro the patrol with Grasping Darknesses and a Dying Nightmare nor the wandering eastern chamber Skeleton of Dhuum. The other patrol (two Aatxes going left and right) must be engaged in the open to reduce any risk of bodyblocking. LosingGraspingsaggro.png
 * Cast Dwarven Stability, then begin running. Cast Dark Escape when aggroing the first enemies. After passing through the gate, you'll need to run to the wall in front of you (see the zone marked red on the image on the right) to de-aggro all the Grasping Darknesses following you (the ones from the first chamber).
 * It doesn't matter if Dying Nightmares strip you of Dwarven Stability during the run.
 * If things go completely south (rubberbanding), cast Mantra of Resolve then Shroud of Distress to survive the Grasping Darknesses' attacks.
 * Wait a little bit, cast Dwarven Stability again then run to the Ice Wastes with Dark Escape (again, do not aggro the patrol of Grasping Darknesses+Dying Nightmare). Run past the first Skeleton of Dhuum.

Skeletons of Dhuum (only if using the variant with heroes)

 * Before engaging a skeleton, check for problematic patrols which could disturb you. If everything is all clear, proceed.
 * Cast Shroud of Distress, Summon Ruby Djinn, Dwarven Stability, Dark Escape and Illusionary Weaponry, then rush at the skeleton.
 * Keep hitting the skeleton until you see Shroud of Distress activating. Run back until the skeleton engages the summon (you'll regain some health in the process). When it does, autoattack him again. The skeleton should now be dead.
 * Always stay out of Bone Spike/Flurry of Splinters lethal range (~150 HP). The Djinn is sturdy and does a fair amount of damage, with correct health management you should have no difficulty taking down the skeletons.

Smite Crawlers

 * Always aggro the Smite Crawlers one group at a time. You can't tank more than five of them.
 * Aggro the first group of Smite Crawlers. Cast Shroud of Distress, Channeling, Illusionary Weaponry, Dwarven Stability, Dark Escape. Cast Sympathetic Visage when the first Smite Crawler is on you, then begin autoattacking. Now cycle between your Visages, renew your enchantments and Dwarven Stability -> Dark Escape as soon as possible, autoattack the Smites to death.
 * They should quickly die. Repeat the same procedure for every Smite Crawler group in the Ice Wastes.
 * Use Illusionary Weaponry followed by two/three autoattacks against Dying Nightmares (let them rip one of your enchantments first).