This build utilizes Ineptitude alongside other illusion magic skills to shut down attacks and ease caster shutdown while dealing armor ignoring damage.
You activate Spells and Signets 40% faster. (No effect for non-Mesmer skills with a cast time less than 2 seconds.) In PvE, the recharge time of your Mesmer Spells is reduced by 33%.
PropheciesMesmer. Illusion Magic 16IneptitudeElite Hex SpellFor 4 seconds, the next time target foe or any adjacent foes attacks, that foe takes 142 damage and becomes Blinded for 10 seconds.100.615
EotNMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Wandering EyeHex SpellFor 4 seconds, the next time target foe attacks, that attack is interrupted and all nearby foes take 115 damage.51.212
NightfallMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Signet of ClumsinessSignetIf target foe is attacking, that foe and all adjacent foes are interrupted and take 63 damage. Any foes using attack skills are knocked down.0.28
CoreMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Arcane ConundrumHex SpellFor 16 seconds, Spells cast by target foe and all adjacent foes take twice as long to cast. When this hex ends, you gain 7 Energy.101.220
Fevered DreamsPropheciesMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Fevered DreamsElite Hex SpellFor 26 seconds, whenever target foe suffers from a new condition, all foes in the area suffer from that condition as well and if that foe has two or more conditions that foe is Dazed for 3 seconds.10210 – for caster shutdown and condition spread in condition heavy teams. Combine with Fragility and Accumulated Pain.
Variable skill slots:
Damage and Shutdown
ClumsinessCoreMesmer. Illusion Magic 16ClumsinessHex SpellFor 4 seconds, the next time target and any adjacent foes attack, the attack is interrupted and target foe suffers 97 damage.1028 – additional damage and shutdown.
Calculated RiskEotNMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Calculated RiskHex SpellFor 25 seconds, target foe's attacks do +10 damage, but there is a 50% chance that the damage from each attack will be done to that foe instead. (Maximum 106 damage.)517 – for targets not affected by the AoE of your other anti attack skills. Ideally used on targets with AoE attacks to work like Pain Inverter.
FrustrationNightfallMesmer. Illusion Magic 16FrustrationHex SpellFor 21 seconds, target foe casts Spells 50% slower and takes 53 damage whenever interrupted. If a skill is interrupted, Frustration deals double damage.1017 – additional damage against key foes; Wandering Eye, Clumsiness and Signet of Clumsiness also count as interruption and will trigger frustration. If a target is hexed with both clumsiness and wandering eye both will trigger at once and trigger frustration's damage each. If an attack skill was used, only one of the frustration damage triggers is doubled.
Cry of PainNightfallMesmer. Sunspear rank Cry of PainSpellInterrupt target foe's skill. If that foe was suffering from a Mesmer Hex, that foe and all foes in the area take 25..50 damage and -3..5 Health degeneration for 10 seconds. PvE only.10¼15 – additional pressure with initial, optional interruption.
Condition Interaction
FragilityCoreMesmer. Illusion Magic 16FragilityHex SpellFor 21 seconds, target and adjacent foes take 21 damage each time they suffer or recover from a new Condition.515 – in condition heavy teams.
Accumulated PainFactionsMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Accumulated PainSpellTarget foe takes 79 damage. If target foe is suffering from 2 or more Hexes, that foe suffers a Deep Wound for 21 seconds.5212 – inflict deep wound.
EpidemicCoreMesmer. UnlinkedEpidemicSpellSpread all negative Conditions and their remaining durations from target foe to all foes adjacent to your target.5¼5 – spread key conditions like deep wound.
"You Are All Weaklings!"EotNNo Profession. Norn rank "You Are All Weaklings!"ShoutTarget foe and foes adjacent to target are Weakened for 8..12 seconds. PvE only.512 – damage reduction of attacking foes; ideally used with Fevered dreams.
Energy Management
Drain EnchantmentCoreMesmer. Inspiration Magic 9Drain EnchantmentSpellRemove an Enchantment from target foe. If an Enchantment is removed, you gain 13 Energy and 88 Health.5220 – energy management with enchantment removal.
Drain DelusionsNightfallMesmer. Inspiration Magic 10Drain DelusionsSpellRemove one Mesmer Hex from target foe. If a Hex was removed in this way, that foe loses 4 Energy and you gain 4 Energy for each point lost.5¼10 – energy management; remove Arcane ConundrumCoreMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Arcane ConundrumHex SpellFor 16 seconds, Spells cast by target foe and all adjacent foes take twice as long to cast. When this hex ends, you gain 7 Energy.10220 only. Set inspiration magic and fast casting to 9+1.
Glyph of Lesser EnergyCoreElementalist. Energy Storage 0Glyph of Lesser EnergyGlyphFor the next 15 seconds, your next 2 Spells cost 10 less Energy to cast.5130 – replace Power Drain and don't pick other inspiration magic skills. Increase fast casting to 12+runes.
Utility
Ethereal BurdenPropheciesMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Ethereal BurdenHex SpellFor 10 seconds, target foe moves 50% slower. When Ethereal Burden ends, you gain 19 Energy.151.530 / Kitah's BurdenFactionsMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Kitah's BurdenHex SpellFor 10 seconds, target foe moves 50% slower. When Kitah's Burden ends you gain 19 Energy.151.530 – if a snare is required.
"I Am Unstoppable!"EotNNo Profession. Norn rank "I Am Unstoppable!"ShoutFor 16..20 seconds, you have +24 armor and cannot be knocked down or Crippled. PvE only.530 – knockdown prevention.
"By Ural's Hammer!"EotNNo Profession. Deldrimor rank "By Ural's Hammer!"ShoutFor 30 seconds, all dead party members in earshot are resurrected with full Health and Energy. Resurrected party members deal 25..33% more damage. When this effect ends, affected party members die. This skill does not incur a death penalty. PvE only.560 – resurrection.
Use your staff or 40/40 set illusion magic for general casting purposes.
Switch to your high energy set when needed.
Switch to your 40/40 set inspiration magic for casting inspiration magic skills.
Switch to your shield set when under attack or idle.
Build:
Use Arcane ConundrumCoreMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Arcane ConundrumHex SpellFor 16 seconds, Spells cast by target foe and all adjacent foes take twice as long to cast. When this hex ends, you gain 7 Energy.10220 on the largest group of foes, preferably hitting casters.
Regain energy by removing it again with Drain DelusionsNightfallMesmer. Inspiration Magic 10Drain DelusionsSpellRemove one Mesmer Hex from target foe. If a Hex was removed in this way, that foe loses 4 Energy and you gain 4 Energy for each point lost.5¼10, if your brought that skill.
Deal damage against balled up attacking foes utilizing IneptitudePropheciesMesmer. Illusion Magic 16IneptitudeElite Hex SpellFor 4 seconds, the next time target foe or any adjacent foes attacks, that foe takes 142 damage and becomes Blinded for 10 seconds.10115, ClumsinessCoreMesmer. Illusion Magic 16ClumsinessHex SpellFor 4 seconds, the next time target and any adjacent foes attack, the attack is interrupted and target foe suffers 97 damage.1028, Wandering EyeEotNMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Wandering EyeHex SpellFor 4 seconds, the next time target foe attacks, that attack is interrupted and all nearby foes take 115 damage.5212 and Signet of ClumsinessNightfallMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Signet of ClumsinessSignetIf target foe is attacking, that foe and all adjacent foes are interrupted and take 63 damage. Any foes using attack skills are knocked down.¼8.
Regain energy by interrupting spells with Power DrainCoreMesmer. Inspiration Magic 9Power DrainSpellIf target foe is casting a Spell or Chant, that Skill is interrupted and you gain 19 Energy.5¼20.
Counters[]
Passive and kiting foes.
Knocked down foes.
Damage hexes running out due to the casting time prolonged by Arcane ConundrumCoreMesmer. Illusion Magic 16Arcane ConundrumHex SpellFor 16 seconds, Spells cast by target foe and all adjacent foes take twice as long to cast. When this hex ends, you gain 7 Energy.10220 when an insufficient amount of interruption is supplied by the team.
Lyssa's Aura Illusion Magic Hero for less shutdown yet more damage, fueling frequent usage of FrustrationNightfallMesmer. Illusion Magic FrustrationHex SpellFor 5..17..21 seconds, target foe casts Spells 50% slower and takes 5..41..53 damage whenever interrupted. If a skill is interrupted, Frustration deals double damage.1017 and ClumsinessCoreMesmer. Illusion Magic ClumsinessHex SpellFor 4 seconds, the next time target and any adjacent foes attack, the attack is interrupted and target foe suffers 10..76..97 damage.1028.
Fevered Dreams – for caster shutdown and condition spread in condition heavy teams. Combine with Fragility and Accumulated Pain.
Clumsiness – additional damage and shutdown.
Calculated Risk – for targets not affected by the AoE of your other anti attack skills. Ideally used on targets with AoE attacks to work like Pain Inverter.
Frustration – additional damage against key foes; Wandering Eye, Clumsiness and Signet of Clumsiness also count as interruption and will trigger frustration. If a target is hexed with both clumsiness and wandering eye both will trigger at once and trigger frustration's damage each. If an attack skill was used, only one of the frustration damage triggers is doubled.
