Part 45

Learn about Guild Wars 2 Mesmer skills like Arcane Conundrum and Water Trident. Discover their energy costs, casting times, and effects.

Mesmers are the most unique class in the entire game. Their Primary Attribute is fast casting, which reduces the casting speed of spells. At level 16, the reduction is approximately 50%. Most Mesmer skills have short casting times to begin with, so this makes then all the more effective. Domination magic always come back to doing damage in one method or another. Inspiration likes to control the energy reserves of others, while illusion is best known for dealing damage over time. Mesmers carry a high number of mantras, mostly from inspiration magic. These mantras are stances, so only one can be active at the same time, but you can often figure out which ones go best in which areas. For instance, Mantra of Frost would be more useful in the Shiverpeak Mountains than Mantra of Flame.

Earth Magic

Energy Cost: 10

Casting Time: 1

Recharge Time: 20

Effect: For 8 to 18 seconds, all allies in this ward have a 50% chance to evade melee attacks.

Comment: Another great ward. This will keep the warriors alive much longer, or, cast it near your casters, so they don't have to run immediately if something breaks through the front lines.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Narius [Henge of Denravi]

Purchase from: Captain Greywind [Ascalon Settlement]

Water Attunement

Attribute: Water Magic

Energy Cost: 10

Casting Time: 2

Recharge Time: 60

Effect: Enchantment. For 26 to 55 seconds, each time you cast a water spell, you gain back 30% of the energy.

Comment: none.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Narius [Henge of Denravi]

Purchase from: Sorim [Quarrel Falls]

Water Trident [Elite]

Attribute: Water Magic

Energy Cost: 5

Casting Time: 1

Recharge Time: 3

Effect: Target foe takes 5 to 53 damage. If that foe was moving, it is knocked down.

Comment: The second almost spammable water skill. This one has better range and damage, plus a knockdown capability. Ward Against Harm is better, but this elite isn't half bad.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Dakk [Droknar's Forge]

Learn from: Berg Frozenfist [Ice Caves of Sorrow], The Judge [Thunderhead Keep] [66% chance to spawn], Boreal Kubeclaw [Frozen Forest]

Whirlwind

Attribute: Air Magic

Energy Cost: 10

Casting Time: .75

Recharge Time: 20

Effect: All adjacent foes take 15 to 51 damage and are knocked down.

Comment: When surrounded, make your escape with this.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Jhoneil [Lion's Arch]

Purchase from: Firstwatch Sergio [Lion's Arch]

Windborn Speed

Attribute: Air Magic

Energy Cost: 10

Casting Time: 1

Recharge Time: 5

Effect: Enchantment. For 5 to 8 seconds target ally moves 33% faster.

Comment: Duration, sucks. Can be cast on other allies though, that's mildly handy.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Tyren [Droknar's Forge]

Purchase from: Bartoch [Droknar's Forge]

Arcane Conundrum

Attribute: Illusion Magic

Energy Cost: 10

Casting Time: 2

Recharge Time: 20

Effect: Hex, for 5 to 13 seconds, all "spells" cast by target foe take 100% longer to cast.

Comment: A nice way to increase the duration of the annoying short spells which are otherwise difficult for even a Mesmer to counter. Another use is to increase the duration of the already long spells, so you can allow the person to almost get it off, and then counter it just before wasting nearly ten seconds of their time for nothing.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Tyren [Droknar's Forge]

Purchase from: Bartoch [Droknar's Forge]

Arcane Echo

Attribute: None

Energy Cost: 15

Casting Time: 2

Recharge Time: 30

Effect: Enchantment. If you cast a "spell" in the next 20 seconds, arcane echo is replaced with that spell for 20 seconds. Arcane Echo ends if you use a skill which is not a spell.

Comment: In my opinion, not terribly useful unless you are using Elementalist skills or another class with very high recharges.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Narius [Henge of Denravi]

Purchase from: Ephaz [Beetletun]

Arcane Mimicry

Attribute: None

Energy Cost: 15

Casting Time: 2

Recharge Time: 60

Effect: Spell, for 20 seconds this skill is replaced with the elite skill from target other ally.

Comment: This can be quite fun, steal life barrier or something and then enchant the party. The main problem is, you only get that skill at the attribute level you have the appropriate skill in, making it quite useless unless someone is the same class as you.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Rocius [Amnoon Oasis]

Purchase from: Avena [Maguuma Stade]

Arcane Thievery

Attribute: Domination Magic

Energy Cost: 10

Casting Time: 1

Recharge Time: 10

Effect: Spell, for 5 to 29 seconds, one random spell is disabled for a target foe. Arcane thievery is replaced with that spell for the duration.

Comment: A somewhat fun skill to use. Not terribly useful as you get a random one, without the linked attribute to boot. Still, if you manage to get a spell which the other person centered the entire build around, win!

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Rocius [Amnoon Oasis]

Purchase from: Tengsao [Amnoon Oasis]

Backfire

Attribute: Domination Magic

Energy Cost: 15

Casting Time: 3

Recharge Time: 20

Effect: Hex. For ten seconds, target takes 35 to 119 damage whenever s/he successfully casts a spell.

Comment: Backfire is often mistaken to being the end all and do all against casters. Yes, it does really big damage and if you can shove it on someone while they're casting a meteor shower or something, nice. But do not expect even the most newbie of players to cast more than one, maybe two spells with this on them. The duration is short, and even at the highest levels, 140 damage is not that much to deal with.

Unlock from [Needed only for PvP]: Garemm [Ascalon City]

Purchase from: Sir Bertran [Ascalon City]