Me-A Neutral IW

Forum Link Code:[url=]Me-A Neutral IW[/url]

This build has been successfully vetted by the GuildWiki community according to the vetting procedure.

This build has been designed for the following use:

This build has been archived in userspace, at User:Dervish Mazta/builds/Neutral IW, because of the impending builds wipe. Editing this article is likely a waste of time.

The Neutral IW uses Illusionary Weaponry to deal armor-ignoring damage and chance of double strike, while staying alive by keeping Dark Escape and Feigned Neutrality up constantly. This gives the Mesmer 150 armor (60 + 10 + 80) and +7 health regeneration while dealing substantial damage. Designed for PvP but can be used effectively in PvE.

Attributes and Skills

Mesmer / Assassin	Attribute Rank
Illusion Magic	12 + 1 + 3
Shadow Arts	12
Dagger Mastery	3

Equipment

Max armor with +10 when enchanted
Superior Rune of Illusion Magic
Superior Rune of Vigor
Rune of Purity
2 Runes of Vitae
Crippling (for Return) Daggers with of Enchanting suffix and "I have the power" +5 Energy inscription (because none of the +damage% mods will affect the damage from IW)

Usage

Start by casting Illusion of Weakness and followed by Feigned Neutrality to heal if no monk.
Choose your target, Armor level does not matter.
Against Normal Opponents: Cast and Maintain Illusionary Weaponry, Deadly Paradox and Feigned Neutrality (in order) then attack. Cast Death's Charge after Deadly Paradox if you need to close the gap.
Against Armor Ignoring Opponents: Cast and Maintain Illusionary Weaponry, Deadly Paradox, Dark Escape and Feigned Neutrality. Always remain in Dark Escape stance. Since Deadly Paradox will no longer affect Feigned Neutrality it will be used half as often.
When reapplying enchantments, casting Death's Charge can be a good healing boost before Feigned Neutrality.
You should be almost indestructible, but if for whatever reason Illusion of Weakness triggers then fall back using Return and heal.

Counters

Enchantment removal.
Energy denial.
Kiting.
Interrupting or removing Illusionary Weaponry will make this build useless.
Heavy health degeneration such as Burning, Poison or Conjure Nightmare.
Life Stealing and other armor ignoring damage.
Stoneflesh Aura

Variants

For Alliance Battles Resurrection Signet isn't important, so Illusion of Haste give you ways of kiting.
Assassin primary; lower damage but stronger.
Exchange Return for Distortion. This will sap energy but can be more effective at protecting yourself.
Replace Return for Shadow Refuge to help further counter degeneration.
Add Caltrops to snare kiting foes.
For PvE, consider bringing a scythe (with the same preferred mods as the daggers) in a second weapon slot. The scythe will do a steady 24 DPS instead of the average 36 DPS of the daggers (32 if you don't count double strikes). However, if two or three foes are adjacent you do a nice 48 or 72 DPS respectively. Change between the daggers and scythe as the situation warrants.
Death's Retreat can also be used instead of Return, or with Return to retreat further back.

Notes

Monks such as the Build:Mo/A Blessed Escaper using Return can be chased using Death's Charge.
The points in Dagger Mastery are there to increase the chance of double striking. Having 9 Dagger Mastery will allow you to use a decent pair of daggers and deal decent damage even when IW is removed.
Deadly Paradox does not need to be kept up constantly - as of this note, any skills activated while Deadly Paradox is active activate and recharge 50% faster, they do not slow down when Deadly Paradox ends. Use this when activating any Assassin skills, such as Death's Charge or Dark Escape (or Shadow Refuge if equipped).