Illusion

From Guild Wars 2 Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Disambig icon.png This article is about the profession mechanic. For the specialization, see Illusions. For the weapon, see Illusion (spear).

An illusion is a type of creature summoned by a mesmer that serves to draw aggro or do damage. They require a foe to be summoned and they will attack that foe until it, or the illusion, dies. If their target is not within their attack range the illusion will first walk into range before attacking. Mesmers can have different illusions attacking different targets by summoning them on said different targets separately.

Illusions come in two types: Phantasms and clones.

  • Phantasms: phantasm are semi-transparent ethereal creations focused on doing damage. Phantasms are created by Phantasm skills, be they weapon or utility skills. These illusions carry a weapon that depends on the ability that invokes them, and they have their own name, like Phantasmal Berserker. Phantasms are ephemeral, they are invoked to attack a target with their high damage, but disappear after performing their special attack. When they disappear, a clone appears automatically in their location. There is no limit to the number of Phantasms that a mesmer can invoke at one time.
  • Clones: clones are perfect copies of the mesmer whose main function is to confuse enemies, who will not be able to differentiate the mesmer from their clones. Clones use the weapon that the mesmer carried at the time of their creation, and only use the basic attack chain to attack. Their damage and attack speed is very limited, and they are relatively fragile. Clones are created automatically when a Phantasm disappears or directly with Clone skills, be they weapon or utility skills. Clones last for as long as they have health and their target does not die or until the mesmer Shatters them. A mesmer can only have up to three clones at any time. Creating a new clone that exceeds this limit will first cause the oldest clone to disappear without effect.

Mechanics[edit]

Health[edit]

Illusion PvE PvP/WvW
Clone 4,171 2,433
Phantasm 5,821 3,396
Phantasmal Defender 12,476 7,278

List of illusion skills[edit]

Weapon skills[edit]

# Skill Weapon Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description

Mesmer icon small.png Mesmer[edit]

2 Mirror Blade.png Mirror Blade Greatsword 0.75¾ 5 Throw an illusionary blade that creates a clone at its first target and then bounces to enemies and allies, dealing less damage to foes per hit and granting might to allies.
4 Phantasmal Berserker.png Phantasmal Berserker Greatsword 0.75¾ 12 Phantasm. Throw an illusionary greatsword at your foe, removing boons from struck enemies. Create a phantasm that whirls through foes.
2 Phase Retreat.png Phase Retreat Staff 10 Clone. Teleport away from your target, summoning a clone that casts Winds of Chaos.
3 Phantasmal Warlock.png Phantasmal Warlock Staff 0.75¾ 15 Phantasm. Summon illusions that deal damage and inflict conditions.
1 Ether Clone.png Ether Clone Scepter 0.75¾ Clone. Deliver a damaging attack directly to your target. Summon a clone that casts Ether Bolt. Inflict torment instead if you have the maximum number of illusions.
2 Illusionary Counter.png Illusionary Counter Scepter 2 6 Clone. Block the next attack, and counter by inflicting torment and creating clones that cast Ether Bolt.
3 Illusionary Leap.png Illusionary Leap Sword 0.5½ 12 Clone. Summon an illusion that leaps at your target, crippling them. After the initial leap, the clone will execute the Mind Slash sword chain.
4 Illusionary Riposte.png Illusionary Riposte Sword 20.25¼ 12 Clone. Block your foe and create an illusion when attacked.
5 Phantasmal Swordsman.png Phantasmal Swordsman Sword 1 15 Phantasm. Perform a sword strike and create an illusion that attacks your foe. If the sword strike hits, you gain might.
5 Phantasmal Warden.png Phantasmal Warden Focus 0.5½ 20 Phantasm. Create a phantasm that throws axes at nearby targets and creates a defensive bubble, protecting itself and allies from projectiles.
4 Phantasmal Duelist.png Phantasmal Duelist Pistol 0.5½ 20 Phantasm. Fire multiple crippling bullets at your target and summon an illusion that unloads its pistols on your target.
5 Phantasmal Mage.png Phantasmal Mage Torch 0.75¾ 20 Phantasm. Strike and burn nearby foes. Create an illusion that releases a massive wave of fire that burns, confuses, and interrupts foes.
2 Feigned Surge.png Feigned Surge Spear 10.75¾ 8 Clone. Surge toward your foe, striking enemies on the way and creating a clone upon reaching your initial target.
3 Phantasmal Mariner.png Phantasmal Mariner Spear 0.5½ 10 Phantasm. Perform an evasive strike and create an illusion that evades while attacking your foe in a flurry.
3 Imminent Voyage.png Imminent Voyage Trident 0.75¾ 12 Clone. Retreat back, summoning a clone to attack your foe while granting chaos armor to nearby allies.
4 Phantasmal Whaler.png Phantasmal Whaler Trident 0.5½ 5 Phantasm. Cast Siren's Call on nearby foes and create an illusion that confuses foes with a harpoon gun.
2 Vanish in the Deep.png Deception 0.5½ 15 Clone. Shadowstep and create a downed clone of yourself to attack foes in range.
3 Phantasmal Rogue.png Phantasmal Rogue 0.5½ 8 Phantasm. Summon a phantasmal rogue that deals increased damage from behind. If the rogue hits, the recharge of this skill is reduced.

Chronomancer icon small.png Chronomancer[edit]

4 Echo of Memory.png Echo of Memory Shield 10.5½ 30 Phantasm. Block incoming attacks for a short duration. If this skill fully channels, summon a phantasm that slows enemies and grants protection to allies. If an attack is blocked, Deja Vu is usable for a short time and the phantasm is summoned instantly.
4 ChainDeja Vu.png Deja Vu Shield 10.5½ Phantasm. Block incoming attacks for a short duration. If this skill fully channels, summon a phantasm that slows enemies and grants protection to allies. If an attack is blocked, the phantasm is summoned immediately.

Mirage icon small.png Mirage[edit]

2 Lingering Thoughts.png Lingering Thoughts Axe 0.75¾ 0.25¼ Spin forward and strike multiple times, inflicting conditions and leaving a mirage at your starting position. If an enemy is near the mirage when it expires, a clone is summoned.

Slot skills[edit]

Illusion training.
Skill Underwater skills Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description

Mesmer icon small.png Mesmer[edit]

Decoy.png Decoy 40 Clone. Gain stealth and summon an illusion to attack your foe.

Virtuoso: Stock a blade.
Mirror Images.png Mirror Images 30 Clone. Summon two clones to attack your foe.

Virtuoso: Stock two blades.
Phantasmal Defender.png Phantasmal Defender 1 40 Phantasm. Summon an illusion that taunts your target and all nearby targets while blocking. When it finishes blocking, the illusion explodes, dealing increased damage for each attack it blocked.
Phantasmal Disenchanter.png Phantasmal Disenchanter 1 20 Phantasm. Summon an illusion that removes boons from targets it hits. This attack deals increased damage against foes without boons.

Related skills[edit]

See also: Clone#Related skills
Mesmer icon small.png Slot skills

Related traits[edit]

See also: Clone#Related traits
See also: Phantasm#Related traits

Notes[edit]

  • Illusions immediately lose functionality when their target dies, but they might not dematerialize straight away.