Illusion

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

• A mesmer can maintain up to three clones at a time, with the most recently created clone replacing the oldest one. Phantasms do not count towards this limit, but the illusions they create after attacking and disappearing do.
• A mesmer can summon illusions on different targets. If a target dies, the illusion assigned to it will die as well, but illusions summoned on another target remain functional.
  • Phantasms will carry out the rest of their attack after their target dies, but they will leave no clone behind.
• Illusion's inherit most of their base attributes and stats from the summoner:
  • Same as mesmer: Power, Precision, Condition Damage, Condition Duration, Boon Duration, Critical Damage, armor, and Healing Power. Illusions will benefit from the mesmer's might stacks, as well as any effects that increase the above stats.
  • Not inherited from personal stats: Vitality, and secondary +(%Damage), +(%Critical Chance), or +(%Condition Damage); for example, Superior Sigil of Force, Superior Sigil of Bursting, Superior Sigil of Accuracy, Superior Rune of the Berserker (sixth bonus), or Superior Rune of the Ranger (sixth bonus) does not affect the Illusions.
  • Illusion stats, which includes the ones that can not be inherited (health/vitality), can be modified by various skills, traits, boons, or conditions.

Health

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

List of illusion skills

Weapon skills

#	Skill	Weapon			Description
Mesmer
2	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	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	Staff		10	Clone. Teleport away from your target, summoning a clone that casts Winds of Chaos.
3	Phantasmal Warlock	Staff	0.75¾	15	Phantasm. Summon illusions that deal damage and inflict conditions.
1	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	Scepter	2	6	Clone. Block the next attack, and counter by inflicting torment and creating clones that cast Ether Bolt.
3	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	Sword	20.25¼	12	Clone. Block your foe and create an illusion when attacked.
5	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	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	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	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	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	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	Trident	0.75¾	12	Clone. Retreat back, summoning a clone to attack your foe while granting chaos armor to nearby allies.
4	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	Deception		0.5½	15	Clone. Shadowstep and create a downed clone of yourself to attack foes in range.
3	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
4	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	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
2	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

Illusion training.

Skill				Description
Mesmer
Decoy			20	Clone. Gain stealth and summon an illusion to attack your foe. Virtuoso: Stock a blade.
Mirror Images			25	Clone. Summon two clones to attack your foe. Virtuoso: Stock two blades.
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		1	20	Phantasm. Summon an illusion that removes boons from targets it hits. This attack deals increased damage against foes without boons.

Related skills

See also: Clone#Related skills

Slot skills

•   Signet of the Ether — Signet Passive: Heal yourself whenever you summon an illusion. Signet Active: Heal yourself and reduce the recharge of phantasm skills.  Virtuoso: Passive triggers when stocking a blade.
•   Illusionary Ambush — Deception. You and all your illusions shadowstep to a random point around your target and gain Mirage Cloak. Illusions' actions are interrupted when they change focus to the targeted foe.

Related traits

See also: Clone#Related traits

See also: Phantasm#Related traits

• Empowered Illusions (Domination) — Illusions deal increased strike damage.
• Vicious Expression (Domination) — You and your illusions deal increased strike damage to foes without boons. Disabling a foe removes boons from them. Disables include stun, daze, knockback, pull, knockdown, sink, float, launch, taunt, and fear.
• Sharper Images (Dueling) — Illusions inflict bleeding on critical hits.
• Illusionary Inspiration (Inspiration) — Increase healing to other allies. Summoning an illusion heals all allies around you. Virtuoso: Triggers when stocking a blade.
• Compounding Power (Illusions) — Creating an illusion increases your outgoing damage and condition damage for a short duration. Virtuoso: Triggers when stocking a blade.
• Time Catches Up (Chronomancer) — Activating a Shatter gives your illusions superspeed. Shatters deal increased damage to movement-impaired foes.
• Danger Time (Chronomancer) — Gain additional critical-hit chance against slowed enemies. This bonus also applies to your illusions.
• Infinite Horizon (Mirage) — When you gain Mirage Cloak, your illusions also gain it.

Notes

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

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Summons

Spirit Weapons • Legendary Renegades • Banners • Turrets • Spirits •
Fellow thieves • Elementals • Conjured Weapons • Illusions • Minions

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Skill types and profession mechanics