For a checklist guide to going through the PvE campaign, look in Appendix:
Mesmer PvE Checklist [gwmeg9e].  It lists the most efficient way to unlock all
of the Mesmer skills in the game in order.

————————————
- General Mesmer Tactics (gwmeg6a) -
————————————

Note that many of these techniques are useful in PvP as well, and are not
limited to a PvE setting (unless specified otherwise).

Focus Fire
==========
The most efficient and effective way to deal damage to enemies is to have all
of the party members attacking a single target, typically in the order of
Healer, then Spellcasters/Archers, then Warriors.  The easiest way to have
everyone attack the same target is to “Call” a target by holding down CTRL and
double-clicking on an enemy.  Everyone can target the most recently called
target by pressing T, then spacebar or a hotkey to attack.  Rangers are in a
good position to call targets, as they often don’t have to move to attack a
target, and they generally don’t have to watch health bars or the skill bar. It
is important that there is only ONE target caller… having multiple targets is
confusing and not a good idea in general.

Babysitting
===========
Mesmers, however, often can benefit the team better by not focusing on the
target that everyone else is attacking, as a Mesmer can often shut down an
opponent one-on-one while the rest of the team kills a different opponent. A
good Mesmer shutdown build can stop 2-3 spellcasters or 2-3 warriors (but
probably not both).  In any case, to get the maximum benefit out of hexes, it
is often best to “soften” other targets up, while the team deals with the target
that is being focused.  Mesmers can also identify the most dangerous target and
solely act as a guardian, preventing the dangerous foe from using its skills.
This is often called “Babysitting”.

Skill Buffering
===============
Sometimes you want to chain several spells or skills in rapid succession. There
is a technique called “buffering” that allows you to use a skill almost
immediately after another skill.  Basically, while your first skill is being
cast and “flashing”, hit a second skill.  The second skill won’t cancel out the
first skill, and will fire off immediately after the first skill finishes. Note
that you need to have enough Energy in reserve to use the second skill to
buffer it, but the Energy isn’t taken away until the skill is actually cast.

Status Reports
==============
If you hold down CTRL and click on various places, you can relay important
information to your team.  For example, holding down CTRL and clicking your
Energy bar will announce your current and maximum Energy to the team.  While
doing this many times in a row can be annoying and detrimental to teamwork, it
is a quick and efficient way of telling your teammates that you have low Energy
or you are Crippled or you are using a Resurrect on a fallen teammate.  Often,
you can agree ahead of time that when someone uses CTRL-click to show that he
or she has low Energy, the team will then take a breather and let the Energy
regenerate.  It also avoids the confusion of multiple people Resurrecting a
fallen teammate.

———————-
- Questing (gwmeg6b) -
———————-

Pre-Searing Ascalon
===================
The beginning of the PvE game starts you off in an easier version of the game
often called Pre-Searing Ascalon.  Before you leave Pre-Searing and go into
Post-Searing, be sure you’ve gained your secondary class, done the Resurrect
Signet quest, and found all of the quests that give Mesmer skills:
* Mesmer Test (from Sebedoh the Mesmer outside Ascalon City gates)
* A Mesmer’s Burden (from Lady Althea in Lakeside County)
* Domination Magic (from Vassar in Foible’s Fair)
I would also do as many quests as you can handle, but this is purely for
experience points.  One of the quests in Pre-Searing Ascalon also gives a skill
point, so you should probably complete that one as well. I typically don’t
leave Pre-Searing Ascalon until I’ve hit at least level 7, as it will make the
going easier on the initial missions.

Gaining Skills
==============
Remember that gaining skills as a quest reward does not cost skill points.
There are many skills that are offered by both a Trainer and a quest. It is
almost always better to get it as a quest reward than using up skill points
to buy them from a trainer.  Be sure to look at your whole quest list before
you buy a skill and make sure that skill isn’t on any of your rewards. Trainers
tend to only offer skills that are rewarded before you meet the trainer (i.e.
skills that you “missed”).  When in doubt, delay buying the skill until you
reach the next big town.  The Mesmer PvE Checklist [gwmeg9e] that I’ve written
in the Appendices can be helpful in this regard.

Any time you get a new skill, re-evaluate your build… is your build better
with this skill? Can you start a new build entirely? How can you best integrate
the skill into your style of play?

Capturing Elites
================
Starting in the Crystal Desert (the pre-Ascension missions), Mesmers can start
to capture Elite skills from the Bosses.  They have a purple glowing aura around
them, and are found throughout the missions and areas after the Amnoon Oasis.
All you have to do is kill a boss, then use a Signet of Capture while you are
near its dead body.  A menu will show up, and you can select a skill from the
boss’s list.  Elite skills are bordered in gold.

The Doppelganger battle
=======================
The Mesmer battle against the Doppelganger can be difficult without some
knowledge and preparation.  Distortion will allow you to dodge the Doppelganger
bow attacks.  Empathy and Backfire can be used to give the Doppelganger some
damage, while you take along worthless enchantments (like Soothing Images) to
cast on himself to trigger Backfire.

One trick to handle the Doppelganger is the fact that you can use skills on
yourself just before you enter the Doppelganger’s chamber by stepping on the
third rune.  Thus, you can prepare yourself with Stances and Enchantments, then
wait for your Energy to recharge before taking on the Doppelganger. A good way
to exploit this is to use Illusion of Weakness, Distortion, or Physical
Resistance just before you enter.

Illusion of Weakness can also be used to kill the Doppelganger, as it is not
triggered by DoT.  Just bring Conjure Phantasm, Phantom Pain, and Illusion of
Weakness.  You can use Illusion of Weakness before you enter, and regain your
Health and Energy before starting combat.  Then simply lay on Conjure Phantasm
and Phantom Pain on the Doppelganger.  You can use Distortion to dodge the
arrows, and if the Doppelganger uses Illusion of Weakness, it will take a lot
of damage, probably killing it in the process.