Sidenode Virtuoso

November 2023

Virtuoso is a sidenoder heavily based on projectiles. As mesmer it has access to a potentially game-breaking elite: Signet of Humility. This version is an excellent matchup into condition-based builds and offers good utility in team fights.

Build Fundamentals

Virtuoso doesn’t have clones, instead, it stores up to 5 blades. Every core Mesmer skill that would usually give you a clone now gives you a blade, you also have access to Psychic Riposte, which is your main way to build up blades.

Blocking not only stocks up 3 blades but gives you Quickness via Duelist's Reversal, which creates very interesting counterplays.

Your main sources of damage are your Shatters (Bladesongs) Bladesong Sorrow and Bladesong Harmony, which you’ll want to use with a high amount of Blades to deal as much damage as possible.

When you can’t use Bladesongs, cycle through your weapon skills.

On Scepter, you should spam Illusionary Counter, if you won’t proc the block effect of it, remember to use the 2nd part of the skill for Blinded and additional Blade. Confusing Images is a very good damage skill but it makes you very exposed, don’t be scared to cancel it for a block or an evade.

On Axe, Overload Air is a very powerful damage skill but it locks you in animation so use it with care. Axes of Symmetry scales with your blades like you shatters but unlike them it doesn’t consume the blades. The Prestige and Phantasmal Mage are better used in melee to get the full effect of it. Those skills deal considerable burst damage thanks to The Pledge.

Sustain

Virtuoso survivability is based on blocks, a lot of them. Every Bladesong gives you Aegis. You want to use Bladeturn Requiem every time you’re about to get pressured, its cooldown is quite low so you can afford to spam it. Note that you don’t need more than 1 Blade to get full defensive value from it, using Bladeturn Requiem with extra Blades will only increase the duration of the spinning blades, which don’t hit very hard.

On top of their effects and damage, all your Bladesongs will also heal and cleanse you because of Ego Restoration, which paired with their cumulative low cooldown, create sort of “defense through offense” gameplay.

Signet of Midnight is your get-out-of-jail card, you should be able to escape any sort of pressure after using it, avoid using it if not absolutely necessary. Another great defensive tool is Blade Renewal, which should be used for the distortion it gives you as stocking Blades on this build is very easy with blocks and clones.