Fast Casting



Fast Casting is the Mesmer primary attribute, which means that only characters who have chosen to be a primary Mesmer can put points into this attribute. While Fast Casting has a limited number of skills linked to it, the passive benefit it provides is more than enough by itself.

Effects of Fast Casting


Fast casting reduces the amount of time required for casting spells according to the following formula:

Each rank reduces casting time by aproximately 4.73%. Note that this is multiplicative, rather than additive, so with 9 ranks of Fast Casting, casting time is reduced to roughly 66.1% (0.955^9) rather than roughly 57.4% (1 - 9*0.0473).

Because of the progressive cost of attribute ranks and the effects of aftercast delay, the "sweet spot" is generally considered to be 7 to 9 points total in Fast Casting (6 to 8 before runes), which leaves enough free attribute points to raise a second attribute to 12 and a third attribute to 10 or 11. 7 points reduces casting time by 28%, while 9 points takes 33% off. Higher values are recommended for builds that focus on Fast Casting skills.

Investing in Fast Casting is wise, since many Mesmer skills require that you place a hex at a critical moment (for example, casting Backfire just before an enemy casts a spell; having the ability to cast Backfire in less than two seconds when it would usually take three is an extraordinary advantage).

Fast Casting also enables the Mesmer to cast more spells. It depends on available energy, casting time and recharge time, but in general a Mesmer can cast four spells while any other profession casts three. Alternatively, the saved time can be used for other purposes, such as moving or regular attacking.

Below is a table listing the reduced casting times of spells that would normally take from one-quarter to eight seconds to cast. The times in this table are rounded to the nearest hundredth of a second; it is unknown how Guild Wars does its rounding.

Associated Skills
Currently there are only eight Fast Casting skills, half of which are elite. Most Fast Casting skills relate to the activation or recharge time of spells or signets. Fast Casting skills also include Symbols of Inspiration, an Energy management skill, and Arcane Languor, the only Mesmer skill which inflicts Exhaustion.

Warning
Fast Casting only benefits spells. There is no change to the "casting" time for signets, rituals, glyphs, traps, attacks, preparations, shouts, chants, echoes, stances, general skills, or any other skill type. This is a common misunderstanding among new players.

Also, keep in mind aftercast delay is not reduced, which makes Fast Casting less useful for spamming spells that already cast quickly.