User:Zerris/Build:Me/any Mesmerizing Thief

The objective of this build is less to kill any one target in particular then to shut down (or kill) everybody on the opposing team simultaneously. To do this, the Mesmerizing Thief uses a wide variety of conditional hexes that can stop each style of play. Once it has shut down all major sources of damage or healing, it then helps slowly kill off the main target.

Equipment
Armor Weapons
 * Sentry's Insignias and a Rune of Superior Vigor
 * Adept 20/20 Inscribed Staff of Mastery

Skills

 * Backfire is a general Spellcaster shutdown. It should be used primarily against Elementalists, Mesmers, and Necromancers.
 * Diversion is a shutdown skill for builds that need quick recharge. It should be used primarily against Monks and always against [Build:R/N Touch Ranger|Touchers].
 * Empathy is a general attacker shutdown. It should be used primarily against Warriors, Paragons, and Rangers.  It should always be used against Assassins, especially [Build:A/W Berserking Shadow|Burst] Assassins.
 * Wastrel's Worry is a damage skill when used against an opponent who has already been shut down. They are forced to either cast through their shut down (hurting / disabling them) or deal with the damage.  Should be used after all major threats have been dealt with.
 * Distortion is an anti-attacker skill. It should be used to keep one safe from the very popular and previously mentioned Burst Assassins.
 * Ether Feast is a general Healing skill. Use it when you need healing.
 * Simple Thievery is like a re-useable Resurrection Signet. Find the most likely person to have 7 Spells and a Res Sig.  This is generally an Elementalist or a Necromancer.  Use it to steal their Res Sig (stopping them from ressing for a bit)and use it. It will disable it on your bar, but as soon as Simple Thievery recharges, you can do this trick again.  Also useful for stealing skills like Glyph of Lesser Energy or Blessed Signet from Monks.
 * Resurrection Signet should be used if: 1) You stole the wrong skill with Simple Thievery, 2) You already used/can't use the Res Sig from Simple Thievery, or 3) you don't have time to steal a Res Sig.

Usage

 * First, cycle quickly through the targets. Identify any of the folowing: A/W, E/Any, R/N, Mo/Any, Me/Any.  Deal with these first.
 * Cast Empathy on the most dangerous looking Assassin. A/W always comes first.  They are the quickest threat.
 * Cast Backfire on any Elementalists. E/A is the biggest threat, as they have spike potential.
 * Cast Diversion on any R/N, as they are most likely Touchers and will be severely crippled by it.
 * Cast Empathy on any remaining attacker characters, in order of threat. (A, W, R, P, D)
 * Cast Diversion on any remaining Casters in order of threat (E, Mo, Me, N, Rt)
 * Repeat the above steps as often as neccessary to make sure all opponenets are properly shut down. Use Ether Feast when you need to heal and Simple Thievery to res allies.

Counters

 * Hex removal of Backfire or Empathy.
 * Other Mesmers targeting you.
 * Lag.