Empathy

Acquisition
Skill Quests: Skill Trainers who will teach this skill before it is unlocked:
 * Prophecies:
 * Mesmer Test (Lakeside County - Pre-Searing)
 * The Mesmer's Path (given when changing secondary, not when completing quest)
 * Factions:
 * Mantid Hatchlings (Monastery Overlook)
 * Locate Mei Ling (Sunqua Vale)
 * Prophecies:
 * Sir Bertran (Ascalon City (Post-Searing))
 * Dakk (Ember Light Camp)

Usage Notes

 * Empathy is one of the Mesmer's most valuable skills. Enemy Warriors attacking allies will quickly find themselves causing more damage to themselves than to their target. Human enemies will usually cease attacking, while PvE Mobs will happily cause massive damage to themselves.


 * Although it can be used on enemies of every profession, this skill is most useful against enemy Warriors, Rangers, and Assassins since these professions tend to attack more quickly, which in turn means they will be damaging themselves more quickly.


 * This skill has a faster cast time and recharge rate than its sister skill, Backfire. Its duration varies with Domination Magic, so with Domination 5 or higher it can be kept up constantly on a target.


 * A strategy for PvP use involves casting Backfire on the enemy Monk then Empathy on the primary target of the moment. Most often that primary target won't notice and will quickly cause large amounts of damage that the Monk can't help him with because of Backfire.  Should the Monk decide to be valiant and heal despite Backfire, the massive damage penalty will make him an easy target.


 * This skill triggers not only when the target attacks normally, but also when they use an attack skill.


 * Because Empathy triggers on each attack, and not on each successful hit, it can be used with Spirit of Failure to doubly punish would-be attackers. This will either net you a lot of damage and energy, or an opponent who is unwilling to fight.  Both scenarios are great for your party.

Related Skills

 * Backfire
 * Clumsiness
 * Ineptitude (Elite)
 * Insidious Parasite
 * Soul Leech (Elite)
 * Spiteful Spirit (Elite)