Blinding Fever

Kills are slower than pre-nerf Mesmerway, but the heavy blind/daze offers a powerful defensive layer on top of the mesmer shutdown, "Save Yourselves!" (Luxon) , and ST Spirits.

• Additional hex removal from the recently-buffed Hex Eater Vortex can rival pre-nerf Energy Surge damage output in hex-heavy areas.
• The recent AI update and buff to Spirit Siphon make it arguably one of the best energy management skills in the game. Channeling Magic is also an excellent secondary trait line with easy access to burning from Spirit Burn and hard damage from Ancestors' Rage .
• Fevered Dreams is good at spreading conditions, but Extend Conditions really amplifies it. While Extend Conditions sacrifices damage, it has excellent scaling with Inspiration magic and still complements Fevered Dreams and Fragility. Mods that enhance condition duration also stack with it.
• Hypochondria was considered, but ultimately abandoned as the defensive potential of blind/daze is much more useful in Hard Mode over the minor damage from Fragility.

Assassin skill choices:

Exhausting Assault - Extra shutdown to interrupt key skills, protect the party, and IAS.

Unseen Fury - Powerful defensive option which can be permanently maintained with Shadow Theft . Benefits from conditions spreading and Blinding Surge. Helpful for bypassing blocking skills often found on physical NPCs like rangers and assassins. Also useful as a first line of defense when dropping into a ball before spirits have come up, or to defend your own backline.

Return - Alternate to Unseen Fury. Increased mobility and unconditional cripple if Maiming Spear can’t trigger.

The composition is defensive enough that "Save Yourselves!" (Luxon) or Critical Agility can be be dropped as needed in favor of other PvE skills like Asuran Scan or "I Am Unstoppable!" .

Counters:

• Non-fleshy foes are immune to Bleeding and Poison, reducing options for conditions.
• Conditions transfer skills like Plague Signet , Plague Sending , Plague Touch