Clone

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Disambig icon.png This article is about the skill type. For the Wintersday activity skill given to Mesmers, see Clone (Snowball Mayhem).

A clone is one of the two types of illusions created by the mesmer, primarily intended to distract the enemy: Clones mimic the appearance and basic behavior of the caster, but have significantly lower health and do relatively little damage. Upon creation, clones focus only on their targeted foe, persisting until the clone's target is defeated or the clone expires through damage, being shattered or being replaced by a new clone.

Mechanics[edit]

  • Clones are created by any skill with a type of clone.
  • A clone is also created when a phantasm expires after its attack has been completed or interrupted.
  • Unlike phantasms, clones display the same name and targeting badge as the mesmer who created them.
  • They are affected by boons, area effects, and conditions, but not by environmental hazards such as lava.
  • A clone's basic attack is the same as the caster's first weapon skill, e.g. Spatial Surge for clones created while wielding a greatsword. Clones have approximately 1 second of delay between attacks, meaning they attack slower than the player. All effects of attacks such as conditions caused by Winds of Chaos still apply.
    • Clones summoned while holding a bundle will default to wielding a sword.
    • Clones summoned while under a transformation that replaces one's weapon will sometimes replicate the skills of the transformation.
  • Although base damage of clones is near zero, they can apply conditions and boons depending on traits selected and their attack skill. Their purpose is to distract opponents, attract aggro, and be shattered by the mesmer to produce damage and other effects.
  • Only a limited number of clones can be created at one time. This is shown through the following icon Clone active.png when present but when not present the following icon Clone inactive.png is used.

List of clone skills[edit]

Weapon skills[edit]

# Skill Weapon Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description

Mesmer icon small.png Mesmer

2 Bladecall.png Bladecall Dagger 5 Clone. Throw a fan of daggers that return to you. Summon a clone if this attack hits at least one target.
1 Ether Clone.png Ether Clone Scepter 0.75¾ Clone. Deliver a damaging attack directly to your target. Summon a clone that casts Ether Bolt. Inflict torment instead if you have the maximum number of illusions.
2 Illusionary Counter.png Illusionary Counter Scepter 2 6 Clone. Block the next attack, and counter by inflicting torment and creating clones that cast Ether Bolt.
2 ChainCounterspell.png Counterspell Scepter 0.5½ Shoot out a bolt that blinds enemies in a line and summons a clone to attack the first foe it strikes.
3 Illusionary Leap.png Illusionary Leap Sword 0.5½ 12 Clone. Summon an illusion that leaps at your target, crippling them. After the initial leap, the clone will execute the Mind Slash sword chain.
4 Illusionary Riposte.png Illusionary Riposte Sword 20.25¼ 12 Clone. Block your foe and create an illusion when attacked.
2 Mirror Blade.png Mirror Blade Greatsword 0.75¾ 5 Throw an illusionary blade that creates a clone at its first target and then bounces to enemies and allies, dealing less damage to foes per hit and granting might to allies.
2 Journey.png Journey Rifle 0.5½ 5 Clone. Shoot a bullet through a portal. It reappears above the target location and explodes, damaging enemies and healing allies. Create a clone if you hit an enemy or ally.
2 Phase Retreat.png Phase Retreat Staff 10 Clone. Teleport away from your target, summoning a clone that casts Winds of Chaos.
2 Feigned Surge.png Feigned Surge Spear 10.75¾ 8 Clone. Surge toward your foe, striking enemies on the way and creating a clone upon reaching your initial target.
2 Mind the Gap.png Mind the Gap Spear 0.5½ 5 Clone. Swing your spear in a circle, dealing increased damage to foes in the outer edge. Striking with the outer edge will always deal a critical hit. Create a clone and gain Clarity if you hit an enemy. If you are empowered, gain might.
3 Imminent Voyage.png Imminent Voyage Trident 0.75¾ 12 Clone. Retreat back, summoning a clone to attack your foe while granting chaos armor to nearby allies.

Mirage icon small.png Mirage

2 Lingering Thoughts.png Lingering Thoughts Axe 0.75¾ 0.25¼ Spin forward and strike multiple times, inflicting conditions and leaving a mirage at your starting position. If an enemy is near the mirage when it expires, a clone is summoned.

Utility slot skills[edit]

Skill Underwater skills Activation.png Tango-recharge-darker.png Description

Mesmer icon small.png Mesmer[edit]

Decoy.png Decoy 20 Clone. Gain stealth and summon an illusion to attack your foe.

Virtuoso: Stock a blade.
Mirror Images.png Mirror Images 25 Clone. Summon two clones to attack your foe.

Virtuoso: Stock two blades.

Related skills[edit]

Mesmer icon small.png Shatters
Mesmer icon small.png Utility skills
Mirage icon small.png Weapon skills
  • Mirage Thrust.png Mirage ThrustAmbush. Lunge at your foe and strike them with your sword, briefly dazing them. Leave behind a clone at your original location.
  • Axes of Symmetry.png Axes of Symmetry — You and all your axe clones shadowstep to a random location around your target and strike, applying confusion. This attack breaks enemy targeting, and your illusions change focus to the targeted foe.

Related traits[edit]

See also: Illusion#Related traits
Dueling.png Dueling
Chronomancer.png Chronomancer
Mirage.png Mirage

Notes[edit]

  • Clones summoned automatically, such as by Deceptive Evasion, target the enemy nearest to them upon creation.
  • The approximate Weapon strength of each clone is listed below:
Weapon Weapon Strength
Min Max Midpoint
Axe 26 31 28.5
Scepter 31 37 34
Sword 19 22 20.5
Greatsword 26 27 26.5
Staff 25 27 26

Version history[edit]

Patch Changes
May 11, 2021
  • (Undocumented) Clones now self-destroy without effect if they fail to damage a target for more than 5 seconds.
February 06, 2018
  • Phantasms can no longer be shattered and no longer count toward your maximum illusion count. Phantasms are destroyed and then replaced by clones after completing their unique attack or if their attack is interrupted.
  • Fixed a bug in which downed clones could persist after a rally. Fixed a bug in which downed clones could exceed the illusion limit.
August 25, 2015
  • Fixed a bug that allowed players to rally off mesmer clones.
June 23, 2015 Specialization update:
  • Summoned clones will now show your equipped off-hand weapon.
  • Fixed a bug in which underwater clones did not show tridents.
September 09, 2014
  • Mesmer clones now spawn with the correct weapon even if the casting player swaps weapons.
April 18, 2014
  • Fixed a bug that caused Mesmer clones to receive rune bonuses from their master.
February 05, 2014
  • Fixed a bug in which mesmer clones and phantasms would shatter prematurely if their target went into stealth.
October 01, 2013
  • Enabling player nameplates now causes mesmer clone nameplates to display.
June 25, 2013
  • Mesmers can no longer create clones of siege golems.
May 28, 2013
  • Clones now attack ranger pets even if the ranger is out of range.
April 30, 2013
  • Decreased the clone base hit points by 25% in PvP and WvW.
  • Increased the clone base hit points by 28% in PvE.
March 01, 2013
  • Mesmer clones in WvW once again display their weapons.
December 17, 2012
  • Fixed an issue where Mesmer clones and illusions would spawn in with no equipment during tournaments.
October 22, 2012
  • Fixed a crash when resurrecting a Mesmer clone created with the Deception skill.
October 01, 2012
  • Updated all phantasms and clones available to the mesmer to ensure they activate within their range.
August 28, 2012 Game release:
  • Clones have been added to the game.