Hard Mode Air Elementalist

Throughout most of Hard Mode, the foes which cause the greatest threat are physical damage dealers. Warriors, Assassins, Rangers etc.. can be neutralised with Blind. I've been running the following build throughout Hard Mode with great success:

Elemental Attunement {Elite} [Energy Storage]
Air Attunement [Air Magic]
Blinding Flash [Air Magic]
Shell Shock [Air Magic]
Epidemic [Mesmer - No Attribute]
Lightning Hammer [Air Magic]
Lightning Orb [Air Magic]
Pain Inverter [Asura PvE Skill]

Attributes:
Air Magic: 12 + 1 + 2
Energy Storage: 12 + 1

Build Variation:

Air Attunement [Air Magic]
Glyph of Lesser Energy [Energy Storage]
Blinding Surge {Elite} [Air Magic]
Shell Shock [Air Magic]
Epidemic [Mesmer - No Attribute]
Lightning Hammer [Air Magic]
Lightning Orb [Air Magic]
Pain Inverter [Asura PvE Skill]

Both the above builds are used in just about the same way. Use Shell Shock + Blinding Flash/Surge on a mob as they approach. When they're balled up, hit the one you blinded with Epidemic, to spread the condition to all adjacent foes. You can keep packs of melee blinded so easily like this by simply spamming your blind and epidemic. With Dual Attunements, Lightning Hammer can be spammed more freely. Pain Inverter isn't absolutely needed, and can be changed for any PvE skill you want really, such as Light of Deldrimor when you go into a dungeon.

Not great on Heroes, to be honest, since they don't know to use Epidemic after Blinding Flash, but if you play Ele and want an Easy Ride through Hard Mode, be sure to try this.