(PVP)
I tried to explore a bit more builds for this beta, but I found that I wasn’t very successful. It’s not for lack of viable builds to try out:
- Dom/Dueling still goes with everything, even Chronomancy.
- Chaos/Illusions Makes for an interesting condi build
- Dueling/Illusions Makes for an interesting Phantasm-Shatter or pure Phantasm
- Dom/Illusions Makes for a pure Phantasm build
- Chaos/Inspiration For an awesome support build.
There is a lot you can pair up with Chronomancy and still come out with a pretty viable build. But for me specifically, one build pulled at my heart and never let go; never left any room for me to show love to any other spec.
Clockdown – Domination / Chaos / Chronomancy
- Sword+Shield/Staff (Or Greatsword)
- Runes of Hoelbrak – Sigils of Fire/Energy/Hydromancy(on staff) – Marauder Amulet
Here’s a video of the build in a ranked match.
Edit: Well that video kind of sucks for the sake of demonstrating the build.. but this one doesn’t!
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THE UNEXPECTED BUILD THAT SHOULD’VE BEEN EXPECTED
The thing is, with all the builds I had theorycrafted in anticipation for the beta (especially regarding support builds) I had never actually expected this particular setup to become my main build. I was simply experimenting with a well build, and my thought process went a little something like this …
Me: Alright, so .. Wells. First up, I’ll need a way to keep people from moving out of wells, so that must mean..
Chaos: You already know, buddy. ;D When have I ever let you down?
Me: Chaotic Interruption makes sense, each interrupt will keep them trapped in a well. And so does using staff, I mean all the wells are Ethereal fields, so …
Chaos Exactly! I was made for a Well build! Ethereal Fields, Staff Traited for Chaos Armor, Chaos STORM! Alacrity! =D Your staff cooldowns will wither! And Chaotic Interruption is also BOUNTIFUL interruption! Meaning each interrupt will make your wells do more damage.
Me: You’re gonna stop cutting me off, Chaos line.
Chaos: … Sorry boss.
Me: Alright, so Chronomancer, Chaos .. that leaves one more traitline to specialize in.
Inspiration: Oh boy! =D You know how much you love playing support, so-
Me: Dueling! Clone production and damage!
Dueling: Sweet!
Inspiration: … Oh, well.. I guess that works too…
DUELING/CHAOS/CHRONO – ALMOST PARADISE
So my first attempt ended up being Dueling/Chaos/Chrono. Dueling’s Deceptive Evasion grandmaster adds an element of smoothness to the build, making it easy to pump out clones and shatter when needed for both offense and defense. I also figured that Blinding Dissipation would help keep me safe while inside of my wells. I ended up grabbing Phantasmal Fury – Blinding Dissipation – Deceptive Evasion.
With a steady supply of perma fury, vigor on crit and blind on shatter, Dueling offered me plenty to work with. iWarlock hit like a truck, I had shatters out the butt and I felt pretty kitten versatile. It was a lot to manage and a very technical build, sure, but nothing that I felt was particularly beyond me.
Yet I felt… Off.
Me: Sorry Dueling, but it’s just not working out.
Dueling: What do you mean its not working out? Dueling always works out! In any build! Look! /flex
Me: Yeah, and you work in this build, but you don’t excel in it… I just don’t feel like I’m getting enough benefit from specializing in you.
Dueling: Two words, buddy: Deceptive freakin’ Evasion.
Me: That’s thre-
Chaos: Get outta here Dueling! You think you’re so popular because everyone always takes you well not this time! Right boss!?
Me: … >_> This is getting weird even for me.
Inspiration: So.. Without Dueling, I guess that means some survivability and sustain are needed huh? Have you TRIED Mental Defense out with Chronophantasma and Signet of the Ether? =D Now’s the time right? Right?
Me: Right. Now is the time for Domination.
Inspiration: … Oh man. =[
SOMETIMES POTENTIAL JUST ISN’T ENOUGH
Despite the potential damage, I wasn’t hitting hard enough. Plus.. Shatter-based builds really aren’t my playstyle, so Domination was next. I wanted damage and more control, and even though Confounding Suggestions didn’t feel like the best fit (though, admittedly, without Mantra of Distraction it always feels weird.) and I didn’t have the best clone production to make use of Shattered Concentration, I was nailing interrupts left and right even without trying, which meant I needed Halting Strike Power Block.
Oh.. What a difference just one trait can make.
Shield has two chances of interruption, Chaos Storm has 6 chances of interrupting, Gravity Well has 3 chances of interrupting and I always have the on-demand interrupt of [F3]. But lets rewind a bit to Gravity Well.
Gravity Well (or tides of time) + Halting Strike is such a win! The damage is fantastic, and allows me to make a build that doesn’t focus on shatters but still has to make tactical and intelligent use of them.
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(edited by Chaos Archangel.5071)