The Rewinder is the epitome of reducing cool downs. In addition, it mixes both a Shatter build and a Phantasm build – two things that would normally be mutually exclusive prior to HoT.
Below is the basic build:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAseRncfCtfilfC+fCEgilnj6sACgDr+PT0FFdx+gHD
Gear
-Runes are Chronomancer Runes for lots of self quickness.
-I haven’t filled out the rest of the Gear section because really you could do a lot of things with it. I use Berserkers/Assassins in PvE because that’s what I had and it works well, but you could also go with tankier options depending on your needs (i.e. a Bunker)
-The Greatsword is optional. I use it because it allows me to get some Illusions going as I pull or close the distance, but in group PvE you’d probably be better suited with something else. You have a lot of phantasm production without the second weapon set, so something with a longer CD like Warden would probably be useful, or you could go for extra blocking via Scepter and/or OH Sword. Though you already have really high up time on active defenses.
PvE
So far the build has been very effective for soloing PvE. It looks like it would definitely have some potential for a tankier “raid tank” type build, but we still don’t know a lot about what to expect there. I’ve been primarily using it for soloing HoT content. For a party I’d swap out Gravity Well for Time Warp, but with Chrono Runes and Well of Action you don’t really need it when solo.
PvP
I’ve only tried the build a little bit in unranked PvP and it’s done decent so far, but all of your defenses are active so you have to be on your toes. You also lack mobility unless you swap a Well for Blink and a big part of the build is the damage you deal passively on-point from your wells while hiding behind your Phantasms and Active Defenses. (Note: I swap Recall for Precog in PvP). However, I primarily use this for PvE, I just thought I’d provide my experiences in PvP.
Traits Explanation
Illusions
Minors: 20% illusion CD reduction and Shatter CD reduction is very helpful.
Persistence of Memory: Combined with Chronophantasma a full Phantasm Shatter will reduce your Phantasm CDs by 12 seconds each (Avenger, Defender, and whatever your other weapon set is – Berserker for me in general PvE).
Phantasmal Haste: Not much else along this line that helps, you’re mainly in it for the minors and Persistence of Memory, but this one is fitting even if it doesn’t currently work on the Avenger.
Master of Fragmentation: For a more tanky build you might want ineptitude, but you’ll be shattering often so this is very useful.
Inspiration
Minors: These don’t do a lot for the build but add some nice support options.
Persisting Images: Not absolutely necessary, but you don’t get much out of the other two. Could be swapped for Medic’s Feedback for a more supportive option.
Restorative Illusions: This is your Condi removal and some decent self healing. Well of Eternity is also a potent condi cleanse with the Minor.
Mental Defense: Grants you a third Phantasm who helps keep you alive (very useful for me in berserker stats). You have numerous ways to trigger him. His CD is also very short when you take into account Illusionist’s Celerity, Persistence of Memory, and self Alacrity.
Chronomancer
Minors: This is pretty self explanatory. Shield, Continuum Split, Alacrity on Shatter and Time Marches on is just gravy.
All’s Well That Ends Well: This, combined with Shattering, guarantees your CDs will all be much shorter.
Improved Alacrity: Synergizes with shatter and well alacrity.
Chronophantasma: Lets you shatter your Phantasms twice, which, again, combined with all of the Alacrity and Persisting images means your Phantasm summon CDs will be short.
There you have it, a shatter build that allows you to pump out Phantasms at a high rate, maintain a high uptime on active defenses, and still provide your party with lots of Alacrity (the main thing we’ll be wanted for in PvE raiding). Damage wise there are probably better options, but the berserker stats with so many active defenses and AoE well damage is serving me very well in solo PvE and not getting totally smashed PvP queues (i’m only a soso PvPer).
With a triple phantasm double shatter my Echo of Memory (block) is approximately an 8-9s CD, Blurred Frenzy is similar. So that’s 7.5s of Evasion/Blocking on a less than 10s CD and those very skills are what summon your main 3 phantasms (2x Avenger + Defender). Besides that you still have Distortion, Dodges, and possibly Well of Precog to mix in as necessary – plus whatever you chose for your other weapon set. I basically just tank for my Phantasms and let them + Wells do their thing, though my Berserker stats mean I add in a bit of damage with blurred frenzy and auto-attacks.
Of course, your active defenses fall apart if you’re not being actively attacked (no Defender and no second Avenger) – which since I’m wearing Berserker gear is actually preferable to me. When that happens I just swap to my other weapon set (GS), get a few illusions going and work on setting up a Continuum Split Well Bomb.
What do you think? Any suggestions?
(edited by Dastion.3106)