i've been trying some things that seem to be working well:
- energy shield: it's basically an additional layer to protect against oneshots. i'm not sure if you really need to invest in its recovery because you can just rewind it back every 4s
- blink: super fun, makes mapping very fast and synergises with rewind because you don't need to worry about blinking into mobs, and you can explore and backtrack very quickly which helps with annoying layouts. when now and again procs on it, it feels very nice
- marks: offer level 3 support gems to people still in the campaign in exchange for low level skill gems. on rares, i use freezing mark to build freeze faster and sniper's mark for ~38% more crit multi on cold snap
i'm having problems with mana, my cast on freeze comet setup is quite mana intensive but it's ok for mapping since i get refills. but i always run out of charges during extended boss fights
I'm playing entirely with cds. Cof comet, frost bomb and second comment with hourglass. I bought a unique shield that gives 50 % CDs recovery rate with chronomancer now and again node it goes really well
- energy shield: it's basically an additional layer to protect against oneshots. i'm not sure if you really need to invest in its recovery because you can just rewind it back every 4s
Yep. Dunno why is everyone going EB and than making long path to MoM. I picked big ES/int node at beginning of tree (pathing thru cast speed) and fat node at top above big Int node that has like +60% es. Smooth sail thru second difficulty, oneshoting all bosses. Recovery doesnt bother me, i got barely hit and any big hit is just nulified by time rewind.
All the saved EB/MoM points just goes to crit. I migh even try second trigger comet with cast on crit.
Last edited by DwaneDibbley#4615 on Dec 11, 2024, 4:03:41 AM
- energy shield: it's basically an additional layer to protect against oneshots. i'm not sure if you really need to invest in its recovery because you can just rewind it back every 4s
Yep. Dunno why is everyone going EB and than making long path to MoM. I picked big ES/int node at beginning of tree (pathing thru cast speed) and fat node at top above big Int node that has like +60% es. Smooth sail thru second difficulty, oneshoting all bosses. Recovery doesnt bother me, i got barely hit and any big hit is just nulified by time rewind.
All the saved EB/MoM points just goes to crit. I migh even try second trigger comet with cast on crit.
You mind showing this tree? I have some idea of what you're talking about here but I don't think I quite see it.
This thread is getting hard to follow but I'm having an easier time with bosses now. I'd love to see the latest thinking on what support gems to be using. I've seen a lot of suggestions through here.
I will update the guide today, finished t1 maps, have smth to share. Supports are a bit hard to generalize, personal preference matter a lot, also depends on the ascendancy nodes. I.e. if person doesn't get CD resets, there is no real reason to use Second Wind with the Frostbomb.
i've been trying some things that seem to be working well:
- energy shield: it's basically an additional layer to protect against oneshots. i'm not sure if you really need to invest in its recovery because you can just rewind it back every 4s
- blink: super fun, makes mapping very fast and synergises with rewind because you don't need to worry about blinking into mobs, and you can explore and backtrack very quickly which helps with annoying layouts. when now and again procs on it, it feels very nice
- marks: offer level 3 support gems to people still in the campaign in exchange for low level skill gems. on rares, i use freezing mark to build freeze faster and sniper's mark for ~38% more crit multi on cold snap
i'm having problems with mana, my cast on freeze comet setup is quite mana intensive but it's ok for mapping since i get refills. but i always run out of charges during extended boss fights
- So, there is a thing - you either go with ES and have mana problems, or you go with Eldrich Battery and don't have mana problems. Current trending defence layer - slow everything as much as possible. Not helping with the oneshots and offrscreen projectiles.
- Noted. Can't say much, 6th point is CD for me, so blink w/o temporal rift sounds risky.
@monik, I saw you were using an orange lv 3 staff. Does level not matter, just effects?
It is a very strong staff in terms of what it gives, rolled well. I don't use Freezing Shards atm, so its lvl doesn't matter to me.
Lvl of unique rarity staff matters only for the skill it offers (Freezing Shards). If you want to use Freezing Shards - you need a new one with more skill level every time.
Last edited by monik390#5560 on Dec 11, 2024, 6:05:57 AM
I will update the guide today, finished t1 maps, have smth to share. Supports are a bit hard to generalize, personal preference matter a lot, also depends on the ascendancy nodes. I.e. if person doesn't get CD resets, there is no real reason to use Second Wind with the Frostbomb.
1. Introduction.
- Pros and cons
2. Theorycrafting. Mechanics. WTF and how to play it?
3. League start (WIP).
4. Gear progression (WIP).
5. Crafting (WIP).
6. Videos (WIP).
~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
Update log:
Important: For the most relevant info please follow the thread. Some ideas made by other decent exiles and me ain't in the guide yet bc I'm busy playing the game and testing things out. Most of this post was written before the game release, and some parts can be outdated.
I will do a revision of this guide with the most relevant info on 11.12.2024
Spoiler
10.12.2024 - Added 1st map gameplay video.
09.12.2024 - Added lvl 56 passive tree and skills.
09.12.2024 - Added some Cruel vids: Act 1 final boss, Act 2 gameplay and area bossfight.
08.12.2024 - Added Act 3 video with the bossfight.
08.12.2024 - Added endgame passive tree v.0.01 by Casia
07.12.2024 - Added Act 2 passive tree and skill choice.
07.12.2024 - Added early act 2 gameplay video with area bossfight.
07.12.2024 - Added Act 1 progression.
06.12.2024 - Some questions here.
05.12.2024 - Opened the thread. Shared some thoughts.
Sup. Monik is here again, so it's time to make another off-meta build.
It's obvious, that Chronomancers are out of attention after the ascendancy reveal, many people immediately put them off their radar, and not many big content creators are going to play them at all.
I found only Substractem having a very similar idea to me (going Cold Chronomancer).
Personally, I genuinely believe that all classes and ascendancies in PoE 2 are strong, and Chronomancer is not an exception here.
So, this megathread is about Making Chrono Great Again during the early access.
I will share everything I make, discover, and find about this class.
Feel free to share your ideas here too. It is important.
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Before I start theorycrafting, let me mention pros and cons I expect:
- A lot of buttons to press. It needs to be this way.
- Not straightforward to play. A bit tricky.
- Weak to one-shots. Probably.
+ Should be fun af. Really.
+ Definitely strong burst dps.
+ Probably, quite safe to play despite being squishy. Several defensive mechanics here.
I'll make a properly sorted guide later. Here are some of my ideas of how I intend to build and play this sweety.
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Ascendancy choice (pre-alfa version 0.00001):
Important: multiple reports of Apex of the Moment not working atm.
Spoiler
- Now and Again + Undbound Encore are key nodes here, since I intend to utilize several skills with CDs.
- Time Freeze and Temporal Rift are the default 3rd and 4th nodes bc they are fun af, but in some situations (i.e. you want to press fewer buttons), Quicksand Hourglass and Apex of the Moment can be really good.
- I don't think I need life recoup passives here but I can change my mind later.
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Passive tree:
Endgame passive tree made by Casia -
Spoiler
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WTF:
The general idea of the build is to freeze things and hit them hard.
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1. To start with, we are going with Cold spells mostly by default. It is an all-rounded element that gives both offense and defense (chill and freeze).
I think it is the best choice for Chronomancer since we won't have much defense anyway.
I think about having a secondary weapon + passives set of either lightning or fire skills. Depends on what I need. Or can go meme with Hammer of God (probably not xD).
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2. Once again, I intend to use Hourglass support as much as possible, bc Chronomancer is the only class that can utilize it to its full potential. I will test shit here and there to decide which skills would be the best with it.
Atm I think about the Frost Bomb, Comet, Cold Snap (in some variations), and Flameblast/Firestorm. Or Hammer of God, kekw.
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3. Here is the list of the decent interactions between skills:
I. Frostbolt and Ice Nova are our main skills without CD, and we will be using them in 1-2(-3) punch:
Spoiler
I won't put Hourglass with Frostbolt and Ice Nova, since they are our main skills for general use.
Not sure about Cold Snap.
So, WTF to do here:
a1) Use Frostbolt + Ice Nova combo if things are running on you.
a2) Use Frostbolt + Cold Snap on 1vs1.
b) Use Ice Nova if things are around you - it has knockback that will push enemies from you.
c) Use Cold Snap on anything frozen - it will do big damage real quick.
II.Frost Wall - killer spell. Defense, offense, and cc - all in one.
Spoiler
If fortress support will make Frostwall circular, it's GG.
Here is why:
a) Frostwall is segmented, and each segment will do damage when you break it.
b) If fortress makes frostwall circular then the enemy would be surrounded by those segments.
c) Cast some strong aoe shit (Comet, Flameblast, Frost bomb) on this setup to explode all segments at once. Sounds like big damage, yes. If it works.
III. Frost Bomb. Bread and butter of the Cold builds, we have to use it anyway, so let's see what we can do.
Spoiler
I consider putting Hourglass support on this, bc I'm not sure how often I'll use it.
Blind is a very optional but still a nice defensive layer.
Second Wind might be a good idea too.
IV. Flameblast.
Spoiler
This one is the hardest-hitting spell in the game and the most clunky bc we have to channel casting it. So, my initial idea was to use it on slowed/frozen/trapped in frostwall things.
The problem with it - we have to either main fire element or have a secondary weapon and passive tree sets.
Maining the fire element is a bit risky on Chronomancer.
Anyway, I'll test this thing and see how it goes.
I was thinking of using Hourglass on it and the Firestorm on the secondary set.
V. About lightning element.
Not sure. I don't think it's needed on Chronomancer unless Cold Element is damn bad overall.
And we can't fully utilize its potential without the archmage anyway, so screw it.
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4. Skill gems, WIP.
Obviously, I can't tell what is good or bad for now. Everything needs to be tested.
Today I learned that there is only 1 support gem per character, so I remove yesterday thoughts.
However, I'm thinking about giving Frost Bolt and Ice Nova more supporting roles to chill and freeze things efficiently, and using Cold Snap and Comet as the main damage dealers.
So:
Spoiler
1. Frostbolt - Wildshards - Volley (or Multiple Projectiles) - Faster Projectiles (or Slower) - Smth else x2. Could be some damage.
2. Ice Nova - Deep Freeze - Hypothermia - Glaciation - Area of Effect - Spell Echo (if possible). Maximum Freezing power here.
- Focus on Cold Element.
- Get Frost Bomb first. Support gems: Magnified Effect -> Second Wind.
- Ice Nova second. Support gems: Unleash -> Glaciation.
- Frost Bomb + Ice Nova combo is enough to clear small mobs.
- Get Staff with Freezing Shards. Supports: Arcane Tempo (from Flame Wall), can do Frost Nexus. Don't use Chain here, shards are for single target.
- Get Flame Wall. Supports: no need, but get Arcane Tempo, for Freezing Shards.
- Shoot Freezing Shards through Flame Wall for the good single target dps.
- Frostbolt. Supports: Scattershot -> Deceleration.
- I gave an honest shot to Frostbolt + Cold Snap, but it can't beat Freezing Shards at single target dps. At least, for now.
- Final act 1 boss was a problem, took 4 tries.
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Act 2:
Spoiler
Passive tree:
Spoiler
Closer to act 2 boss I started to feel I was doing smth wrong bc I was lacking clear, and gave another shot to cold snap. Yep, I could 1-shot freezer magic monster most of the time.
So, back to 1-2-3 punch described in the post. It was a really smooth sail until Act 2 boss (killed him in 5 tries, was getting used to the second phase in a hard way).
Completely removed the flame wall and freezing shards by then.
Skill gems:
- Frost Bomb: Magnified Effect + Second Wind (I switched magnified with the concentration for the Act 2 boss).
- Ice Nova: Unleash + Glaciation.
- Frostbolt: Scattershot + Deceleration.
- Cold Snap: Controlled Destruction + Concentrated Effect (I switched Conc for Hourglass for the Act 2 boss)
- Hypothermia (curse): Expanse + Heightened Curse.
This is my tree. Ending act 3 now.
I use frostwall + frostbomb to stack freeze and then comet linked with hourglass.
Cast on freeze consumes too much mana and I don't know yet what speel should be used with it. As for 20% slow ascendancy, i think it doesn't work. I even picked 10% increased slow in passive tree, can't see difference.
I respecced to go more into damage from mana on the left side of the tree, not really liking it. Feels like my mana is constantly drained now, anyone else experiencing that? I switched due to random 1 shots from off screen in maps but im kinda feeling like there is a better way to deal with it. Anyone else experiencing this?
