Introduction and what this guide covers
This guide is a complete, practical manual for players who want to dominate fractals after the Visions of Eternity changes. It focuses on the builds that consistently perform well in pickup groups and static teams, explains why those builds are strong in the current environment, and gives actionable rotation, gear, and playstyle advice so you can start clearing higher-tier fractals with confidence. Expect deep, original rewording and clear, tactical guidance for support, power, and condition roles.
Fractals demand a blend of mechanical awareness, team synergy, and build optimization. After VoE, many encounters emphasize mobility, quick windows for damage, and reliable boon coverage. This guide prioritizes builds that solve those problems: sustained boon uptime, burst windows, mobility, and mechanic-safe positioning.
How to read this guide and pick your path
Fractals vary wildly. Some fights punish stacking and force kiting; others require tight burst windows and coordinated cooldowns. Use this guide to match your role to the fractal’s needs. If your group lacks survivability, pick a support that brings boons and stability. If the fractal has short boss windows, bring a high-burst power DPS and coordinate with a Chronomancer or Firebrand. If the fight is long and adds-heavy, a condition build that controls space and applies sustained pressure will shine.
I’ll cover ten builds you should learn, explain their strengths and weaknesses, give rotation and gear guidance, and offer team composition and fractal-specific tips. The builds are presented in order of general utility across fractals, not strict ranking.
Core principles that apply to every fractal run
Mastering fractals is more than picking the right build. These principles are the backbone of consistent clears.
Boon management matters more than raw numbers. A single well-timed Quickness or Alacrity window can multiply your team’s damage far more than a small stat increase.
Mobility and positioning win mechanics. Avoiding damage and staying in safe zones is often more valuable than squeezing out extra DPS.
Cooldown coordination is a force multiplier. Communicate burst windows and defensive cooldowns; a coordinated team clears faster and safer.
Adapt your gear to the fractal. Defensive infusions, condition cleanses, or extra boon duration can be the difference between a wipe and a clean run.
Practice rotations outside fractals. Training golems, open-world bosses, and strike missions are excellent for muscle memory.
Chronomancer — the premier boon support
Why pick it: Chronomancer remains the most sought-after support for high-tier fractals because of its ability to manipulate time, provide Alacrity and Quickness windows, and offer group utility that shortens boss phases and smooths mechanics.
Role and strengths: Chrono is a boon battery and cooldown manager. It enables burst windows for power DPS and helps the team survive heavy mechanics with Distortion and Time Warp. In pickup groups, a Chronomancer often turns a mediocre run into a fast clear.
Playstyle and rotation: Your priority is uptime on Alacrity and Quickness and saving Distortion for clutch moments. Use Time Warp and Continuum Split to create windows where your team can unload damage. Keep Mantra of Resolve and Mantra of Concentration available for emergency cleanses and boon application. For DPS, weave in your damage skills during the Alacrity window but never at the expense of boon coverage.
Gear and stats: Go for a mix that supports your utility: Power/Precision/Ferocity if you want to contribute damage, but prioritize traits and runes that increase boon duration and reduce cooldowns. Infusions that boost boon duration or defensive stats are valuable in T4 fractals.
Team synergy: Pair Chrono with high-burst power classes like Virtuoso or Weaver. Communicate the exact timing of your Alacrity window so DPS can align their cooldowns.
Firebrand — the reliable healer and boon anchor
Why pick it: Firebrand is the go-to healer for fractals that require sustained healing, stability, and strong boon coverage. Its tomes provide consistent group support and clutch saves.
Role and strengths: Firebrand excels at sustained healing, cleansing, and providing Stability and Protection when the team needs it most. It also brings Quickness and other boons through tomes and traits, making it a flexible pick for both pickup and static groups.
Playstyle and rotation: Keep your tomes active and use Tome of Courage and Tome of Resolve to respond to incoming damage. Use Shield of Wrath and Shelter defensively, and time your Quickness and Alacrity support to overlap with DPS windows. Prioritize healing and cleansing over personal DPS.
Gear and stats: Hybrid stat mixes work well: Healing Power and Toughness for survivability, with some Power if you want to contribute damage. Infusions that increase healing or boon duration are excellent.
Team synergy: Firebrand pairs well with Chronomancer in high-end runs: Chrono provides windows, Firebrand sustains the team through heavy mechanics.
Virtuoso — mobile power DPS with high single-target burst
Why pick it: Virtuoso is a top-tier power DPS for boss phases. It offers high single-target damage, mobility, and safe ranged options for mechanics that punish melee.
Role and strengths: Virtuoso shines in short windows where burst matters. It has strong mobility to reposition quickly and can output massive damage when coordinated with boon windows.
Playstyle and rotation: Learn to weave your burst rotation into Alacrity and Quickness windows. Use mobility tools to avoid telegraphed attacks and reposition for cleave. Practice timing your cooldowns so you’re ready when the Chronomancer drops a window.
Gear and stats: Standard power DPS stats apply: Power/Precision/Ferocity. Prioritize crit chance and damage. Offensive infusions and trinkets that boost power or crit are ideal for T4.
Team synergy: Works best with Chronomancer or Firebrand. If your group lacks a Chrono, coordinate with other DPS to create pseudo-windows using personal cooldowns.
Weaver — sustained multi-target power damage
Why pick it: Weaver is exceptional for fractals with multiple targets or extended boss phases. It offers sustained damage and strong cleave while remaining relatively safe at range.
Role and strengths: Weaver’s strength is consistent output across multiple targets and the ability to switch elements for defensive or offensive needs. It’s less bursty than Virtuoso but more reliable over long fights.
Playstyle and rotation: Maintain your elemental attunements and weave in your high-damage skills during windows. Use mobility to avoid mechanics and reposition for cleave. Manage energy and cooldowns to keep sustained pressure.
Gear and stats: Power/Precision/Ferocity remains the core. Consider runes and sigils that enhance sustain and cleave.
Team synergy: Weaver pairs well with supports that increase uptime and reduce incoming pressure, such as Firebrand or Druid.
Scourge — condition control and area denial
Why pick it: Scourge is the premier condition support for fractals that require area control, sustained pressure, and defensive barriers. It excels in fights with many adds or where space control matters.
Role and strengths: Scourge applies conditions reliably, creates defensive sand shades, and controls space with area denial. It’s invaluable in fractals where sustained pressure and crowd control are needed.
Playstyle and rotation: Focus on applying conditions and maintaining barrier uptime. Use your sand shades to block damage and control add spawns. Condition cleansing and boon application are secondary but important.
Gear and stats: Condition Damage / Expertise / Duration is the core. Infusions that boost condition damage or defensive stats are useful in higher tiers.
Team synergy: Scourge pairs well with power DPS that can capitalize on the controlled space, and with Chronomancer to create windows where conditions can stack more safely.
Deadeye — stealthy single-target condition DPS
Why pick it: Deadeye is a strong single-target condition dealer that uses stealth and positioning to maximize damage. It’s excellent for fights where you can safely maintain distance and pick windows to apply heavy conditions.
Role and strengths: Deadeye’s stealth mechanics allow it to avoid mechanics while applying heavy single-target pressure. It’s particularly effective in boss fights with predictable windows.
Playstyle and rotation: Use stealth to reposition and apply conditions safely. Time your burst with boon windows and avoid unnecessary exposure. Practice target switching and maintaining uptime on your primary target.
Gear and stats: Condition Damage / Expertise / Duration with a focus on critical condition application. Defensive infusions are situational.
Team synergy: Deadeye benefits from Chronomancer windows and from teams that can hold boss attention while it applies conditions.
Druid Ranger — flexible healing and boon share
Why pick it: Druid is a flexible healer that brings strong group heals, boon sharing, and mobility. It’s a great pick for fractals that require movement and consistent healing.
Role and strengths: Druid provides sustained healing, boon distribution, and utility through spirits and shouts. It’s especially useful in fractals where the team needs to move frequently.
Playstyle and rotation: Keep your spirits and shouts active, use your healing burst when the team takes damage, and reposition to maintain uptime. Druid’s strength is flexibility—adapt your play to the fractal’s demands.
Gear and stats: Healing Power and Toughness with some Power for utility. Infusions that boost healing or boon duration are valuable.
Team synergy: Druid pairs well with power DPS that need mobility and with condition controllers that benefit from shared boons.
Mechanist — utility tank and survivability anchor
Why pick it: Mechanist brings survivability, utility, and a unique toolkit that helps teams survive chaotic fights. It’s a strong pick for fractals with heavy incoming damage or complex mechanics.
Role and strengths: Mechanist provides defensive cooldowns, crowd control, and a sturdy presence that can soak mechanics. It’s not a pure tank in the traditional sense but offers team-saving tools.
Playstyle and rotation: Use your mech abilities to control space and protect allies. Time your defensive cooldowns for heavy damage phases and use mobility to reposition the mech when needed.
Gear and stats: Hybrid defensive stats with Toughness and Vitality as needed. Offensive stats can be added if you want to contribute damage.
Team synergy: Mechanist is a strong complement to DPS classes that need breathing room to execute rotations.
Catalyst — ranged elemental burst and safety
Why pick it: Catalyst is a ranged DPS that offers safe positioning and reliable burst. It’s ideal for fractals with dangerous melee mechanics or where staying at range is advantageous.
Role and strengths: Catalyst provides ranged burst, elemental control, and safety. It’s less mobile than some melee classes but compensates with range and consistent damage.
Playstyle and rotation: Maintain distance, use ranged burst windows, and avoid unnecessary movement. Coordinate with Chronomancer for burst phases.
Gear and stats: Power/Precision/Ferocity for burst. Defensive infusions are situational.
Team synergy: Catalyst pairs well with supports that provide boons and defensive coverage.
Herald Revenant — boon distribution and kiting
Why pick it: Herald Revenant offers boon distribution, kiting tools, and defensive options. It’s a solid pick for fractals that require movement and consistent boon coverage.
Role and strengths: Herald provides boons, mobility, and defensive utility. It’s especially useful in fractals where the team must kite or reposition frequently.
Playstyle and rotation: Use your legends to provide boons and defensive windows. Kiting and positioning are central—stay mobile and use your toolkit to support the team.
Gear and stats: Hybrid builds with Power and Healing Power depending on role. Infusions that boost boon duration or defensive stats are helpful.
Team synergy: Herald pairs well with condition controllers and power DPS that need space to execute rotations.
Gear, stat priorities, and infusion choices
Gear choices depend on role and fractal tier. For T4 fractals, Ascended trinkets and optimized infusions matter. Below are role-focused priorities.
Power DPS: Power / Precision / Ferocity. Prioritize crit chance and crit damage. Offensive infusions and trinkets that boost power or crit are ideal.
Condition DPS: Condition Damage / Expertise / Duration. Focus on maximizing condition application and duration. Infusions that increase condition damage or condition duration are valuable.
Support and Healers: Hybrid mixes that include Healing Power, Toughness, and boon duration. Defensive infusions and boon-duration infusions are often the best value in high-tier fractals.
Kiting and survival roles: Consider Toughness / Vitality and defensive infusions. Mobility trinkets and runes that increase movement or reduce condition duration can be lifesavers.
Infusions: In T4 fractals, defensive infusions, boon-duration infusions, and offensive stat infusions are all situationally valuable. Choose based on the fractal’s mechanics and your role.
Practical rotation and practice tips
Practice your rotation until it’s muscle memory. Use training golems and open-world bosses to refine timing. For supports, practice applying boons under pressure and learn to prioritize saves over personal DPS. For DPS, practice aligning burst with boon windows and learn to reposition quickly.
When practicing, focus on three things: timing, positioning, and cooldown management. Time your major cooldowns to overlap with support windows. Position yourself to avoid mechanics while maintaining uptime. Manage cooldowns so you always have an escape or defensive option available.
Team composition and pickup group etiquette
In pickup groups, prioritize bringing what the group lacks. If no Chronomancer is present, a Firebrand or Druid can often fill the gap. Communicate simple calls: “window now,” “save cooldowns,” and “kite left/right.” Be concise and helpful.
When joining a pickup, ask about boon coverage and whether the group wants to run speed or safe clears. If the group is speed-focused, bring high-burst DPS and a Chronomancer. For safe clears, bring sustained healing and condition control.
Fractal-specific adjustments and examples
Some fractals punish stacking and require kiting; others have short boss windows that demand burst. Adjust your build accordingly. For kiting fractals, favor ranged picks and mobility. For boss-window fractals, prioritize burst and coordinate with Chronomancer.
Examples of adjustments: add defensive infusions for fractals with heavy unavoidable damage; increase boon duration for fractals where boons are hard to maintain; bring condition cleanses for fractals with heavy condition pressure.
Advanced tips and common mistakes
Advanced players focus on maximizing uptime and minimizing mistakes. Avoid overextending for a small DPS gain. Save defensive cooldowns for predictable heavy damage phases. Use utility skills to control adds and reduce incoming pressure.
Common mistakes include ignoring boon coverage, failing to coordinate burst windows, and not adapting gear to the fractal. Fix these by communicating, practicing rotations, and swapping infusions or trinkets before runs.
How to practice and improve quickly
Set a practice routine. Spend time on training golems to perfect burst rotations. Run targeted fractals to practice mechanics. Record runs or watch high-level players to learn positioning and timing. Focus on one build at a time until you can perform it reliably under pressure.
FAQ
What build should I bring to pickup fractals if I want to be most useful? Bring a support that provides boons and stability, such as Chronomancer or Firebrand. These classes increase group survivability and speed, and they’re always in demand.
Are condition builds still viable after VoE? Yes. Scourge and Deadeye remain strong in sustained fights and in fractals where area control and single-target condition pressure matter. Condition builds require good positioning and timing but can outperform power builds in the right scenarios.
Do I need Ascended gear to clear T4 fractals? Ascended gear is not strictly required for casual runs, but it significantly increases consistency and damage output in T4 fractals. If you plan to run high-tier content regularly, invest in Ascended trinkets and optimized infusions.
How do I practice rotations without wasting fractal runs? Use training golems, open-world bosses, and strike missions to practice. These environments let you refine timing and muscle memory without the pressure of a fractal group.
What’s the single most important skill for fractal success? Communication. Clear, concise calls about windows, cooldowns, and mechanics turn a mediocre group into a coordinated team.
How should I adapt my build for movement-heavy fractals? Prioritize mobility, ranged options, and boon duration. Swap to defensive infusions if the fractal has heavy unavoidable damage.
Which builds are best for speed clears? Chronomancer plus high-burst power DPS like Virtuoso or Weaver is the classic speed composition. Add a Firebrand for sustained healing if the group needs survivability.
How do I know when to swap infusions or trinkets? If a fractal has heavy condition pressure, add condition-cleansing or condition-resistance infusions. If it has heavy unavoidable damage, add defensive infusions. For boss-window fights, switch to offensive infusions to maximize burst.
Quick answer: Printable quick reference, a one‑page rotation cheat sheet, and a full Chronomancer build sheet are below—designed for fast printing and immediate use in fractals after VoE. Use the cheat sheet in runs and the build sheet to set up your gear and traits before joining groups.
Printable Quick Reference
Purpose: A compact, two‑column page you can print and fold. Left column lists role priorities and emergency calls; right column lists core rotations, cooldowns, and infusion reminders. Keep it visible during runs.
Left column essentials
Role priority: Boon uptime then survival
Emergency calls: Distortion now Quickness window soon
Positioning: kite to safe zones; avoid stacking on cleave mechanics
Right column essentials
Core rotation snapshot: Continuum Split then shatter chains
Cooldown timings: Distortion 30s, Time Warp 60s, Continuum Split 90s (approx.)
Infusion reminder: boon duration or defensive for T4 fractals
Condensed One‑Page Cheat Sheet for Rotations and Cooldowns
Top of page: Role label and quick checklist (boon coverage, cleanse, mobility). Middle: a compact timeline bar showing 0–60s with major cooldowns placed visually. Bottom: short notes on when to save Distortion and when to force an Alacrity/Quickness window.
0–5s: open with Continuum Split and shatter for immediate boons
6–20s: maintain clone generation and minor shatters to refresh boons
20–40s: prepare Time Warp or Well of Precognition for heavy phases
40–60s: align Distortion and Continuum Split for next burst window
Tailored Chronomancer Build Sheet (Boon Support)
Role focus: Permanent boon windows, group utility, clutch saves. This sheet gives exact trait choices, gear focus, sigils, and infusions to copy into your build manager.
Specializations and traits
Chronomancer line: pick Seize the Moment for Quickness variant or Stretched Time for Alacrity variant; take Continuum Split and Time Sink utilities for group control.
Illusions/Chaos choices: use Chaos for extra boons or Illusions for defensive options depending on group needs.
Weapons and utilities
Primary: Scepter/Torch or Sword/Spear depending on range preference; include Well of Precognition or Well of Action for defensive boons.
Utilities: Mantra of Concentration, Mimic or Portal Entrée as situational tools.
Gear and stats
Stat priority: hybrid Power/Precision/Ferocity if contributing DPS; swap to boon‑duration or healing power if you want pure support. Use Ascended trinkets for T4 consistency.
Sigils: Sigil of Force and Sigil of Accuracy for power variant; consider Sigil of Alacrity or Quickness alternatives if available.
Infusions: defensive or boon‑duration infusions for high‑tier fractals; agony infusions as needed.
Rotation and cooldown timings
Open: Continuum Split → shatter chain → Well/Mantra as needed.
Sustain: generate clones and shatter every 10–15s to maintain boon uptime.
Defensive: save Distortion for lethal mechanics; use Time Warp to extend windows.
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