Ability based Chronos guide

Allright, the current build is fine but swap deso for obsidian shard for most games, and for games with no tanky gods/defense Items you can swap cdr boots for pen boots (even if it’s just lategame). Book of the dead can be swapped in some cases for Tahuti, divine ruin, Telkhines etc... After encountering another Chronos main he told me his mid lane build is cdr boots, chronos’ Pendant, Poly, Obsidian Shard, Tahuti, situational (e.g Divine Ruin or other damage/hybrid item). I think we can agree that ability based Chronos is meh without at least 20% cdr. Just fix the levelling order though, you max the 1 then the 3 the 2, and you still use section IV because if you can’t at least hit setup poly shots then you probably shouldn’t be playing Chronos.

And change the relics to beads and purification only (and maybe blink). All the other ones are troll in the game modes you listed.

Ok firstly im gonna say, this build is fine for siege, arena, and clash, but usually not (not always) in joust. There is almost always going to be someone else stacking, so you will instead want Bancroft's Talon, which also gives more sustain through lifesteal. (This goes for arena too but is less important).



Ok now onto the build:

1. You need a start listed: e.g. Book of Souls, 1 Healing Potion, 2 x Mana Potion.

2. Your build caps CDR. Why is that bad? Because lategame you can get 10% from either Potion of Magical Might or blue buff.

3. No Obsidian Shard. You have a full ability based build but no Obsidian Shard for tanks. That isn't good at all.

4. No counter items listed. No Winged Blade, Mantle of Discord etc...

5. No alternative/situational items listed, e.g. Divine Ruin, Warlock's Staff.

6. Incorrect ability levelling. For non-conquest you either want 1, 2 and 3 at level 3 or 1, 1, 3 at level 3 depending on how quickly you need the wave cleared. With no mana sustain start you want 1,2,3. Last 4 points should be in the ult at the end. You can use the ability levelling from my guide: https://www.smitefire.com/smite/guide/rifts-of-chaos-season-5-conquest-builds-5-20-17266

7. Odd relic choies:

Usual must buy relics on Chronos: Beads, Aegis.

Niche situational: Heavenly Wings, Blink, Bracer of Undoing, Phantom Veil.

For duel there is more but duel isn't listed.

8. Chronos can be built tanky/hybrid in non-conquest modes too and you don't cover that.

9. Get better with auto attacks. It will increase your flexibility due to the multiple ways chronos can be played (AA, AA hybrid, high burst ability based, tanky full cdr hybrid, full cdr ability based).

10. In Season 6 this build isn't going to be as good. In season 6 you're going to want to move to auto-attack based Chronos.

11. Do not use Section III on Accelerate. It is not worth it at all. Especially considering you're using Polynomicon on Chronos. Always use Section IV for damage. Even if you miss autos, you're still going to hit some, especially the ones basically given for free if you get a stun off from Stop Time. 90% of situations you want to use Section IV.



Ok. Now that we have that out of the way im going to give several build revisions:

Build 1 (closest to original): Book of Thoth, Shoes of the Magi (or CDR boots if you get Deso over Pendant), Polynomicon, Obsidian Shard, Book of the Dead, Chronos' Pendant (Or Deso if you get CDR boots over pen boots).

Build 2 (anti-heal): Book of Thoth, Shoes of the Magi, Divine Ruin, Polynomicon, Obsidian Shard, Book of the Dead.

Build 3 (hybrid joust build, try in other modes): Bancroft's Talon, Shoes of Focus (Sell for magi shoes late), Breastplate of Valor, Winged Blade, Genji's Guard, Obsidian Shard. This build is an utter nuisance with full cdr you can ability spam, but you will need to use autos too to get as much damage out as possible. This build can be used in joust if against the double tank comp (warrior, guardian, mage/hunter).

Build 4: Bancroft's Talon, Shoes of the Magi, Warlock's Staff, Obsidian Shard, Soul Reaver (or Tahuti), Hastened Ring. (Ok, you said you don't like AA-based chronos, but, with Hastened Ring you will be able to hit autos much easier). Alternatively for this build, scrap bancrofts, get warlocks first, and get Chronos' Pendant last instead.

Build 6 (Tank Chronos): Shoes of Focus, Warlock's Staff, Breastplate of Valor, Genji's Guard, Winged Blade , Obsidian Shard. Get Shoes of the Magi lategame.

Alternative items: Celestial Legion Helm, Typhon's Fang, Soul Gem (not too bad), Ethereal Staff, Magi's Cloak, Mantle of Discord, Spear of Desolation, Rod of Tahuti, Shaman's Ring (meh, but an option), Demonic Grip, Telkhines Ring, Hunter's Blessing, Mage's Blessing, maybe Guardian's Blessing/ Warrior's Blessing.



Hybrid Auto-attack Chronos build: Book of Thoth, Shoes of the Magi, Polynomicon, Obsidian Shard, Demonic Grip, Book of the Dead. This remains mostly ability based, but with a demonic thrown in there so the low attack speed doesen't feel too clunky. You can substitute demonic for Telkhines Ring as well.

I know you mention it in your guide, but also mention in your title this isn't for conquest.

Also, not sure about the slow relic. You should also consider phantom relic in case of Odin.

Consider other items in your build as well. As of now, you're missing any sort of major penetration. Only 15 from Spear of Desolation likely won't cut it.

Consider Shoes of the Magi and Obsidian Shard also.
40% cooldown allows for a lot of abiltiy spamming, but you can make it work with 30% cdr. Just buy a Potion of Magical Might.

Anyway, let me know what you think.