Two of the strongest professions in Guild Wars 2 were never likely to suffer when they received elite specializations and both are undoubtedly in a very good position even after elite specializations. Many would likely argue that the tempest needs some work (it isn’t perfect, but is still great) but all in all, I’m glad to see both add something to each respective profession without causing any major issues. Better yet, I’d have to say that the chronomancer has catapulted the profession from awesome to incredible.

Tempest

Many of the players I’ve spoke to really enjoyed the tempest. A couple didn’t like the spell effects on most of the warhorn skills, but I’d have to say that I disagreed with them entirely. If there’s anything that ArenaNet excel at it’s creating spell effects that look incredible. Whether it’s the reaper or revenant - it makes no difference and the quality of the tempest’s skills are as good, if not better than any other. Whether you’re floating around in a water bubble, or riding on top of a mountain on earth, it’s clear that the design team behind the tempest have had a lot of fun creating original and exciting skills for the warhorn.

It’s fair to say that the warhorn has a poor reputation in Guild Wars 2 for being an unexciting weapon set that offers only simple functionality, while the weapon itself isn’t particularly inspired. I’d have to disagree and not just because of the tempest, but also because it’s what a weapon does that’s the most important thing. Some of my favourite skills in the game come from the warhorn and the tempest cranks up the style to the point where you couldn’t care less what you were wielding.

Without a doubt my favorite skill has to be Lightning Orb because it’s not only rapid, but it’s so satisfying to use. Seeing sparks repeatedly strike targets so aggressively left me wanting to use the skill over and over again. Add Overload Air into the mix and you’ve a visual feast. Looks aside, how does the tempest play in comparison to the elementalist and should players switch? Well, it’s hard to say. I did find use for the profession in structured PvP but I had to play a slightly different role to that of a dagger/dagger elementalist. The need to stay in attunements isn’t entirely natural but it is possible with the right positioning to regularly release your overloads without fear of being assaulted by opponents. I found the Earth Overload the easiest to use primarily because you’re so tanky when in that attunement (thanks to the breakbar), but even more so if you pursue a staff based build instead of a warhorn.

Are all the overload skills useful? I think so but the only thing I would like is for Overload Fire to spin quicker and for Overload Air to do a little more damage. I think the key with tempest is to realise you don’t always have to use your overload abilities and that they’re a great bonus when you find yourself in an attunement for a period of time (more common than people expect).

If there’s two questions the tempest should be answering, it’s the following:

1. Is the tempest trait line strong enough for me to sacrifice my existing?

2. Is the warhorn strong enough for me to sacrifice the staff and dagger/dagger playstyle?

3. Are shouts good enough for me to sacrifice cantrips?

I honestly don’t know the answer to these yet and that’s both a problem and not entirely unexpected. The existing staff and dagger/dagger builds for elementalist are so strong, in all game modes, that giving up one aspect of them for the tempest is tough. Giving up cantrips for shouts is a difficult choice but in all honesty, there’s definitely value in the new shout set. “Shock and Aftershock!” as well as “Eye of the Storm!” are particularly effective with quickness incredibly important in all aspects of the game and Magnetic Aura is still very strong. I think both “Wash the Pain Away!” and “Feel the Burn!” have their place, but they’re more fitting in a PvE environment. I couldn’t sustain myself in sPvP with the former and the latter was pretty pointless in sPvP.

Finally and when it comes to traits, Lucid Singularity is immense but it’d be nice if it extended a breakbar to all overload abilities (even if shorter than earth). Imbued Melodies has potential, but I think breaking stun is too niche and it’s incredibly hard to time. Wouldn’t granting protection or stability to those in front of the tempest be a better bet?

Overall I really enjoyed my time with the tempest and was not only highly impressed with the visuals, but surprised at just how much I loved the warhorn. I appreciate it might be too flash for some, and that drifting away from staff or dagger/dagger is particularly difficult. I think with some minor tweaks and more experience with the elite specialization will see many players take up the tempest full time.  

Chronomancer

I’ve very little to say when it comes to the chronomancer besides the fact that I’ll be playing one when Heart of Thorns is released. Not only is it amazing, but I’d say it’s a significant improvement over the mesmer. Wells, alacrity and Continuum Shift have moved the mesmer from being a sought after profession in structured PvP to one almost certainly at the top of the pecking order in PvE and World versus World.

To talk about the shield first, I absolutely love it. Yes you sacrifice stealth or swiftness if you choose to drop the torch or focus, but the double block (Echo of Memory) followed by two phantasm summons when you successfully is amazing. Tides of Time providing a stun has also proven really useful in all areas of the game, even more so with its brief spell of quickness and cooldown reduction.

More than anything, though, I absolutely adore wells. There isn’t a single one I dislike and having used all of them in various settings, they all have a place. I know most mesmers in sPvP will struggle to abandon Portal (whilst keeping Decoy and Blink) but certainly in World versus World and PvE, I was hard pressed to decide which to take. Well of Calamity works exceptionally well and Well of Action is particularly brilliant when followed by Time Warp > Continuum Shift as you can then use it twice. The fact wells are time based also adds a tactical element to their use as you need to take account of where enemies will move or when you want them to be when the final pulse ticks. I also have a sneaky feeling they’ll be particularly valuable against the new “challenging content” ArenaNet are intending to implement with Heart of Thorns.

If there was one thing I was concerned with when it comes to the chronomancer is what traitline I’d sacrifice for it and whether or not Continuum Shift would be too strong. Seeing Chronos in SMITE certainly shows it can be balanced and I’m pleased to say that despite it being exceptional, it isn’t overpowered. Where traits are concerned, I ended up dropping Duelling. The reason why was because Duelling is predominantly used for the clone on dodge and little else that can’t easily be sacrificed. By dropping Duelling I gained:

1. Super speed on my illusions when I shatter, allowing me to shatter much easier

2. Alacrity

3. A clone when I shatter

4. 25% movement speed increase, allowing me to drop traveller runes and take superior runes of the pack

5. Double phantasm use when they shatter

I also managed to keep all the most valuable traits from Chaos and Domination. All in all, it’s an incredible setup. Combined with Continuum Shift, the potential for damage, utility and survivability is unmeasured and although Continuum Shift relies heavily on your ability to shatter well, it’s rewarding because of it. I’m sure most of you have seen its power with Ice Bow.

Does the chronomancer have any drawbacks? The only one I can think of is that the trait, Lost Time, is particularly poor. Having to critically hit someone 5 times to cause 2.5 seconds of slow just seems so awful compared to Seize the Moment (gain quickness for each illusion you shatter) or Chronophantasma (resummons your phantasm after its been shattered).

My only really worry with the chronomancer is whether anyone will ever play just a mesmer again?


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Last Updated: Mar 29, 2016

About The Author

Lewis is a long standing journalist, who freelances to a variety of outlets.

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