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Healing Potion and 2 
Mana Potions with this start.
High clear/poke pressure start.
Can alternatively go 1 Healing Potion and 2 Mana Potions with this start.
Conduit Gem
Magic Focus
Healing Potion
Mana Potion
Spear of Desolation or 
Spear of the Magus for 
Divine Ruin if needed.
Charon's Coin can be built after your 2nd flat pen item if you don't need the percent penetration as early, and aren't worried about mana sustain yet.
Can swap Spear of Desolation or Spear of the Magus for Divine Ruin if needed.
Charon's Coin can be built after your 2nd flat pen item if you don't need the percent penetration as early, and aren't worried about mana sustain yet.
Spear of Desolation
Charon's Coin
Spear of the Magus
Telkhines Ring
Nimble Rod of Tahuti
Gem of Focus
Healing Potions and 2 
Multi Potions with this start.
High clear/poke pressure start. Slightly stronger stats on T1 item than Start 1 while also giving a slot for an extra potion.
Can alternatively go 2 Healing Potions and 2 Multi Potions with this start.
Conduit Gem
Emerald Ring
Healing Potion
Mana Potion
Spear of the Magus for Divine Ruin if needed.
Can swap Spear of the Magus for Divine Ruin if needed.
Ring of Hecate
Spear of the Magus
Typhon's Fang
Nimble Rod of Tahuti
Telkhines Ring
Gem of Focus
Uncommon Staff for Magic Focus for slightly better damage levels 1 to 5 and to rush Spear of the Magus sooner for a stronger 1st item spike, at the cost of delaying the stacked 
Warlock's Staff spike.
High mana sustain/cooldown start.
Can swap Uncommon Staff for Magic Focus for slightly better damage levels 1 to 5 and to rush Spear of the Magus sooner for a stronger 1st item spike, at the cost of delaying the stacked Warlock's Staff spike.
Sands of Time
Uncommon Staff
Healing Potion
Mana Potion
Spear of the Magus for Divine Ruin if needed. Charon's Coin for 
Obsidian Shard for a better burst option if you don't care about the movement speed from evolved Coin. Although, the mp5 from Coin does help keep your mana closer to it's maximum to get more power out of the passive from 
Pendulum of Ages.
Can swap Spear of the Magus for Divine Ruin if needed.
Can swap Charon's Coin for Obsidian Shard for a better burst option if you don't care about the movement speed from evolved Coin. Although, the mp5 from Coin does help keep your mana closer to it's maximum to get more power out of the passive from Pendulum of Ages.
Warlock's Staff
Spear of the Magus
Telkhines Ring
Charon's Coin
Nimble Rod of Tahuti
Pendulum of Ages
Aegis of Acceleration over 
Aegis of Judgement if you think you'll need the extra movement speed to help reposition / be in a safe spot to use 
Rewind.
Go Aegis of Acceleration over Aegis of Judgement if you think you'll need the extra movement speed to help reposition / be in a safe spot to use Rewind.
Temporal Beads
Aegis of Acceleration
Aegis of Judgement
Divine Ruin may be necessary in some matches for Anti-Heal. Obsidian Shard is the higher damage alternative to Charon's Coin.
Pythagorem's Piece is a decent lifesteal / penetration option to pair with Typhon's Fang in certain build paths.
Ethereal Staff can be picked up potentially into tankier comps and if you also need some extra health in your build.
Demonic Grip is good for some extra protection shredding, although harder to fit in a build path.
Hastened Ring isn't strongly statted and can be harder to fit in a build path, however the passive can sometimes get good usage in fights with the extra mobility for both helping to land more AAs you wouldn't hit otherwise and to act as a pseudo defensive option.
Bumba's Hammer is a strong starter upgrade for 
Chronos (lets him spam 
Time Rift / 
Stop Time constantly and keep 
Accelerate active), though let down a bit by it's weaker early pressure tier 1 starter.
Gilded Arrow is suitable for extra AA damage early game, though the lack of power reduces your early clear speed and poke damage with abilities, especially compared to Conduit Gem.
Divine Ruin may be necessary in some matches for Anti-Heal.
Obsidian Shard is the higher damage alternative to Charon's Coin.
Pythagorem's Piece is a decent lifesteal / penetration option to pair with Typhon's Fang in certain build paths.
Ethereal Staff can be picked up potentially into tankier comps and if you also need some extra health in your build.
Demonic Grip is good for some extra protection shredding, although harder to fit in a build path.
Hastened Ring isn't strongly statted and can be harder to fit in a build path, however the passive can sometimes get good usage in fights with the extra mobility for both helping to land more AAs you wouldn't hit otherwise and to act as a pseudo defensive option.
Bumba's Hammer is a strong starter upgrade for Chronos (lets him spam Time Rift / Stop Time constantly and keep Accelerate active), though let down a bit by it's weaker early pressure tier 1 starter.
Gilded Arrow is suitable for extra AA damage early game, though the lack of power reduces your early clear speed and poke damage with abilities, especially compared to Conduit Gem.
Divine Ruin
Obsidian Shard
Pythagorem's Piece
Ethereal Staff
Demonic Grip
Hastened Ring
Bumba's Hammer
Gilded Arrow
Mantle of Discord is a generally decent lategame anti-burst option to help you get your Rewind off / help survive heavy dive.
Magi's Cloak is situationally useful into heavier beads burning enemy comps / comps reliant on a single hard CC setup.
Winged Blade can be decent into slow heavy comps, the extra movement speed can not only be used to run away but also to chase or juke better while boxing.
Celestial Legion Helm can be considered if the enemy team has a lot of physical damage and/or you're going to be being targeted by a high burst physical jungler.
The Alternate Timeline can be considered to give you a chance to recover (if you aren't positioned too poorly) in a fight if you think you will be focused and bursted down, although the long cooldown is a heavy drawback. Can sometimes work better than Mantle of Discord if you think you'll be bursted before the passive procs.
Mantle of Discord is a generally decent lategame anti-burst option to help you get your Rewind off / help survive heavy dive.
Magi's Cloak is situationally useful into heavier beads burning enemy comps / comps reliant on a single hard CC setup.
Winged Blade can be decent into slow heavy comps, the extra movement speed can not only be used to run away but also to chase or juke better while boxing.
Celestial Legion Helm can be considered if the enemy team has a lot of physical damage and/or you're going to be being targeted by a high burst physical jungler.
The Alternate Timeline can be considered to give you a chance to recover (if you aren't positioned too poorly) in a fight if you think you will be focused and bursted down, although the long cooldown is a heavy drawback. Can sometimes work better than Mantle of Discord if you think you'll be bursted before the passive procs.
Mantle of Discord
Magi's Cloak
Winged Blade
Celestial Legion Helm
The Alternate Timeline
Corrupted Blink Rune
Scorching Blink Rune
Phantom Shell
Fortifying Shell
Hastened Wings
Accelerate before Stop Time optionally, especially if your build gets attack speed later on or you really need the movement speed.
Can prioritise maxing Accelerate before Stop Time optionally, especially if your build gets attack speed later on or you really need the movement speed.
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Tap each threat level to view Chronos’s threats
Abilities
Time Lord - Chronos becomes empowered as time flows around him. Every 1.5 minutes he gains a stack that increases his Magical Power. Stacks up to 25 times, stacks are permanent (Grants up to 125 Magical Power after 37.5 minutes).
Time Rift - Chronos creates a rift in time, damaging all enemies in the area. Time Rift).
Accelerate - Chronos accelerates himself over time, allowing him to move faster initially and gain speed over time. While active, his Attack Speed is increased. This ability also stops the Wheel of Time.
Death's Toll / Sands of Time), can possibly let you gain more usage out of this section early game. Accelerate helps to reduce his massive mana consumption in the early stages of the game until you have an item like Charon's Coin or 
Rod of Tahuti online to help with any mana problems, unless you went Death's Toll / Sands of Time (which means you can be a bit more lenient with your ability usage early game when not using Section 2). Stop Time / Time Rift combo, especially in scenarios where you don't think you'll be able to land auto attacks without putting yourself into a bad position.
Stop Time - Shooting forward spinning gears of time, any enemies hit by Chronos' attack have their Attack Speed reduced and Ramp to a Stun, taking damage on the initial hit and again when they are stunned. Time Rift, you'll often want to save it to either use it as a offensive tool to help box an enemy / lane opponent to help guarantee a hit from Time Rift and follow up auto attack damage, or the stun can simply be used to help for ganks and team setup. Otherwise, it is used as a defensive tool if being aggressed on or being ganked yourself.
Rewind - Chronos travels through time to where he was 8 seconds ago, gaining Health and Mana back to the values of that time. All of his Cooldowns are instantly reset as well. Rewind is very effective for getting you out of sticky situations and possibly relocating you out of danger. While often used defensively, it can be used offensively to take advantage of the cooldown reset and/or to reposition closer to where an enemy may be retreating to depending on your prior positioning. The initial wind up will also make you CC immune, though in the case of high ping / lag you can sometimes be disrupted during the animation, though it's rare. Keep in mind you can still be bursted during the windup, so timing / positioning is crucial to getting a successful Rewind off. Strengths and Weaknesses
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Gameplay
Stop Time to guarantee (unless the enemy immunes the stun) follow up from Time Rift with as many auto attacks (usually between 1 to 3) as you can fit in as possible just before landing Time Rift. Time Rift. Time Rift for poke damage on enemy gods when the wave is not around. If poking them while the wave is around, you'll need to be wary of drawing minion aggro (also chances are the attempt could backfire and the incoming minion wave may end up having to go into your tower radius). Try not to spam it too much early game though or you will run out of mana quickly.
Ward around the Jungle areas to your Lane after your first trip back to the fountain (or subsequent trips if you do not have enough gold on the initial back / need the gold for a item power spike), if not through Wards then through your 
Vision Shard. Stop Time on the enemy to stun them before you use Rewind so you are not killed during the windup. Time Rift to poke the enemy if you have already cleared the minion wave (but if there is not a easy kill opportunity, you should try prioritise farm if it is spawned, such as mid xp camps or duo lane harpies), though if you go a low sustain start, be conservative with your mana and avoid taking poke in lane, as otherwise you may have to back at an inconvenient time which could result in you losing waves to tower and/or be too late to contest any neutral farm that may be up, putting you behind. Ward nearby jungle routes and try to split push when it is safe, but don't look for fights if you are underleveled.
ADC Gameplay from PandacatADC Gameplay from ZapmanMid Gameplay from El LeonMid Gameplay from Venenu Itemisation
Telkhines Ring is core on Chronos due to the extra AA scaling it gives (can be seen as a 
Qin's Sais for magicals, but as a more general DPS item against all targets), scaling stronger as the game goes on, while Nimble Rod of Tahuti is core due to the attack speed glpyh that makes Rod of Tahuti an even stronger choice on any Magical ADC. Conduit Gem for the extra clear pressure early game, with other starters such as Sands of Time being good but not as potent. In ADC, you're more often likely to box with auto attacks, which is where Gilded Arrow proves it's usefulness with it's flat basic attack damage (allowing Chronos to hit just as hard as hunters in the early game, without needing a high amount of power + Section 4 active) especially with the attack speed passive proc, and the bonus gold can help you recover slightly if you have fallen behind or to help push a lead further. Nimble Rod of Tahuti which is core, most matches you're generally going to want 20%+ penetration by full build. Some examples may be: Charon's Coin/ Obsidian Shard + Nimble Rod of Tahuti (+ another possible 10% pen option if desired), Pythagorem's Piece + Typhon's Fang + Nimble Rod of Tahuti (+ another possible 10% pen option if desired), Warlock's Staff + Typhon's Fang (assuming you have Spear of the Magus or/and Ring of Hecate to make use out of the passive) + Nimble Rod of Tahuti (+ another possible 10% pen option if desired), Typhon's Fang (assuming you have Spear of the Magus or/and Ring of Hecate to make use out of the passive) and Nimble Rod of Tahuti. Typhon's Fang in particular can also be considered almost core if you're going Pythagorem's Piece or Ring of Hecate in your build, and sometimes with Spear of the Magus - though not always, since there may be a situational item (e.g Divine Ruin) or cheaper power spike (e.g. Obsidian Shard) needed instead (Especially if you don't have that much lifesteal other than just Spear of the Magus). Spear of the Magus (not only due to the passive, but due to the lifesteal from the item giving you bonus value to Typhon's Fang's passive). Spear of Desolation / Divine Ruin can also be considered if you're going a more burst focused build and/or are reliant upon to get Anti-Heal in the case of Divine Ruin, which may especially be the case when playing Chronos in Mid. Spear of Desolation's cooldown reduction from it's passive and base 10% CDR pairs also pairs well with Bumba's Hammer, so is more often seen on Chronos with that item. Telkhines Ring which is core, and with Nimble Rod of Tahuti also providing some, you may optionally go for 1 other ring in your build (any more and the build will be inefficient to varying extents) if you want a little more attack speed. Ring of Hecate being the most likely due to it's solid base stats, early game boxing power spike (that still holds up lategame due to the percentage based debuff/buff), and obvious synergy with Typhon's Fang. Demonic Grip could also be considered as a mid game attack speed spike for the extra protection shred outside of the 20%+ magical penetration (although a separate type of penetration) you should generally aim for, however the need for the protection reduction to be stacked is usually what makes it ignored compared to percent penetration - since percent penetration acts instantly, which helps for initial ability poking/burst without needing to auto attack beforehand and target swapping (relying on Demonic Grip's passive alone as a protection shred option hurts a bit when needing to engage another target, due to the time needed to get your dps to the necessary amount it should be). Not to mention that Demonic Grip passive does not work on towers/phoenixes, unlike percentage penetration. Hastened Ring can be considered for it's passive (which situationally can get strong usage), however it's base stats are medicore for the cost, there are stronger power spikes from other items, and the passive itself has a cooldown, so it's usually not seen. Mantle of Discord is a generally decent lategame anti-burst option to help you get your Rewind off / help survive heavy dive. Magi's Cloak is situationally useful into heavier beads burning enemy comps / comps reliant on a single hard CC setup. Winged Blade can be decent into slow heavy comps, the extra movement speed can not only be used to run away but also to chase or juke better while boxing. Celestial Legion Helm can be considered if the enemy team has a lot of physical damage and/or you're going to be being targeted by a high burst physical jungler. Relics
Purification Beads should be your essential first relic (roughly 95% of the time) against a Mid / Jungle / Carry / Support with a devastating CC ultimate (
Chang'e, 
Hun Batz, 
Fenrir, 
Da Ji, 
Xing Tian, 
Medusa, etc.) as it can allow you to quickly use your ultimate when you would have otherwise been affected by Crowd Control, or otherwise, just avoid follow up damage that you'd not be able to easily avoid due to Crowd Control. You will upgrade Purification Beads lategame to Temporal Beads. 
Aegis Amulet as your first relic against a Mid / Jungle / Carry / Support with strong burst that is not necessarily Crowd Control reliant for setup (
Zeus, 
Chaac, 
Poseidon, 
Vulcan, 
Pele, 
Rama, 
Camazotz, etc.) as it can allow you to negate damage before or after your ultimate, or allow you to avoid using your ultimate to save yourself. Generally, it will be your second relic. You will upgrade Aegis Amulet lategame to either Aegis of Acceleration or Aegis of Judgement. 
Blink Rune isn't too bad as an alternative to Aegis Amulet as it provides opportunities for initiation (well utilised with burst focused builds) or escape. You will upgrade Blink Rune lategame to either Corrupted Blink Rune or Scorching Blink Rune.
Magic Shell can be situationally considered into enemy teams that don't have much ability burst, but instead are very AA reliant for their main damage, and also since you can perform non-movement related actions using the relic unlike Aegis Amulet, however it's more likely that you will pick this relic up for the upgrade, specifically, Phantom Shell, into a enemy team with wall gods such as 
Odin and if your own support may not have gotten it (and also the possibility of walls working well into your team, so getting this relic won't just benefit yourself primarily). You will upgrade Magic Shell lategame to Phantom Shell or Fortifying Shell. 
Heavenly Wings can be considered into heavy slows, although usually it will be better to pick up Winged Blade instead rather than taking up your Aegis Amulet slot. You may also upgrade Heavenly Wings to Hastened Wings to get the Haste effect, which can be potentially strong in teamfights especially if you have other ranged AA DPS gods on your team. Purification Beads and Aegis Amulet.
SS (Core) |
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S (Built most Games) |
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A (Built some games) |
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B (Rare) |
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C (Avoid) |
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Bumba's Hammer, 
Bumba's Dagger, prevents it from a higher rating.
S (Built most games) |
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A (Decent) |
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Bumba's Dagger is not strong early, it leads into a very strong starter upgrade for Chronos ( Bumba's Hammer), which prevents it from a lower rating.
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Diamond Arrow
Vampiric Shroud
k, thanks. will test those out when i get the chance.
Edit: On 2nd thought I tried it in a recent game and I quite like it with cdr boots and dynasty early. I updated the builds anyway.
The only reason i ask, for situations like i had earlier, when i had locked in and no one went guardian/warrior. yeah, not something i was looking at wanting to run but maybe help a bit when no one chooses tank and i have already locked in.
yeah, sometimes i don't feel like being responsible when a bunch of strangers aren't. I just want to play my choice. lol. Thanks for the tips.
Also, having played so many in your face melee types, it is a struggle going..wait...just because i am running his auto based doesn't mean you just walk right in every time..i mean my brain knows this but i am slowly weeding that out on him.
as an example i saw a dmbrandon vid for bellona that was 1 1/2 hours. i would just search online and have results come up and a lot of the ones that happened to come up would be way longer than i was willing to get into.
So, bancrofts, pen boots, breastplate, talisman, divine ruin, obs shard.
Can start warrior's blessing and tiny trinket.
Or another example, pythags, pen boots, celestial/dynasty helm, shogun's kusari, gauntlet of thebes/witchblade, gem of iso. (supporty-style build).
Edit: Or, pen boots, dynasty plate helm (or celestial legion helm), stone of fal, witchblade, ethereal staff, mantle of discord.
Edit 2: I guess if you wanted to put yourself through pain for the most optimal tanky build you could try build warlocks, so using one of the solo builds I listed on Page 3 or one of the ones I list in the testing builds.
So, bancrofts, pen boots, breastplate, talisman, divine ruin, obs shard.
Can start warrior's blessing and tiny trinket.
Or another example, pythags, pen boots, celestial/dynasty helm, shogun's kusari, gauntlet of thebes/witchblade, gem of iso. (supporty-style build).
Edit: Or, pen boots, dynasty plate helm (or celestial legion helm), stone of fal, witchblade, ethereal staff, mantle of discord.
Edit 2: I guess if you wanted to put yourself through pain for the most optimal tanky build you could try build warlocks, so using one of the solo builds I listed on Page 3 or one of the ones I list in the testing builds.
Thank you for the additional thoughts on that, Kriega. it is greatly appreciated. I'll definitely take a look at those options for when i run into that situation. I never would have thought to ask but i saw so many defensive options in some of your item lists.
Probably could swap thoth in that build for soul reaver, seems to still 1 shot if I remember correctly.
Right now speed is OP, so I didn't mind going shoes, into the rings, into Bancroft late.
Situational
Only reason I got
But you could very easily build him more of a standard mage-type early and just nuke with your 1 a ton...transitioning to more basic attack function late. Here, I'd probably suggest something like this, and Kriega can suggest adjustments as necessary.
Right now speed is OP, so I didn't mind going shoes, into the rings, into Bancroft late.
Situational
Only reason I got
But you could very easily build him more of a standard mage-type early and just nuke with your 1 a ton...transitioning to more basic attack function late. Here, I'd probably suggest something like this, and Kriega can suggest adjustments as necessary.
Man, quick response. Good on you, old chap. Thanks for laying that response out so quickly.
Also, i already love your first build idea. when i first started and was lvling Ymir and tinkering with
Deso can be okay, but for Ob Shard, you're already going Demonic, which should typically be more than enough for most enemies unless you're going with the more ability-focused direction, and you're facing a team of majority tanks. I'd then say same for Reaver, but Tahuti is fine in the 6th spot in the basic attack build if you're doing well.
We can keep debating this, and I'll keep saying the same thing, because I'm talking situationally, AND giving reasons, and you tend to ignore that and just focus on me bringing it up in the first place.
I do what i want!
Well, in khepri's hades guide you made it clear you wouldn't want my popcorn anyways :p
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbuTiwqyMzA
Edit: Mid: A, ADC: A+/S-, Solo: B+.
I'm divided when it comes to
I don't think Warlock's needs a buff, but they definitely could reduce the number of stacks required. 70 would be fair.
I don't think I ever build Warlock's on
It does, but it also improves his lategame as well, which as we know is where he's strongest. It's not a core item, no, (at least for Mid/ADC), but it still can be a useful consideration. Also you spend a lot of time farming, so building the stacks shouldn't be hard. Alternatively, for Mid lane, you can start tier 2 bancrofts, rush bancrofts, get pen boots online and then get warlocks and start stacking it.
As for ADC, if you want to be stronger in the early to mid game you can just rush bancrofts/pen boots/Dynasty Helm.
Also certain matchups like
And.... I have included 2 alternative build paths for Mid, and 1 alternative to ADC if you do not want to build
Im not sure what your point is here.
I'm just saying that I found this start interesting, because the few times I played Chronos I went for Warlock's first item, and I really missed the sustain from lifesteal. Going
Oh, indeed at times they can still work in Arena, but if Arena was the focus, certain item choices would be more attractive, and others less attractive (e.g.
KREE-guh? Kree-eh-guh?
Boogie pronounces it the 2nd way, and it honestly drives me crazy.
Boog...
Also im not sure what you have to do to intrepret Kriega as "Kree-eh-guh", you're literally inventing extra syllables.
Also, Kriega, I only found out about this about a week or so ago. If I'd known way earlier, I would have disassociated with him before he became my illegitimate (and impossible) son, since there's no way I could be his father with our age difference.
Also, Kriega, I only found out about this about a week or so ago. If I'd known way earlier, I would have disassociated with him before he became my illegitimate (and impossible) son, since there's no way I could be his father with our age difference.
Once a muffin man has a muffin boy he has to make sure that muffin boy grows up right after all....
On lvl 1? No. But on lvl 2, a lot of times.
Yes, I had, but it’s so rare that I never found it a disadvantage.
Yeah, and that is a bit of an exaggeration, just found that meme a funny way to present how i think about Conquest right now. it is pretty overwhelming though hearing other people talk about it and having been roped along for a couple of matches previously having almost no knowledge of the game at the time.
I know part of it is random group comps but even joust is a headache sometimes and i ran with Muffin, Boogie and a couple others from here on 2 or 3 clash matches and was pretty out of my depth on that currently on those.
If i can ever get the time to devote to it I might try to seriously learn, but Arena, and to an extent Joust is in my match length sweet spot. I really can't commit to regular lengthy matches most of the time.