Overview
Enervating Nova is the implicit skill on any Paralysing Staff, and this Chronomancer build scales it into a one-button T16 mapper. It is usable from level 52 and doubles as a leveling skill. Sands of Time provides area of effect and skill speed, while Now and Again gives a 20% chance for the nova to repeat.
Damage scaling comes almost entirely from Doryani’s Prototype: enemies in your presence take on your lightning resistance, so driving it down to -200% becomes a huge multiplier. The nova deals up to 100% more damage at its outer edge but nothing in the inner ring, so positioning is the core skill of the build.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One-button mapping that handles 7-mod T16 maps
- Cheap entry point — a +4/+5 staff and a 10-exalt Doryani’s work
- Cast on Crit Lightning Warp adds damage and built-in culling
- Great for alch-and-go mapping
Cons
- Enemies inside the inner ring take zero damage — getting surrounded is dangerous
- Doryani’s leaves you effectively at 0% lightning resistance; heavy armour is required
- Lightning Warp sometimes teleports you somewhere you don’t want to be
- 200% Delirium maps are possible but noticeably slower
Key Skills
- Enervating Nova — main skill (Pinpoint Critical, Spell Cascade, Esh’s Prowess, Vorana’s Siege)
- Cast on Critical → Lightning Warp — damage, movement and culling
- Blasphemy (Temporal Chains) — slows enemies to protect the inner ring
- Combat Frenzy + Charge Regulation — skill speed from charges
- Sigil of Power — weapon swap buff for tough rares and bosses
Gear & Anointments
- Paralysing Staff with as many + skill levels as budget allows
- Doryani’s Prototype (a Vaal-corrupted -60% lightning res roll is the chase)
- Ventor’s Gamble with negative lightning resistance, duplicated with Kalandra’s Touch
- Rares with armour, resistances and “armour also applies to elemental damage”
- Anoint: Thaumaturgical Dynamism for passive charge generation
- Jewels: Split Personality (Templar start), From Nothing + Time-Lost, Heart of the Well
Endgame Notes
Passives pick up Lightning Rod for lucky lightning damage, which pairs with Esh’s Prowess min/max rolls. Freeze and chill immunity are important to keep cast speed high.
Credits & Source
Build credited to Troy Tesko. See the source video for the full tree and gameplay: Enervating Nova Chronomancer | Path of Exile 2 (0.5).