Build:The Cerulean

Full Build Details
Prepare for combat, if possible, by applying all boons, wind imbue, and loading your chimera and cannon pistols with shatter bullet. If you expect a difficult fight, consider drinking an elemental resistance potion to make the fight easier. This preparation should be performed before the enemy notices you from the inventory or skills menu. Don't worry too much if you are unable to prepare for a fight; this build is strong enough that you should be able to win anyway.

Begin combat with the chimera and cannon pistols at range to apply elemental vulnerability, confusion, and pain for maximum damage and impact. As the enemy approaches, roll to dodge their initial combo before utilizing push kick or sweep kick to bring them to half stability. Then utilize basic attacks and puncture to apply all the rainbow hexes. Approximately five or more hits will be necessary. At this point, the enemy will hopefully have been knocked down (three staggers results in an instant knockdown). Roll away, and cast torment and/or rupture. (Torment can be used multiple times before rupture for increased damage at range. Rupture may be preferred when multiple enemies require area of effect damage.) This strategy should annihilate any standard enemy. If the enemy remains (perhaps you are fighting an end-game boss), simply repeat the strategy. There may even be time to reload as rupture will certainly knockdown the enemy again, and torment will inflict slow down upon them.

A cerulean sabre enchanted with the rainbow hex is ideal for this build, as this is an easy way to apply all hexes for torment or rupture in combat. If a cerulean sabre is unavailable, a steel sabre enchanted with the same may suffice. If desired, the chimera pistol may be exchanged for a frozen chakram or the fabulous palladium shield. In this case, the fire and reload skill should be replaced with chakram pierce or shield charge instead. However, I recommend the chimera pistol to most easily apply elemental vulnerability without needing discipline active or having to land both parts of the shield charge. If sweep kick is not known, push kick may be utilized instead.

The hex mage class is obviously integral to this build in order to fully abuse the hexes applied by rainbow hex with torment and rupture. Furthermore, the breakthrough passive, bloodlust, helps regenerate mana and restore max health/stamina without consumables or sleep. This synergizes nicely with Lockwell's Revelation, which further enhances damage when tired. The cabal hermit class supports many builds as the enhanced boons with shamanic resonance are extremely strong. For this build, the wind imbue is particularly useful for landing many hits in melee to apply all the rainbow hexes. As for a third class, there are many potential viable options. Mercenary is ideal for a ranged damage focus as blood bullet allows for reloading in combat and the extra movement speed will help in avoiding melee attacks. Alternative third classes are also a possibility. Consider warrior monk or rune sage for enhanced elemental protection with master of motion or runic protection. Warrior monk will grant additional stamina to offset the increased usage from wind imbue; rune sage will provide additional mana for easier buffing via boons or wind imbue without consumables. Be sure to cast runic protection and a runic trap below yourself as well if you elect to take rune sage for some extra impact and damage.

There are many viable options in terms of armor. Whatever you choose to wear, be sure to take some mana reduction so that casting all the boons isn't too taxing. Some good choices include the rust lich set for maximum elemental damage; the gold-lich mask, wolf plate armor (consider substituting green copal armor enchanted with the spirit of berg), and crimson boots of the endgame tank build for enhanced survivability while granting some mana reduction; or a pearlbird/black pearlbird/jewel bird mask, some mana cost reducing armor, and master trader boots for maximum mobility. Backpack choice generally doesn't matter; the backpack with greatest capacity is usually best, so the boozu hide or Mefino's trade backpack are the backpacks of choice.

Regarding factions, all have their benefits. The Blue Chamber Collective provides additional health for survivability and mana for boons. The Holy Mission most notably provides some mana and stamina cost reduction for more efficient fighting. The Heroic Kingdom provides a universal 15% damage boost for maximum elemental damage. Sorobor Academy grants some movement speed to better fight at range.