Whirlwind Lightning Build
This guide details the Whirlwind Lightning build for Hell Clock, focusing on massive Area of Effect (AoE) lightning damage, high Critical Strike Chance, and robust survivability through Life Leech. This build is effective from early game leveling through endgame content, offering a dynamic and powerful playstyle for both beginners and veterans.
Build Overview
Section titled “Build Overview”The Whirlwind Lightning build revolves around continuous AoE damage. We convert our primary skill’s output to Lightning Damage, leveraging Critical Strikes to trigger devastating chain reactions across entire enemy packs. Lasso’s Life Link mechanic is crucial, amplifying damage across grouped enemies, while strategic Life Leech provides unparalleled sustain, allowing you to tank hits and recover rapidly. The build prioritizes Physical Resistance and Critical Strike Chance for consistent performance in all content.
Skills
Section titled “Skills”Understanding the specific leveling and usage of each skill is key to mastering this build.
Whirlwind (Double Knives)
Your primary damage ability. You continuously spin, dealing damage to all nearby enemies. Converted to Lightning damage, this skill triggers a powerful thunderstorm on critical hits.
Usage: Hold down continuously. Max out this skill (Level 7) for maximum damage. When you crit with Whirlwind (which will be often!), it triggers a localized thunderstorm, hitting all enemies in the area. This is the core of your AoE clear and main damage source.
Reflexes
Launches multiple knives in a cone. In this build, it's primarily used for utility, specifically mana regeneration and activating item bonuses.
Usage: Keep this skill at Level 1 (CRITICAL). Do NOT level it up further, as higher levels drastically increase its cooldown. Use it to regenerate mana when low, or to trigger specific relics that grant Movement Speed and Melee Attack Speed on hit. Its damage is secondary.
Lasso
Throws a rope that pulls enemies together, creating a Life Link between them. Enemies affected by Life Link share a portion of the damage they take.
Usage: This skill automatically activates on Critical Damage if you have the crucial relic (Northerner Belt). This groups enemies, making your Whirlwind lightning procs even more devastating by spreading damage through Life Link. No need for manual activation.
Prayer of Health
A supportive prayer that grants life regeneration. Crucially, when manually activated, it burns your HP, which is vital for proccing Life Leech effects from relics.
Usage: Max out this skill (Level 7). Manually activate it to intentionally lower your HP, thus enabling your Life Leech mechanics to constantly proc. This is especially useful during boss fights where you need consistent Life Leech stacks. It also provides a significant burst of HP, acting as a “potion” in emergencies. Be cautious not to activate it when no enemies are present, as it can dangerously drain your health.
Prayer of Vengeance
A powerful offensive prayer that grants a significant boost to your Critical Strike Chance for its duration.
Usage: Max out this skill (Level 7). Keep this buff active as much as possible to ensure your Whirlwind consistently lands critical hits, which in turn triggers lightning effects and automatic Lasso activations. This is a primary source of the build’s high damage output.
Core Relics
Section titled “Core Relics”Relics define this build’s unique mechanics and scaling. Prioritize finding and upgrading these.
Bundle of Syringes
Whenever you Life Steal, gain a stack of Bloodshot. Each stack grants +#[+] Melee Skill damage for #s. stacking up to # times. (Crucial for massive damage from Life Leech).
Tempest
Double Knives' damage is increased by #% of your Movement Speed and Converted to Lightning. Additionally, Critical Hits with Double Knives trigger an Electric Wave that deals #% of Double Knives' damage to nearby enemies.
Northerner Belt
Cast Lasso on Critical Damage (#.#s Cooldown.). (Automates Lasso's Life Link, essential for AoE damage spreading).
Bundle of Rope
Lasso applies #% Lifelink on enemies for #s. (Significantly enhances Lasso's damage sharing capability).
Scout's Medal
Double Knives doesn't slow you down. (Absolutely vital for fluid movement and continuous damage).
Delicate Rosary
Each knife hit on Reflexes regenerates #% Mana. (Provides infinite mana for Reflexes, ensuring you can spam it for mana regen and buff procs).
Caatinga Hunter
Each knife hit on Reflexes increases Movement Speed and Melee Attack Speed by #% for #.# seconds, stacking up to # times. (Excellent utility and damage boost from Reflexes).
Savior's Shield
Ignited enemies deal _#% [x] Damage against you while you are affected by Prayer of Health. (Situational survivability, can be swapped).
Bloody Thorn
Double Knives adds #% base chance to apply Bleed on Critical Hit.
Blue Calcite
#% of Reflexes damage is converted to Lightning.
Gear & Equipment
Section titled “Gear & Equipment”While specific drops are RNG, focus on these stats to maximize your build’s potential.
- Blessed Gear: Purchase from Jiao in Quixeramobim. Prioritize Health and Base Damage to establish a strong foundation.
- Life Leech: This is paramount. Look for a ring with Life Leech (often drops in Act 2/3).
- Early Game Alternative: If you can’t find a Life Leech ring, the Banner of Faith (from Act 1) is a strong substitute. It converts a percentage of your Double Knives’ damage to Life, providing excellent sustain. Aim for Crit Damage on it.
- Physical Resistance: Crucial for survivability. This is one of the harder resistances to cap, so prioritize it when you see it.
- General Stats: Focus on raw Damage, Crit Chance, and Crit Damage. Evade is less important as this build relies on tanking through Life Leech.
The Great Bell Priorities
Section titled “The Great Bell Priorities”The Great Bell is your primary meta-progression system that persists between runs (until Ascension). Spend your Memory Levels wisely.
- Reliquary Size: Absolutely vital. Each point expands your relic capacity, allowing for more powerful combinations. Prioritize all three nodes for this.
- Hell Clock Timer: Increases your starting run time, providing more flexibility.
- Red Portals: Unlocks portals that allow you to skip floors, significantly speeding up your farming.
- Maximum Skill Rank: This crucial node unlocks higher potential levels for your skills in the Skill Book. Each point here allows you to invest more points into your active abilities.
- Note: This doesn’t auto-level skills; it just increases their potential max level in the Skill Book.
- Base Damage: Direct damage increases are always welcome.
- Second Wind: A life-saving passive that grants a one-time revive per run (300-second cooldown).
- Physical Resistance Nodes: Seek out any nodes that provide Physical Resistance. These are highly valuable for overall tankiness.
Constellations Map
Section titled “Constellations Map”Constellations become available in the endgame (Ascension Mode) and offer powerful, specialized bonuses that define your character’s long-term scaling.
- Early Critical Strike Chance: Invest one point into each of the three Maryries (Constellation nodes). This grants a flat +7% base Critical Strike Chance, which is a significant early boost for your lightning procs.
- Lightning Resistance Reduction (Crucial):
- Light the Darkness: This Constellation reduces enemies’ Lightning Resistance by 2.5% per stack when hit with lightning damage (stacks up to 10 for a total of 25% negative resistance).
- Lasso Synergy: When Lasso hits an enemy, they receive an additional 10 stacks of this debuff, totaling 20 stacks for 50% negative lightning resistance! This is why converting to lightning is so powerful and why this build shines.
- Devotion Paths: As you delve deeper, you’ll choose one of the three Devotion Paths (Fury, Discipline, Faith). The core lightning resistance reduction from
Light the Darknessremains the priority.
Leveling Strategy
Section titled “Leveling Strategy”This build is surprisingly adaptable and can be played effectively from the very beginning.
- Early Game: You can comfortably level up and complete the main campaign using just Whirlwind as your primary damage skill and Reflexes for mana management. The other skills will unlock as you progress, and many of their key interactions come from relics that auto-activate them.
- Secure Life Leech Early: Your top priority should be acquiring a Life Leech item (either the Banner of Faith from Act 1 or a Life Leech ring). This drastically improves your survivability.
- Transition to Lightning: While other damage types are possible, aim to transition to Lightning Damage as soon as you find the appropriate relic (like Tempest). The synergy with Lasso’s grouping and the lightning resistance reduction from Constellations makes it exceptionally strong.
Gameplay Tips
Section titled “Gameplay Tips”- Constant Whirlwind: Your primary interaction is holding down Whirlwind for continuous damage.
- Automated Grouping: Let Lasso auto-activate on crit to group enemies efficiently, maximizing your AoE potential.
- Strategic Life Leech: Use Prayer of Health carefully, especially against bosses, to ensure you’re always missing HP to trigger continuous Life Leech for the “Bloodshot” damage bonus. Avoid activating it in empty rooms.
- Maximize Crit Chance: Keep Prayer of Vengeance active to maintain a near 100% crit chance, ensuring consistent lightning procs and Lasso activations.
- Prioritize Physical Resistance: As it’s harder to get, always look for opportunities to boost your physical resistance through gear and Great Bell nodes.