Hell Clock Best Builds Guide (Act 1 and Beyond)
Written by Michael Owen | Hell Clock
The 3 best builds in Hell Clock focus on early power, sustain, and timers. The top-performing builds right now are Repeater for ranged elemental burst and Double Knives for high mobility lifesteal.
Repeater Elemental Build
Note: This guide was inspired by OHRye on YouTube. Their video is embedded at the bottom of this build before the next section.
The Repeater build is one of the easiest strong builds for new players, especially for Act 1. This skill fires rapid shots that can be converted to elemental damage, allowing both strong single-target and area damage.
Stack relics that convert Repeater damage to fire and cause enemies killed by it to explode in a small area. Add the relic that reduces Repeater’s mana cost to keep damage high without running dry. Kill chains are extended further when paired with relics that drop grenades on enemy death.
Playstyle focuses on kiting enemies while channeling the Repeater, clearing waves fast and deleting bosses before they can pressure you. Use Slow Time or Shadow Dash for survivability and increased damage multipliers.
Here’s the video by OHRye if you’re interested in watching it. Otherwise, we’ve got some more builds down below.
Double Knives Lifesteal Build
Note: This guide was inspired by Idle cub on YouTube. Their video is embedded at the bottom of this build before the next section.
Double Knives focuses on spinning through enemies while healing through life steal. A key relic converts a percentage of Double Knives’ damage into health, and additional relics boost movement speed, mana regeneration, and health gained on kill.
Barrier Unbreakable helps sustain mana use while giving emergency protection. This build thrives in close combat and works best when constantly moving through packs to avoid ranged attacks. It excels at surviving longer runs and can offset mistakes thanks to strong sustain.
Aim to take relics that enhance movement speed during spin, increase skill speed, and add bleed effects to boost total damage output over time.
Here’s the video by Idle cub if you want to watch it, otherwise, we’ve got a couple more builds down below.
Hybrid Reflexes and Dash Utility Build
A hybrid variation uses Reflexes or Shadow Dash as an alternative to basic dashing. Reflexes generate mana when hitting enemies, fueling Double Knives uptime. Pairing Reflexes with Double Knives creates a loop of constant mana gain and lifesteal healing.
This build trades some raw damage for utility and survivability, allowing deeper runs when timer pressure is high. Use relics that boost maximum mana or grant temporary damage bonuses after using Shadow Dash.
Timer and Progression Tips
Build choice matters, but timer management is equally important. Unlock the skill tree upgrades for red portals and extra Hell Clock time as early as possible. Repeater builds work well when rushing through floors quickly, while Double Knives thrives when taking time to clear and farm trinkets.
Avoid stacking too many active skills early since leveling one or two main abilities to maximum gives better damage scaling and keeps upgrade options focused.
Final Blurb
Repeater offers a safe and reliable ranged option that shreds early bosses, while Double Knives provides high-risk, high-reward lifesteal gameplay.
Both builds are easy to set up with early relics and scale well into later acts. Experiment with timer upgrades and relic synergies to see which style fits your runs best.
FAQ
What is the easiest build for beginners?
The Repeater Elemental build is the easiest since its relics are common and it clears enemies fast without complex combos.
Which build has the most sustain?
The Double Knives Lifesteal build provides constant healing and is best for longer runs or when learning enemy attack patterns.
Can I mix builds?
Yes, hybrid builds like Double Knives with Reflexes can give mobility and mana generation benefits while still dealing good damage.
Are red portals worth taking?
Red portals help skip floors and save time but reduce experience gain. Use them only if your build already has enough damage to handle stronger enemies later.
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