Question about Chanter's Chants

[Diaz Ex Machina]

Hello everyone.

I am playing my first complete playthrough of the game with a party composed of a Barbarian Main Character, Aloth, Edér, Kana, Durance, and Pallegina. Right now Barb, Edér and Pallegina form my frontline, respectively occuping the roles of Melee DPS, Main Tank, and Off-tank, While the other party members form the backline, Durance as Support, Aloth as Ranged DPS/Controller, and Kana as general Utility.

My question is: what kind of Phrases should I use with Kana, and in what combination?

At this moment Kana has access to these Phrases:

• "At the Sight of their Comrades, their Hearts Grew Bold";
  
• "Blessed Was Wengridh, Quickest of His Tribe";
  
• "Come, Come Soft Winds of Death";
  
• "Sure-Handed Ila Nocked Her Arrows with Speed";
  
• "Dull the Edge, Blunt the Point";
  
• "The Dragon Thrashed, The Dragon Wailed".

How should I combine them?
Also, should I bring Kana to the frontline to take advantage of his Chants?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

So, you are at least level 9. That raises the first questions: Why have you chosen those phrases and not others? And which invocations have you chosen?

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

How should I combine them?

You've got the four different chants A,B,C,D. Customize them with phrases as to prepare for different combat scenarios.

Start a chant with phrases, which you consider most important at start of combat. Then either continue the chant with a couple of phrases you want to recite later during combat, or let the chant loop automatically. You can switch chants (when they end) during combat if you want to.

For example, Chant A with the phrase that increases Move Speed and Reflex defense at start of combat. That would give your team a quick buff and increase defense vs some spell attacks. Then next -10% vs Slash/Pierce damage, since your frontliners would likely be in the heat of the battle. You let the chant loop at that point or add more phrases. Just remember that phrases don't last forever, and the linger time between two phrases isn't high either. Chant B would prepare for fear attacks. It would start with buffs for Will defense and Frightened/Terrified defense as to prepare for enemies like spectres, drakes, dragons. Chant C might repeat just the phrase to aid ranged attackers. You would switch to it, if your allies would benefit from it while your frontline doesn't need different support anymore. Chant D could contain just a few 1st level phrases that would complete quickly and enable your chanter to use an invocation. A summoner would focus on 1st level chants as to build up power for invocations more quickly than if chanting higher level phrases. Or you would put "The Dragon Thrashed, The Dragon Wailed" as single phrase into a chant and switch to it, if you want Kana to do just area damage with it.

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

Also, should I bring Kana to the frontline to take advantage of his Chants?

Hover the pointer over the Chant A,B,C,D selection quickslot icon. That will show the AoE of his chants. Due to base INT 17 his base AoE is increased and very large already. Kana can be turned into a frontliner due to base high Deflection, but keep in mind, that Chanter class traits are "very low" Endurance, "low" Health, and his RES 10 doesn't add any Deflection. He would need heavy armor, a shield, and with DEX 9 he is slow. Invocations would be slow, too. Kana is better as second line supporter and flanker.

[Diaz Ex Machina]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Why have you chosen those phrases and not others? And which invocations have you chosen?

Because Nerd Commando guide said so. I know, copying a build blindly isn't something one should do, but since I knew very little of the game mechanics I thought that doing it for the first playthrough wouldn't be so bad.
For invocations, I took the following:

• "If their Bones Sleep Still Under that Hill, None Can Say" (A);
  
• "But Reny Daret’s Ghost, He Would not Rest";
  
• "White Worms Writhed in the Bellies of the Dead";
  
• "At the Sound of His Voice, the Killers Froze Stiff";
  
• "Rejoice, My Comrades! Two Fingers of Daylight!".

The aim of the build I followed was to make Kana a ranged support, and as of today it worked decently. The only problem is, I don't know how to create good chants.
At the moment I use two chants:

1. "Blessed Was Wengridh, Quickest of His Tribe" + "At the Sight of their Comrades, their Hearts Grew Bold" + "Dull the Edge, Blunt the Point";
   
2. "Come, Come Soft Winds of Death" + "The Dragon Thrashed, The Dragon Wailed".

The first one I use at the start of battle, to help my frontline positioning and give them some added defense. The second should be a follow-up to start doing big AoE damages, but I always forget to change chants during battles.

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Kana is better as second line supporter and flanker.

So you say I could keep using him as a ranged support, just maybe keep him closer to the frontline?
Thank you again @D'amarr, you're always a great help.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

Because Nerd Commando guide said so.

Nerd Commando is not authoritative. If you find a guide that works for you, great. The game is more fun, if you make plausible choices and gain personal hands on experience.

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

* "If their Bones Sleep Still Under that Hill, None Can Say" (A);

The three human skeletons. Very weak. Almost useless, even as cannon-fodder. It escapes me why a guide would suggest them.

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

* "But Reny Daret’s Ghost, He Would not Rest";

The Phantom summon. A much better choice.

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

* "White Worms Writhed in the Bellies of the Dead";

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/White_Worms_Writhed_in_the_Bellies_of_the_Dead

Long range, which is good, but this invocation is a matter of taste and micro management. Not particularly useful, if you need to decide between casting this and something else.

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

* "At the Sound of His Voice, the Killers Froze Stiff";

Offensive Paralyzed affliction. Okay for the easier difficult modes.

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

* "Rejoice, My Comrades! Two Fingers of Daylight!".

Healing plus temporary immunity vs Frightened/Terrified. Very good where priest's Prayer Against Fear isn't enough or not available anymore.

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

So you say I could keep using him as a ranged support, just maybe keep him closer to the frontline?

Do any of your companions use ranged attacks and would benefit? There is no Ranger in your party. Three frontliners. Durance, if done with spell support, could continue to shoot with Arquebus, since sword and arquebus are Magran's favored weapons. On the other hand, if he buffs himself, he can contribute good damage using a melee weapon. And Aloth is quick enough anyway. I like giving Kana one single-handed weapon for the extra +12 Accuracy and then let him join the front like a Rogue flanker.

[Diaz Ex Machina]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

Because Nerd Commando guide said so.

Nerd Commando is not authoritative. If you find a guide that works for you, great. The game is more fun, if you make plausible choices and gain personal hands on experience.

Well, when I will have enough knowledge of the game mechanics I will start using my own builds. As for now, relying on other's builds is the easiest way to enjoy the game without the frustration of failing at every hard encounter.

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by Diaz Ex Machina:

* "If their Bones Sleep Still Under that Hill, None Can Say" (A);

The three human skeletons. Very weak. Almost useless, even as cannon-fodder. It escapes me why a guide would suggest them.

Kana comes automatically with this invocation, I didn't chose it.