Fractal Team Composition

Introduction

There are almost unlimited different team compositions capable of clearing a set of fractals, however particular combinations will generally find more success, particularly in more challenging tier 4 fractals and challenge motes. This guide will introduce which buffs and debuffs strong fractal team composition needs to be able to generate, and give a recommended team composition based on this.

Buffs and Debuffs

Buffs

A well-balanced fractal team should be able to sustain the following boons and buffs for the duration of each encounter:

Might - 25 stacks
Fury
Quickness
Alacrity

You will also often maintain other miscellaneous (but often important) boons such as

Swiftness,

Vigor and

Regeneration as a side-product of having classes that provide the primary buffs, so you shouldn't need to specifically find a source for them. Typically,

Quickness and

Alacrity will be generated by a Chronomancer - Utility Boon Support (Fractal) while

Fury and 25 stacks of

Might will be maintained by a Druid - Boon Support Healer (Fractal). Druids are also able to provide the following powerful unique buffs without losing any of their other buff generation potential:

Finally, Warriors are capable of providing the following unique buffs with only a minor loss of their personal DPS, which makes them a common feature in fractal parties:

Debuffs

The primary debuffs a team should be able to generate are 25 stacks of

Vulnerability and sufficient crowd control effects to break a boss's defiance bar as frequently as possible. Vulnerability should be generated largely by a druid's but certain combinations of classes are capable of maintaining 25 stacks without it. Breaking a boss's defiance bar will give it the Exposed debuff, massively increasing your damage output. Try to not use too many CC skills as to not cripple your DPS, but make sure the bar still gets broken fast enough. The crowd control readily available to each build is generally listed on its build page, and a detailed explanation of all CC options can be found on the official wiki. The amount needed varies from encounter to encounter, so be sure to coordinate which crowd control effects you're bringing with your team-members.

Suggested Composition

As detailed earlier in the guide, the combination of a Druid, Chronomancer and Warrior (Either Berserker, Core Warrior, or Spellbreaker) are able to generate all the buffs and debuffs a party needs for a smooth fractal, leaving two slots open for what builds that focus almost exclusively on DPS. Many fractals don't require a healer, but if a group is struggling with incoming damage pressure a Druid - Boon Support Healer (Fractal) is typically taken, which is conveniently able to heal through incoming damage without impairing its buff generation.

Class	Build	Notes
Chronomancer	Chronomancer - Utility Boon Support (Fractal)	There are no major variations to the chronomancer role in fractals and no tanking mechanics, so the survivability from minstrels gear is not needed.
Druid	Druid - Boon Support Healer (Fractal)	Provides strong healing if required, but minimal DPS - if attacks are being dodged or otherwise mitigated a more DPS-oriented druid build would be more useful.
Druid	Druid - Boon Support Power DPS (Fractal)	A power DPS-focused Druid build, powerful on short encounters where you are only damaging the boss for bursts of time.
Warrior	Warrior - Power Bannerslave	A power DPS based warrior build, powerful on short encounters where you are only damaging the boss for bursts of time.
	Berserker - Condi Bannerslave	A condition DPS based warrior build, powerful on encounters where you are able to damage the boss for extended periods of time.
	Spellbreaker - Power Boonstrip Bannerslave	Provides boonstrip in addition to banners, useful in fractals where the enemies grant themselves boons such as Protection.
DPS	-	Almost any build listed in the Fractal section can be used for the final two slots, with only minor differences from build to build. Try not to bring a second Support Warrior, Chronomancer, or Druid as their buffs do not stack, so doubling up on them is only decreasing your team's potential damage output.
DPS	-

In T3 fractals and under, or with a highly experienced fractal party, it's possible to run a 3rd DPS instead of a Druid. This sacrifices some safety but provides much higher party DPS. If running this, the Chronomancer can use Cleric/Minstrel stats and to heal the party.

It is important to note that this is not the only team composition capable of clearing fractals, nor the only one capable of generating a good amount off the relevant buffs and debuffs. For further reading on which classes and builds are able to fill these roles to help devise alternate team compositions, check out the Raid Team Composition guide.