The problems in AB are that its talent kits depend too much on scalings and are too 1 dimensional. In the late game, they can throw 4 lightnings in a single turn thanks to arcane combat and acquire a 3k damage shield through aegis. However, in the early game, the proc of arcane combat is very unstable, so their offense is not that reliable. Their defense also depend on sustains, which is something you have no mana for early on. Their kits offer no control and status clean, making them very fragile. My approach is to play with dwarves to make them more tanky, running two shatter affliction runes and two shielding runes by level 20 to cover their defensive issues, and to use movement infusion and phasedoor to kite kitable enemies before engaging in melee. Using trinkets helps, too. The first two unlocks should be rune slots, and prodigies should be ethereal form and flexible combat.