There are many strategies, the most obvious one it to

1. get orbs so cards like capacitor
2. get focus so orbs do more, cards like defragment(most important!)
3. get generate lightning orb cards to fill the orbs
4. ideally get electrodynamics that makes every orb hit every single target
5. get evoke cards for massive burst damage

You can also do the same with frost instead of lightning, you'll have so much block nothing will touch you, you can then use cards like claw for damage. Upgraded Buffer card might be my favourite in the game

The problem with defect is that the cards you get on a given run might screw you over, not fitting any strategy whereas the watcher always has a valid strategy based on switching between calm and wrath stances if he doesn't get something better like divinity or alpha.