Slardar — the Strongest Hero to Play – DOTABUFF

The meta shake up resulted within the resurgence of a long-forgotten hero. Slardar didn’t obtain any direct buffs in 7.34e, however his lane dominance feels much more pronounced within the present patch. With some changes to itemization, the hero’s energy stage will be insane, making him one of many hardest opponents to face.

The hero didn’t obtain any buffs within the newest patch, however he was getting stronger and stronger for nearly 4 months now. An important half is that he now not wants a number of ranges into Slithereen Crush for pace, harm and maintain. Even a worth level gives a 7-second puddle and all of the related advantages, so long as Guardian Dash is levelled up.

The commonest skill-build is 0-1-2 by stage three with 1-1-3 by stage 5. Bash of the Deep now gives further auto-attack harm whereas Slardar is in water and it rapidly provides up over the course of the laning stage.

Guardian Dash is often maxed out second, because it gives a variety of further survivability. There are builds that focus on Crush and getting an early Blink Dagger, however they’re principally particular to video games the place auto-attacking is problematic.

The present meta construct for Slardar isn’t truly new, it’s been the staple for a fairly very long time. Nonetheless, for some cause a variety of pub gamers didn’t adapt and demand on speeding Blink Dagger, which isn’t a superb play within the present meta. Heroes are method too tanky and Blade Mail remains to be a well-liked buy, so getting an early Blink hardly ever pays off.

As an alternative, higher Slardar gamers focus on turning into tanky and threatening, mostly by getting a few [item-bracer]s or Wraith Bands, an early Masks of Insanity and/or Hand of Midas. These things present quite a lot of assault pace and severely limit enemy choices in skirmish eventualities.

It is rather exhausting to maintain a goal “stun-locked” via assault pace in a teamfight, however in a 1v1 or a 2v2 Slardar is near unbeatable. Between excessive gank potential and/or passive revenue from Midas, this strategy permits Slardar to have respectable stage and gold development, in order that when teamfights do begin, he’s ready for them.

There are three vital objects for Slardar. An important one is Aghanim’s Scepter, because it massively will increase Slardar’s survivability and even harm output. Standing resistance, further armor, further regen, further pace and further harm for 4200 gold is stupidly robust. To reiterate: in 99.9% of video games getting Aghanim’s as early as doable is the right play. It’s even price skipping Midas or MoM, if you will get Agh’s pre-minute 15, although we don’t suggest it, as it’s too dangerous.

Second in significance is Blink Dagger. As soon as Slardar has precise instruments of survival and teamfight presence, being the initiator in a teamfight turns into a chance. There isn’t quite a bit to debate on this regard. Simply don’t rush it earlier than Aghanim’s, in any other case you’ll probably simply feed.

Lastly, there’s Black King Bar. In larger stage lobbies, a superb Rubick, Shadow Shaman or Lion will disable you after Blink-in, earlier than you get your Crush off, so BKB could be price it pre-Blink. In most different video games it may be bought later, simply to be sure to keep on the designated goal.

There may be one other, extra aggressive route that delays Aghanim’s and might skip Blink completely. Going Echo Sabre into Harpoon is a probably robust play a variety of pro-level gamers choose. It isn’t as dependable long-term, because it doesn’t permit for passive farming, however it may be devastating as a tempo play.

Harpoon combines some tankiness, gap-closing capabilities and further assault harm right into a single 4500 gold merchandise. It’s nowhere close to near worth when in comparison with Aghanim’s, however as an merchandise with a single focus it’s unparalleled. You get Harpoon to kill enemies over and over, by no means leaving the map as you get passive HP regen from Guardian Dash and mana regen from Harpoon.

So long as you handle to attach on kills and your staff truly converts mentioned kills into aims, it’s an incredible merchandise. The issue is the second Slardar with this construct stops getting kills or the second they overextend and get punished a few occasions, they’re roughly out of the sport. Except Slardar will get an early Aghanim’s by getting a number of kills via Harpoon utilization after which additionally converts them into aims, this construct gained’t shine. There isn’t a Plan B like there’s with MoM and/or Midas.

The issue of kill conversion goes to be very pronounced in decrease stage pubs, so we might suggest most gamers to play effectively in the beginning, with out going for high-risk, high-reward performs. As soon as you might be comfy with Slardar, figuring out the video games the place you will get away with a Harpoon construct may also be simpler.

Slardar is the best win fee hero this week and one of many greatest winners of the patch. He’s additionally principally easy and straightforward to play, so a really perfect character to grind MMR with. There are solely a number of heroes Slardar has a sub-50% win fee in opposition to: principally phantasm cores, Witch Physician, Wraith King and Troll Warlord — all robust heroes in their very own proper.

Contemplating it’s unlikely we get one other patch within the subsequent two weeks, there’s loads of time to be taught to play Slardar. Are you occurring the grind and do you will have different strategies at no cost MMR heroes? Share your ideas within the remark part beneath.