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 could 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 not wants a number of ranges into Slithereen Crush for pace, injury and maintain. Even a worth level supplies a 7-second puddle and all of the related advantages, so long as Guardian Dash is levelled up.
The most typical skill-build is 0-1-2 by stage three with 1-1-3 by stage 5. Bash of the Deep now supplies additional auto-attack injury 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 supplies a variety of additional survivability. There are builds that think about 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 really new, it’s been the staple for a reasonably very long time. Nevertheless, for some cause a variety of pub gamers didn’t adapt and demand on dashing Blink Dagger, which isn’t an excellent play within the present meta. Heroes are means too tanky and Blade Mail continues to be a well-liked buy, so getting an early Blink hardly ever pays off.
As an alternative, higher Slardar gamers think about changing 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 a substantial amount of assault pace and severely prohibit enemy choices in skirmish eventualities.
It is vitally exhausting to maintain a goal “stun-locked” by way of assault pace in a teamfight, however in a 1v1 or a 2v2 Slardar is near unbeatable. Between excessive gank potential and/or passive earnings from Midas, this method permits Slardar to have first rate stage and gold development, in order that when teamfights do begin, he’s ready for them.
There are three essential gadgets for Slardar. An important one is Aghanim’s Scepter, because it massively will increase Slardar’s survivability and even injury output. Standing resistance, additional armor, additional regen, additional pace and additional injury 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 may 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 risk. There isn’t loads 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, an excellent Rubick, Shadow Shaman or Lion will disable you after Blink-in, earlier than you get your Crush off, so BKB is perhaps price it pre-Blink. In most different video games it may be bought later, simply to ensure you keep on the designated goal.
There may be one other, extra aggressive route that delays Aghanim’s and might skip Blink solely. 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 additional assault injury 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 time and again, 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 really converts mentioned kills into goals, it’s a tremendous 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. Until Slardar will get an early Aghanim’s by getting a number of kills by way of Harpoon utilization after which additionally converts them into goals, 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 firstly, with out going for high-risk, high-reward performs. As soon as you’re snug with Slardar, figuring out the video games the place you may get away with a Harpoon construct will even be simpler.
Slardar is the very best win price hero this week and one of many largest winners of the patch. He’s additionally principally simple and simple to play, so a super character to grind MMR with. There are solely a number of heroes Slardar has a sub-50% win price towards: 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 study to play Slardar. Are you occurring the grind and do you may have different ideas without cost MMR heroes? Share your ideas within the remark part under.