Picture by Hawf
The meta continues its improvement after the final patch, however for probably the most half it appears like a “wealthy get richer” state of affairs. Numerous heroes who have been good initially are actually even higher, with standouts like Spectre, Wraith King and Slardar nonetheless dominating pubs of all ranges. There’s one attention-grabbing newcomer we wish to focus on immediately, one which appears effectively suited to the present pubs and who is perhaps making a number of appearances within the skilled scene as effectively. If you’re a assist participant, Pugna ought to positively be in your radar.
With the discharge of Common heroes, we’ve been paying a number of consideration to hero attributes. Beginning injury, injury per degree and injury per gold spent have been the defining ideas of the assist laning stage. All of us keep in mind when Techies got here into the lane with a double Circlet and 4 Iron Branches, hitting for 70+ injury from 700 vary.
The entire idea’s been tamed since, however there are nonetheless remnants scattered right here and there. Pugna is one among them: he doesn’t begin with a number of right-click injury, however he positive factors 5 per degree, making him a really severe right-clicking assist come degree three.
That’s not all the pieces, although. Pugna additionally has a number of different benefits in comparison with different helps. He has the very best base motion velocity within the recreation, whereas his Assault Vary is 30 increased in comparison with common ranged heroes.
The entire above permit Pugna to commerce with impunity, regardless of being squishy. Presently widespread melee helps sometimes undergo probably the most, particularly in the event that they don’t have gap-closing or robust motion proscribing skills.
We are able to safely say that Pugna is a really robust laner, even with out discussing any of his skills. Talents which are effectively suited to each aggression and save playstyles.
Everyone knows that Nether Blast and Nether Ward are wonderful. Each of them have been buffed just lately, with the previous getting further injury in opposition to buildings, and the latter getting a rise to base injury on proc. Each buffs are very welcome, however they aren’t the rationale Pugna is so good proper now.
Decrepify is low-key damaged, as a result of the buff it acquired is a buff to one of the vital assist ideas: forged vary. There’s a motive Aether Lens not builds into Octarine Core. It was approach too robust of an merchandise, giving casters all the pieces they may ever need.
700 Solid Vary on maxed out Decrepify means Pugna will get to make use of this means as early as degree 9 whereas staying very protected. It goes as much as 925 with Aether Lens and offers excellent defence in opposition to bodily injury.
Many gamers additionally wrongly assume that it slows down allies and amplifies the incoming Magical injury, however this hasn’t been the case for some time. It can solely sluggish and cut back magic resistance on enemy targets. It can disarm your teammates, so nonetheless be a minimum of considerably cautious of when to make use of it.
With insane Solid Vary on each Decrepify and Life Drain Pugna sometimes received’t must rush save gadgets. Pugna additionally doesn’t thoughts the gap-closing capabilities of Spectre, the de facto meta-defining carry, since he can all the time Drain the phantasm or Decrepify himself to outlive. Therefore, the Aether Lens rush.
It’s a save merchandise in its personal approach: since Pugna is a really robust healer, staying distant from the combat permits for a number of rounds of therapeutic goodness on a really low cooldown. By alternating enemy and allied targets, Pugna additionally retains himself wholesome, although Tranquil Boots are nonetheless a should, after disassembling Arcane Boots for Aether Lens.
After getting Tranquils and Lens, getting an applicable save merchandise is the precedence. Glimmer Cape or Pavise are each robust choices, although the previous is preferable: regardless of Pavise being an total higher save merchandise, it may be redundant on Pugna particularly.
Don’t disregard a possible Lotus Orb, if you want to cope with silences and slows. Additionally it is first rate in opposition to Scythe of Vyse, as it would regularly drive the enemy to self-hex. Alternatively, getting Linken’s Sphere when taking part in in opposition to heroes like Doom may show helpful. The thought is to apply it to the core you are attempting to avoid wasting and since you have already got Aether Lens, the Solid Vary isn’t going to be a limitation.
One other underrated merchandise is Heaven’s Halberd. It isn’t the commonest Pugna buy, however might be very useful within the late recreation in opposition to ranged Nullifier carries, resembling Templar Murderer. This merchandise additionally makes Pugna a bit bit tankier, whereas additionally amplifying the well being restoration of the hero. Well being that may be later drained into teammates.
We genuinely hoped for an even bigger meta change with the discharge of the brand new patch, but it surely appears to be like like there are solely a few newcomers. Maybe they are going to begin a series response of meta shifts, or maybe the upcoming tournaments will present us some new concepts, however for now Dota feels principally discovered, with a few notable exceptions like Slardar and Pugna.
Maybe you’ve another up and coming heroes you prefer to us to debate? Share your ideas and concepts within the remark part under.