[Request] General Item Strategy

[thunderzebra]

Hello! I'm completely new to DotA/HoN, so this may be a very silly request, but thanks for taking a look :)

I've been reading guides pertaining to game as a whole for the past evening, and of my newly begot basic knowledge, that which seems to be lacking most desperately is which items I should buy: that is, what modifiers are useful for certain things (ie - lifesteal? is this a useful modifier? or has it gone the way of lifesteal in d2? if it's useful, why? with/against what type heroes?) AND, more importantly to me cause it seems like the items themselves are pretty straightforward for some characters, when are the most advantageous times to buy these items? I've looked over lots of guides, I mean, I understand what the modifiers do (for the most part), but the scope of their usefulness is neigh impossible to discern (by guide).

Anyway, so to make the request more clear: I think a guide advising the kind of items/modifiers you should look for when playing different types of heroes (with an emphasis on why) and when the most opportune times to buy said items would be a great addition to the trove of guides, especially for newbies like myself ^_^

[Tryptophan]

You want to lay down your core build first. On the majority of heroes this is probably what you want to get.

1. 2-3 Fortified Bracelets/Soulscream Rings
Talismans of Exile aren't really worth it because the mana gain per level of Intelligence is lower compared to the health gain per level of Strength. You gain 13 mana per Intelligence and 19 health per Strength.

3 Fortified Bracelets = 342 health, 117 mana, 1.28 armor, and 9% AS
3 Talismans of Exile = 171 health, 234 mana, 1.28 armor, and 9% AS

So which do you prefer? Losing 171 health or gaining 117 mana? Only get Talismans of Exile if you REALLY need the mana boost.

Marchers/Steam Boots (Strength no matter what)(DPS)/Enhanced Marchers(Casters)/Post Haste(All)

You always want Steam Boots to be on Strength for the extra 190 health. Only switch to Agility if it's late game and you have sufficient health and you prefer the extra 10 damage and 10% AS gain from the 10 Agility by giving up nearly 200 health. Never will you need it on Intelligence because Casters don't need treads because the attack speed is useless and 99% of the time it's better to get Enhanced Marchers for the armor or the Post Haste for mobility. You stay with Marchers if you want if you have decided that you need your higher tier items more and go back to upgrading them once you're done.

After you've completed that core build you can continue on to higher tier items.

Optional/Situational items include: Shrunken Head, Helm of the Black Legion, Shaman's Headress, Barbed Armor, Alchemist's Bones, and Portal Key. Portal Key is actually considered mandatory on a few heroes (Behemoth, Torturer, etc..) in order to land their high damage output spells.

A good place to start with Intelligence/Casters heroes would be to get a Sacrificial Stone or a Totem of Kuldra. For Strength Carries you can always get a Runed Axe, Hack and Slash, Behemoth's Heart, Savage Mace, Demonic Breastplate or any other items in the Combatative category. For Agility Carries you can always use an Assassin's Shroud (optional in most cases), Wingbow, Nullfire Blade, Hack and Slash, or any other items in the Combatative category.

As for morph attack and other orb effects you can now stack orb effects of different types unlike in DotA where you had to choose one to prioritize. In HoN you can have lifesteal from a Whispering Helm, Mana burn from a Geometer's Bane while at the same time you have armor corruption from a Shield Breaker. I'm not sure about buff placing effects though. I'm not sure if those stack (Buff placers = orb effects that leave a buff icon on the targeted hero when struck such as Shield Breaker, Frostwulf's Skull, Hack, and Hack and Slash)

[themvk]

bump for friends sake :p

Tryp thanks for the quick help there - like OP, Im also a beginner but Ive found it hard to find any general item info. I'm downloading HoN now so its nice to have a heads up!

[xae]

Thanks alot for this guide, it's really helped me out (I'm a noob to DOTA :D / HON)