apollo_440
01-07-2010, 11:11 PM
Hi folks! This is my first guide, feel free to criticize it (constructively please :o) or add things that you feel are missing!
0. Introduction
This guide should be suitable for newer players as well as the experienced among us.
Table of contents
First Post
0. Introduction
1. Hero overview
2.1. Skill descriptions
2.2. Skill order
3. Item discussion
Second Post
4. Good allies / Bad enemies
5. Gameplay guide
1. Hero overview
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/icon_128.jpg
Starting stats
Strength: 23 (+2.7 / lvl)
Agility: 21 (+2.0 / lvl)
Intelligence: 14 (+1.3 / lvl)
Movement speed: 295
As you can see, Hammerstorm has an awesome strength gain, an o.k. agility gain and a mediocre intelligence gain. His starting stats are about average.
Pros and cons
+ High strength gain results in high HP and base damage
+ Reliable AoE stun
+ Innate splash
+ Ultimate that boosts your DPS
+ MS boosting skill
- Item dependent
- Melee
- Ultimate can be purged
- Primary target for disables when ultimate goes up
Role in team
Hammerstorm is a good initiator early game and a force to be reckoned with DPS-wise mid to late game. Your role is to stun first, so your mates can land their stuns, and whack the hell out of people with your ultimate on.
So, do pick Hammerstorm if
- your team needs a stunner and carry
- your team needs a reliable stun to initiate a combo
- you have at least some last hitting skills
- you want to be awesome
And don't pick Hammerstorm if
- Electrician is on the enemy team
- your team already has 3-4 melee heroes
- your team already has more than one better carry
- you can't handle his awesomeness
2.1. Skill descriptions
Hammer Throw
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/ability1_128.jpg
Target: Enemy Units
Type: Magic
Range: 600
Radius: 300
Cast Time: 0.8 Seconds
Mana Cost: 140
Cooldown: 14.0 Seconds
Activation
Deals 100 / 175 / 250 / 325 Magic damage and stuns target for 2 seconds.
This is what makes you an awesome combo-initiator and a feared enemy. You are a carry with a reliable (ie targetable) stun. Note the 300 radius, all units within that radius get stunned and damaged. Also note that the Hammer doesn't impact instantly, it rather flies to the target and can be dodged by blinking away, activating magic immunity, going invisible or teleporting away. It still stuns and damages enemies in its AoE when dodged though.
Mighty Swing
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/ability2_128.jpg
Passive
On Attack
Applies 12.5 / 25.5 / 37.5 / 50% splash damage in a radius of 350.
When teamfights start to become important, this is what makes you deal that little bit of extra damage to everyone that makes you so awesome. Don't get it early though, as it will only push your lane and render you open to ganks. The splash only occurs infront of you, you will usually be barely unable to splash the ranged creep when hitting melee creeps, that's about 350 range (pic will follow).
Galvanize
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/ability3_128.jpg
Target: Ally Units
Range: Self
Radius: 500
Cast Time: 0.8 Seconds
Mana Cost: 25
Cooldown: 36.0 / 30.0 / 24.0 / 18.0 Seconds
Activation
Applies Galvanize to targets in radius for 6 seconds
Galvanize
3 / 5 / 7 / 10 Armor
14% Movement Speed
Your awesomeness is so great that you boost you allies with it. Unfortunately, this skill is not incredibly awesome. The 14% movement speed bonus is good but stays the same on all levels, so as long as you do not need any extra armor, leave this on level 1. Remember not to use it when you are barely out of range for a stun or last hit, as you will have to stop to use this and your victim will be gone. Definitely do use it if you can boost your allied slower / stunner so that he can catch up to your enemy.
Brute Strength
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/ability4_128.jpg
Type: Magic
Cast Time: 1.0 Seconds
Mana Cost: 100 / 150 / 200
Cooldown: 80.0 Seconds
Activation
Applies Brute Strength to self for 25 seconds.
Brute Strength Effects
100 / 125 / 150% Base Damage
This is where the fun begins. Your hammer starts to glow and everything shakes when you hit something, that's how awesome you are. Note that it boosts Base Damage, so raw +damage items won't benefit you as much as items with +strength (which defines your base damage). Do not hesitate to use it to bring towers down, some 700 gold from a tower last hit will work wonders on your itemization.
Note that Brute Strength can be removed by Electrician's ultimate and by Nullfire Blade.
2.2. Skill order
1. Hammer Throw
2. Galvanize
3. Hammer Throw
4. Stats
5. Hammer Throw
6. Stats / Brute Strength
7. Hammer Throw
8. Stats
9. Stats
10. Brute Strength / Stats
11. Brute Strength
12.-15. Mighty Swing
16. Brute Strength
17.-25. Stats / Galvanize
The skill build should be fairly straight forward. Hammer Throw is maxed first for awesome damage. One level of Galvanize is gotten early for chasing and boosting your allies. As mentioned above, don't get Mighty Swing early or you will push your lane and leave yourself open to ganks.
Whether or not you get Brute Strength on level 6 is up to you, if you farm well and think you can get a kill or two with it, then definitely go for it, if you have a hard lane and can't farm too much, stats will help you more.
Mighty Swing is gotten mid game, when team fights start to get important and when you have decent DPS.
Whether or not you get more levels of Galvanize at level 17 depends on their team, if you have to counter any armor reducing (e.g. Pestilence, Demented Shaman, Demonic Breastplate), get it at 17, if not get it at 22.
3. Item discussion
Starting Items
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_RunesOfTheBlight.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_RunesOfTheBlight.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_CrushingClaws.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_CrushingClaws.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_ManaPotion.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_ManaPotion.jpg
2x Runes of Blight (180 gold) - Basic healing.
2x Crushing Claws (300 gold) - +6 Strength, that's 6 Damage and 114 HP, good for last hitting and survival.
2x Mana Potion (100 gold) - Due to your limited mana pool you will need these if you want to use your stun more than once early on.
Total: 580 gold
Always Have
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_HomecomingStone.jpg
Homecoming Stone (135 gold) - TPs do save lives, be it your own, that of a teammate or that of a tower. So definitely always carry one of these around. Remember that you can get one at the side shop. But never use one to get somewhere you could walk to as well, since that would mean 135 gold wasted and a 65 second cooldown (much can happen in 65 seconds).
Early game
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_PowerSupply.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Strength5.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Strength5.jpg
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Marchers.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_HomecomingStone.jpg
Power Supply (519 gold) - See it as a bracelet with +3 strength less, but a 225 heal and mana recharge. You can get the Mana Battery at the side shop if needed. This thing will be full in no time when team battles occur and 225 mana means almost stun and ultimate for you. Remeber to try and get all 15 charges before you use it for maximum effectiveness.
2x Fortified Bracelet (720 gold) - Upgrade your Gauntlets into Bracelets. The +3 Intelligence helps with your mana pool and the +6 Strength mean +12/14/15 Damage during your ultimate.
Marchers (500 gold) - +50 movement speed, a no brainer.
The order in which you should get these items depends on the game: If your lane is dominated by spells get Power Supply first; If you have trouble keeping up with your enemies or if they have spells which require you to run out of the way quickly get Marchers first; If none of these apply get the Bracelets.
Total: 1739 gold
Running total: 2319 gold (+ Homecoming stones)
Middle Game
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Steamboots.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Immunity.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Strength5.jpg
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Strength5.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_PowerSupply.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_HomecomingStone.jpg
Steamboots (950 gold) - These are definitely the way to go. The +25 Attack speed is much needed, and the +10 Strength boosts your damage by 20/23/25 during your ultimate. Of course the increased movement speed is nice too.
Shrunken Head (3900 gold) - Unless you have a Jeraziah babysitting you, this is what you will desperately need. Your ultimate will attract all the disables the opposing team has, so your only chance at dealing any damage whatsoever is this item. The +24 Damage and +10 Strength are a very nice bonus too. If the enemy team has too many disables, you can even opt to get Shrunken Head before Steamboots. When building Shrunken Head, get the Mighty Blade first unless you farm really well, in that case get the Warhammer first. Note that your ultimate can still be purged even when you have Shrunken Head on.
Total: 4850 gold
Running total: 7169 gold (+ Homecoming Stones)
At this point I consider the core item build complete.
Late Game
Further itemization is a matter of preference and farming capability, I will recommend some good items here.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Insanitarius.jpg
Insanitarius (2850 gold) - 5 Armor, 15 Attack speed, 9 Damage, 3 HP regeneration. Upon activation you get another 10 Attack speed, 31 Damage, 25 Strength and a 475 HP heal, at the cost of 35 True damage per second. I consider this a great item on any strength carry. If the other team doesn't have that many disables, you can even opt to get this before Shrunken Head.
If you think the damage you take isn't worth it, let's do the math. You get 25 Strength, which equals 50/56/62 damage for your ultimate and 475 HP. The effective degen Insanitarius is doing is 31.25 (due to the regeneration itself and the regeneration from the strength). 475 HP / 31.25 HP/s = 15.2 seconds. So if you turn it on for less than 15.2 seconds, you have lost nothing. And this doesn't factor in your innate regeneration. Since your ultimate lasts for only 10 seconds longer, this is a great deal. Of course afterwards you have to turn it off which makes you lose 475 HP, so be sure to do it after the fight and when Thunderbringer's ultimate is not around.
Note that you can also use the activation for a nifty instant 475 heal, just don't spam it or you will turn it off again instantly.
http://heroes-newerth.com/wp-content/myimages/Frostburn.png
Frostburn (5000 gold) - +20 Strength and Agility, +10 Intelligence, +10 Damage, +15% Movement speed, +30 Attackspeed and a nice slow on attack. This definitely solves all your attack speed and chasing problems and it helps with your mana pool as well. The +20 Strength also result in +40/45/50 damage during your ultimate. A really great item.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_WhisperingHelm.jpg
Whispering Helm (1850 gold) - Number one choice for life steal. Whispering Helm will usually provide enough life steal to comfortably use Insanitarius during your ultimate. Can also be upgraded into Symbol of Rage later on for an extra boost in Damage and Life steal.
Other items
The items listed here can be used alternatively to the recommended items listed above.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_ElderParasite.jpg
Elder Parasite (1900 gold) - Can be used for a good attack speed and movement speed boost during your ultimate and to run around the map, at the cost of 30% increased damage taken. If you opt to get this, in no case get it before Shrunken Head, as disables will mean Instagib on you due to the 30% increased damage taken. Your ultimate coupled with the attack speed and the life steal help you counteract the damage, still I don't consider this a good item since you will be a focus target during your ultimate and it doesn't add strength, so no extra damage for your ultimate. Don't get it together with Insanitarius, as the extra damage taken when you activate both will kill you fast.
http://heroes-newerth.com/wp-content/myimages/Riftshards.png
Riftshards (2650 + 3x 950 gold) - The raw damage doesn't help with your base damage, but the critical strike certainly does. If you like big numbers popping above your head, go for Riftshards. Unfortunately they lack attackspeed, so get it somewhere else.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_LifeSteal5.jpg
Abyssal Skull (2050 gold) - Another good alternative for life steal. If there are a few melee heroes on your team and noone else gets it, go for it. The +15% base damage certainly fits your overall build nicely and the mana regen is very welcome too.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_EnhancedMarchers.jpg
Ghost Marchers (1500 gold) - If too many enemies get these and you feel like you can't land your stun without the extra movement speed boost, you might want to go for these instead of Steamboots. I consider them inferior though, because their damage doesn't add to your ultimate and they give no attack speed.
Luxury / Situational items
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Excruciator.jpg
Barbed Armor (2200 gold) - Due to your naturally high strength gain and your item build you are a very good wearer for this little beauty, especially if there are a few fragile agi-carries on the enemy team who out-DPS you.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_LifeSteal4.jpg
Symbol of Rage (6150 gold) - As stated above, the natural followup to Whispering Helm if you opted to get it. 20 Damage, 25 Strength and massive life steal make you virtually unkillable with your ultimate and Shrunken Head on, as long as you whack something.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_BehemothsHeart.jpg
Behemoth's Heart (5500 gold) - It gives you a lot of strength (35 which means 70/79/88 damage for your ulti), a lot of HP and a lot of HP regeneration. Leave Insanitarius on all the time once you have this.
If you still have too much gold, throw in another Behemoth's Heart.
Rejected items
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Pierce.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Splash.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Weapon3.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Damage9.jpg
These all give direct +Damage, which you don't need. The -Armor on Shield Breaker is nice, but you're better off if someone else on the team gets it. While Runed Axe can be fun, it's just overkill in my eyes (you won't get many opportunities where there are really that many enemies standing clumped).
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_LoggersHatchet.jpg
With your naturally high strength gain and skilling stats early on you won't need this to outlasthit just about anyone.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_DaemonicBreastplate.jpg
While a good item per se, it doesn't benefit you as much as Behemoth's Heart, since it does not add damage to your ultimate, except for the -Armor aura. That being said, someone else on the team should get it.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Shield2.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_MagicArmor2.jpg
You are tanky enough, so Helm of the Black Legion would only delay your DPS items unnecessarily. And since you are getting Shrunken Head as a core item, Shaman's Headdress is not needed.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Lightning1.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Lightning2.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Brutalizer.jpg
You lack the attack speed to use these.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Freeze.jpg
This much intelligence is overkill, get Frostburn for a much cheaper slow and better attack speed and movement speed boni.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Intelligence7.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Nuke.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Stealth.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_HarkonsBlade.jpg
w00t?
0. Introduction
This guide should be suitable for newer players as well as the experienced among us.
Table of contents
First Post
0. Introduction
1. Hero overview
2.1. Skill descriptions
2.2. Skill order
3. Item discussion
Second Post
4. Good allies / Bad enemies
5. Gameplay guide
1. Hero overview
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/icon_128.jpg
Starting stats
Strength: 23 (+2.7 / lvl)
Agility: 21 (+2.0 / lvl)
Intelligence: 14 (+1.3 / lvl)
Movement speed: 295
As you can see, Hammerstorm has an awesome strength gain, an o.k. agility gain and a mediocre intelligence gain. His starting stats are about average.
Pros and cons
+ High strength gain results in high HP and base damage
+ Reliable AoE stun
+ Innate splash
+ Ultimate that boosts your DPS
+ MS boosting skill
- Item dependent
- Melee
- Ultimate can be purged
- Primary target for disables when ultimate goes up
Role in team
Hammerstorm is a good initiator early game and a force to be reckoned with DPS-wise mid to late game. Your role is to stun first, so your mates can land their stuns, and whack the hell out of people with your ultimate on.
So, do pick Hammerstorm if
- your team needs a stunner and carry
- your team needs a reliable stun to initiate a combo
- you have at least some last hitting skills
- you want to be awesome
And don't pick Hammerstorm if
- Electrician is on the enemy team
- your team already has 3-4 melee heroes
- your team already has more than one better carry
- you can't handle his awesomeness
2.1. Skill descriptions
Hammer Throw
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/ability1_128.jpg
Target: Enemy Units
Type: Magic
Range: 600
Radius: 300
Cast Time: 0.8 Seconds
Mana Cost: 140
Cooldown: 14.0 Seconds
Activation
Deals 100 / 175 / 250 / 325 Magic damage and stuns target for 2 seconds.
This is what makes you an awesome combo-initiator and a feared enemy. You are a carry with a reliable (ie targetable) stun. Note the 300 radius, all units within that radius get stunned and damaged. Also note that the Hammer doesn't impact instantly, it rather flies to the target and can be dodged by blinking away, activating magic immunity, going invisible or teleporting away. It still stuns and damages enemies in its AoE when dodged though.
Mighty Swing
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/ability2_128.jpg
Passive
On Attack
Applies 12.5 / 25.5 / 37.5 / 50% splash damage in a radius of 350.
When teamfights start to become important, this is what makes you deal that little bit of extra damage to everyone that makes you so awesome. Don't get it early though, as it will only push your lane and render you open to ganks. The splash only occurs infront of you, you will usually be barely unable to splash the ranged creep when hitting melee creeps, that's about 350 range (pic will follow).
Galvanize
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/ability3_128.jpg
Target: Ally Units
Range: Self
Radius: 500
Cast Time: 0.8 Seconds
Mana Cost: 25
Cooldown: 36.0 / 30.0 / 24.0 / 18.0 Seconds
Activation
Applies Galvanize to targets in radius for 6 seconds
Galvanize
3 / 5 / 7 / 10 Armor
14% Movement Speed
Your awesomeness is so great that you boost you allies with it. Unfortunately, this skill is not incredibly awesome. The 14% movement speed bonus is good but stays the same on all levels, so as long as you do not need any extra armor, leave this on level 1. Remember not to use it when you are barely out of range for a stun or last hit, as you will have to stop to use this and your victim will be gone. Definitely do use it if you can boost your allied slower / stunner so that he can catch up to your enemy.
Brute Strength
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/heroes/13/ability4_128.jpg
Type: Magic
Cast Time: 1.0 Seconds
Mana Cost: 100 / 150 / 200
Cooldown: 80.0 Seconds
Activation
Applies Brute Strength to self for 25 seconds.
Brute Strength Effects
100 / 125 / 150% Base Damage
This is where the fun begins. Your hammer starts to glow and everything shakes when you hit something, that's how awesome you are. Note that it boosts Base Damage, so raw +damage items won't benefit you as much as items with +strength (which defines your base damage). Do not hesitate to use it to bring towers down, some 700 gold from a tower last hit will work wonders on your itemization.
Note that Brute Strength can be removed by Electrician's ultimate and by Nullfire Blade.
2.2. Skill order
1. Hammer Throw
2. Galvanize
3. Hammer Throw
4. Stats
5. Hammer Throw
6. Stats / Brute Strength
7. Hammer Throw
8. Stats
9. Stats
10. Brute Strength / Stats
11. Brute Strength
12.-15. Mighty Swing
16. Brute Strength
17.-25. Stats / Galvanize
The skill build should be fairly straight forward. Hammer Throw is maxed first for awesome damage. One level of Galvanize is gotten early for chasing and boosting your allies. As mentioned above, don't get Mighty Swing early or you will push your lane and leave yourself open to ganks.
Whether or not you get Brute Strength on level 6 is up to you, if you farm well and think you can get a kill or two with it, then definitely go for it, if you have a hard lane and can't farm too much, stats will help you more.
Mighty Swing is gotten mid game, when team fights start to get important and when you have decent DPS.
Whether or not you get more levels of Galvanize at level 17 depends on their team, if you have to counter any armor reducing (e.g. Pestilence, Demented Shaman, Demonic Breastplate), get it at 17, if not get it at 22.
3. Item discussion
Starting Items
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_RunesOfTheBlight.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_RunesOfTheBlight.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_CrushingClaws.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_CrushingClaws.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_ManaPotion.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_ManaPotion.jpg
2x Runes of Blight (180 gold) - Basic healing.
2x Crushing Claws (300 gold) - +6 Strength, that's 6 Damage and 114 HP, good for last hitting and survival.
2x Mana Potion (100 gold) - Due to your limited mana pool you will need these if you want to use your stun more than once early on.
Total: 580 gold
Always Have
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_HomecomingStone.jpg
Homecoming Stone (135 gold) - TPs do save lives, be it your own, that of a teammate or that of a tower. So definitely always carry one of these around. Remember that you can get one at the side shop. But never use one to get somewhere you could walk to as well, since that would mean 135 gold wasted and a 65 second cooldown (much can happen in 65 seconds).
Early game
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_PowerSupply.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Strength5.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Strength5.jpg
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Marchers.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_HomecomingStone.jpg
Power Supply (519 gold) - See it as a bracelet with +3 strength less, but a 225 heal and mana recharge. You can get the Mana Battery at the side shop if needed. This thing will be full in no time when team battles occur and 225 mana means almost stun and ultimate for you. Remeber to try and get all 15 charges before you use it for maximum effectiveness.
2x Fortified Bracelet (720 gold) - Upgrade your Gauntlets into Bracelets. The +3 Intelligence helps with your mana pool and the +6 Strength mean +12/14/15 Damage during your ultimate.
Marchers (500 gold) - +50 movement speed, a no brainer.
The order in which you should get these items depends on the game: If your lane is dominated by spells get Power Supply first; If you have trouble keeping up with your enemies or if they have spells which require you to run out of the way quickly get Marchers first; If none of these apply get the Bracelets.
Total: 1739 gold
Running total: 2319 gold (+ Homecoming stones)
Middle Game
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Steamboots.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Immunity.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Strength5.jpg
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Strength5.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_PowerSupply.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_HomecomingStone.jpg
Steamboots (950 gold) - These are definitely the way to go. The +25 Attack speed is much needed, and the +10 Strength boosts your damage by 20/23/25 during your ultimate. Of course the increased movement speed is nice too.
Shrunken Head (3900 gold) - Unless you have a Jeraziah babysitting you, this is what you will desperately need. Your ultimate will attract all the disables the opposing team has, so your only chance at dealing any damage whatsoever is this item. The +24 Damage and +10 Strength are a very nice bonus too. If the enemy team has too many disables, you can even opt to get Shrunken Head before Steamboots. When building Shrunken Head, get the Mighty Blade first unless you farm really well, in that case get the Warhammer first. Note that your ultimate can still be purged even when you have Shrunken Head on.
Total: 4850 gold
Running total: 7169 gold (+ Homecoming Stones)
At this point I consider the core item build complete.
Late Game
Further itemization is a matter of preference and farming capability, I will recommend some good items here.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Insanitarius.jpg
Insanitarius (2850 gold) - 5 Armor, 15 Attack speed, 9 Damage, 3 HP regeneration. Upon activation you get another 10 Attack speed, 31 Damage, 25 Strength and a 475 HP heal, at the cost of 35 True damage per second. I consider this a great item on any strength carry. If the other team doesn't have that many disables, you can even opt to get this before Shrunken Head.
If you think the damage you take isn't worth it, let's do the math. You get 25 Strength, which equals 50/56/62 damage for your ultimate and 475 HP. The effective degen Insanitarius is doing is 31.25 (due to the regeneration itself and the regeneration from the strength). 475 HP / 31.25 HP/s = 15.2 seconds. So if you turn it on for less than 15.2 seconds, you have lost nothing. And this doesn't factor in your innate regeneration. Since your ultimate lasts for only 10 seconds longer, this is a great deal. Of course afterwards you have to turn it off which makes you lose 475 HP, so be sure to do it after the fight and when Thunderbringer's ultimate is not around.
Note that you can also use the activation for a nifty instant 475 heal, just don't spam it or you will turn it off again instantly.
http://heroes-newerth.com/wp-content/myimages/Frostburn.png
Frostburn (5000 gold) - +20 Strength and Agility, +10 Intelligence, +10 Damage, +15% Movement speed, +30 Attackspeed and a nice slow on attack. This definitely solves all your attack speed and chasing problems and it helps with your mana pool as well. The +20 Strength also result in +40/45/50 damage during your ultimate. A really great item.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_WhisperingHelm.jpg
Whispering Helm (1850 gold) - Number one choice for life steal. Whispering Helm will usually provide enough life steal to comfortably use Insanitarius during your ultimate. Can also be upgraded into Symbol of Rage later on for an extra boost in Damage and Life steal.
Other items
The items listed here can be used alternatively to the recommended items listed above.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_ElderParasite.jpg
Elder Parasite (1900 gold) - Can be used for a good attack speed and movement speed boost during your ultimate and to run around the map, at the cost of 30% increased damage taken. If you opt to get this, in no case get it before Shrunken Head, as disables will mean Instagib on you due to the 30% increased damage taken. Your ultimate coupled with the attack speed and the life steal help you counteract the damage, still I don't consider this a good item since you will be a focus target during your ultimate and it doesn't add strength, so no extra damage for your ultimate. Don't get it together with Insanitarius, as the extra damage taken when you activate both will kill you fast.
http://heroes-newerth.com/wp-content/myimages/Riftshards.png
Riftshards (2650 + 3x 950 gold) - The raw damage doesn't help with your base damage, but the critical strike certainly does. If you like big numbers popping above your head, go for Riftshards. Unfortunately they lack attackspeed, so get it somewhere else.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_LifeSteal5.jpg
Abyssal Skull (2050 gold) - Another good alternative for life steal. If there are a few melee heroes on your team and noone else gets it, go for it. The +15% base damage certainly fits your overall build nicely and the mana regen is very welcome too.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_EnhancedMarchers.jpg
Ghost Marchers (1500 gold) - If too many enemies get these and you feel like you can't land your stun without the extra movement speed boost, you might want to go for these instead of Steamboots. I consider them inferior though, because their damage doesn't add to your ultimate and they give no attack speed.
Luxury / Situational items
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Excruciator.jpg
Barbed Armor (2200 gold) - Due to your naturally high strength gain and your item build you are a very good wearer for this little beauty, especially if there are a few fragile agi-carries on the enemy team who out-DPS you.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_LifeSteal4.jpg
Symbol of Rage (6150 gold) - As stated above, the natural followup to Whispering Helm if you opted to get it. 20 Damage, 25 Strength and massive life steal make you virtually unkillable with your ultimate and Shrunken Head on, as long as you whack something.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_BehemothsHeart.jpg
Behemoth's Heart (5500 gold) - It gives you a lot of strength (35 which means 70/79/88 damage for your ulti), a lot of HP and a lot of HP regeneration. Leave Insanitarius on all the time once you have this.
If you still have too much gold, throw in another Behemoth's Heart.
Rejected items
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Pierce.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Splash.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Weapon3.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Damage9.jpg
These all give direct +Damage, which you don't need. The -Armor on Shield Breaker is nice, but you're better off if someone else on the team gets it. While Runed Axe can be fun, it's just overkill in my eyes (you won't get many opportunities where there are really that many enemies standing clumped).
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_LoggersHatchet.jpg
With your naturally high strength gain and skilling stats early on you won't need this to outlasthit just about anyone.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_DaemonicBreastplate.jpg
While a good item per se, it doesn't benefit you as much as Behemoth's Heart, since it does not add damage to your ultimate, except for the -Armor aura. That being said, someone else on the team should get it.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Shield2.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_MagicArmor2.jpg
You are tanky enough, so Helm of the Black Legion would only delay your DPS items unnecessarily. And since you are getting Shrunken Head as a core item, Shaman's Headdress is not needed.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Lightning1.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Lightning2.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Brutalizer.jpg
You lack the attack speed to use these.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Freeze.jpg
This much intelligence is overkill, get Frostburn for a much cheaper slow and better attack speed and movement speed boni.
http://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Intelligence7.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Nuke.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_Stealth.jpghttp://www.heroesofnewerth.com/images/items/Item_HarkonsBlade.jpg
w00t?