NOTE: After writing this first draft I noticed the other guide in drafts (I didn't really look through drafts before posting this). I'm hopefully going to continue writing this, as I have some valid points on tanking/dps that the other one doesn't have. Sorry :P
CHANGELOG:
v1.
- Added introduction
- Added pro's & con's
- Added base stats
- Added skill information
- Added support/tank skill set
- Added support/tank item set
v1.1
- Removed some title art
- Added skill set of Support/Tank
- Added item set of Support/Tank
- Visual changes to text colouring and sizes
Demented Shaman
Mr Malleable
Introduction
I've been using Dazzle in DotA since he came out and loved him ever since. Upoon getting a BETA key for Heroes of Newerth I instantly picked up on playing Demented SHaman, his almost direct port. Shaman is a great hero for all levels of gameplay; the fact he could be used in so many different ways drew me to him, and I haven't looked back since. I've discovered him to be an adept healer (obviously), a less conventional damage dealer and a rarely seen tank. In this guide I'll explain to you how he can be all of these things, so if I've caught your attention and captured your imagination, read on!
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Pro's & Con's
+ Babysitter
+ Harrasser
+ Strong Support
+ All physical damage
+ Low cost spells
+ Low cooldown spells
- Lack of escape mechanism
- Needs more and more items as game goes on
- Reasonably low HP
Base Stats
Strength:16 (+1.85)
Agility: 21 (+1.7)
Intelligence: 27 (+3.4)
Starting HP: 454
Starting Mana: 351
Range: 600
Base Damage: 41-59
Attack p/second: 0.71
Movement Speed: 305
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Skills
Entangle
Type: Magic
Target: Enemy unit
Range: 600
Cast time: 0.8 seconds
Mana Cost: 100/115/130/145
Cooldown: 15/13/11/9
Effect
- Performs a mini-stun on target and slows its movement speed by 33/66/66/66%.
- After 1/2/3/3 seconds, applies Entangled to target for 7 seconds and stuns them for 0/0/1/1 seconds.
- Entangle Effect: 7/14/21/28 Physical damage per second
Notes:
For damage and chasing this is your main skill. Maxed first in the DPS build for maximum effect. Slows the target to stopping, stuns and does damage. This will get you kills nobody else can. It's perfect for ganking, escaping, chasing and killing. Maxed second in support/tank build.
Arcane Hide
Type: Magic
Target: Allied unit
Range: 600
Cast time: 0.8 seconds
Mana Cost: 85
Cooldown: 15
Effects
- Applies Arcane Hide to target for 15 seconds with 5 charges.
- Arcane Hide Effects: Reduces incoming non-DOT damage from Heroes, Towers or Bosses by 50%
- Each time target is damaged by a Hero, Tower or Boss, 1 charge is removed.
- Damage over time effects (DoT's) are not reduced and do not remove charges.
- Arcane Hide is removed when no charges remain or after 100/200/300/400 damage has been absorbed.
Notes:
Noticably nerfed from the DotA counterpart 'Shallow Grave'. Applies 5 counters to the target allied hero that get removed from each source of damage taken. At max this can block 400 damage which may not seem like much but can definitely save peoples lives.
Best used on initiators or squishy heroes like Glacius. Can be the difference between a full Glacius ulti or dying half way through.
Healing wave
Type: Physical
Target: Organic Allied Units
Range: 600
Cast time: 0.8 seconds
Mana Cost: 80/90/100/110
Cooldown: 12/10/8/6
Effect
- Chains between the successively closest 3/3/4/5 allied targets, healing each for 80/100/120/140.
- Enemy units within a 180 radius of a healed target will take 80/100/120/140 Physical damage per target.
Notes:
Your primary damage dealer and support heal. This spell is incredible, not only does it do a 140 heal on an array of 5 allies, it can also do up to 700 damage on enemies at max. Since the damage is physical this also goes through magic immune units, such as Swiftblade and Jeraziah, which can confuse them.
Storm Cloud
Type: Physical
Range: 2000
Radius: 600
Cast time: 0.8 seconds
Mana Cost: 100
Cooldown: 40.0 Seconds
Effect
- Applies Storm Shield to allies and Storm Strike to enemies in a 600 radius for 12/18/24 seconds.
- Storm Shield/Storm Strike Effects, Armor Per Charge: 1/-1.
- Adds 1 charge per second.
- This ulti is buffed by Staff of the Master.
Staff of the Master effects:
- Increases the radius to 800
- Increases duration to 35 sec on lvl 16.
Notes:
Remember all tyour damage output is physical, and physical damage is only reduced by armour? Well now you can rid of that armour and buff your own! This gives a few seconds of -24 armour at max level and the rising effect surprises people as you become stronger and stronger whilst they are weaker and weaker. Amazing for team fights for the effect and the animation, causing mass confusion and fear. Totally annihilates tanks and casters alike; this is what makes you the only tanking caster!
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Section 1: Support/Tank
Skill build
1. Healing Wave
2. Arcane Hide
3. Healing Wave
4. Entangle
5. Healing Wave
6. Entangle
7. Healing Wave
8. Entangle
9. Entangle
10. Storm Cloud
11. Storm Cloud
12. Arcane Hide
13. Arcane Hide
14. Arcane Hide
15. Stats
16. Storm Cloud
17-25: Stats
Item Build
RECOMMENDED
Steamboots (STRENGTH)
As a malleable character these are the most useful boots to you. You're movespeed is enough to not require Post Haste (although they are still an option in certain circumstances). These give a nice strength buff (for tankability) and smaller bonuses to your other stats also. Change to intelligence mode if you need a quick heal.
Astralobe
A stronger heal than your wave, but doesn't give the bonus damage. Also applies armour as an after effect so perfect for saving teammates in large battles. Only unnecessary if two other people have it.
Nome's Wisdom
A nice item that synergises well with Shaman's support build. Gives HP equal to 25% of any spell cast in the area to the caster and works nicely with Shaman's low cooldown spells, even though they have low mana too.
Staff of the Master and/or Barrier Idol
This is a great item for keeping you and your team buffed constantly. With decent mana regeneration your ulti will never be off a target. Generally makes you and your team stronger at taking physical damage.
and/or
Barrier Idol is another good item for a Demented Shaman if the game is quite spell based. Not only do you get a personal benefit of buffing your magic resistance to almost 50%, your team and yourself get 400 magic damage absorbed when the Idol is cast. If cast with Arcane Hide thats 800 damage blocked on a single hero!
LUXURY
Frostfield Plate
Adds to your armour and intelligence (and therefore mana pool) all of which you benefit from. Will help you survive many a team fights, and when the healer survives, the rest of the team generally too. Also gives a nice slow to aid in you and your teams escapes and a 300 damage nuke, which helps with your somewhat limited AoE damage.
Daemonic Breastplate
More team auras! +/-5 armour on allies/enemies synergises amazingly with your ultimate, making your team strong as iron and your enemies putty in your hands! Bonus of +40 attack speed to yourself and +15 attack speed to allies makes you even faster at taking down your foes.
Stormspirit
I often find getting the Manatube for this item helpful early, increasing your amount of heals and ability to Astrolobe. You can then turn that manatube into Stormspirit, a nice 3 second single-target disable. Not only do you get a cheap disable, but you get some nice movespeed, mana regeneration and intelligence!
Totem of Kuldra
200% mana regeneration, 35 intelligence, 10 strength and agility, what more could you want? Oh yes, another 3 second disable! And this isn't some cheap invunerable disable, it's a totally nerfing, completely attackable hex. If the AoE in your team is already great, or theres someone you really want to disable in large fights this is the item you need.
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Section 2: DPS/Tank
Skill build
1. Entangle
2. Healing Wave
3. Entangle
4. Healing Wave
5. Entangle
6. Healing Wave
7. Entangle
8. Healing Wave
9. Stats
10. Storm Cloud
11. Storm Cloud
12. Arcane Hide
13. Arcane Hide
14. Arcane Hide
15. Arcane Hide
16. Storm Cloud
17-25: Stats
Item Build
Allies
Enemies
Outro
FAQ