Kel'Thuzad by HastyPudding

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Kel'Thuzad

By: HastyPudding
Last Updated: Apr 30, 2017
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Kel'Thuzad

The Archlich

Kel'Thuzad was the founder of the Cult of the Damned, and a powerful agent of the Lich King, Arthas. He was responsible for spreading the plague across Lordaeron and commanded the Scourge. Kel'Thuzad was once a necromancer and former member of the Kirin Tor, and died once by the hand of prince Arthas, only to be revived by him later as the Archlich. Now he comes to the nexus, ready to spread his plague across the lands to wreak havoc on those that would thwart the will of the Lich King.

Role
Kel'Thuzad is a specialist designed to maximize the use of wave clearing and remaining in a lane, soaking up experience and decimating structures. He will dominate while in a lane but is lackluster in team fights. His damage is slow to take effect, but provides incredible zone control, especially against enemy melee heroes.

Strengths
-Slow, but persistent wave clear coupled with good zone control.
-Can severely cripple enemy physical carries.
-High sustain, as long as he is near minions.
-Strong versus structures. By saving up skeleton knight charges, he can quickly overwhelm enemy fortifications.

Weaknesses
-No burst damage, and most of his damage is done over a period of time.
-Needs to be near minions to get the full effect of his kit. Staying away from a lane for too long severely weakens his usefulness.

Combat Trait

1
Dark Ritual
When an enemy minion dies nearby, Kel'Thuzad recovers 1% of his maximum mana. When an allied minion dies nearby, he recovers 1% of his maximum health. Enemy hero deaths recover 5% of his maximum health and mana.

Primary Abilities

1
Frost Nova
Mana Cost: 60
Cooldown: 10s


A blast of frigid air coalesces in an area. After 1 second, the air freezes solid, inflicting a moderate amount of damage to enemies within and stunning them for 1 second.
2
Plague
Mana Cost: 40
Cooldown: 8s


Kel'Thuzad infects an enemy minion, structure, or hero with an infectious plague, causing them to take moderate damage over the course of 5 seconds. There is a 30% chance that the plague will spread to another nearby enemy minion, structure, or hero each second. If a target already infected with the plague contracts it again, the duration is refreshed. If a target dies while affected by the plague, a random nearby enemy minion or hero will instantly contract it. Each individual casting of plague can only be spread up to 4 times. Plague inflicts an additional 30% damage against structures.
3
Cripple
Mana Cost: 40
Cooldown: 12s


Kel'Thuzad shoots forward a blast of sickly energy towards an enemy hero, reducing their attack speed and damage by 40% for 4 seconds.

Secondary Abilities

1
Raise Dead
Every time an enemy or allied minion dies near Kel'Thuzad, he gains 1 bone. Upon acquiring 10 bones, Kel'Thuzad can summon 1 skeleton knight that attacks nearby enemies for 10 seconds. Raise Dead can store up to 3 charges.

Heroic Abilities

1
Death and Decay
Mana Cost: 100
Cooldown: 70s


Kel'Thuzad channels vast quantities of dark magic into an area, inflicting massive damage to all enemies in the area over 6 seconds. Structures and enemies afflicted with Plague take an additional 30% damage. Kel'Thuzad cannot move while channeling this ability.

Passive: Plague lasts 1 additional second.
2
Release the Scourge
Mana Cost:75
Cooldown: 60s


Kel'Thuzad unleashes the full force of the Scourge. 5 zombies rise from the ground at his feet and rampage at rapid speeds down the nearest lane, inflicting a small amount of damage with each strike. The zombies cannot be destroyed or damaged (but can be stunned, slowed, and otherwise controlled) and die after 15 seconds.

Passive: gain 1 additional skeleton knight charge.

Special Mount

1
Arch Lich
Kel'Thuzad hovers above the ground. Probably because no mount would wish to carry him.

Talents

Level 1
Frigid Winds : The range of Frost Nova is increased by 30% and the stun duration is increased by 0.5 seconds.

Boon of Undeath :
Quest: Every time Dark Ritual recovers your health or mana, you gain a stack of Boon of Undeath.
Reward: For every 10 stacks you gain 1 armor, up to 10 armor at 100 stacks. Upon reaching 100 stacks, Kel'Thuzad gains an additional 10% maximum health.

Ray of Enfeeblement :
Quest: Use Cripple on enemy heroes to gain 1 stack of Enfeeblement.
Reward: Upon reaching 25 stacks, Cripple lasts 1 additional second and the mana cost is reduced from 40 to 25.

Level 4
Virulent Plague : Plague can now spread up to 6 times for each casting.

Black Death : Plague inflicts an additional 15% damage.

Enhanced Necromancy :
Quest: Use Raise Dead to summon skeleton knights.
Reward: Upon summoning 15 skeleton knights, the amount of bones required to summon is reduced from 10 to 6.

Level 7
Unholy Ritual : Dark Ritual now recovers 2% of Kel'Thuzad's maximum mana or health when the appropriate minion dies.

Frozen Death : Frost Nova now inflicts an additional 40% damage on targets afflicted with Plague.

Revulsion : When an enemy affected by the Plague dies, nearby enemies are sickened and have their movement speed reduced by 15% for 1.5 seconds.

Frozen Armor : Activate to increase your spell armor by 30 for 10 seconds, reducing the damage you take from spells and abilities by 30%. Cooldown: 60 seconds.

Level 10
Death and Decay
Release the Scourge

Level 13
Epidemic : Plague now has an increased chance to spread to nearby enemies, from a 30% to 50% chance.

Cracked Defenses : Frost Nova reduces target's physical armor by 15 for 2 seconds, causing them to take 15% more damage.

Siphon : Activate to deal damage equal to 15% of the target's maximum health. Kel'Thuzad instantly recovers health equal to the amount of damage dealt. Cooldown: 60 seconds.

Skeletal Mastery : Skeleton knights summoned by Raise Dead gain 15% more health and last 2 additional seconds.

Level 16
Erosion : Plague inflicts an additional 10% damage to structures and fortifications.

Exhaustion : Cripple reduces the target's attack speed and damage by an additional 10%.

Ritual Sacrifice : Each time an enemy minion dies near Kel'Thuzad, gain 1 stack of Sacrifice. Upon reaching 10 stacks, Kel'Thuzad's next non-heroic ability costs no mana.

Level 20
Inevitable : Death and Decay inflicts an additional 15% damage. Kel'Thuzad now gains 30 physical armor and is unstoppable while he is channeling.

Undead Horde : Release the Scourge causes 1 additional zombie to rise, and all zombies now move and attack 15% faster.

Lich's Phylactery : Activate to create an indestructible phylactery at your feet. Upon taking damage that would otherwise slay him, Kel'Thuzad instantly teleports to his phylactery with 1 health and removes all negative effects currently affecting him. This effect has a 120 second cooldown.

Power in Death : Every time Kel'Thuzad heals by Dark Ritual, the cooldown of his non-heroic abilities is reduced by 0.5 seconds.

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