Heroes of the Storm Forums

[icon=illidan size=90 float=left]On Blizzard's forums, there's a lot of discussion about Illidan, and most people consider him significantly weaker than similar assassins, like Zeratul and Kerrigan, but I think Illidan brings more utility than them. Since his rework recently, most people I've talked to liked him and the way his new kit works, but just didn't perform well with him. Let me also state that Illidan is not very easy to play. I will share what has worked best for me, but depending on the person you may have mixed results; or perhaps you can share that something has worked better for you.[clear]

[table][tr][td width="320px" vertical-align="top"] [table] [tr] [td width="60px" vertical-align="top"][icon=Hammerang size=50][/td] [td] [size=5][color=#ffffff](Q) Hammerang[/color][/size] Bread and butter Nuke. A linear skill shot that damages and slows every target in its path, on the outgoing swing and the returning. Great for lining up multi target bursts, or lines of creep waves. [/td][/tr][/table] [/td][td width="20px"][/td][td vertical-align="top"] [table] [tr] [td width="60px" vertical-align="top"][icon=Thunderstorm size=50][/td] [td] [size=5][color=#ffffff](W) Thunderstorm[/color][/size] A passive and an active component, Thunderstorm will strike nearby enemies with lightning passively, and a cluster of bolts when activated. There is no penalty to activate the Thunderstorm; the passive component will continue to strike during cooldown. Great for bursting down a single target, or spreading out damage in a teamfight. [/td][/tr][/table] [/td][/tr][/table]

[table] [tr] [td width="225px" vertical-align="bottom"][h2]Level 1[/h2][/td] [td padding="10px"][icon=Path of the Warrior size=35][/td] [td padding="10px"][icon=Regeneration Master size=50 border="1px solid #0080ff"][/td] [td padding="10px"][icon=Heavy Slam size=35][/td] [td padding="10px"][icon=Chew your food size=35][/td] [/tr] [/table] [rule] [[Regeneration Master]] - My go to level one talent, this talent adds a lot of versatility to many builds and in general I feel in extended teamfights this talent is very valuable.

[table] [tr] [td][img="/images/guide/level-1.png"][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Seasoned Marksman size=50 border="1px solid #0080ff"][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Conjurer's Pursuit size=35][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Updraft size=35][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Dog Fight size=35 "][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Bribe size=35][/td] [/tr] [/table] [rule] [[Seasoned Marksman]] - For every 5 enemies that you're in XP range of, gain a permanent +1 Basic Attack damage. Over the course of a game, you can average out about 15-20 stacks. That's +15-20 more damage per Basic Attack. Doesn't sound like much, but if you're going for the biggest damage gain on this tier, this is it.

[table width="100%" bgcolor="111b2f"][tr][td padding="5px"] [spoiler=ALTERNATIVES] [table][tr][td bgcolor="1a1a1a" padding="10px"] [table] [tr] [td width="60px" vertical-align="top"] [center][icon=Conjurer's Pursuit size=50][/center] [/td] [td] [[Conjurer's Pursuit]] - Mana regeneration, while important, shouldn't be a huge issue if you're a right click machine. Take this if you feel you won't be stickin' around lanes or camps enough to reach 15 stacks of Seasoned Marksman, and want to be more active in throwing around your hammer. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [rule] [table] [tr] [td vertical-align="top"][center][icon=Updraft size=50][/center][/td] [td padding="10px" vertical-align="top"][size=5]&[/size][/td] [td width="60px" vertical-align="top"][center][icon=Dog Fight size=50][/center][/td] [td] [[Updraft]] / [[Dog Fight]] - The utility parts of Barrel Roll. I'm very iffy on ever taking these, because I do not feel they actually give enough of a benefit for the Talent slot. A longer lasting shield sounds great, but if you're getting bursted, it won't last anyways. Longer range on Barrel Roll, again, sounds great, but many enemies have similar gap closers, and while this might get you over the wall a few times, enemies will try to stop you from Barrel Rolling all together. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [rule] [table] [tr] [td width="60px" vertical-align="top"] [center][icon=Bribe size=50][/center] [/td] [td] [[Bribe]] - Definitely my second choice on Tier 1. There are many maps that have easy to capture Siege Giants, and a Flight -> Bribe combo can create pressure in far away lanes, allowing you to either land some critical building damage, or distract an enemy from the map objectives or team fights. I wouldn't take Bribe on Garden of Terror, however, as sometimes Night phase can last a loooooong time, thus disabling creep camps for extended periods. The other consideration is if you have a Gazlowe or Nazeebo on your team; best to leave them to their Mercenary Lord tactics, and to continue focusing on split pushing and burst. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [/td][/tr][/table] [/spoiler] [/td][/tr][/table]

[table] [tr] [td width="200px" vertical-align="bottom"][h2]Level 4-9 Rotation[/h2][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Auto Attack size=50][/td] [td][size=5]→[/size][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Pinning Shot size=50][/td] [td][size=5]→[/size][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Auto Attack size=50][/td] [td][size=5]→[/size][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Snipe size=50][/td] [td][size=5]→[/size][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Auto Attack size=50][/td] [td][size=5](+)[/size][/td] [td padding="5px"][icon=Envenom size=50][/td] [/tr] [/table] [rule] Auto → W → Auto → Q → Auto (With Envenom thrown in if you think you can force someone out of lane or kill them) As a side note Envenom timing can be and is a very real thing. Throwing envenom at different points of an engage is important. THE FEAR is becoming real.