That is mostly a choice of personal preference. In high-death games, if you can keep yourself alive, then Pure Malice is great. Otherwise, Psychokinesis or Hindered Motion(I tend to switch between them) is probably better. (^_^)
Finally able to play some games with him. I'm leaning more towards psychokinesis as either my team steamrolls and I get no malice stacks or my team gets pawned so I die shortly after I get malice stacks. Also, I find the CC/Utility build the most fun to play. :)
Finally able to play some games with him. I'm leaning more towards psychokinesis as either my team steamrolls and I get no malice stacks or my team gets pawned so I die shortly after I get malice stacks. Also, I find the CC/Utility build the most fun to play. :)
In my opinion, Pure Malice is great when you play super-safe and when you are sure your team can protect you. Lightning build is the best to combine with pure malice, just because you are not risking much and constantly poking enemies from safe distance.
utility build with 60% still can be good, but damage output becomes lower. But the slows on W and E sometimes help to catch enemy. Actually utility build is great on teamfight oriented maps.
In small skirmishes it's very dependant on who is your ally - support, tank or another high-damage assasin.
Yes he is very support reliant. And if an enemy Alarak plays better than you you're screwed as well. Will try out the pure malice with a lightning build.
Update: Been finding that applied force causes you to miss your combo at close range. I've been leaning towards without effort and only use the other talent for the CC build.
Have you tried starting Telekinesis farther back behind them? You can catch heroes midway with Telekinesis, and it should help if you're pulling them too far.
Have you tried starting Telekinesis farther back behind them? You can catch heroes midway with Telekinesis, and it should help if you're pulling them too far.
That I did try but I usually cast TK on the opponent's location and then pull it back towards me. Maybe that's why taking applied force caused it to miss.
In my opinion, Alarak is one of the heroes with the ability to take a good variety of talents, no matter what you're doing; So, as I've listed personal favorite builds and general playstyles, I'd recommend finding what works for you. (^_^)
In my opinion, Alarak is one of the heroes with the ability to take a good variety of talents, no matter what you're doing; So, as I've listed personal favorite builds and general playstyles, I'd recommend finding what works for you. (^_^)
Some of his talents have good synergy with other ones, and some talents have almost no synergy or even more, can hurt you.
Alarak is a great example of high-risk - high-reward hero. And he struggles most from missing skillshots I think
Yeah.. Certain talents work the best in pairs(Applied Fore + Projected Force), and a couple.. Don't benefit you enough(-Cough- Reckless Strike -Cough-), but there are a few that work great in most situations(Cycle of Discord, Hindered Motion). I'm certain there are many good talent combinations, but these are just generally what I've tried(Not that I try every single combination, another reason to try things yourself. (^_^) ) and had work.
Alarak is possibly my favorite hero, now. High-Risk, High-Reward hero that's decently hard to play properly, but works out amazingly when you do it right.
Yeah.. Certain talents work the best in pairs(Applied Fore + Projected Force), and a couple.. Don't benefit you enough(-Cough- Reckless Strike -Cough-), but there are a few that work great in most situations(Cycle of Discord, Hindered Motion). I'm certain there are many good talent combinations, but these are just generally what I've tried(Not that I try every single combination, another reason to try things yourself. (^_^) ) and had work.
Alarak is possibly my favorite hero, now. High-Risk, High-Reward hero that's decently hard to play properly, but works out amazingly when you do it right.
Reckless Strike is good only against super-mobile heroes who can dodge your combos, such as tracer, li'ming, illidan, reckless strike is also good with Counter-Strike allowing to protect yourself while you are vulnerable. But you can take deadly charge to finish those escaping fleeing away mobile squishies.
Also, reckless strike is great with longer silence at 13 and chaos reigns at 7, so you're maximizing effect from Discord strike without allowing enemy to react or dodge it.
I wrote a guide with all these combinations and synergies
Personally, I dislike the whole 'I'm Vulnerable for two seconds but you're silenced for about as long!', as against certain heroes that are playing properly( Chromie + Uther, for example), you're dead, basically instantly. Though, to each their own on that talent, I suppose.
(That guide makes me feel kind've bad; Looks so nice compared to mine. (^_^) )
Personally, I dislike the whole 'I'm Vulnerable for two seconds but you're silenced for about as long!', as against certain heroes that are playing properly( Chromie + Uther, for example), you're dead, basically instantly. Though, to each their own on that talent, I suppose.
(That guide makes me feel kind've bad; Looks so nice compared to mine. (^_^) )
The thing is that when you are playing against smart players who are aware of your combos, you will miss with your silence combo.
With reckless strike you're landing your W-Q combo and trying to run away. Some sort of "melee kiting"
I'm fairly certain if you hit Telekinesis properly they have basically no chance to react to the Discord Strike. Not that Telekinesis will be that easy to hit on mobile heroes..
Reckless Strike just feels too dangerous to take. Cycle of Discord & Double Cross are just much safer picks, and each still work decently well(Maybe not as well) against mobile heroes.
And now I'm having fun with his lightning build this patch. I usually get highest hero damage with it. Oh and btw thanks a lot for your guides. It really set me on my path to making my own playstyle for Alarak. :)
Have you tried starting Telekinesis farther back behind them? You can catch heroes midway with Telekinesis, and it should help if you're pulling them too far.
I had that too sometimes when taking longer puill on telekinesis and higher range in discord. Sometimes I can hit enemies nearby with perpendicular mini-discords, but I found that only one of these talents is good.
Actually, in my opinion, higher distance will be better for those who practiced alarak's telekinesis casting. Otherwise it will sometimes fk your combos :D
Applied Force is definitely best with Projected Force(although you get one at 16...), and Double Cross adds onto it with a bit more of a safety net for hitting your target. Cycle of Discord is definitely a great choice, though.
As for Projected Force; Yeah, pretty sure you rarely take that without Applied Force. Doesn't work as well.
Update: Been finding that applied force causes you to miss your combo at close range. I've been leaning towards without effort and only use the other talent for the CC build.
Yes, thats why I don't take appleid force and double cross at same time. It is enough to take only one of these talents
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In my opinion, Pure Malice is great when you play super-safe and when you are sure your team can protect you. Lightning build is the best to combine with pure malice, just because you are not risking much and constantly poking enemies from safe distance.
utility build with 60% still can be good, but damage output becomes lower. But the slows on W and E sometimes help to catch enemy. Actually utility build is great on teamfight oriented maps.
In small skirmishes it's very dependant on who is your ally - support, tank or another high-damage assasin.
That I did try but I usually cast TK on the opponent's location and then pull it back towards me. Maybe that's why taking applied force caused it to miss.
Some of his talents have good synergy with other ones, and some talents have almost no synergy or even more, can hurt you.
Alarak is a great example of high-risk - high-reward hero. And he struggles most from missing skillshots I think
Alarak is possibly my favorite hero, now. High-Risk, High-Reward hero that's decently hard to play properly, but works out amazingly when you do it right.
Alarak is possibly my favorite hero, now. High-Risk, High-Reward hero that's decently hard to play properly, but works out amazingly when you do it right.
Reckless Strike is good only against super-mobile heroes who can dodge your combos, such as tracer, li'ming, illidan, reckless strike is also good with Counter-Strike allowing to protect yourself while you are vulnerable. But you can take deadly charge to finish those escaping fleeing away mobile squishies.
Also, reckless strike is great with longer silence at 13 and chaos reigns at 7, so you're maximizing effect from Discord strike without allowing enemy to react or dodge it.
I wrote a guide with all these combinations and synergies
http://www.heroesfire.com/hots/guide/zarya-patch-detailed-alarak-guide-12212
Hope you enjoy it :P
Personally, I dislike the whole 'I'm Vulnerable for two seconds but you're silenced for about as long!', as against certain heroes that are playing properly( Chromie + Uther, for example), you're dead, basically instantly. Though, to each their own on that talent, I suppose.
(That guide makes me feel kind've bad; Looks so nice compared to mine. (^_^) )
Personally, I dislike the whole 'I'm Vulnerable for two seconds but you're silenced for about as long!', as against certain heroes that are playing properly( Chromie + Uther, for example), you're dead, basically instantly. Though, to each their own on that talent, I suppose.
(That guide makes me feel kind've bad; Looks so nice compared to mine. (^_^) )
The thing is that when you are playing against smart players who are aware of your combos, you will miss with your silence combo.
With reckless strike you're landing your W-Q combo and trying to run away. Some sort of "melee kiting"
Reckless Strike just feels too dangerous to take. Cycle of Discord & Double Cross are just much safer picks, and each still work decently well(Maybe not as well) against mobile heroes.
I had that too sometimes when taking longer puill on telekinesis and higher range in discord. Sometimes I can hit enemies nearby with perpendicular mini-discords, but I found that only one of these talents is good.
Actually, in my opinion, higher distance will be better for those who practiced alarak's telekinesis casting. Otherwise it will sometimes fk your combos :D
As for Projected Force; Yeah, pretty sure you rarely take that without Applied Force. Doesn't work as well.
Yes, thats why I don't take appleid force and double cross at same time. It is enough to take only one of these talents