Nova's essential build by CrazyMinion

Nova's essential build

By: CrazyMinion
Last Updated: Feb 21, 2015
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Nova

Build: Essential Build

Level 1
Level 4
Level 7
Level 10
Level 13
Level 16
Level 20

Threats to Nova with this build

Threat
Low
High
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Threat Hero Notes
1
   No Threat
2
   No Threat
3
 Valla Valla is no threat for Nova at all. You can one - shot her with your combo, unless she dodges your skill - shot (Snipe). Do not get caught by her (Multishot, Shadow Beasts), as she can easily take you down quickly too. Otherwise, I did not find Valla difficult to deal with.
3
 Falstad Falstad is easy - to go against. He is fragile (a bit more tankier then Valla), so, if he does not didge your full combo, he is dead. Try to not get reveal from your Cloak by his Hammer.
3
 Nova No threat, you can one - shot her, unless she caughts you off.
3
 Raynor Nova's burst damage is so extreme, that Raynor's healing passive does not count here, you can finish him fast.
3
 Zeratul Fragile hero. You can one - shot him, ofcourse, if you get caught by him, you are dead. This is 50 - 50
4
 Jaina Jaina is very, very fragile, so most of the time, you can one - shot her, but, if she caughts you and summons Water Elemental, you won;t be able to escape her and she will kill you.
5
   No Threat
6
 Tychus Tychus is a bit more difficult, since he can move while AA. However, you can finish him off by a combo. Just be careful, he can dodge it effectively and strike you down.
7
   No Threat
8
   No Threat
9
 Tassadar High threat, since he can reveal you from your Cloak each time. Don;t get too close, when he uses his revealing ability, just go hide.
10
 Illidan He can dodge your skill - shot abilities (Precision Strike, Snipe) and has good sustain + damage. Definitely very high threat.
10
 Tyrael Tyrael can catch you every time, he has shields, healing, high damage. Definitely very dangerous, try to not get too close to him.
10
 Kerrigan High threat. She can interrupt your combo very easily and her burst is deadly. Try to be away from her and poke her with Snipe and bait with Decoy.
10
 Stitches Very tanky, very high damage. Once he caughts you, you are probably dead. Do not get close to him and try to block his hook by Decoy.

Nova's Strong Side Top

- Nova has very high burst damage, one of the strongest in the game.

- Since her Permanent Cloak, Sniper ability, she can roam and gank all over the map.

- Nova can make big mess, while going in to the combat with Precision Strike (massive Area of Effect damage).

- If you insist, she can be build as a pusher and Area of Effect hero focused on.

- Nova's Holo Decoy ability is very strong, and very effective for distracting foes. It can save your life sometimes, aswell.

Nova's Weak Side Top

- Nova is very fragile hero. If you get caught by foe, you will die (probably).

- Nova does not have any natural escape ability power.

- Nova is dependant on positioning, because of her Permanent Cloak, Sniper ability and to land your full combo.

- No sustain for Nova (Only via talent called Advanced Cloaking)

Nova's Abilities Top

(Trait) Permanent Cloak, Sniper - Cloak when out of combat for 3 seconds.
Taking damage, attacking, or channeling reveals you.


(Q) Snipe - 65 Mana
Skillshot
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Deals 188-800 (154 + 34 per level) damage to the first enemy hit.


(W) Pinning Shot - 65 Mana
Cooldown: 12 seconds
Deals 188-800 (154 + 34 per level) damage to the first enemy hit.


(E) Holo Decoy - 50 Mana
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Create a Decoy for 5 seconds that appears to attack enemies.
Using this Ability does not break cloak.


(R) Triple Tap - 100 Mana
Heroic Ability
Cooldown: 100 seconds
Locks in on the target Hero, then fires 3 shots that hit the first Hero or Structure they come in contact with for 443-740 (113 + 33 per level) damage each.


(R) Precision Strike - 100 Mana
Heroic Ability
Cooldown: 60 seconds
After a short delay, deals 1370-2000 (670 + 70 per level) damage to enemies within target area. Unlimited range.

Level 1 Talent Choice Top

Psi-Op Rangefinder - Increases Snipe's range by 20% and reduces the Cooldown by 2 seconds.

Explanation - This is my main choice of level 1. I just prefer the cooldown reduction of Snipe by 2 seconds, since it is your main trading ability. Also, the increased range is very safe pick against tanky and high burst damage heroes. Also, it is very good for kill secures, as enemy heroes try to retreat.

Level 1 Talent Choice (Possible Pick) Top

Ambush Snipe - Increases Snipe's damage by 20% when used from cloak or within one second of being cloaked

Explanation - Another solid pick. This adds a lot of damage to your build. However, since you can do that out from your Cloak ability or just 1 second after, it might be useless sometimes. In some situations, you won;t get Cloaked, and there goes handy Psi-Op Rangefinder.

Level 4 Talent Choice Top

Envenom - Activate to poison an enemy Hero, dealing 210 damage over 6 seconds.

Explanation - Now, this talent choice gives you as much possible damage boost as you could get. You can just use Envenom to make sure your opponent dies (finish him, kill secure), or before you go with your full combo (since the range of Envenom is very short). In late game, Envenom is incredibly stronger and takes out fragile targets very fast.

Level 4 Talent Choice (Possible Pick) Top

Gathering Power - Passively grants 8% Ability Power. Each Hero takedown grants a bonus 2% Ability Power, up to 12%. This bonus Ability Power is lost upon death.

Explanation - Very solid pick aswell. The passive bonus of Ability Power is refreshing and you can stack this up very easily. However, since you will die when enemy team catches you out (shouldn;t happen, but if, you are mostly dead in late game), stacks are lost very easily + it does not add that much damage, as full damage over time of Envenom.

Level 7 Talent Choice Top

Anti-Armor Shells (Trait) - Your Basic Attacks deals 250% damage, but your Attack Speed is proportionally slower.

Explanation - This talent adds to your build maximum damage. You can ignore slower attack speed, because the damage of your auto attack will be so high, that your attack speed won;t metter. Also, thank's to this talent, you will be ready to "instantly" kill fragile targets.

Level 10 Talent Choice Top

Precision Strike - After a 3 second delay, deals 600 damage in a medium radius. Unlimited range.

Explanation - I prefer to take Precision Strike, because it is a lot better while teamfights are happening or just for kill securing and last hitting. Unlimited range means that you can strike anyone on the map down and the damage is crazy.

Level 10 Talent Choice (Possible Pick) Top

Triple Tap - Locks in on the target Hero, then fires 3 shots that strike the first Hero or Structure they come in contact with for 80 damage

Explanation - Triple Tap's single damage is extreme and it is very solid pick for finishing heroes with escape mechanism. However, it can be interrupt or blocked, so that is why I prefer Precision Strike.

Level 13 Talent Choice Top

Advanced Cloaking (Trait) - While Cloaked, your Movement Speed is increased by 25%, and youe heal for 1.95% of your maximum Health per second.

Explanation - I prefer to take this one, because the increased movement speed boost is great for chasing, or for running from enemy heroes (harder for them to catch you and reveal you). Also, the healing passive of your maximum health is just great, since you won;t need to retreat back to base so often + is great when you are in team without healer.

Level 13 Talent Choice (Possible Pick) Top

Lethal Decoy - Holo Decoy now deals 25% of Nova's damage.

Explanation - This talent adds kinda good damage to your kit. The problem is, that Holo Decoy can be destroyed very fast and it is up only for 5 seconds, so the damage boost is not that essential.

Level 16 Talent Choice Top

Crippling Shot - Enemies hit by Pinning Shot become Vulnerable, taking 25% increased damage for the duration of the slow.

Explanation - Very good damage boost. Even though Pinning Shot slow effect does not last long, this talent adds so much damage to your full combo. If you are quick enough, even Precision Strike can be cast right immediately after Pinning Shot. As the target is vulnerable, also your team mates will rely from this bonus.

Level 16 Talent Choice (Possible Pick) Top

Double Fake - Casting Holo Decoy creates an additional Decoy at your current location.

Explanation - Go for this one only if you take Lethal Decoy talent. Then it synergies well, you can better distract your foes and now the damage of Holo Decoy's is solid.

Level 20 Talent Choice Top

Rewind - Activate to refresh the cooldown of your Basic Abilities

Explanation - My favourite choice. This ability is to make sure your target will die (fragile targets will die after you use your first combo, but if not, you will Rewind to make sure they will).

Level 20 Talent Choice (Possible Pick) Top

Precision Barrage - Precision Strike now holds two charges with a short cooldown.

Explanation - Very solid pick. If you prefer Area of Effect damage and unlimited range (kill secures, teamfights), definitely go for this.

Level 20 Talent Choice (Possible Pick) Top

Bolt of the Storm - Activate to teleport to a nearby location.

Explanation - Very safe pick. Go for this one, if your enemy team has many heroes with Crowd Control abilities. It is also great for ganking and chasing.

Level 20 Talent Choice (Possible Pick) Top

Fast Reload - Triple Tap's cooldown is reset if it kills an enemy Hero.

Explanation - I always go for this one, when I pick Triple Tap. It scales greatly with your talent build, and the damage is awesome.

Nova Combos Top

Mostly, I start with creating Holo Decoy to distract the enemy heroes. Then I open up with Pinning Shot + Precision Strike + Snipe. When I'm not sure if I kill the target immediately, I add Envenom just to make sure. If my target survives, I just Rewind and then finish them off with Pinning Shot + Snipe.

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