Raynor
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Build: UltUltimate Raynor Guide – EU...
Level 1
Level 4
Level 7
Level 10
Level 13
Level 16
Level 20
Jim Raynor: A Comprehensive Guide
Overview
Jim Raynor is a straightforward, auto-attack-reliant ranged assassin. In the current meta, his kit excels at sustained DPS, scaling through well-timed basic attacks. His abilities enhance lane pressure and siege potential, but his lack of innate escape tools makes positioning and team coordination essential. This guide covers talent choices, ability usage, matchup insights, and strategic advice to help you dominate the battlefield.
Recommended Talent Build
Level 1: Veteran Marksman
Level 4: Fight or Flight
Level 7: Fuel the Rush
Level 10: Raynor’s Raider
Level 13: Giddy Up
Level 16: Bounty Hunter
Level 20: Dusk Wing
Talent Breakdown & Strategic Usage
Level 1 – Veteran Marksman
Effect:
Each time your primary target for Give ‘Em Some Pepper is a Hero, you permanently gain a +0.75% bonus to basic attack damage.
(Gambit Bonus: Start with a 60% bonus to Pepper damage, reduced by 15% per death.)
Rationale:
Encourages sustained aggression and scales DPS throughout the game. This talent rewards consistent trades, making Raynor increasingly dangerous over time.
Tips:
Prioritize attacking enemy heroes whenever it's safe to do so to build stacks quickly.
Avoid reckless engagements, as deaths significantly reduce your early-game advantage.
In the late game, your bonus damage will allow you to melt enemy heroes and structures efficiently.
Damage Scaling Simulation:
Stacks
Bonus %
Basic Attack Damage
Give ‘Em Some Pepper Damage (125%)
Total Auto-Attack Burst
0
60%
176
220
396
40
90%
209
261.3
470.3
100
135%
258.5
323.1
581.6
Death Penalty:
Each death removes 15% of the starting 60% bonus.
After four deaths, the starting bonus is gone, but stacked bonuses remain.
Level 4 – Fight or Flight
Effect:
Reduces Adrenaline Rush cooldown by 10 seconds.
Grants 25 Armor for 3 seconds upon activation.
Rationale:
Enhances Raynor’s survivability by reducing the downtime of his self-heal while also granting damage mitigation.
Tips:
Activate Adrenaline Rush strategically in fights to minimize burst damage.
The reduced cooldown lets you be more aggressive in sustained fights without being too vulnerable.
Use it in combination with Veteran Marksman stacking to stay in fights longer and increase damage output.
Level 7 – Fuel the Rush
Effect:
Lowers Adrenaline Rush Mana cost from 75 to 45.
While Inspire is active, increases basic attack cooldown reduction on Adrenaline Rush by 300%.
Rationale:
Helps Raynor maintain high uptime on his healing, ensuring survivability in prolonged fights while conserving Mana for other abilities.
Tips:
Always activate Inspire before Adrenaline Rush to maximize cooldown reduction.
Allows Raynor to sustain longer in drawn-out engagements, especially when fighting over objectives.
This talent pairs well with Giddy Up at level 13, enhancing his overall ability uptime and mobility.
Level 10 – Raynor’s Raider (Heroic Ability)
Effect:
Summons a Banshee that deals 84 damage per second.
Regenerates 75 Health per second if undamaged for 4 seconds.
Can be manually retargeted and respawns after 45 seconds.
Rationale:
Provides additional, consistent damage while applying extra pressure to enemy heroes and objectives.
Tips:
Keep the Banshee attacking priority backline targets to force enemy repositioning.
Use its sustained damage to whittle down enemies, especially when poking or chasing.
The Raider can also be used to scout bushes and keep vision on key areas.
Level 13 – Giddy Up
Effect:
Grants a permanent 10% movement speed bonus (mounted and unmounted).
Inspire increases this bonus to 20%.
Rationale:
Mobility is one of Raynor’s weaknesses; this talent mitigates that, making kiting and repositioning easier.
Tips:
Helps Raynor dodge incoming skill shots and maintain optimal positioning in fights.
Allows for quicker rotations between lanes and objectives.
The bonus movement speed from Inspire helps both offensively and defensively.
Level 16 – Bounty Hunter
Effect:
When Give ‘Em Some Pepper hits a Hero, it deals 3% max HP bonus damage.
Grants 10 Armor for 3 seconds.
Can be activated for the next basic attack (40s cooldown).
Rationale:
Significantly enhances damage against tanks and high-HP heroes while giving Raynor added durability.
Tips:
Save the activated effect for engaging tanky frontliners to maximize burst damage.
Pairing this with Fight or Flight at level 4 makes Raynor significantly harder to kill.
The passive armor gain helps you trade better in sustained fights.
Level 20 – Dusk Wing
Effect:
Doubles the Raider’s Health and leash range.
Each Raider attack reduces enemy Hero Armor by 3 for 1 second (stacking up to 30).
Rationale:
Turns your Banshee into a true late-game powerhouse, further increasing its impact in fights.
Tips:
Deploy Raider against grouped enemies to maximize armor reduction and weaken priority targets.
Use Raider to apply constant pressure on high-value enemies, forcing them to reposition or take unfavorable trades.
This upgrade makes Raynor even more deadly in extended fights, as reduced armor amplifies his sustained DPS.
Matchups & Threat Levels
Synergistic Allies:
✅ Tanks & Supports: Johanna, Uther, Anduin, Garrosh (CC & peel help Raynor thrive).
✅ Wave Clear & Siege: Li-Ming, Zarya (enhances lane pressure).
Enemy Matchups:
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