Eternal Envy PA set Highpoly

I managed to finish up the highpoly for Eternal Envy's PA set today. Making the low polies will be a fun challenge. I should be back to streaming it this week.

Read More

Team Theme: Argh! Kill it!

This Dota 2 Team Theme focuses on heroes that spawn things that the enemy needs to deal with quickly.  Not killing them results in a bad situation for the enemy.  This team idea asks:  "what if the enemy was forced to choose between them, while getting hurt by the ones they were forced to ignore?"

Heroes with Dangerous Spawns

• Pugna (Nether Ward)
• Undying (Tombstone)
• Phoenix (Supernova egg)
• Shadow Shaman (Serpent wards)
• Warlock (Infernal)
• Juggernaut (Healing Ward)

Honourable Mentions: Tusk (Sigil)

Heroes with Channeled AOE Ultimates:

• Witch Doctor (Death Ward - isn't targetable, but WD needs to be stunned ASAP)
• Crystal Maiden (Freezing Field - a channeled ult, similar to WD, above) 
• Enigma (Black Hole) 

(6.85 item that helps these heroes:  Glimmer Cape - Fade while channeling)

Side Mention

These are heroes that summon things, but the summons aren't so deadly that they need to be dealt with quickly:

• Visage (Gargoyles)
• Lycan (Wolves)
• Invoker (Forge Spirits)
• Enigma (Eidolons) 
• Weaver (Swarm)

Team Ideas (with Lanes)

#1:
Mid: Warlock
Safe:  Juggernaut + Phoenix + Pugna
Offlane: Undying
Combo:  Warlock drops Infernals, casts Fatal Bonds, then channels Upheaval.  Pugna drops his Nether Ward somewhere nearby, Phoenix soars around dropping Fire Spirits, and Undying runs to the middle in Golem form and drops Tombstone.  Pugna can Decrepify the Tombstone to keep it alive longer.  If enough enemies are busy with Zombies and caught in Upheaval, Phoenix goes Supernova and Jugg spins / casts Omnislash.

#2:
Mid: Juggernaut
Safe:  Weaver
Jungle:  Enigma
Offlane: Phoenix + Undying
Ban: Rubick, Death Prophet (Silence), Drow (Silence)
Author's Note:  I think this is my favourite:  trapping the enemy inside a Black Hole while Phoenix Supernova is burning, Zombies are wailing, Juggernaut is spinning, and Weaver's bugs are eating.  Whichever teammates aren't in the Black Hole aren't going to be able to stick around to help... and if they did, they would probably just die.  The line-up has decent sustain and push, with potential split-push from Weaver, and the big ultimates don't always need to be stacked, so at least one could be still available for the next teamfight.
Downside:  Anyone not caught in the Black Hole can basically just run away.

#3:
Mid: Phoenix
Safe:  Invoker (Exhort)
Aggro Tri: Jugg + Witch Doctor + Crystal Maiden

Read More

Gold-Efficient Items Greater than Their Parts

Many items have patterns that "create" the bonus feature of the item.  However, others are made up of individual components, and may have an effect greater than the sum of their parts.

Efficient Dota 2 items:

Boots:  Tranquil, Power Treads, Arcanes

• I won't get into these, but know that upgrading boots is always efficient.

Oblivion Staff:

Components:  Robe of Magi, Quarterstaff, Sage's Mask
Component total:  +6 Int, +50% mana regen, +10 Attack speed, +10 damage
Assembled total:  +6 Int, +75% mana regen, +10 attack speed, +15 damage
Net gain:  +25% mana regen, +5 damage

Rod of Atos

Components:  Staff of Wizardry x 2, Vitality Booster
Component Total:  +20 Int, +250 hp
Assembled total:  +25 Int, +325 hp, +on use slow (60%)
Net gain:  +5 Int, +75 hp, +effect

Scythe of Vyse

Net gain:  50% mana regen, +Hex effect

Aghanim's Sceptre

Net gain:  +ultimate upgrade only (no stat gain)

Monkey King Bar (MKB)

Components: Javelin x 2, Demon Edge
Component effects:  2 @ 20% chance of 40 dmg, +21 x2 dmg + 46 damage (total +88 dmg)
Assembled effects:  +88 dmg, +15 atk spd, +true strike + mini-bash 100 dmg
Net gain: +15 atk speed, bash damage +60.

Sange & Yasha (S&Y)
Components:  Sange, Yasha
Component Effects: +16 Str, +16 Ag, +15 Attack Speed, +8% movement, +10 damage, Lesser Maim
Assembled Effects:  +16 Str, +16 Ag, +16 Attack Speed, +16% move, +16 damage, Greater Maim
Net gain: Greater Maim, +6 Damage, +1 Attack Speed, +8% movement, +10% proc on maim, +6/3% slows on maim.

Hard-to-evaluate items

Ring of Basilius (changes % mana regen to flat mana regen)
Shadow Blade (Shadow-effect is modified from ring)

Read More

Dota 2 Patch Notes 6.83 - commentary

See the Dota2 Patch notes from 6.83.

Significant hero changes this patch:

Chen - further buffs to abilities and Ancient golem
Disruptor - decreased cooldowns and mana costs
Gyrocopter - larger ult area, changes to Homing Missile
Lina - several decent damage buffs
Sniper - giant buff to Shrapnel

Heroes that should see MORE play due to small changes:

Chaos Knight (Rift buff)
Crystal Maiden (Frostbite, Ult both buffed)
Juggernaut (base Ag+, crit buff)
Lion (+7 base dmg)
Nightstalker (various small buffs)
Shadowfiend (Raze dmg buff)

Heroes that will see LESS play due to small but significant nerfs:

Ogre Magi (yet another nerf to Fireblast)
Brewmaster (Armor nerf is not insignificant for mid laner)
Death Prophet (Str growth reduced)
Faceless Void (various small nerfs)
Tidehunter (Ravage dmg nerf)

Read More