Referring to the latest patch as “new” might be a bit of a stretch, but within it, numerous elements remain underappreciated or overlooked.
These include potent items and heroes that, although formidable, often do not find their place in standard pub games or get forgotten when they should shine.
Today, we aim to shed light on these undervalued aspects, emphasizing items, heroes, and concepts that deserve more recognition.
Pavise and Solar Crest
A glance at the meta page reveals a prevalent prioritization of ability damage on most cores in the current pub environment. Even popular carriers often embody hybrid heroes, boasting a balance of physical and magical damage.
Consequently, Solar Crest and Pavise, once go-to defensive options, have fallen out of favor, exacerbated by a substantial nerf in the last patch.
Despite this, we argue against dismissing them outright. While the early-game mana cost of Solar Crest poses a challenge, it becomes inconsequential for most supports around level twelve. The item, with its mana benefits, essentially pays for itself in various situations, providing necessary stats and movement speed.
The single-target bonus from Shine is particularly potent, offering approximately 65% of Mask of Madness Attack Speed, significantly bolstering the target’s durability.
Although the +7 Armor may seem modest in a magic burst-filled meta, it still mitigates over 400 physical damage in most fights.
To maximize its potential, use Solar Crest early to capitalize on the Physical Barrier it offers, amplifying your team’s damage output while maintaining optimal positioning with its respectable 1000 1000-cast range.
Vladmir’s Offering on Supports
Vladmir’s Offering stands out as a somewhat overlooked item, akin to Pavise and Solar Crest. While the current meta may not necessarily demand extra armor, there are instances where this item proves invaluable.
An early Vlad can expedite map control, especially when your team is snowballing, shaving off crucial seconds in securing objectives like Towers, Tormentors, or Roshan.
In late-game scenarios, Vladmir’s Offering offers considerable value, potentially freeing up a slot for your core teammate.
The benefits it provides, including +4 Armor and 20% Lifesteal, contribute significantly to teamfight sustain. This allows cores to bypass some standard defensive items in favor of more game-specific choices.
Bane Deserves More Picks
Bane is experiencing a positive trend, yet we believe the hero remains underutilized, particularly in games below the Ancient level. Bane’s effectiveness, simplicity, and flexibility make him an excellent choice in the current patch.
Two distinct early-game ability builds exist for Bane: one emphasizing Nightmare and the other focusing on Enfeeble. High-level players often allocate a level or two into Brain Sap for the laning stage. A 4-2-0-1 or a 0-2-4-1 by level six and a 4-2-3-1 or 3-2-4-1 by level ten are common skill builds.
Many high-level players defer the level ten talent, opting to take it later unless facing heroes vulnerable to the Enfeeble Cast Range reduction debuff. This debuff can significantly punish heroes reliant on Blink-type effects, such as Queen of Pain and Morphling.
For new Bane players, the Enfeeble build is recommended initially, providing a viable and robust option. The Nightmare build introduces more intricate plays with potential clutch saves and superior setups, but it may lead to frustrating results in lower-level brackets.
Behavior Score Matters
Finally, we address a concept often undervalued in most patches: Behavior Score. The ability to maintain composure in any situation is a skill that proves challenging to improve but is undoubtedly worthwhile.
The philosophy of “First, do no harm” can singlehandedly elevate some players by several medals. Persistent whining, raging, and blaming are forms of self-sabotage that actively decrease your chances of winning. While unwinnable games exist, a lost laning stage seldom guarantees a game loss.
Growing in terms of Behavior Score leads to a more positive team environment. Though occasional negativity may persist, the overall quality of games substantially improves.
In-game toxicity often triggers a chain reaction, so minimizing the chances of an initial outburst is crucial. Being part of the solution rather than the problem is often sufficient at high Behavior Score levels. Utilizing the Mute and Report functions liberally is essential in all other cases.
