heroes Upcoming Hero Changes from Gamescom 2017

[Stan 5,243]

Kel'thuzad is hitting PTR next week and Chromie, Jaina, Leoric & Morales are receiving reworks. Find out more about all Hero changes spotted by the community so far.

An in-development video will be published Wednesday (August 23).

Redditor ToastieNL compiled a list of all changes over at /r/heroesofthestorm. You can check the full article here. We'll be focusing on Hero changes in this article and report on new skins/sprays/announcers after the in-development video is live tomorrow.

Obey the Call Event

Kel'thuzad's patch brings new skins, bundles, sprays, announcers and event quests to the Nexus. All data was obtained from community contribution at /r/heroesofthestorm. Some changes may be innacurate and we'll have to wait until next week for full patch notes.

New Skins

• Death Knight Sonya
• Dreadlord Jaina
• Crypt Queen Zagara

Hero Changes

The following Heroes will receive updates in next week's PTR patch. 

Chromie

• Sand Blast damage decreased. It's now a baseline quest. Every successful hit +5 damage permanently and at 80 hits, Past and Future Me activates.
• Chromie has a hits counter with how many Q's you hit in a row. On two consecutive hits, Q deals double the damage, on 3 the damage is tripled.

Talent Changes

• Compounding Aether (Level 1 Talent) removed and replaced with a talent that makes Q deal triple bonus damage when you hit an enemy three times in a row.
• Piercing Sands (Level 4 Talent) removed. New talent: When Time Trap is activated, the cooldowns of Sand Blast and Dragon's Breath is reset.
• Reaching through Time (Level 13 Talent) removed. There's a new spell allowing you to swap locations with a Sand Clone (Q baseline quest). Apparently, you can use your Hearthstone, teleport back to the base, replenish your Health/Mana & teleport back.
• Past and Future Me (Level 20 Talent) became a baseline Q quest and got replaced with Piercing Sands. It pierces through all enemies, but there are no quest procs for multiple hits.
• Loophole (Level 20 Talent) Temporal Loop can be cast immediately one more time after it finishes.

Credits go to /u/StephOddish (Source)

Jaina

• Blizzard cooldown reduced to 14 sec.
• Ice Block is now baseline and you will gain it upon dealing 15,000 Critical Damage (Trait). It's on a 40 second cooldown.

Talents

Level 1

• Deep Chill (Level 1 Talent) removed. There's a new quest called Fingers of Frost that increases Mana regeneration per globe, capping at 20, when it increases damage bonus of her trait by 10%.

Level 7

• Frostbitten (Level 7 Talent) removed. Replaced with Icefury Wand: Auto attacks deal 75% bonus damage to Chilled targets. Every auto attack reduces Blizzard's cooldown by 1 sec.

Level 10

• Summon Water Elemental (Level 10 Heroic Ability): Cooldown decreased to 60 sec (down from 80 sec), Mana cost decreased from 75 to 60.

Level 20

• Bolt of the Storm: Ice Blink & AoE Chill application.
• Deep Chill: Slow stacks.
• Ring of Frost (upgrade): reduces its cooldown by 10 sec per Hero hit in the center.

Leoric

• Skeletal Swing (Q) cooldown increased to 14 seconds. has 7 sec. cooldown and 50% Mana refunded when hitting a Hero.
• Drain Hope (W) baseline healing down to 20% (from 25%).
• Every 1st / 2nd basic attack cleaves and the 3rd hits for double damage.

Talent Changes

Level 1

• Consume Vitality:  Drain Hope's cooldown reduced by 2 sec. Heal for 4% maximum Health per enemy hit with Skeletal Swing).
• Fealty Unto Death: Gain Health / Mana when minions die.
• Ossein Renewal: Heal 20% maximum Health over 4 sec.

Level 4

• Ghastly Reach: Increases the range of Skeletal Swing.
• Paralyzing Rage: Increases the Slow of Skeletal Swing.
• Kneel, Peasants: Increases the damage of Skeletal Swing by 75% against PvE.

Level 7

• Willing Vessel: Increases healing of Drain Hope by 5% and an additional 5% when you finish a full cast.
• Drain Momentum: Gain 30% Movement Speed for 4 seconds upon completion.
• Hopelessness: Drain Hope's range increased.

Level 10

• Entomb: Cooldown increased to 70 sec. (down from 50 sec.).
• March of the Black King: Damage per swing increased to 548 from 400 (at Level 20). Healing increased to 12% of maximum Health (up from 7%).

Level 13

• Unyielding Despair: Reduces the cooldown of Drain Hope.
• Hardened Bones: Gain Armor during and 3 sec. after Drain Hope.
• Ominous Wrath: Increases the duration of Wraith Walk by 100%. Wraith Walk through enemies to reduce their damage by 50% for 4 sec.

Level 16

• Royal Focus: Your next Skeletal Swing deals 50% increaed. damage. Hitting Heroes reduces cooldown of Wraith Walk by 7 sec.
• Crushing Hope: Deal damage equal to 15% of an enemy's maximum Health when Drain Hope is cast for its full duration. Does not heal.
• Mithril Mace: Increases Attack Speed by 20% + 3% per 10 minion kills or 1 Hero kill, capping at 50% total.

Level 20

• Burning Despair: Deals 175% damage of Burning Rage. AoE and damage is doubled when Drain Hope is active.
• Spectral Leech: Deals damage equal to 2.5 % of Leoric's maximum Health and heals Leoric for double. Heroes caught in Entomb are now silenced.
• Hardened Shield removed, replaced with Shroud of the Dead King: Activate to gain Protected for 3 sec. (75 sec. cooldown).

Credits go to /u/Spazzo965 (Source), /u/Homicidal_HotS, /u/Ignisami & /u/m05513

Lt. Morales

• Mana removed, replaced with Energy. 3 seconds after not using Healing Beam, Morales will regenerate 6 Energy every 1 sec. Using Healing Beam depletes 6 Energy every 1 sec.
• Trait updated: Caduceus Reactor now restores 2% maximum health every 1 sec. when channeling Healing Beam.
• Safeguard & Displacement Grenade are now CD-based.

Talent Changes

Level 1

• Life Support: Gain 2 Energy (20 cap) each time Safeguard reduces damage.
• Caduceus Feedback: Auto attacks generate 1 Energy (4 Energy against Heroes).

Level 7

• Cleanse removed. Replaced with Vanadium Plating: Gain +25 Armor on Caduceus Reactor and the duration of Caduceus Reactor is extended when Stunned.
• Physical Therapy: Safeguard removes all Slow effects from the target. If Safeguard removes a Slow from the target, the cooldown of Safeguard is decreased by 4 sec.

Level 13

• Second Opinion: Cooldown of Displacement Grenade is reduced to 1 sec if it hits at least 2 Heroes.
• EMP Grenade: Deals damage to Shields and additional damage over 2 seconds.

Level 16

• Extended Care: Healing Beam range increased by 40%.
• First Responder: Healing Beam healing is increased by 25% if Morales is above 70 Energy.
• Shield Sequencer: Safeguard gains an additional charge.

Level 20

• Caduceus Reactor (Trait upgrade): Healing increased from 2% to 6% of maximum Health.
• Medivac Dropship (upgrades):
  • Become Protected 2 seconds after exiting Medivac.
  • Create a check-in point at the spawn (B) area for teammates that aren't near you when using Medivac.

Credits go to /u/Ultrajante (Source) and /u/amitlevi45

Redditor Homicidal_HotS spotted differences between the live version of Blizzard's website and the current patch and he shared his findings.

Auriel

• Bursting Light (Level 7 Talent removed).
• Detainment Strike damage was reduced when it does not stun an enemy and increased when it does.
• Hope regeneration from hero damage was increased to 50% damage dealt (up from 40%).

Butcher

• Meat gained from Hero kills was reduced to 20 (down from 25).
• Meat lost upon death was increased to 15 (up from 10).

Garrosh

• Warlord's Challenge (Heroic ability) taunt increased to 2 sec. (up from 1.5 sec.).

Lucio

• Passive Crossfade healing increased from 16 to 25 Health per sec.

Uther

• Armor gained from Devotion (Trait) reduced to 15 (down from 25).
• Healing of Holy Light (Q) was slightly increased.
• Damage & healing of Holy Radiance was slightly increased.

Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments below!

[MvonTzeskagrad 11]

While I am glad they rework heroes that have got very old, not sure if this is a buff or a nerf.

And well, I'd get sad if my favorite Skeleton King got smashed to oblivion.

[Valhalen 1,484]

  On 8/22/2017 at 7:37 PM, Stan said:

Entomb: Cooldown increased to 70 sec. (down from 50 sec.). Damage per swing increased to 548 from 400 (at Level 20). Healing increased to 12% of maximum Health (up from 7%).

Expand  

I think this refers to March of the Black King, right?

Wow, those reworks, man. Chromie will be even more annoying. Godamn.

But I think the Leoric rework kinda made him worse in some ways. I liked the changes to basic attack dealing more damage and splash as baseline, as well the talent that increase attack speed per minion clear. All in all, his PvE seems better but his PvP slightly worse. I'm not sure if that is what he needed.

 

Now the Morales rework seems very very interesting. Mana Hunger no more! Thank god!

But I've spotted some minor errors with linking the abilities. I think the OP meant Safeguard below instead of Caduceus Reactor, correct?

  On 8/22/2017 at 7:37 PM, Stan said:

Life Support: Gain 2 Energy (20 cap) each time Caduceus Reactor reduces damage.

Expand  

 

  On 8/22/2017 at 7:37 PM, Stan said:

Physical Therapy: Caduceus Reactor removes all Slow effects from the target. If Caduceus Reactor removes a Slow from the target, the cooldown of Caduceus Reactor is decreased by 4 sec.

Expand  

 

  On 8/22/2017 at 7:37 PM, Stan said:

Shield Sequencer: Caduceus Reactor gains an additional charge.

Expand  

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2017 by Valhalen

[Stan 5,243]

Thank you @Valhalen. Fixed. 

[Dejo93 1,023]

Yay. my gnomie waifu gets an update :D Though sad we don't have a WC3 map . Maybe later in time, according to that Axolotl leak (bless that guy)

[Valhalen 1,484]

  On 8/22/2017 at 8:56 PM, Stan said:

Thank you @Valhalen. Fixed. 

Expand  

They've added some changes for Jaina. I think it's worth adding them here. =)

[Plergoth 277]

Losing Burning Rage on Leoric will hurt him the most, despite the wide range of changes to his kit. He's a solo laner and a bruiser who does well against other high health tanks; getting it at level 20, even with the HUGE power increase it gets, is too late for most games, and will be overshadowed by Spectral Leech if I am reading the talents right and it rolls the Entomb silence on top of the passive. 

Any change to March of the Black King? If you still can't steer his movement, or if they didn't increase the radius of the swings, then it will remain a situational ult and feel awkward to play with. 

Edited August 23, 2017 by Plergoth

[50m8r4 11]

MOST ALL CAPS

LUCIO WILL BE PLAYABLE AGAIN

CHROM8E GETTING EVEN BETTER!

Edited August 23, 2017 by 50m8r4
I rushed to type before match :>

[Plaguestorm 43]

Kinda suprised no Johanna, hammer, varian skins, i thought they were chosen for the video because they would be made into creatures, cause well varian and johanna could have been ANY other hero in that video and it would have turned out the same.

[Undeath 67]

So, with only number tweaks on March of the Black King and no design changes, it is still a huge trouble to hit anything without a specific team comp. And even then, you think twice before grabbing it.

All in all, I feel the Leoric changes are more nerf than a buff. I see no point in making his PvE stronger, we have specialists for this, and his PvE did not need a buff as it was already decent for a bruiser. With Xul on the rise, I see no reason in picking the new Leo over him. 

I'm a bit sad, cause Leo is one of my favorite heroes.

[Plergoth 277]

  On 8/23/2017 at 4:13 AM, Plaguestorm said:

Kinda suprised no Johanna, hammer, varian skins, i thought they were chosen for the video because they would be made into creatures, cause well varian and johanna could have been ANY other hero in that video and it would have turned out the same.

Expand  

But then we wouldn't have seen Sgt. Hammer sucker punch Zagara right in her spider mandibles! 

My take on it is that they wanted a bit of a mirror here; Varian and Jaina were pretty tight in WoW and Johanna is about the most righteous and virtuous out of the Diablo heroes save for the angels themselves; a nice counterpoint to Death Knight Sonya, but coincidentally, Jaina vs Johanna is an extremely one sided affair in the mage's favour as well. 

[Fliits 112]

Unlike everyone seems to be pointing out, Leoric hasn't really been nerfed in my opinion. He just has more options now. True, Drain Hope doesn't heal as much and Entomb has to be used more carefully now, but overall I wouldn't call it a nerf. For example, there's now a solid Skeletal Swing build, focusing on AoE damage, making Leoric stronger in team fights and giving him more waveclear. Previously, Leoric had to focus on mostly one target (usually the enemy tank), but now he'll be able to deal damage to a bunch of enemies at a time in addition to healing himself. Speaking of which, even though I'm a Leoric main all the way, I'm glad they nerfed his self-healing. It was pretty ridiculous how you could walk into a crowd of at least 3 players and get out without a care in the world. And Shroud of the Dead King will be the most ridiculous thing when you couple it with one of the best escape methods in the game, Wraith Walk. 

Chromie is easier to play, yay! Butcher doesn't snowball the game in 12 minutes flat now, double yay! Morales no longer runs out of mana every 10 seconds, triple yay! Uther doesn't make people invincible any more, quadruple yay! Lucio is a viable healer again, mega yay! 

Edited August 23, 2017 by Fliits

[SteveFrost 97]

Jaina rework?? IS THIS REAL LIFE???? 

Now I just need one for Tyrael (and some others :p) and Fenix added and I can die happy

Edited August 23, 2017 by SteveFrost

[Valks 2,377]

  On 8/23/2017 at 5:21 PM, SteveFrost said:

Jaina rework?? IS THIS REAL LIFE???? 

Now I just need one for Tyrael (and some others :p) and Fenix added and I can die happy

Expand  

Can't just leave her to rot after giving he such a pretty skin!

[SteveFrost 97]

  On 8/24/2017 at 5:43 AM, Blainie said:

Can't just leave her to rot after giving he such a pretty skin!

Expand  

If a Hero who (objectively) needs a rework has to wait for a meme skin to get it; gg... And she got plenty of b00tyful skins before that (her Master still remains my favorite; maybe because I did all the grind; on 2 accs. It does look awesome tho; and she's so purty :3).

And to me, she looks more like Illidan rather than a dreadlord there lul

[Valhalen 1,484]

  On 8/24/2017 at 12:37 PM, SteveFrost said:

If a Hero who (objectively) needs a rework has to wait for a meme skin to get it; gg... And she got plenty of b00tyful skins before that (her Master still remains my favorite; maybe because I did all the grind; on 2 accs. It does look awesome tho; and she's so purty :3).

And to me, she looks more like Illidan rather than a dreadlord there lul

Expand  

Her Post-Theramore skin is amazing, though. I wonder if she will have different lines in that skin. Her expression doesn't look as broken as she is now  WoW.

[Valks 2,377]

  On 8/24/2017 at 12:37 PM, SteveFrost said:

And to me, she looks more like Illidan rather than a dreadlord there lul

Expand  

Probably because they had to keep that very "humanoid" form rather than make her full-on dreadlord, since it's only a skin!

[Fliits 112]

  On 8/22/2017 at 7:37 PM, Stan said:

Consume Vitality:  Drain Hope's cooldown reduced by 2 sec. Heal for 4% maximum Health per enemy hit with Skeletal Swing).

Expand  

Are you sure it's supposed to say Drain Hope?

[SteveFrost 97]

  On 8/24/2017 at 1:05 PM, Valhalen said:

Her Post-Theramore skin is amazing, though. I wonder if she will have different lines in that skin. Her expression doesn't look as broken as she is now  WoW.

Expand  

  On 8/24/2017 at 3:57 PM, Blainie said:

Probably because they had to keep that very "humanoid" form rather than make her full-on dreadlord, since it's only a skin!

Expand  

If they really wanted to cater to the partucular meme fans, they could have done better imho. Oh well... It certainly looks eerie and creepy though (which is why I dislike it; ruining my waifu like that... >.<)

[Valks 2,377]

  On 8/25/2017 at 5:34 AM, Fliits said:

Are you sure it's supposed to say Drain Hope?

Expand  

Error in the post, I believe!

[Valks 2,377]

  On 8/25/2017 at 7:21 AM, SteveFrost said:

If they really wanted to cater to the partucular meme fans, they could have done better imho. Oh well... It certainly looks eerie and creepy though (which is why I dislike it; ruining my waifu like that... >.<)

Expand  

It's what I love most about it! I think it's such a perfect skin - I'm getting it ASAP :D