heroes Maiev Talent Calculator Now Live

[Stan 5,242]

We added Maiev to our talent calculator on the website. Check out her talents and start sharing builds with friends!

Maiev Talent Calculator

The Warden will join the Nexus on February 6, 2018. You can find more information about the patch in the PTR patch notes of January 29.

[Valhalen 1,484]

I think Maiev's talent builds are very flexible. She can be played as a Poker/Basic Attacker with Fan of Knives (build), CC-Heavy Initiator with Umbral Bind (build) or Mage with Spirit of Vengeance (build).

I particularly like the Spirit of Vengeance build. Haven't tested outside of Try Mode, but in theory it can do SO MUCH DAMAGE.

Edited January 31, 2018 by Valhalen

[Dejo93 1,023]

24 minutes ago, Valhalen said:

I think Maiev's talent builds are very flexible. She can be played as a Poker/Basic Attacker with Fan of Knives (build), CC-Heavy Initiator with Umbral Bind (build) or Mage with Spirit of Vengeance (build).

I particularly like the Spirit of Vengeance build. Haven't tested it heavily, but on theory it can do SO MUCH DAMAGE.

I think her W or Q build might be the most popular. As for her level 20 talent, the Orb that reduces armor seems the best, though if her basic attack is strong she can go for the Attack Speed one.

[Valhalen 1,484]

22 minutes ago, Dejo93 said:

I think her W or Q build might be the most popular. As for her level 20 talent, the Orb that reduces armor seems the best, though if her basic attack is strong she can go for the Attack Speed one.

That is true. But after a second thought, I think this build is more effective for Fan of Knives, as Pursuit of Vengeance greatly synergizes with Vengeful Knives for nasty % damage. Then add Shadow Orb: Vengeance to the mix and spam Spirit of Vengeance to get those empowered Fan of Knives.

Her talent tree is so flexible it's hard to pick. I love this idea of talents that synergizes abilities.

Edited January 31, 2018 by Valhalen

[ReaperChief 2]

52 minutes ago, Dejo93 said:

I think her W or Q build might be the most popular. As for her level 20 talent, the Orb that reduces armor seems the best, though if her basic attack is strong she can go for the Attack Speed one.

The Shadow strike orb is amazing just for the nostalgic effect... and of course for the sick armor reduction. I wonder if it stacks with a Tyrande debuff.

[SteveFrost 97]

Pretty interesting talent tree to say the least. Personally I'd be all about a Spirit of Vengeance but most of the associated talents seem rather underwhelming and unreliable imho; like, Sudden Vengeance requires you to use your trait for it to proc and you should keep your trait to avoid powerful abilities/cc. Using it like that could give enemy team a chance to jump on and 100-0 you (unless we're talking 1v1 or smaller skirmishes scenarios).

Edited January 31, 2018 by SteveFrost

[Valhalen 1,484]

38 minutes ago, ReaperChief said:

The Shadow strike orb is amazing just for the nostalgic effect... and of course for the sick armor reduction. I wonder if it stacks with a Tyrande debuff.

Armor Debuffs only count for the highest value. Not only that, she has another armor reducing talent through Bonds of Corruption, so combine that with Shadow Orb: Shadow Strike and you get a nasty armor reduction uptime.

Edited January 31, 2018 by Valhalen

[xevex 41]

42 minutes ago, SteveFrost said:

Pretty interesting talent tree to say the least. Personally I'd be all about a Spirit of Vengeance but most of the associated talents seem rather underwhelming and unreliable imho; like, Sudden Vengeance requires you to use your trait for it to proc and you should keep your trait to avoid powerful abilities/cc. Using it like that could give enemy team a chance to jump on and 100-0 you (unless we're talking 1v1 or smaller skirmishes scenarios).

It requires you to blink in the right time. You dont have to use your trait lol. 

42 minutes ago, Valhalen said:

Armor Debuffs only count for the highest value. Not only that, she has another armor reducing talent through Bonds of Corruption, so combine that with Shadow Orb: Shadow Strike and you get a nasty armor reduction uptime.

But its only physical armor. Which means> dmg from basic attacks.

[Valhalen 1,484]

4 minutes ago, xevex said:

It requires you to blink in the right time. You dont have to use your trait lol. 

But its only physical armor. Which means> dmg from basic attacks.

Yes, but it's still a decent debuff, given how strong her Basic Attacks can be.

This brings another question, do different types of armor-debuff stack? In this case, would the victim be affected by both Bonds of Corruption (25 physical armor) and Shadow Orb: Shadow Strike (20 armor)? Or only Shadow Strike since it's the universal armor?

I love this armor mechanic, but sometimes it's a bit confusing. 

[Valks 2,375]

19 hours ago, Valhalen said:

Armor Debuffs only count for the highest value. Not only that, she has another armor reducing talent through Bonds of Corruption, so combine that with Shadow Orb: Shadow Strike and you get a nasty armor reduction uptime.

Definitely another hero to add to the "tank-threat" list. Nice to not have to pick Malthael anymore :p

[SteveFrost 97]

On 31/1/2018 at 4:52 PM, xevex said:

It requires you to blink in the right time. You dont have to use your trait lol. 

 

Oh well; errare humanum est :>

6 hours ago, Blainie said:

Definitely another hero to add to the "tank-threat" list. Nice to not have to pick Malthael anymore :p

Imho, Malthael is already being pushed away by Tychus who generally just feels a safer Malthael (has more options for % HP damage, range maybe short but he's still ranged and there is the talent to go around that and can also greatly help his team with sieging/objective control etc via Heroics). RIP in Pepsi Death lul- hopefully, the nerf won't go through as is cause it's kinda devastating or they'll see what they did and give him some love later.

[Valhalen 1,484]

10 minutes ago, SteveFrost said:

Imho, Malthael is already being pushed away by Tychus who generally just feels a safer Malthael (has more options for % HP damage, range maybe short but he's still ranged and there is the talent to go around that and can also greatly help his team with sieging/objective control etc via Heroics). RIP in Pepsi Death lul- hopefully, the nerf won't go through as is cause it's kinda devastating or they'll see what they did and give him some love later.

Ehh... I don't know. Malthael still has a very insane self-sustain, and with the recent changes to his Basic Attacks now cleaving, I think he'll be even more useful against the Double Warrior composition.

Maybe it's because I don't respect Tychus, but I don't think he'll get the spotlight Malthael currently owns.

[Valks 2,375]

53 minutes ago, Valhalen said:

Maybe it's because I don't respect Tychus, but I don't think he'll get the spotlight Malthael currently owns.

Is it because he lost his cigar?

[ArusVicious 156]

I personally like the physical damage build the best. It focuses on dealing physical damage which can also bounce and deal huge damage to any enemies that are near each other. 

Keep in mind that Blade Dance might actually be a better talent than Pin Down considering that the % that it gives stacks up to only 30% which is equal to the damage of Blade Dance at all levels. The only advantage Pin Down might have over Blade Dance is the fact that you don't have to be in melee range to benefit from it. However, Blade Dance has the advantage of benefiting from talents like Bonds of Corruption and Armored Assault that increase it's damage and it also has the advantage of being available instantly instead of requiring you to complete a rather difficult quest. 

I like this build the most because it is viable on both ST and Multi target. It just feels so powerful when you can continuously hit the enemies with fatal AA's while at the same time tethering them into dangerous situations and more powerful AA's and hitting them with slightly untalented (but still powerful enough) Fan of Knives. Not to mention, it turns Naisha's Memento into one killer of a talent. To me it just feels the most powerful of the builds and it synergises so well with some of the other talents that it might just end up being the most popular build on release. Then again.. who am I to assume? These are my opinions, but it remains to be seen which build is truly THE build and which one is more popular. 

Edited February 1, 2018 by Maxkitty

[Fayte 6]

On ‎1‎/‎31‎/‎2018 at 10:00 AM, Valhalen said:

Yes, but it's still a decent debuff, given how strong her Basic Attacks can be.

This brings another question, do different types of armor-debuff stack? In this case, would the victim be affected by both Bonds of Corruption (25 physical armor) and Shadow Orb: Shadow Strike (20 armor)? Or only Shadow Strike since it's the universal armor?

I love this armor mechanic, but sometimes it's a bit confusing. 

They Actually changed how armor works a long time ago.  Armor buffs and debuffs do stack, so used Safeguard on a Anubarak will change his spell armor to 45 for the duration of safeguard.  However armor stacks at 75 and -25.  so if you use bond of corruption you would lower their Physical armor by 25 and than universal armor with Shadow Strike.  So on Raynor, is hit by bond of Corruption his Physical armor would be lowered to -25, while his spell armor stays at 0, than shadow strike hits and would lower both armor types, lowering spell armor to -20 and physical armor still to -25.  However if you fight say a Johanna who has 25 Physical armor, bon of corrutption would lower that to 0 and than shadow strike would lower both to -20.  

On another note, Blade Dance does physical dmg so it synergizes with Bond of Corruption and Shadow Orb: Huntress.  Probably the first way to deal physical dmg outside or basic attacks.  

[SteveFrost 97]

15 hours ago, Valhalen said:

Ehh... I don't know. Malthael still has a very insane self-sustain, and with the recent changes to his Basic Attacks now cleaving, I think he'll be even more useful against the Double Warrior composition.

Maybe it's because I don't respect Tychus, but I don't think he'll get the spotlight Malthael currently owns.

Most comments I saw at Blizz website were talking about how this nerf literally kills Malthael many were even asking to be refunded (they were the highest voted too). I'll copy paste some very characteristing parts: "He cant heal himself in a full pack of creep + full enemy team under ult and improved healing.He was useless before and now he is completely destroyed as a char. I want a full refund for buying him. Please provide me crystals so i could buy a proper character who wont be killed by BW... "  "Malthael is garbage and he's Q heal is weak, now you make it even weaker and you nerf he's % damage for the 3rd time. Only viability he has now is being somewhat great at taking down immortals, otherwise there are literally dozens of heroes that are not only good at what Malth is but actually superior to him. Refund me this mess of a character."

Personally, I won't be like that, won't regret the currency I spent to buy him and will keep playing him. Thing is, I do believe he was quite balanced on release- perfect balance can't exist ofc, he maybe was slightly overtuned (I take that statement with a grain of salt). But nerfs to his trait + sustain WILL be the final nail in the coffin of Death (lul) cause these are his strengths. For an assassin, he lacks burst (he doesn't have very high attack speed or particularly damaging ability) and as a squishy, can be very easily killed.

I did see Tychus getting some rise in popularity in pro play, hence the statement about him (and the things he brings to the table).