Sylvanas Build Guide “Let none survive!”

Sylvanas is a mobile Ranged Assassin. Her unique ability to Stun Structures through Black Arrows and several Map control-oriented Talent choices reward players with a strong macro-oriented approach to the game. Her mediocre damage output must be made up for with decisive kills however, lest she may end up overwhelmed in long team fights.

Strengths

• Improves the survivability of certain Map Objectives through Black Arrows
• Effective waveclear with Unstable Poison
• Versatile and powerful Heroic Ability choices

Weaknesses

• Weak early game
• Inability to deal selective damage; often stuck having to target what is closest
• Low maximum Health; vulnerable to other, more mobile Assassins

Sustained Basic Attack Build

Recommended

Level 1 ?

Level 4 ? ?

Level 7 ? ?

Level 10

Level 13

Level 16 ?

Level 20

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This sustained damage build uses several Talents that improve Sylvanas's Basic Attacks, including Overwhelming Affliction and Remorseless. This synergy allows her to effectively whittle down any target from range, including Tanks.

Single-Target Burst Build

Situational

Level 1

Level 4 ? ?

Level 7

Level 10

Level 13

Level 16 ?

Level 20 ?

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Revolving around Windrunner, this build seeks to repeatedly use an empowered Withering Fire to bring down individual targets while remaining highly mobile.

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Sylvanas synergizes with

Sylvanas is a rather general pick, in that she works well with the vast majority of team composition. She does, however, excel when picked along other high-damage mobile ranged damage dealers that can capitalise on Black Arrows, Heroes that can provide area of effect crowd control, or with other strong split pushers to create an immense amount of Map pressure.

Sylvanas is countered by

As a fragile backline Hero, Sylvanas struggles against anything that can either burst her down or match the mobility provided by Haunting Wave. Stealthed Heroes are particularly threatening to her, as they generally highly limit her ability to safely split-push.

Sylvanas's stronger maps

Sylvanas's average maps

Sylvanas's weaker maps

Sylvanas is an effective pick on all Maps that feature Objectives that provide you with a pushing force, as Black Arrows's Structure disabling effect greatly increases the longevity and effectiveness of such Objectives. Unstable Poison, Mercenary Queen, and Possession make her effective at waveclearing, claiming Mercenary Camps, and split pushing respectively, allowing her to be versatile.

• Withering Fire is extremely cheap; use it as often as possible if there are no enemy Heroes around.
• Use Shadow Dagger whenever it is available, but see to have it affect as many enemies as possible.
• Haunting Wave should almost exclusively be used only for its mobility, as it deals minimal damage.
• Hold on to Wailing Arrow until you can hit many opponents or for when you need to prevent a Hero from saving another.
• Use Mind Control to move a key target away from their team, and into yours.
• Black Arrows allows you to push down Structures without Minions; exploit this especially with allies and vehicles.

Sylvanas offers a unique combination of traits: safe and effective waveclear through Unstable Poison, the ability to disable Structures with Black Arrows, and strong Tank-busting potential through a combination of Shadow Dagger-related Talents. As such, she is a powerful "surprise" late-pick for team compositions seeking to rapidly kill the first enemy in sight, and specifically on Maps that feature Objectives that are likely to take damage from Structures, such as Dragon Shire.

Sylvanas should be picked along a burst damage-oriented Assassin, such as Jaina, and a Tank who is able to reliably apply hard crowd control on the intended kill target, such as Diablo or E.T.C.. Wailing Arrow is treated as one of the most powerful team fighting Heroic Ability as it prevents Healers from assisting said kill target. Depending on your team's burst damage potential however, Mind Control may also work as an isolation tool.