Game School - Heroes of Newerth
Introduction
Pestilence Guide
Pestilence is a hellbourne strength hero who has semi-carrying and ganking potential with a possibility to initiate a team fight should there be no other suitable initiator on the team. Pestilence is the favourite hero to counter stealth, can stun an entire team all at once and has amazing chasing ability. Thus he is a very good pick in various kinds of situations.
Abilities
1. Flight
Mana Cost: 50
Duration: 25 seconds
Cooldown: 45 seconds
Effects:
+10% damage taken (all levels)
Level 1: + 10% movement speed
Level 2: + 20% movement speed
Level 3: + 30% movement speed
Level 4: + 40% movement speed
Usage: Flight allows Pestilence to be active around the entire map. It synergizes well with his stun and allows him to be a very good chaser. Its cooldown is not short so using it sparingly and in the right situations. Don't forget you are taking more damage once Flight has been activated.
2. Imaple
Radius: 350
Cooldown: 8 seconds
Mana cost: 80 / 95 / 105 / 115
Level 1: Stuns enemy units in a 350 radius around Pestilence for 1 second, slows movement speed by 20% after the stun, and deals 50 physical damage to each unit hit.
Level 2: Stuns enemy units in a 350 radius around Pestilence for 1.5 seconds, slows movement speed by 20% after the stun, and deals 100 physical damage to each unit hit.
Level 3: Stuns enemy units in a 350 radius around Pestilence for 2 seconds, slows movement speed by 20% after the stun, and deals 150 physical damage to each unit hit.
Level 4: Stuns enemy units in a 350 radius around Pestilence for 2.5 seconds, slows movement speed by 20% after the stun, and deals 200 physical damage to each unit hit.
Usage: Impale is your bread and butter skill and with a cooldown of 8 seconds, it is one of the best stuns in the game which allows you to use it while chasing. This is the skill you will use to initiate so activate Flight and go into the enemy and throw it. A Portal Key always works better because it takes the enemy team by surprise and gives your team a better chance of winning the battle.
3. Gore
Cooldown: 2 seconds
Level 1: 10% chance to deal 40 bonus Magic damage to target and stun for 1 second.
Level 2: 15% chance to deal 50 bonus Magic damage to target and stun for 1 second.
Level 3: 20% chance to deal 60 bonus Magic damage to target and stun for 1 second.
Level 4: 25% chance to deal 70 bonus Magic damage to target and stun for 1 second.
Usage: Gore is extremely useful late game because it only adds to your chasing power while providing a little extra damage with every stun. Always remember this is percentage-based so it could be your best friend or your worst enemy.
4. Swarm
Mana Cost: 25
Duration: 30 seconds
Range: 700
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Effects:
Level 1: -5 armor and reveals target
Level 2: -10 armor and reveals target
Level 3: -15 armor and reveals target
Usage: This is what makes Pestilence so popular. It is the perfect counter to any stealth unit and makes guys like Night Hound useless and Scout more useless than he already is :P But wait? It also gives an armor debuff. So it synergizes greatly with impale, which deals physical damage. Always remember to SPAM it. 10 second cooldown ultis are very rare and for its low manacost take advantage of it.
Skill Build
There are two ways in which you can build Pestilence. I always recommend the first build but the 2nd build, while it may seem strange, works very well in certain situations.
Build 1:
1. Impale
2. Flight
3. Impale
4.Flight
5. Impale
6. Swarm
7. Impale
8. Flight
9. Flight
10. Gore
11. Swarm
12. Gore
13. Gore
14. Gore
15. Stats
16. Swarm
17 - 25. Stats
Skill Build 2:
1. Impale
2. Flight
3. Impale
4. Flight
5. Impale
6. Swarm
7. Impale
8. Flight
9. Flight
10. Stats
11. Swarm
12. Stats
13. Stats
14. Stats
15. Stats
16. Swarm
17. Stats
18. Stats
19. Stats
20. Stats
21. Stats
22 - 25. Gore
Why the 2nd build? Well, in certain situations, stats could benefit you more. Impale and Flight remain the same but Gore is situational because of its percentage chance. You are not always guaranteed a stun and while it may seem a little strange, it works well if you can play a good Pestilence.
Item Build
Start with:
1x Runes of the Blight, 1x Health Potion, 2x Crushing Claw, 2x Minor Totem
Then:
Logger's Hatchet, Steamboots, Shrunken Head
Now go for your game changers:
ShieldBreaker, Behemoth's Heart, Portal Key, Daemonic Breastplate
Any item which provides armor decrease is amazing on Pestilence. With both Daemonic Breastplate and Shieldbreaker, you can counter the heroes who counter Pestilence. This is the best possible build on him. Don't get things like Frostburn or Thunder Claw. Armor decrease is always the way to go.
Team Use
When it comes to being in a teamfight, Pestilence shines brightest thanks to his high damage and the support his ulti brings to the table. Like all other heroes Pestilence can combo amazingly with certain heroes while also getting countered heavily by others. When choosing Pestilence, your main focus should be a strong laning ally who can help you farm and get an early bloodlust. As such your allies include any heroes who can help you reduce enemy armor and deal as much damage as possible. Demented Shaman, Andromeda and Accursed can help out Pestilence extremely well.
Pestilence is not easily countered by items. Mostly, it is up to allied heroes to help out against him. Plague Rider is perhaps his biggest counter. Pestilence pops out a level 3 ulti, taking down 15 armor. Plague throws a level 4 shield giving 12 armor. Just like that Pestilence's ulti is basically useless thanks to the shield. Also note that Demented can counter Pestilence with Storm Cloud not just help him. Always be aware that the more physical damage the enemy can avoid, the more useless you will become.
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