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TopicA ranking topic: Isq rates Dota heroes for fun and time-killing.
Isquen
02/08/22 11:09:05 PM
#71:


Work sucks and everything is terrible.

103 - Magnus (melee Strength)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/2/1/AAAACbAAC53p.jpg
Base Abilities: Shockwave, Empower, Skewer, Reverse Polarity
Shard Ability: New ability "Horn Toss" which forcibly flings a small area in front of Magnus over behind them, while dealing 200 damage and slowing them completely for 1.25 seconds
Scepter Ability: Upgrades Shockwave to fire two additional shockwaves at a 30-degree angle from the original; all shockwaves will boomerang from their end point, returning and dealing 75% damage, while pulling a second time.

I know having Maggie this low is a disgustingly wrong take, especially after his showing at the International this year - but much like a rash of Nature's Prophets when Alliance took TI4, Magnus is the poster child for this year's "front runner nerf now pls" hero, and ate a small one directly afterwards (in that Horn Toss no longer stunned.) I just *really* don't like him for some reason. He plays like an intelligence support but has the stat base of a strength ganker, yet the nuking and disabling power of an intelligence carry, yet can turn an agility or strength melee carry into a monster. It's quite silly. He should be up my alley and yet isn't. And here's why I show such distaste:

Shockwave: As a Magnus, it never feels like it's going to do what the AoE pretends it is, and pushes the wave unwittingly. Against a Magnus, it'll be yanking you into danger left and right, plus with a sizeable slow, and Maggie will be chowing down Mangos to spam it at will with its low cooldown, high damage, and ability to avoid the creepwave if he has competent aim.
Empower: Unimpressive-feeling on Magnus himself, but has real power when thrown on a fast-hitting melee like a Phantom Assassin or a Juggernaut. 85% (when talented) damage bonus plus Cleave is absurd, and it's juuuust subtle enough of a visual effect on the buff to remain unpurged except by accident.
Skewer: I SHOWED YOU MY FOUNTAIN PLEASE RESPOND. This spell in conjunction with Horn Toss and Reverse Polarity makes pushing uphill against Magnus a nightmare, especially if he goes for a Refresher orb, because it's like a better version of Earth Spirit's Rolling Boulder, in that its "stun" carries enemies for the ride, and isn't stopped by one person. And yet, with the initial delay, it's very easy to launch yourself through a fight by mistake.
Horn Toss: This ability had to be nerfed recently it was so good, and after its nerf, it's still really good. For 1400 gold, Maggy had a second stun/nuke on a wide angle repositioning tool. Now, it's a 1400 gold second nuke/slow on a wide angle repositioning tool that also can't be Blink Daggered away from (since it deals its damage at the start of the spell, rather than on landing.)
Reverse Polarity: the range on this ultimate is absolutely insane. It is also, when talented, the longest "fire and forget" AoE stun duration in the game, and still pretty potent without it. Compare to other, similar abilities - unlike War Stomp, Slithereen Crush, and Aftershock, it has longer range. Unlike Ravage, the stun pierces spell immunity. Unlike Black Hole, the disable is frontloaded so Mag can freely scoot elsewhere..

It's all very effective, but I just can't shake my distaste for him. Maybe it's how ugly he is (a woolly rhino-centaur that looks to constantly be in need of a shower?) and how low-impact he feels even when his abilities are almost all ridiculously game-changing. At least Lifestealer has a "Jesus that's horrifying" appeal. Maybe it's because allied Magnuses will try to harass with Shockwave spam and succeed in doing nothing but charging enemy Magic Wands and pushing the wave. Maybe it's instead all the terrible Maggies that whiff RPs in failure videos, or the ones that yank stuff *out* of Chronosphere/Cataclysm with RP/Shockwave only to get slaughtered for it, or the ones that think they're the carry and refuse to Empower anyone but themselves, et cetera et cetera. Who knows? If I want to play an "all AoE all the time" hero I'd pick Leshrac instead.

Next hero hint: how to make a potential global threat be a complete nonissue for a half hour.

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[The Artist Formerly Known as Earthshaker.]
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