FaP.m0ngEr
24th November 2007, 09:09 PM
A Guide to
Purist Thunderwrath, the Omniknight
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5012/sample4copyde6.jpg
What is the hero I am playing with?
The Omniknight is being played in several different ways. You can see him as an ugly chaser with a high MS and a slow (S&Y, Skadi), you can see him stacked with STR items (Heart, Satanic) and as a supporter (Guinsoo, Refresher). The way you are playing him depends on your line-up and match-up, and of course the level of the game.
Basically what we think is that Omniknight is a support hero, that can become a hybrid in many ways. Give him some mana regeneration and then do whatever you want to do and needs to be done to him. If your team lacks a tank, then buy a Heart. If your team fails horribly at carrying and you have the possibility of buying a Radiance, then do so for Christ's sake.
We will go through all of his skills one-by-one analysing them and giving guidelines on how to use them. As it's a Strategy Hero Guide, we will be concentrating more on the strategical aspects than on the unimportant filler sentences allowing this guide to be short, yet helpful and filled with important information.
Skillsets and Usage of the Abilities
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4664/skillsetsyd9.png
>>Omniknight's Skills' Description<< (http://www.dota-allstars.com/hero/1535/index.html)
Purification
Mechanics: the damage is mixed, therefore both armor and spell resistance reduces the damage dealt by Purification. As the game progresses it becomes less and less useful against heroes. Read the Guide on every Hero's Skill/Spell damage type (http://forums.dota-allstars.com/index.php?showtopic=146618)
Strategics: the way you have to use this spell is waiting for at least until your or an ally's HP drops to a level that if you healed, the target won't have full health pool. The only occiasion when you should be healing someone to full health is when you are harassing an enemy and especially if you can score a frag with Purification. If you need to speedfarm, then you can use this skill for killing the ranged creeps instantly and damaging the melee ones heavily. But otherwise you should not be using it for farming, last hits will be enough if you can learn how to time it well.
Repel
Mechanics: if you cast it on a hero, it will remove most of the casted buffs, doesn't matter if they are negative or positive ones. Most of the target spells won't work on the repeled unit and spell damage are fully negated. Read the List of skill/item effect to avatared/ immune to magic unit (http://forums.dota-allstars.com/index.php?showtopic=73365)
Strategics: while you are laning this spell might be useful in saving one of your allies. Cast it before a stun would land in, or remove some negative buffs. Also if you or your ally plan to rush in, then being able to run in without getting interrupted by a spell is very important. Later it will be used on heroes that are channeling their spells or on the carries. We think in serious games Omni should be picked only if his repel will be in need of at least on one of the heroes.
Degen Aura
Mechanics: the AoE of the slow is 300.
Strategics: this is both an offensive and defensive ability. When retreating it's especially useful agaisnt melee heroes, or when you want to block enemy heroes reaching your allies, Degen Aura is your friend. If you are an agressively playing player and can be agressive in the game, then Degen Aura will help out so well in chasing it will be near to impossible to flee alive from you. Using animation canceling is very important or else you might be slowed down so that you can't follow your target to "channel" (not real channel) the slow aura.
Guardian Angel
Mechanics: gives 98% physical damage reduction and a 25 HP/sec regeneration. The AoE is 1000 on levels. Repel removes Guardian Angel from target.
Strategics: in early game it might save your ass sometimes. Later it will be used in team fights when you jump on your enemies. Don't waste this spell, wait patiently for the perfect time.
The Skillbuild With Justifications
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5716/bannerdualpurive6.png
Basically, there is just one way to efficiently build an Omniknight.
Level 01 - Purification
Level 02 - Degen Aura/Repel
Level 03 - Purification
Level 04 - Degen Aura/Repel
Level 05 - Purification
Level 06 - Guardian Angel
Level 07 - Purification
Level 08 - Degen Aura
Level 09 - Repel/Degen Aura
Level 10 - Repel/Degen Aura
Level 11 - Guardian Angel
Level 12 - Degen Aura
Level 13 - Repel
Level 14 - Repel
Level 15 - Attribute Bonuses
Level 16 - Guardian Angel
17 to 25 - Attribute Bonuses
The justification of the rather easy. Purification is maxed first for obvious reason - it's a heal and your only damaging spell.
Then the confusion begins. Degen Aura or Repel? The answer differs from game to game, respectively from lane to lane. If you're laning against nukers/combo heroes or heroes with damage over time spells, get one level of Repel early. As an example, if you're laning against a combo like Sven and Leshrac, get repel so you can Repel your ally (or yourself) after Storm Bolt hits so Leshrac won't be able to chain (doesn't work all the times, especially when you're the target and they don't leave a gap between the stuns).
Another situation would be when laning agianst Viper, Repel prevents orbwalking and nullifies the damage and the slow of Viper Strike when cast after it. Two levels of Repel at level 2/4 should only be taken when you're leveling against Venomancer (to block 10 from the 12 seconds of Poison Nova) and maybe against Doom Bringer, though it's only useful when he's casting Doom on your ally, else you're silenced and can't cast that spell anyway.
From that point on it's more or less at your disposal how you're chosing the skillbuild. We recommend that you're having 2 levels of Repel when reaching level 11, and that you finish Degen Aura by level 12.
Guardian Angel should be taken whenever available, it may always save your or your allies' asses when ganked or when diving a tower.
The Itembuilds With Justifications
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/5999/coreitembuildsv2ug1.png
We decided to make only one core item build, which is quite flexible. We will rather discuss some possible alternates in a different section.
Basically you need some form of mana regeneration. You won't be spamming your spells, but when there's a big battle, you will spend a lot of mana in a considerably short time. So burst regeneration is the best for you, which can be found in Bottle or Arcane Ring. Wether to choose Bottle or Ring depends on the game rules. In most tournaments only one Arcane Ring is allowed per team, and if there's a hero that needs Arcane more than you, then get Bottle.
Observer/Sentry Wards are to be gotten by you, because even if you don't have many items, you can still be a helpful hero in your team. TP scrolls are to be gotten till you buy Boots of Travel. You don't need Power Treads, because you will be supporting not by the physical damage you deal. Movementspeed is much more needed for you than Attackspeed. Also, being able to teleport helps a lot, too.
Arcane Ring - undoubtly the best mana item for the Omniknight. It boosts your manapool by a lot and the burst mana regeneration will make sure that you can cast your spells all the time. We think this item was made especially for heroes with low starting INT, mainly the STR heroes.
Bottle - if you want to rush an expensive item or you are playing in a tournament/league where only one Arcane Ring is allowed per team and one of your allies is already making it (Zeus, Ogre Magi, Earthshaker etc) then Bottle is to be gotten on this hero. The fact that you regenerate health along with mana will allow you to use your Purification on your allies instead of you.
Bracers - wraiths are obviously not needed on this hero. Null Talismans look appealing, but the fact is that a Bottle and especially an Arcane Ring already fixes your mana issues. However you need survivalability and the ability to farm neutrals faster and Bracers is just perfect for these purposes. Of course if you have no problems surviving, just don't upgrade the clets, they will be enough (especially if you go for Necronomicon).
Necronomicon - a really great item on this hero. He was meant to hold this book in his hands. The MS aura that one of the demons give will allow you to chase more efficiently, the mana burn gives you a high boost on damage as you will not be attacking too frequently. The attribute bonuses are both needed, a little STR and a nice amount of INT. Especially if noone else is heading for this item you are to be getting it as a Necronomicon 3 will allow you to destroy wards, detect mines and invisible heroes.
Radiance - we could as well call it the Carry Item. The immolation allows you to farm neutrals fast and speed-farm in lanes, so it becomes harder to catch you. In case you can farm up the 3800 golds early on, this will be a great addition to your inventory. Suggested mainly for pubs and fun IH games.
Some Further Item-Discussion
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4954/furtheritemsbannerjc5.png
In this section we would like to mention some of the better and some of the not so good items for the Omniknight. We will give justifications when and why to use certain items, and why others fail horribly.
Heart of Tarrasque - this is a great item for Purist Thunderwrath. Sometimes you need to become the tank of your team and as you need to be near to your opponents to make use of Degen Aura or need to be around your allies to use Guardian Angel there can be no question why. Also if there are no better heroes to cast Repel on, and it's you who get the benefits of magic immunity, then you need to be able to tank physical damage.
Eye of Skadi - some players like to buy this item, while the most players bash it instead. We say that it's a viable choice for Purist, as the slow, the mana and health pool, everything is good for him. The problem is that it costs 7050 golds and it is really hard to farm it early enough. Rush it only in fun pub games or get it after Radiance. We would not recommend it in any other cases.
Assault Cuirass - as you have a relatively slow attack speed and as you are a melee hero, this item can be of a good use for you. With Repel on and an AC in your inventory you are basically unkillable. When you are low on health, then you just use Guradian Angel and there's no problem at all. After the core builds are complished and either there are no magical threats or you are a better repel-user than your allies, buy this item.
Hood of Defiance - when you have allies that MUST be repeled all the time, but you die to nukes in team fights all the time, then Hood is a really useful item. It's easy to farm it up and lets you tank all the damage done in team fights.
Sange & Yasha - the item that many hate and many love. Actually it's not a bad item on this hero, it's easy to farm up and you benefit from everything this item gives to you. The only problem is, that you can always find better alternatives. We rarely get it on Omni.
Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse - this used to be a very much liked item on the Omniknight. It was gotten on this hero because he needed some form of mana regeneration and manapool. The Cyclone and then the Hex abilities are really useful. The only problem is, that both Arcane Ring and Bottle are thousand times better to fix your mana problems and a Necronomicon suits this hero much more (giving STR, MS/AS auras, manaburn). We haven't bought this item for Purist for more than a year.
Refresher Orb - a great item especially if you went for the Basic Build with Arcane Ring. Double Guardian Angel and double Repel is an amazingly powerful combination and can easily determine the outcome of a fight in lategame. The only problem is that you can rarely get to buy this item.
Mekansm - you can heal the hero that is repeled. Great auras as well. Good thing. The bad part is, you already have a low manapool and heroes with high starting INT should be getting this item instead of you.
Purist Thunderwrath, the Omniknight
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5012/sample4copyde6.jpg
What is the hero I am playing with?
The Omniknight is being played in several different ways. You can see him as an ugly chaser with a high MS and a slow (S&Y, Skadi), you can see him stacked with STR items (Heart, Satanic) and as a supporter (Guinsoo, Refresher). The way you are playing him depends on your line-up and match-up, and of course the level of the game.
Basically what we think is that Omniknight is a support hero, that can become a hybrid in many ways. Give him some mana regeneration and then do whatever you want to do and needs to be done to him. If your team lacks a tank, then buy a Heart. If your team fails horribly at carrying and you have the possibility of buying a Radiance, then do so for Christ's sake.
We will go through all of his skills one-by-one analysing them and giving guidelines on how to use them. As it's a Strategy Hero Guide, we will be concentrating more on the strategical aspects than on the unimportant filler sentences allowing this guide to be short, yet helpful and filled with important information.
Skillsets and Usage of the Abilities
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4664/skillsetsyd9.png
>>Omniknight's Skills' Description<< (http://www.dota-allstars.com/hero/1535/index.html)
Purification
Mechanics: the damage is mixed, therefore both armor and spell resistance reduces the damage dealt by Purification. As the game progresses it becomes less and less useful against heroes. Read the Guide on every Hero's Skill/Spell damage type (http://forums.dota-allstars.com/index.php?showtopic=146618)
Strategics: the way you have to use this spell is waiting for at least until your or an ally's HP drops to a level that if you healed, the target won't have full health pool. The only occiasion when you should be healing someone to full health is when you are harassing an enemy and especially if you can score a frag with Purification. If you need to speedfarm, then you can use this skill for killing the ranged creeps instantly and damaging the melee ones heavily. But otherwise you should not be using it for farming, last hits will be enough if you can learn how to time it well.
Repel
Mechanics: if you cast it on a hero, it will remove most of the casted buffs, doesn't matter if they are negative or positive ones. Most of the target spells won't work on the repeled unit and spell damage are fully negated. Read the List of skill/item effect to avatared/ immune to magic unit (http://forums.dota-allstars.com/index.php?showtopic=73365)
Strategics: while you are laning this spell might be useful in saving one of your allies. Cast it before a stun would land in, or remove some negative buffs. Also if you or your ally plan to rush in, then being able to run in without getting interrupted by a spell is very important. Later it will be used on heroes that are channeling their spells or on the carries. We think in serious games Omni should be picked only if his repel will be in need of at least on one of the heroes.
Degen Aura
Mechanics: the AoE of the slow is 300.
Strategics: this is both an offensive and defensive ability. When retreating it's especially useful agaisnt melee heroes, or when you want to block enemy heroes reaching your allies, Degen Aura is your friend. If you are an agressively playing player and can be agressive in the game, then Degen Aura will help out so well in chasing it will be near to impossible to flee alive from you. Using animation canceling is very important or else you might be slowed down so that you can't follow your target to "channel" (not real channel) the slow aura.
Guardian Angel
Mechanics: gives 98% physical damage reduction and a 25 HP/sec regeneration. The AoE is 1000 on levels. Repel removes Guardian Angel from target.
Strategics: in early game it might save your ass sometimes. Later it will be used in team fights when you jump on your enemies. Don't waste this spell, wait patiently for the perfect time.
The Skillbuild With Justifications
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5716/bannerdualpurive6.png
Basically, there is just one way to efficiently build an Omniknight.
Level 01 - Purification
Level 02 - Degen Aura/Repel
Level 03 - Purification
Level 04 - Degen Aura/Repel
Level 05 - Purification
Level 06 - Guardian Angel
Level 07 - Purification
Level 08 - Degen Aura
Level 09 - Repel/Degen Aura
Level 10 - Repel/Degen Aura
Level 11 - Guardian Angel
Level 12 - Degen Aura
Level 13 - Repel
Level 14 - Repel
Level 15 - Attribute Bonuses
Level 16 - Guardian Angel
17 to 25 - Attribute Bonuses
The justification of the rather easy. Purification is maxed first for obvious reason - it's a heal and your only damaging spell.
Then the confusion begins. Degen Aura or Repel? The answer differs from game to game, respectively from lane to lane. If you're laning against nukers/combo heroes or heroes with damage over time spells, get one level of Repel early. As an example, if you're laning against a combo like Sven and Leshrac, get repel so you can Repel your ally (or yourself) after Storm Bolt hits so Leshrac won't be able to chain (doesn't work all the times, especially when you're the target and they don't leave a gap between the stuns).
Another situation would be when laning agianst Viper, Repel prevents orbwalking and nullifies the damage and the slow of Viper Strike when cast after it. Two levels of Repel at level 2/4 should only be taken when you're leveling against Venomancer (to block 10 from the 12 seconds of Poison Nova) and maybe against Doom Bringer, though it's only useful when he's casting Doom on your ally, else you're silenced and can't cast that spell anyway.
From that point on it's more or less at your disposal how you're chosing the skillbuild. We recommend that you're having 2 levels of Repel when reaching level 11, and that you finish Degen Aura by level 12.
Guardian Angel should be taken whenever available, it may always save your or your allies' asses when ganked or when diving a tower.
The Itembuilds With Justifications
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/5999/coreitembuildsv2ug1.png
We decided to make only one core item build, which is quite flexible. We will rather discuss some possible alternates in a different section.
Basically you need some form of mana regeneration. You won't be spamming your spells, but when there's a big battle, you will spend a lot of mana in a considerably short time. So burst regeneration is the best for you, which can be found in Bottle or Arcane Ring. Wether to choose Bottle or Ring depends on the game rules. In most tournaments only one Arcane Ring is allowed per team, and if there's a hero that needs Arcane more than you, then get Bottle.
Observer/Sentry Wards are to be gotten by you, because even if you don't have many items, you can still be a helpful hero in your team. TP scrolls are to be gotten till you buy Boots of Travel. You don't need Power Treads, because you will be supporting not by the physical damage you deal. Movementspeed is much more needed for you than Attackspeed. Also, being able to teleport helps a lot, too.
Arcane Ring - undoubtly the best mana item for the Omniknight. It boosts your manapool by a lot and the burst mana regeneration will make sure that you can cast your spells all the time. We think this item was made especially for heroes with low starting INT, mainly the STR heroes.
Bottle - if you want to rush an expensive item or you are playing in a tournament/league where only one Arcane Ring is allowed per team and one of your allies is already making it (Zeus, Ogre Magi, Earthshaker etc) then Bottle is to be gotten on this hero. The fact that you regenerate health along with mana will allow you to use your Purification on your allies instead of you.
Bracers - wraiths are obviously not needed on this hero. Null Talismans look appealing, but the fact is that a Bottle and especially an Arcane Ring already fixes your mana issues. However you need survivalability and the ability to farm neutrals faster and Bracers is just perfect for these purposes. Of course if you have no problems surviving, just don't upgrade the clets, they will be enough (especially if you go for Necronomicon).
Necronomicon - a really great item on this hero. He was meant to hold this book in his hands. The MS aura that one of the demons give will allow you to chase more efficiently, the mana burn gives you a high boost on damage as you will not be attacking too frequently. The attribute bonuses are both needed, a little STR and a nice amount of INT. Especially if noone else is heading for this item you are to be getting it as a Necronomicon 3 will allow you to destroy wards, detect mines and invisible heroes.
Radiance - we could as well call it the Carry Item. The immolation allows you to farm neutrals fast and speed-farm in lanes, so it becomes harder to catch you. In case you can farm up the 3800 golds early on, this will be a great addition to your inventory. Suggested mainly for pubs and fun IH games.
Some Further Item-Discussion
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4954/furtheritemsbannerjc5.png
In this section we would like to mention some of the better and some of the not so good items for the Omniknight. We will give justifications when and why to use certain items, and why others fail horribly.
Heart of Tarrasque - this is a great item for Purist Thunderwrath. Sometimes you need to become the tank of your team and as you need to be near to your opponents to make use of Degen Aura or need to be around your allies to use Guardian Angel there can be no question why. Also if there are no better heroes to cast Repel on, and it's you who get the benefits of magic immunity, then you need to be able to tank physical damage.
Eye of Skadi - some players like to buy this item, while the most players bash it instead. We say that it's a viable choice for Purist, as the slow, the mana and health pool, everything is good for him. The problem is that it costs 7050 golds and it is really hard to farm it early enough. Rush it only in fun pub games or get it after Radiance. We would not recommend it in any other cases.
Assault Cuirass - as you have a relatively slow attack speed and as you are a melee hero, this item can be of a good use for you. With Repel on and an AC in your inventory you are basically unkillable. When you are low on health, then you just use Guradian Angel and there's no problem at all. After the core builds are complished and either there are no magical threats or you are a better repel-user than your allies, buy this item.
Hood of Defiance - when you have allies that MUST be repeled all the time, but you die to nukes in team fights all the time, then Hood is a really useful item. It's easy to farm it up and lets you tank all the damage done in team fights.
Sange & Yasha - the item that many hate and many love. Actually it's not a bad item on this hero, it's easy to farm up and you benefit from everything this item gives to you. The only problem is, that you can always find better alternatives. We rarely get it on Omni.
Guinsoo's Scythe of Vyse - this used to be a very much liked item on the Omniknight. It was gotten on this hero because he needed some form of mana regeneration and manapool. The Cyclone and then the Hex abilities are really useful. The only problem is, that both Arcane Ring and Bottle are thousand times better to fix your mana problems and a Necronomicon suits this hero much more (giving STR, MS/AS auras, manaburn). We haven't bought this item for Purist for more than a year.
Refresher Orb - a great item especially if you went for the Basic Build with Arcane Ring. Double Guardian Angel and double Repel is an amazingly powerful combination and can easily determine the outcome of a fight in lategame. The only problem is that you can rarely get to buy this item.
Mekansm - you can heal the hero that is repeled. Great auras as well. Good thing. The bad part is, you already have a low manapool and heroes with high starting INT should be getting this item instead of you.