Public Test Realm Preview: Mal’Ganis
Now that Dreadlord Mal’Ganis has made it to Heroes of the Storm‘s Public Test Realm (PTR), here’s a look at his abilities and a couple of builds for him!
Mal’Ganis: Base Kit
(Q) Fel Claws: When Q is pressed, Malganis dashes forward a small amount dealing AoE (Area of Effect) damage with his claws. This ability can be reactivated two more times after the initial cast, with the third time stunning all enemies hit for .75 seconds.
(W) Necrotic Embrace: Deal AoE damage around Mal’Ganis and gain 25 armor for three seconds.
(E) Night Rush: Channel for .75 seconds before gaining 50% movement speed for two seconds. During this time, Mal’Ganis can pass through enemy units and puts enemy heroes he touches to Sleep for 2.5 seconds.
(Trait) Vampiric Touch: Mal’Ganis heals himself for 45% of the damage dealt to enemy Heroes, and 15% of the damage dealt to non-Heroes.
The Heroics
Carrion Swarm: Mal’Ganis transforms into an Invulnerable cloud of bats after channeling for one second. This swarm deals damage inside its area and heals Mal’Ganis for 100% of the damage dealt to heroes.
Dark Conversion: Channel on an enemy hero for .75 seconds before swapping health totals over three seconds.
PTR Builds
Main tank build: Mal’Ganis is, arguably, capable of main tanking. He has a stun on his Q and a sleep on his E, but neither one of those CC effects are particularly reliable. We’ll see how it shakes out once he goes to live but in PTR, he’s been a passable main tank with builds like this.
Bruiser Build: This build is more built around dealing damage and having utility than being a survivable main tank.
Additional Thoughts
Conclusion
Thanks for reading! As always, let me know if I missed anything in the comments! Mal’Ganis seems like he will be a very strong addition to the game, especially since he may bring some diversity to the tank meta that has been a little stale as of late. Remember, this is all on the PTR so it’s subject to change due to balance changes before going live. I’ll see you in the Nexus!
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