Hero Discussion of this Day: Magnus (10 October 2012)
Magnus, the Magnoceros
Magnus' primary role is using his powerful Reverse Polarity ability to ensure his team's victory in battle. With proper placement, a single Reverse Polarity can change the outcome of a team battle and potentially win the game. If combined with other area of effect spells, Reverse Polarity can destroy an entire enemy team. However, Magnus himself is no pushover in combat. Using Empower gives him a very strong physical attack capable of damaging multiple bunched up units, perfect when used after Reverse Polarity. In addition, Magnus has an area of effect spell of his own: Shockwave. Due to its relatively low mana cost and cooldown coupled with its high damage, Shockwave is an effective tool for harassing enemies in a lane and finishing off damaged foes. Although the power of Reverse Polarity tends to overshadow his other skills, Magnus is far from a one-skill hero. Even his newer, skewer helps him push a bunch of heroes together to allow him to Reverse Polarity, or, if used defensively, can escape from an area.
Lore
The master-smiths of Mt. Joerlak agree on only a single point: that the horn of a magnoceros is more precious than any alloy. And of all such horns, the largest and sharpest belongs to the beast they call Magnus. For half a generation, Magnus took easy sport goring hunters come to claim the treasures of his kin. Each time he would return to his cave with hooves and horns stained red, until his Matriarch urged him and all their kin to seek refuge to the north beyond the shadow of the mountain. But Magnus scoffed, having never failed to defend his people. The magnoceri would stay, he decided, for a magnoceros does not believe in chance... nor does it ever change its mind. But when Mt. Joerlak erupted without warning, and half his kin perished in the fire and ash, Magnus changed his mind after all. The survivors pushed north, until they reached a blockade watched over by a hundred hunters armed with bow and steel. Magnus expected no less. He led his fiercest brothers and sisters in a charge against their enemies, and fought with a ferocity matched only by the fire-spewing mountain at his back. Meanwhile the magnoceros elders, mothers, and calves vanished into the drifts. The master-smiths are divided about what happened next. Some say Magnus reunited with his kin, while others claim he suffered mortal injuries and expired alongside the body of his Matriarch. Neither theory is correct. Magnus did vow to rejoin his kin...but only after seeking out those responsible for the eruption of Mt. Joerlak and watching them die upon his horn, for a magnoceros does not believe in chance
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Roles: Durable, Disabler, Carry
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Strength: 21 + 2.75
Agility: 15 + 2.5
Intelligence: 17 + 1.65
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Damage: 49-61
Armour: 4.1
Movement Speed: 315
Attack Range: 128 (Melee)
Base Attack Time: 1.7
Missile Speed: Melee (Instant)
Sight Range: 1800 (Day) / 800 (Night)
Turn Rate: 0.5
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Spells
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Shockwave
Magnus sends out a wave of force, damaging enemy units in a line
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90 | 11 | 500 | 1000 | N/A | Deals 75 Magical Damage |
| 2 | 90 | 10 | 500 | 1000 | N/A | Deals 150 Magical Damage |
| 3 | 90 | 9 | 500 | 1000 | N/A | Deals 225 Magical Damage |
| 4 | 90 | 8 | 500 | 1000 | N/A | Deals 300 Magical Damage |
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150 (Starting radius) / 700 (Distance) / 150 (Final radius)
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If a unit exits and enters the area of effect it will be damaged two times
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This ability only affects ground units
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Empower
Gives an allied unit bonus damage and cleave on attack.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | 12 | 800 | N/A | 40 seconds | Gives yourself or an allies unit a 20% attack damage bonus and a 20% cleave |
| 2 | 40 | 12 | 800 | N/A | 40 seconds | Gives yourself or an allies unit a 30% attack damage bonus and a 30% cleave |
| 3 | 40 | 12 | 800 | N/A | 40 seconds | Gives yourself or an allies unit a 40% attack damage bonus and a 40% cleave |
| 4 | 40 | 12 | 800 | N/A | 40 seconds | Gives yourself or an allies unit a 50% attack damage bonus and a 50% cleave |
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Only increases base damage and that given by the primary attribute of the units. Raw bonus damage is not increased
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The cleave ability has a radius of 200
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The cleave part of the ability only affects melee units
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Skewer
Magnus rushes forward up to 800 distance, goring enemy units on his massive tusk. Units hit on the way will be dragged to the destination, then damaged and slowed.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80 | 30 | 800 | 95 | N/A | Allows you to skew up to 1 unit dealing 70 damage. Skewed units are maimed (slowed) |
| 2 | 80 | 30 | 800 | 95 | N/A | Allows you to skew up to 2 unit dealing 140 damage. Skewed units are maimed (slowed) |
| 3 | 80 | 30 | 800 | 95 | N/A | Allows you to skew up to 3 unit dealing 210 damage. Skewed units are maimed (slowed) |
| 4 | 80 | 30 | 800 | 95 | N/A | Allows you to skew up to 4 unit dealing 280 damage. Skewed units are maimed (slowed) |
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Magical Damage
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Magnus charges to the target location at a speed of 950
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The first few enemy units hit will be pulled along with him to the destination
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Units pulled with Magnus will be slowed by 40% for 2.5 seconds after the charge, and take damage
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Reverse Polarity
Ultimate
Magnus changes properties of matter, sucking all nearby enemies in front of him and stunning them with a powerful slam and dealing damage.
| Level | Mana Cost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 | 120 | N/A | 410 | 2.5 seconds on heroes, 3 on creeps | Pulls units infront of magnus, dealing 150 damage and stunning |
| 2 | 250 | 110 | N/A | 410 | 3.25 seconds on heroes, 4 on creeps | Pulls units infront of magnus, dealing 225 damage and stunning |
| 3 | 300 | 100 | N/A | 410 | 4 seconds on heroes, 5 on creeps | Pulls units infront of magnus, dealing 300 damage and stunning |
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Magical damage
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Disable works on magic immune units
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Pulls affected units to a random location 120-170 units in front of Magnus
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Recent Changes from 6.75/6.75b
- Skewer will now cast in the direction you targeted if you cast it beyond the max range
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Findings (not-factual information as above):
I find Magnus to give you that great feeling of fulfilment when you get that one ultimate that changes the tide of battle. Magnus is great to be paired up with other huge ultimate heroes or aoe heroes (such as Enigma, Earthshaker, Jakiro, etc). Empower yourself or the main carry on your team to increase their DPS output. Skewer is good to lead into your ultimate, if you manage to catch alot of the enemy in it, that would be the perfect time to Reverse Polarity, if your team is right there ready for the fight. You can also use Skewer to make someone get out of position or even use it to escape or catch a chasing/fleeing hero.
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Posted Oct 9, 2012, 8:29 PM UTC