Hero Discussion of this Day: Visage, Necro'lic (30 October 2012)

Visage, the Bound form of Necrol'ic

Visage is an unusual hero. Although his primary stat is intelligence, he shares more in common with strength tank heroes and physical damage agility heroes than spellcasters. Grave Chill provides him a potent chasing ability and powerful slow in one skill. With Soul Assumption, Visage gains soul charges for damage that is dealt to himself, allied heroes or enemy heroes, once these soul charges collect to the max, he can release them for a devastating nuke. Defensively, Gravekeeper's Cloak makes the Necro'lic somewhat difficult to kill, gaining a very huge amount of armour and a decent magic resistance when left untouched for a while. Visage can also summon a swarm of Familiars, which serve as an additional damage source and a stun, which can stun for up to 6 seconds consecutively. Visage players often find it hard to identify which role this hero is, but really, does he have a specific one at all?

Lore

Perched atop the entrance to the Narrow Maze sit the looming shapes of sneering gargoyles, the paths into the hereafter forever in their gaze. Beasts and birds, men and monsters, all creatures that die and choose to travel beyond must someday pass beneath their sight. For an untethered spirit, the decision to journey through the veil of death is irrevocable. When chance comes, and by craft or cunning some restless soul escapes their hells and heavens, it is the dreaded gargoyle Visage, the bound form of the eternal spirit Necro’lic, who is dispatched to reclaim them. Ruthless and efficient, unhindered by the principles of death and fatigue, Visage stalks its prey without mercy or end, willingly destroying all which may give shelter to the fugitive essence. That which flaunts the laws of the afterlife may never rest, for while it is true that the dead may be revived, it is only a matter of time before Visage finds and returns them to their proper place.

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Roles: Ganker, Nuker, Disabler, Semi-Durable, Semi-Carry, Semi-Support/Support

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Strength: 22 + 2.4

Agility: 11 + 1.3

Intelligence: 24 + 2.5

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Damage: 45-55

Armour: 0.54

Movement Speed: 295

Attack Range: 600

Base Attack Time: 1.5

Missile Speed: 900

Sight Range: 1800 (Day) / 800 (Night)

Turn Rate: 0.5

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Spells

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Grave Chill

Visage drains the movement and attack speed of the targeted unit, gaining it for itself.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	70	10	600	N/A	3	Drains 64 attackspeed and 32% movement speed of the opponent, giving both to Visage
2	80	10	600	N/A	4	Drains 64 attackspeed and 32% movement speed of the opponent, giving both to Visage
3	90	10	600	N/A	5	Drains 64 attackspeed and 32% movement speed of the opponent, giving both to Visage
4	100	10	600	N/A	6	Drains 64 attackspeed and 32% movement speed of the opponent, giving both to Visage

• The buff on Visage and debuff on the target can be purged seperately

• The speed gained is independent of the amount that was reduced on the target.

Visage feeds on the life of the unfortunate, leaving them cold and lifeless.

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Soul Assumption

Visage damages the targeted unit based on the number of soul charges. Visage gains a soul charge when damage taken by all heroes around him reaches the damage threshold.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	170	4	900	N/A	N/A	Can assume a maximum of 3 soul charges. Soul Assumption has a base damage of 20 which increase by 65 per charge
2	160	4	900	N/A	N/A	Can assume a maximum of 4 soul charges. Soul Assumption has a base damage of 20 which increase by 65 per charge
3	150	4	900	N/A	N/A	Can assume a maximum of 5 soul charges. Soul Assumption has a base damage of 20 which increase by 65 per charge
4	140	4	900	N/A	N/A	Can assume a maximum of 6 soul charges. Soul Assumption has a base damage of 20 which increase by 65 per charge

• Magical Damage

• The soul counter increases by 1 for each 110 damage taken by heroes within 1375 radius of Visage

• The soul counter only increases for damage greater than 2 and less than 3000, only counts damage from a player unit or Roshan, and does not count self-inflicted damage nor damage dealt by Soul Assumption itself

• Each amount of damage added to the soul counter expires after 6 seconds, or when Soul Assumption is cast

• When cast, launches a projectile at the target hero that will deal 20+65×(charges on soul counter) when it hits, the projectile moves at 1000 movement speed

Every pain and suffering is Visage's ultimate pleasure, whether be from his allies, foes or himself.

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Gravekeeper's Cloak

Passive

Visage generates a layered barrier that protects him from physical and magical attacks. If he receives damage from a player, one layer is removed, and takes time to recover.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	-	-	-	-	-	Visage gains 4 layers of Gravekeeper's Cloak. Each layer gives 1 armour and 3% magic resistance. Each hero-based damage removes a layer, 1 layer recovers every 12 seconds
2	-	-	-	-	-	Visage gains 4 layers of Gravekeeper's Cloak. Each layer gives 2 armour and 6% magic resistance. Each hero-based damage removes a layer, 1 layer recovers every 10 seconds
3	-	-	-	-	-	Visage gains 4 layers of Gravekeeper's Cloak. Each layer gives 3 armour and 12% magic resistance. Each hero-based damage removes a layer, 1 layer recovers every 8 seconds
4	-	-	-	-	-	Visage gains 4 layers of Gravekeeper's Cloak. Each layer gives 4 armour and 16% magic resistance. Each hero-based damage removes a layer, 1 layer recovers every 6 seconds

• Each time the Visage receives damage greater than 2 that was not self-inflicted and was from a player owned source, a layer is removed

The stone hide of Visage is enhanced with the essence of the dead, giving him physical and magical resistance.

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Summon Familiars

Ultimate

Conjures up two blind Familiars to fight for Visage. Familiars have high attack power, but each attack drains a charge of damage that recharges slowly over time. Familiars possess the Stone Form ability, that allows them to turn into stone, stunning enemies upon landing. While in Stone Form, Familiars are invulnerable, and rapidly regenerate their health and damage. Familiars grant high bounty when killed.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	150	180	N/A	N/A	Until killed	Summons 2 (3*) familiars. Each familiar has 300 health, 0 armour, 380 movespeed and can deal a maximum of 56 bonus damage (with a 160 attack range). When killed each familiar gives 100 gold
2	150	160	N/A	N/A	Until killed	Summons 2 (3*) familiars. Each familiar has 450 health, 1 armour, 390 movespeed and can deal a maximum of 98 bonus damage (with a 160 attack range). When killed each familiar gives 100 gold
3	150	140	N/A	N/A	Until killed	Summons 2 (3*) familiars. Each familiar has 600 health, 2 armour, 400 movespeed and can deal a maximum of 154 bonus damage (with a 160 attack range). When killed each familiar gives 100 gold

• This ultimate can be improved by a Sceptre, * shows the sceptre upgraded effects

• Currently existing Familiars are destroyed upon casting of Summon Familiars

• Each Familiar starts with 7 charges of bonus damage, each charge gives 8/14/22 bonus damage. Familiars lose one charge each time they attack, and gain one charge every 15 seconds from when they were summoned

• Familiars have 96.25% magic resistance, and are targeted as heroes by abilities

• Familiars have 160 attack range and a BAT of 0.4

• Familiars have an ability called Stone Form:

*When a Familiar enters Stone Form, its damage charges are fully restored, and it gains 50/68.75/87.5 HP each second of Stone Form

*When a Familiar enters Stone Form, it will stun in a 325 AoE (1 second delay from when Stone Form is cast), dealing 60/100/140 magic damage and stunning for 1/1.25/1.5 seconds

*After Stone Form is cast, there is a 0.5 second delay before the Familiar becomes invulnerable, and a Familiar will automatically leave Stone Form after 8 seconds. Stone Form has a 30 second cooldown

The spirit gargoyles from the Underscape, together with Visage, are the broken forms of the true Necro'lic.

==

Recent Changes from 6.76/6.76b/6.76c

• None

Recent Changes from 6.75/6.75b

• Base Intelligence increased by 3

• Grave Chill attack speed drain increased from 32 to 64

• Familiar's base attack time decreased from 0.6 to 0.4

• Soul Assumption damage per charge increased from 60 to 65

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Findings (not-factual information as above):

I find Visage requires you to have a good amount of concentration when you play. You must always be aware of where your hero is and where your familiars are. Visage also requires a somewhat decent micro ability (but it shouldn't be that hard to pick up). Your familiars are EXTREMELY fragile, make sure you don't let heroes kill them otherwise you're basically feeding them 200 gold at your expense. The WORST possible thing that could happen to your familiars is another hero killing them. Try not to stack the stuns from your familiars and use your next familiar just as the current one's stun is ending. Don't use soul assumption when you have no charges, ever (unless the enemy hero is literally around 5) but make sure to use your soul assumption on an opponent every time the meter is full. This is the one hero that I find trouble concentrating with at times, unless I'm in 'the zone'.

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"I feel that Visage doesn't even have a real role" - VisageOP The two posts by him there are REALLY worth reading if you want to play Visage, the part about not even having a role did make me think

Here's a discussion by chroipahtz about the micro ability needed to play Visage.

Hackett_Up has a write-up that's worth reading for aspiring Visage players.

Comments here by thejellydude and Stray_Wolf further support the argument that Visage doesn't really have a role (or could be a Trilane Stomper). From this it's also worth mentioning that Visage is excellent in trilanes.

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If you guys want a specific hero to be discussed next, please feel free to post.

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Posts are every 2 days, next post will be on the 2nd.

Important Windrunner tip of last thread by Decency "NEVER channel your powershot to the max length. After .7 seconds (it's apparently .5 now) of the cast time, you'll deal full damage. "

Cue the Valkyries, here is some of the potential of Visage's familiars, guarenteed fun, should watch