Hero Discussion of this Day: Morphling (14 January 2013)

Morphling

The Morphling is a dynamic hero, capable of giving or taking massive amounts of damage, at the will of the player. His Waveform allows him to escape or initiate fights with ease, while his Adaptive Strike gives him a versatile, powerful nuke or stun. His Replicate allows him to make a copy of a hero, and to take the place of the copy in an instant. Morphling's greatest strength, however, is his ability to transfer his agility points to strength, and vice-versa, allowing him to take on the role of tank or damagedealer at a moment's notice. The Morphling is a dangerously mobile enemy, who must be treated with caution before he takes you by surprise!

Lore

For dark eons the comet circled. Held in thrall to a distant sun, bound by gravity’s inexorable pull, the massive ball of ice careened through the blackness between worlds, made strange by its dark journey. On the eve of the ancient war of the Vloy, it punched down through the sky and lit a glowing trail across the night—a sign both armies took for an omen. The frozen ball melted in a flash of boiling heat, as below two forces enjoined in battle across the border of a narrow river. Thus freed from its icy stasis, the Morphling was born into conflict, an elemental power at one with the tides of the ocean, capricious and unconstrained. He entered the fight, instinctively taking the form of the first general who dared set foot across the water—and then struck him dead. As the motley warriors clashed, he shifted from form to form throughout the battle, instantly absorbing the ways of these strange creatures—now a footsoldier, now an archer, now the cavalryman—until, by the time the last soldier fell, Morphling had played every part. The battle's end was his beginning.

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Roles: Carry, Escape, Initiator, Nuker

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Strength: 19 + 2

Agility: 24 + 3

Intelligence: 17 + 1.5

==

Damage: 32-41

Armour: 0.66

Movement Speed: 285

Attack Range: 350

Missile Speed: 1300

Base Attack Time: 1.7

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

Turn Rate: 0.6

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Spells

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Waveform

Morphling dissolves into liquid and surges forward, damaging enemy units in his path.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	125	11	1000	200 (travelling)	N/A	Deals 100 damage
2	125	11	1000	200 (travelling)	N/A	Deals 175 damage
3	125	11	1000	200 (travelling)	N/A	Deals 250 damage
4	125	11	1000	200 (travelling)	N/A	Deals 325 damage

• Magical Damage

• Morphling becomes invulnerable when travelling in Waveform

• You will not lose control of Morphling while he waveforms

A torrential flood takes enemies by force.

==

Adaptive Strike

Strikes an enemy unit with a blast of water. If Morphling's agility is 50% higher than strength, it deals the maximum damage and the minimum stun. If strength is 50% higher, it deals the maximum stun and minimum damage.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	100	10	600	N/A	0.25-0.75	Stuns and damages a unit depending on Morphling's stats. Damage dealt is 20 + (0.25 to 0.5) x Agility
2	100	10	700	N/A	0.25-1.5	Stuns and damages a unit depending on Morphling's stats. Damage dealt is 40 + (0.25 to 1) x Agility
3	100	10	800	N/A	0.25-2.25	Stuns and damages a unit depending on Morphling's stats. Damage dealt is 60 + (0.25 to 1.5) x Agility
4	100	10	900	N/A	0.25-3	Stuns and damages a unit depending on Morphling's stats. Damage dealt is 80 + (0.25 to 2) x Agility

• Magical Damage

• Both damage and stun will occur

• If you have 50% more agility than strength, it deals the maximum of the damage and the minimum of the stun

• If you have 50% more strength than agility, it deals the maximum of the stun and the minimum of the damage

• Knocks the target back 100 - 300 units

The Morphling calls upon his elements to crush his opponents with waves.

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Morph (Agility Gain)

Morphling shifts its form, pulling points from Strength and pouring them into Agility. The process is reversible. Additional points in Morph increase the rate of stat change. Passively grants bonus Agility.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	30 per second	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gives Morphling a permanent 3 bonus agility. Allows Morphling to shift 2 points from Strength into Agility every 1 second
2	30 per second	0.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gives Morphling a permanent 3 bonus agility. Allows Morphling to shift 2 points from Strength into Agility every 0.5 seconds
3	30 per second	0.33	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gives Morphling a permanent 3 bonus agility. Allows Morphling to shift 2 points from Strength into Agility every 0.33 seconds
4	30 per second	0.25	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gives Morphling a permanent 3 bonus agility. Allows Morphling to shift 2 points from Strength into Agility every 0.25 seconds

• You get this ability when you learn Morph Strength

• It will continue to move stats between strength and agility even if Morphling is disabled

• Bonus Agility or Strength from items can't be converted

--

Morph (Strength Gain)

Morphling shifts its form, pulling points from Agility and pouring them into Strength. The process is reversible. Additional points in Morph increase the rate of stat change. Passively grants bonus Strength.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	30 per second	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gives Morphling a permanent 3 bonus strength. Allows Morphling to shift 2 points from Agility into Strength every 1 second
2	30 per second	0.5	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gives Morphling a permanent 3 bonus strength. Allows Morphling to shift 2 points from Agility into Strength every 0.5 seconds
3	30 per second	0.33	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gives Morphling a permanent 3 bonus strength. Allows Morphling to shift 2 points from Agility into Strength every 0.33 seconds
4	30 per second	0.25	N/A	N/A	N/A	Gives Morphling a permanent 3 bonus strength. Allows Morphling to shift 2 points from Agility into Strength every 0.25 seconds

• You get this ability when you learn Morph Agility

• It will continue to move stats between strength and agility even if Morphling is disabled

• Bonus agility or strength from items can't be converted

Shifting water makes it difficult to discern the nature of Morphling.

==

Replicate

Ultimate

Morphling replicates any hero, friend or foe, although only dealing 50% the original hero's damage. At any time, Morphling can instantly take the position of the Replicate.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	25	80	700	N/A	30	Creates an illusion of a targeted ally or enemy hero. The illusion deals 50% damage but takes 100% damage (normal hero damage)
2	25	80	1100	N/A	45	Creates an illusion of a targeted ally or enemy hero. The illusion deals 50% damage but takes 100% damage (normal hero damage)
3	25	80	1500	N/A	60	Creates an illusion of a targeted ally or enemy hero. The illusion deals 50% damage but takes 100% damage (normal hero damage)

• When the Illusion is created, this ability is temporarily replaced by another ability until the illusion disappears

• The ability is called Morph Replicate, it instantly moves Morphling to the location of the illusion at the cost of 150 mana

• The replicate illusion deals 50% of the original's damage and receives 100% damage

• The replicate illusion has all the properties of a standard illusion

• Cannot target your own units

Staring into Morphling produces a reflection that mimics the beholder.

==

Recent Changes from 6.77

• Cast animation time decreased from 0.4 to 0.25

Recent Changes from 6.76/6.76b/6.76c

• Cast animation time improved from 0.45 to 0.4

Recent Changes from 6.75/6.75b

• Cast animation time increased from 0.3 to 0.45

• Morph manacost increased from 20 to 30 mana per second

• Base damage decreased by 6

• Waveform AoE decreased from 255 to 200

• Waveform no longer allows you to start attacking/casting before it is completed

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Findings (not-factual information as above):

I find Morphling to be a very hard carry. If you want to Waveform over a cliff or a similar area, make sure you walk up to the cliff first so that you're in Waveform's cast range because if you're not, your hero will moves around the wrong way to try and get into cast range. If you Replicate an ally, you can easily fool the enemy into thinking the illusion is real, keep moving the illusion to keep up the facade.

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A tl;dr by Wilco-

Grus explains how to use Morph, the skill and how to factor it into your farming

ShadowScene explains Morph with his nerfs and buffs, also explaining building and skilling him

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If you guys want a specific hero to be discussed next, please feel free to post (or message as people have for Meepo, Lina, Krobelus, Sylla, Puck, Brood, Omni, Disruptor. Viper and Shadow Demon).

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Important Venomancer tip of last thread by chumm23: "You can use wards to block heroes and trap them in. If they're chasing someone, you can ward just in front of them and they'll stop. This gives whoever you're chasing a chance to get away."

Don't do this.