Hero Discussion of this Day: Weaver (20 February 2013)

Skitskurr, the Weaver

The Weaver counters his own weakness of being extremely fragile with constant bursts of maximum speed and invisibility, along with the ability to deal double damage periodically on an attack. He is the master of in, out, and back in. Can send out swarms of beetles that latches onto his foes to create chaos among large armies or to reduce his prey's armor and damage them. Finally, the Weaver can Time Lapse into the recent past, returning his location, hps and mana to where they were 5 seconds prior. Extremely quick and agile, but if caught off guard can quickly fall himself.

Lore

The fabric of creation needs constant care, lest it grow tattered; for when it unravels, whole worlds come undone. It is the work of the Weavers to keep the fabric tight, to repair worn spots in the mesh of reality. They also defend from the things that gnaw and lay their eggs in frayed regions, whose young can quickly devour an entire universe if the Weavers let their attention lapse. Skitskurr was a master Weaver, charged with keeping one small patch of creation tightly woven and unfaded. But the job was not enough to satisfy. It nagged him that the original work of creation all lay in the past; the Loom had done its work and travelled on. He wanted to create rather than merely maintain—to weave worlds of his own devising. He began making small changes to his domain, but the thrill of creation proved addictive, and his strokes became bolder, pulling against the pattern that the Loom had woven. The guardians came, with their scissors, and Weaver's world was pared off, snipped from the cosmic tapestry, which they rewove without him in it. Skitskurr found himself alone, apart from his kind, a state that would have been torment for any other Weaver. But Skitskurr rejoiced, for now he was free. Free to create for himself, to begin anew. The raw materials he needed to weave a new reality were all around him. All he had to do was tear apart this old world at the seams.

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Roles: Carry, Escape

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Strength: 15 + 1.5

Agility: 14 + 2.5

Intelligence: 15 + 1.8

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Damage: 50-60

Armour: 0.96

Movement Speed: 290

Attack Range: 425

Missile Speed: 900

Base Attack Time: 1.7

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

Turn Rate: 0.5

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Spells

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The Swarm

Weaver launches a swarm of 12 beetles that latch on any enemy unit in their path, attacking and reducing armor until it is killed.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	100	36	3000	N/A	8	Sends out a wave of beetles, if the wave touches any enemy the beetle will latch onto that enemy. The beetle will then deal 15 damage and reduce 1 armour per attack
2	100	33	3000	N/A	12	Sends out a wave of beetles, if the wave touches any enemy the beetle will latch onto that enemy. The beetle will then deal 20 damage and reduce 1 armour per attack
3	100	30	3000	N/A	16	Sends out a wave of beetles, if the wave touches any enemy the beetle will latch onto that enemy. The beetle will then deal 25 damage and reduce 1 armour per attack
4	100	27	3000	N/A	20	Sends out a wave of beetles, if the wave touches any enemy the beetle will latch onto that enemy. The beetle will then deal 30 damage and reduce 1 armour per attack

• When a beetle latches on a a target, it will remain there until it is killed or the duration expires

• Beetles are magic immune, but can be killed in 4 attacks from a hero, or 8 from other units

• Every 1.35 seconds, the beetle will attack its target, dealing damage and reducing the target's armor by 1 until the beetle is killed or the duration expires

• Beetles provide 321/321 sight, but will drop off their target if it becomes invisible

Skitskurr opens a gap in the space time fabric, allowing young Weavers to slip through and aid him in combat.

==

Shukuchi

Weaver shifts out of visibility, gaining the ability to move at maximum speed through physical units—doing harm to any enemies it passes through.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	60	12	N/A	175	4	After a 0.25 fade time, Weaver turns invisible; during Shukuchi any enemy Weaver touches or goes through will be damaged by 90
2	60	10	N/A	175	4	After a 0.25 fade time, Weaver turns invisible; during Shukuchi any enemy Weaver touches or goes through will be damaged by 110
3	60	8	N/A	175	4	After a 0.25 fade time, Weaver turns invisible; during Shukuchi any enemy Weaver touches or goes through will be damaged by 130
4	60	6	N/A	175	4	After a 0.25 fade time, Weaver turns invisible; during Shukuchi any enemy Weaver touches or goes through will be damaged by 150

• Magical Damage

• Can only damage a unit once per cast

• Does no damage to invisible units

As the Weavers worked in the fabric of creation, small wormholes allowed them to slip through time to better work their craft.

==

Geminate Attack

Passive

Unique Attack Modifier

Allows Weaver to dispatch two swarms, attacking an enemy twice. The extra attack will not trigger other attack effects (such as critical strike) and overrides Unique Attack Modifiers.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	-	-	-	-	6	Weaver will automatically send out another attack on the same target after the current attack (doesn't use attack animation)
2	-	-	-	-	5	Weaver will automatically send out another attack on the same target after the current attack (doesn't use attack animation)
3	-	-	-	-	4	Weaver will automatically send out another attack on the same target after the current attack (doesn't use attack animation)
4	-	-	-	-	2.5	Weaver will automatically send out another attack on the same target after the current attack (doesn't use attack animation)

• Geminate Attack is a Unique Attack Modifier (Orb Effect)

• The extra attack will never trigger attack effects (UAMs/Orbs, bash and critical strike)

• Weaver needs an attack order for this ability to activate

• The attack in which this skill procs is considered an Orb Effect Buff Placer, while the bonus attack is considered only an Orb Effect

• Can affect towers.

Skitskurr's relationship with time is somewhat variable, causing his actions to be witnessed—and felt—more than once.

==

Time Lapse

Ultimate

Weaver warps backward to whatever position it was in five seconds earlier—regaining the HP and mana from that time. No effect on cooldown, gold or experience.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	150	60	N/A	N/A	N/A	Warps Weaver 5 seconds into the past, causing his mana and HP to be the current values they were 5 seconds ago
2	75	50	N/A	N/A	N/A	Warps Weaver 5 seconds into the past, causing his mana and HP to be the current values they were 5 seconds ago
3	0	40	N/A	N/A	N/A	Warps Weaver 5 seconds into the past, causing his mana and HP to be the current values they were 5 seconds ago

• Removes negative buffs from Weaver

If Skitskurr does not deem the current reality of the world to fit his desires, he simply crawls back in time to right what was wronged.

==

Recent Changes from 6.77

• Shukuchi's damage increased from 90/100/110/120 to 90/110/130/150

Recent Changes from 6.76/6.76b/6.76c

• Base Damage increased by 4

Recent Changes from 6.75/6.75b

• The Swarm's attack rate improved from 1.5 to 1.35

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Findings (not-factual information as above):

If you want to commit to something and use Time Lapse to save yourself, make sure you actually remember the amount of HP and mana you had at the time, and if it'd make you worse or better off, not to mention that you have to keep in mind that you'll have enough mana to cast Time Lapse in the first place. While invisible, going towards someone, damaging them, and then changing direction can cause you to trick the enemy into what direction you're going.

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Phaele talks about Weaver's playstyle

Mitharas also talks about Weaver in general

Situationality is talked about alot in terms of items, ITS_SITUATIONAL says that desolator is SITUATIONAL on Weaver

A writeup on Weaver builds by Firestorm93

A discussion on Weaver not seeing play, Franklinthemanlol and Scout_ have good notes

Velanicius has a nice item rundown depending on the situation

A look on Diffusal by Danieldanieldaniel, stating why it isn't that good on Weaver. Although Chemfreak states why Diffusal still has pros on Weaver

ItsColby talks about why Radiance is good on Weaver

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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, Shadow Demon, Prophet, Rhasta, Rubick, Medusa, Necrolyte, Centaur, Juggernaut, Dragon Knight and Weaver).

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Posts are every 2 days except patch days, next post will be on the 22nd - 24th.

Important Dragon Knight tip of last thread by Tokamak_fanboy: "A few things to keep in mind for DK: He is technically a ranged hero while in dragon form, so things like Vanguard, Basher, etc. will affect him differently His dragon abilities are not unique attack modifiers so things like lifesteal, desolater, skadi, etc. can still work. The AoE breath abilities work like cleaves, so building crit items on him works well."

Perfect Shukuchi Skills