Hero Discussion of the Day: Sven, the Rogue Knight (12th May 2013)

So, today's discussion is kind of the reverse of the last ones. Instead of a hero that was recently picked up in competitive play, Sven is a hero that has been a pretty popular carry during Dreamhack, but has really fallen of in popularity after.

And I'm 13 minutes late on the timing again. Sorry.

---

---

 

Sven, the Rogue Knight

One Knight, twice the damage.

Sven the Rogue Knight is a melee strength Hero with high physical damage potential and an effective disable. He can fulfill various roles, but is mostly played as a support or a semi-carry due to his high utility even without items. He also has great gank potential due to his shouts that grant buffs and his stun which cannot be dodged. With enough items, Sven has the potential to be a strong late-game carry due to his ultimate which increases his damage and his passive which allows him to hit multiple targets at once. He is a formidable foe and his versatility makes the Rogue Knight a great asset to any team.

Lore

Sven is the bastard son of a Vigil Knight, born of a Pallid Meranth, raised in the Shadeshore Ruins. With his father executed for violating the Vigil Codex, and his mother shunned by her wild race, Sven believes that honor is to be found in no social order--but only in himself. After tending his mother through a lingering death, he offered himself as a novice to the Vigil Knights, never revealing his identity. For thirteen years he studied in his father's school, mastering the rigid code that declared his existence an abomination. Then, on the day that should have been his In-Swearing, he seized the Outcast Blade, shattered the Sacred Helm, and burned the Codex in the Vigil's Holy Flame. He strode from Vigil Keep, forever solitary, following his private code to the last strict rune. Still a knight, yes...but a Rogue Knight.

==

##Roles: Disabler, Initiator, Carry, Support

==

Strength: 23 + 2.7

Agility: 21 + 2

Intelligence: 14 + 1.3

==

Damage: 54-64

Armour: 1.94

Movement Speed: 295

Attack Range: Melee (128)

Missile Speed: Instant

Base Attack Time: 1.7

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

Turn Rate: 0.6

==

Spells

==

Storm Hammer

Sven unleashes his magical gauntlet that deals damage and stuns enemy units.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	140	15	600	255	2	Next to the stun, deals 100 damage
2	140	15	600	255	2	Next to the stun, deals 175 damage
3	140	15	600	255	2	Next to the stun, deals 250 damage
4	140	15	600	255	2	Next to the stun, deals 325 damage

• The targeting reticule must be centered over an enemy unit.

• Unlike most directly targeted projectiles, Storm Hammer cannot be dodged or disjointed by blinking or moving away.

The Rogue Knight's iron gauntlet, taken from the school of his father, strikes his foes to their core.

==

Great Cleave

Passive

Sven strikes with great force, cleaving all nearby enemy units with his attack.

Cleave damage on non-primary targets is not reduced by armor values.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	-	-	-	300	-	Sven cleaves for 20% of his damage
2	-	-	-	300	-	Sven cleaves for 35% of his damage
3	-	-	-	300	-	Sven cleaves for 50% of his damage
4	-	-	-	300	-	Sven cleaves for 65% of his damage

• Cleave damage is reduced by armor type but not by armor value.

• Cleave damage goes through magic immunity.

• The cleave damages a circular area in front of Sven.

• As with all cleave, Great Cleave stacks with Battle Fury.

The Vigil Knights still seek to reclaim the stolen Outcast Blade from Sven, a weapon capable of cutting wide swaths through lesser warriors.

==

Warcry

Sven's Warcry heartens his allies for battle, increasing their movement speed and armor. Lasts 7 seconds.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	25	36	-	900	7	Sven and nearby allies gain 4 bonus armor and 12% additional movement speed
2	25	30	-	900	7	Sven and nearby allies gain 8 bonus armor and 12% additional movement speed
3	25	24	-	900	7	Sven and nearby allies gain 12 bonus armor and 12% additional movement speed
4	25	18	-	900	7	Sven and nearby allies gain 16 bonus armor and 12% additional movement speed

• Fully stacks with other bonus armor auras from items.

• Fully stacks with other abilities and items that give a bonus to movement speed.

Calling a few lines from the Vigil Codex fortifies Sven's obedience to his rogue code. So poetic!

==

God's Strength

Ultimate

Sven channels his rogue strength, granting bonus damage for 25 seconds.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	100	80	-	-	25	Gives Sven 100% bonus damage
2	150	80	-	-	25	Gives Sven 150% bonus damage
3	200	80	-	-	25	Gives Sven 200% bonus damage

• Only increases base damage and that given by the primary attribute of Sven. Raw bonus damage is not increased.

• Has a 0.3 seconds transformation time.

• Unlike Original Dota, in Dota 2 God's Strength does not dodge projectiles

With the strength that shattered the Sacred Helm, the Rogue Knight stands unopposed in melee combat.

==

Recent changes from 6.77

• Great Cleave damage decreased from 25/40/55/70 to 20/35/50/65.

• Warcry duration decreased from 8 to 7 seconds.

Recent changes from 6.75

• Great Cleave

• AoE increased from 200 to 300.

• Damage rescaled from 30/40/50/60% to 25/40/55/70%.

• God's Strength bonus damage increased from 100/140/180% to 100/150/200%.

• Warcry

• AoE increased from 700 to 900.

• Armor increased from 3/6/9/12 to 4/8/12/16.

==

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

No Valve Artwork | Voice Responses | In-game Icon | Dota Cinema Video Overview | Dota2Wiki Hero Page