Hero Discussion of the Day: Visage (August 2, 2012)

Visage was last discussed on December 12th.

Visage, the Bound Form of Necro'lic

Visage, the bound form of Necro値ic, is a ranged intelligence Hero whose role is flexible and hard to define, but falls somewhere between Support and Ganker. Resilient and ruthless, Visage can be a highly aggressive hero, and thanks to his Strength and Gravekeeper's Cloak, he can soak up surprising amounts of damage, especially from Heroes who try to chip at his health with spells without committing to an all-out attack. This unholy gargoyle thrives in the midst of large battles, where the death and suffering in the air charges his Soul Assumption, allowing him to fire off huge bursts of damage one after another. Yet Visage can't stand up to sustained focus fire from several enemies at the same time, so positioning is everything on this Hero. His Familiars are useful scouting and attack tools, but utilizing them requires constant split attention to avoid feeding the large bounties to an enemy Hero. As one of the most difficult heroes to utilize well, Visage requires excellent positioning, micromanagement and multi-unit control. He is recommended for advanced players.

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値ic, 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.

"To oppose me is to deny death."

Role: Support

Strength	Agility	Intelligence
22 + 2.4	11 + 1.3	21 + 2.5
Damage	Armor	Movespeed
45 - 55	0.54	295
Attack Range	Base Attack Time	Missile Speed
600	1.7	900
Soundset	Icon	Official Art

Grave Chill

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

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	70	10	600	N/A	3 seconds	32% drain on enemy and bonus to Visage
2	80	10	600	N/A	4 seconds	32% drain on enemy and bonus to Visage
3	90	10	600	N/A	5 seconds	32% drain on enemy and bonus to Visage
4	100	10	600	N/A	6 seconds	32% drain on enemy and bonus to Visage

• The buff on Visage and debuff on the target can be removed seperately with dispel.
• The speed gained is independant of the amount that was reduced on the target.

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	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	170	4	900	1375 (soul counter)	6 seconds (soul counter)	3 max soul charges
2	160	4	900	1375 (soul counter)	6 seconds (soul counter)	4 max soul charges
3	150	4	900	1375 (soul counter)	6 seconds (soul counter)	5 max soul charges
4	140	4	900	1375 (soul counter)	6 seconds (soul counter)	6 max soul charges

• Soul counter increases by 1 for each 110 damage taken by heroes within 1375 AoE 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+60*(charges on soul counter) when it hits, the projectile moves at 1000 speed.
• Damage type: magic

Gravekeeper's Cloak

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	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	12 seconds (recovery time)	1 armor and 3% magic resistance per layer
2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	10 seconds (recovery time)	2 armor and 6% magic resistance per layer
3	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	8 seconds (recovery time)	4 armor and 12% magic resistance per layer
4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6 seconds (recovery time)	5 armor and 16% magic resistance per layer

• Each time the Necro'lic receives damage greater than 2 that was not self-inflicted and was from a player owned source, a layer is removed.
• Each layer recharges 12/10/8/6 seconds after being removed.

Summon Familiars

Conjures up two (3*) 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	Max 56 bonus damage, 300 HP, stun for 60 damage/1 second
2	150	160	N/A	N/A	Until killed	Max 98 bonus damage, 450 HP, stun for 60 damage/1.25 seconds
3	150	140	N/A	N/A	Until killed	Max 154 bonus damage, 600 HP, stun for 60 damage/1.5 seconds

• 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.
• 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.
• Familiars have 96.25% magic resistance, and are targeted as heroes by abilities.
• Familiars have 160 attack range, 380/390/400 movement speed, and 300/450/600 HP.
• * Scepter Upgradable: Summons 3 Familiars.

Be sure to take a look at DotaCinema's video overview of Visage.

As always, check out Tuesday's discussion of KotL or the complete HDotD archives.