Ahlen

[Mort]

Marcus the Ahlen

Ahlen is both a great early game killer and an end game tank,
with his abilities he can kill/hold off a huge amount of creeps.

Armor Type:

Medium

Damage Reduction:
Chaos 100%
Hero 100%
Magic 75%
Normal 125%
Pierce 75%
Siege 50%
Spells 100%

Skills:



Innate: Kaith'Audru (Passive)
Gives him a weak life steal which heals him 4% of the damage he does to enemy creeps with his normal attack. It stacks with Bloodthirst/Thirsting Blade so this is a useful ability throughout the game.


Level 1: Combat Mastery (Passive)
A passive ability that grants a chance to do double damage and a chance to evade normal attacks, the percentages when maxed out are 90% chance of a 2x critical hit and a 45% chance to evade. Not that great of an ability to have early on because of the low damage of the hero and the creeps. However it is essential to eventually max this out for later rounds.
While Ahlen is never really that good at killing with his normal attacks they do help him tank better by healing himself with his life steal.


Level 1: Apocalyptic Strike (Passive)
Has a chance on attack to do a small area damaging effect originating at the attacked unit that gets weaker the further from the point of origin. This is Ahlen's only real killing ability and should be maxed out as soon as possible, however it becomes weaker later on when the creeps have increased health. When it no longer aids in killing it might be a good idea to use the tome of retraining to invest those ten point in stats.


Level 6: Cataclysmic Strike
Teleports the Ahlen behind the target creep, killing that creep and stunning other creeps in a large radius around him. It can be used like a long range teleport however the real use of it is the large area stun and duration. Using it near the middle, goal or on a lane can stun a large portion of the creeps and buy the Ahlen's team some time or can help to halt an offensive barrage of Spell Bringer use. Remember that his Strike has a small casting time.
Note: Area of Effect and duration increases with level. This skill cannot be used to dodge battle sphere


Level 10: Dragon Dance
When activated this ability gives the Ahlen 100% evasion as well as Magic Immunity making him almost invincible. Using it is very similar to the Holy Warrior's ultimate in that you shouldn't use it on a wave with magic attack as they will ignore you, but when used it's very hard to be killed. However it doesn't last as long as the Holy Warrior's ultimate, but it provides better protection.

Status Gain per Level
Str+3
Agi+2
Int+1

Suggested Playstyle:
Ahlen is a very good killer early on because of his Apocalyptic Strike but not that great of tank because of his armour. Later on the reverse is true as the Ahlen becomes a horrible killer but a very good tank when used right because of his Cataclysmic Strike and Dragon Dance.
Early on use his Apocalyptic Strike to kill and buy an AGI ring for attack speed if needed. Later on you must balance the use of his stun and of his invulnerability by tanking as much as you can in your regular form before stunning them or using Dragon Dance so as to trade off the cooldowns.


Tips:

• Ahlen benefits from high attack speed in early/mid game, so getting items or using spells on him that increases attack speed helps him to be a good killer.
  
  
• Use an Anti-Magic potion first when the stunner waves arrive and then use your Dragon Dance and finally if needed the other Anti-Magic potion (the potions cooldown is about the length of time your Dragon Dance will last).
  

Suggested Item Build:

Offensive	Defensive
Armor Zircon-inset ring tower shield Bloodthirst Spineripper Combine to Thirsting blade Nimsha Ironbarks T'kashi's Mirror Blade Uthmor's Scullcleaver Combine to Uthmor's Mirror Blade	Armor Bloodstone-inset Ring tower shield Ironbarks Bloodthirst Zircon-inset Ring Moonstone-inset Ring Diamond-etched Ring Combine to Ring of Victory Dragon-scale shield T'kashi Mirror Blade Uthmor's Scullcleaver Combine to Uthmor's Mirror Blade

I excluded a few items like: Gleaming longsword and Winged Leather Boots and other common items that can be acquired anytime anyone wishes, I would however not get the Elite Elven Boots for Ahlen, as the evasion won't stack and he is unlikely to need movement speed.


Updated:
2008-04-23 - Edited Tips & Added Suggested Item Builds

Additional Spell Info:


Innate: Kaith'Audru (Passive)
Grants the Ahlen 4% lifesteal (stacks with lifesteal items).


Level 1: Combat Mastery (Passive)
Level 1: 10% Dodge, 5% Crit
Level 2: 15% Dodge, 10% Crit
Level 3: 17% Dodge, 25% Crit
Level 4: 23% Dodge, 30% Crit
Level 5: 25% Dodge, 45% Crit
Level 6: 30% Dodge, 50% Crit
Level 7: 32% Dodge, 65% Crit
Level 8: 37% Dodge, 70% Crit
Level 9: 39% Dodge, 85% Crit
Level 10: 45% Dodge, 90% Crit


Level 1: Apocalyptic Strike (Passive)
Level 1: 10% chance to deal 60 damage to nearby units.
Level 2: 11% chance to deal 90 damage to nearby units.
Level 3: 12% chance to deal 135 damage to nearby units.
Level 4: 13% chance to deal 202 damage to nearby units.
Level 5: 14% chance to deal 303 damage to nearby units.
Level 6: 15% chance to deal 455 damage to nearby units.
Level 7: 16% chance to deal 683 damage to nearby units.
Level 8: 17% chance to deal 1025 damage to nearby units.
Level 9: 18% chance to deal 1537 damage to nearby units.
Level 10: 20% chance to deal 2306 damage to nearby units.


Ahlens Cataclysmic Strike
Mana = 27 + (Lv*3)
CD = 125 - (Lv*5)
AoE = 250 + (Lv*25)
Duration
Level 1:Stun Time 16 seconds, Mana Cost 30, Cooldown 120 seconds, Area of Effect 275
Level 2: Stun Time 18 seconds, Mana Cost 33, Cooldown 115 seconds, Area of Effect 300
Level 3: Stun Time 19 seconds, Mana Cost 36, Cooldown 110 seconds, Area of Effect 325
Level 4: Stun Time 21 seconds, Mana Cost 39, Cooldown 105 seconds, Area of Effect 350
Level 5: Stun Time 22 seconds, Mana Cost 42, Cooldown 100 seconds, Area of Effect 375
Level 6: Stun Time 24 seconds, Mana Cost 45, Cooldown 95 seconds, Area of Effect 400
Level 7: Stun Time 25 seconds, Mana Cost 48, Cooldown 90 seconds, Area of Effect 425
Level 8: Stun Time 27 seconds, Mana Cost 52, Cooldown 85 seconds, Area of Effect 450
Level 9: Stun Time 28 seconds, Mana Cost 55, Cooldown 80 seconds, Area of Effect 475
Level 10: Stun Time 30 seconds, Mana Cost 58, Cooldown 75 seconds, Area of Effect 500
Notes: Cooldown decreases with level, jumps to unit and hits it, stuns a large group of surrounding enemies.


Ahlens Dragon Dance
Mana = Lv*50
CD = 160 - (Lv*10)

Level 1: Mana Cost 50, Cooldown 160 seconds
Level 2: Mana Cost 100, Cooldown 150 seconds
Level 3: Mana Cost 150, Cooldown 140 seconds
Level 4: Mana Cost 200, Cooldown 130 seconds
Level 5: Mana Cost 250, Cooldown 120 seconds
Level 6: Mana Cost 300, Cooldown 110 seconds
Level 7: Mana Cost 350, Cooldown 100 seconds
Level 8: Mana Cost 400, Cooldown 90 seconds
Level 9: Mana Cost 450, Cooldown 80 seconds
Level 10: Mana Cost 500, Cooldown 70 seconds

Notes: Ahlen becomes completely invulnerable for 20 seconds, only magic attack units will ignore you whilst invulnerable, cooldown decreases with level, costs 50mp.

[sloshed]

Personally I think you should be getting him more offensive gear instead of defensive as he can be a great killer late on, also I agree that you need time your Cataclysmic / Dragon Shield usage.

Personally I think item buying for him is:
Gleaming (can't beet the extra damage for early)
Elven Armor (need that armor to stay alive for longer)
Agi Ring (this is a personal preference as you want his Apocalyptic Strike to activate as much as possible, you get better speed then using a Telo)
Tower Shiled (great for ranged waves but can be sold after the first Bonus wave)
Thirsting Blade is next (greater damage with extra life steal, 14% with innate)
Boots combo (if you think it's good enough to get can be handy to get yourself out of a situation)
Nimsha (so many people forget about this it's one of the most underrated weapons on the map, too many people get 4/5 gleamings/telo's and complain that they aren't killing fast enough and die so easily)

Depending on how the game is going will determine weather or not if you can buy more items and as usually by this stage the game, it should be finished,
Ironbarks (increased armor and spell block)
Finally Big Axe Combo.

Also with his progression through the game my first choice in abilities would be his Apocalyptic Strike. Get this first and before everything else.
Second would be Dragon Shield, you never know when you need it.
Third is combat
Fourth is the Cataclysmic Strike, but you should get ONE point on it when it's available. It can help your team out to no end if they are in trouble or if one of your team mates is about to die.
Lastly Stats.

I haven't mentioned about pots of any kind as depending on the game you will need certain pots at certain times.

Another tip: it's great to use Anti Magic pots first when the stunner waves arrive and then use your Dragon Dance and finally if needed the other Anti Magic pot (the pot cooldown is about the length of time your Dragon Dance will last)

Some would disagree with this build but it's my preference and with this build he's still a great killer and he can tank very well even later game.

[Mort]

I agree with you that a damage build works to, but however, the more damage he does the more vulnerable he is to offensives as Hav'roth, Cripple, Beer and so on, as he will rely more on life-steal.

As for your item build;
I wouldn't go for gleaming as the extra damage isn't really needed for Ahlen, I'd rather go for a small AGI ring, or even better save for an Armor early on, as he will eventually kill the creeps surrounding him with the Apocalyptic Strike.

I'm not sure if you meant that you should only get 1 point in Cataclysmic Strike through the whole game(I got that you should get it at level 6, and i agree with that for the reason you stated),
but eventually if the game lasts to later, his 2 best skills will be Cataclysmic Strike and Dragon Dance, use Cataclysmic Strike to stun the surrounding creeps, and when the effect is wearing off, use Dragon dance to stay alive in mid of all creeps, until you can use Cataclysmic Strike again(this is also why i think a more defensive build would be more efficient as most casters should be able to kill more than Ahlen)

Ohh and I'll add the tip

[sloshed]

That's what I ment to say about the Cataclysmic Strike. One point at the start and then after Combat and Apocalyptic are full then max it out. I fully agree that they are the best two skills that he has, and both should be maxed out.

With the gleaming since Ahlen won't have much in the way of anything I'd fell that getting a Gleaming soon would benefit him, as you would kill much more quickly and won't have to use as many pots. Basically after I've got the Gleaming I'll wait till I have about 10k then I'll get the armor and with some pots (3ish small pots and one large pot if I can).

With waiting for the armor you could be spending much more on pots then you need to. As well with the overall scheme of things lots of players buy 5 pots straight away and fuck over the rest of the team (since the long cooldown between pots respawning). So by getting a gleaming and only a few pots you are overall helping the team, killing faster and taking fewer hits overall. Of course it could be then sold to get the armor faster.

Also one needs to depend on lifesteal. If he's crippled there's dispell or activate your dragon shield. Also for getting too many hits go into a corner so there's fewer hitting you. As well the duration between the Cataclysmic cooldown (after the creeps have been revived) and the Dragonshield is not much at all. Basically it's one pot and good timing.

As well I can see that a defensive build is good. But not all casters will kill more then him. Also IF and I really mean IF someone really knows what they are doing with the caster then you can go either way but it also depends on the caster (if they are any good or not)

[Mort]

With waiting for the armor you could be spending much more on pots then you need to. As well with the overall scheme of things lots of players buy 5 pots straight away and f**k over the rest of the team (since the long cooldown between pots respawning). So by getting a gleaming and only a few pots you are overall helping the team, killing faster and taking fewer hits overall. Of course it could be then sold to get the armor faster.

Well, valid points, if you play public games with next to no teamplay, but the map, and this guide, is made with teamplay in consideration, and on normal difficulty, so the potions shouldn't be so much of a problem, however, when you have gotten 4k, that means there is 1-2 rounds more, im pretty sure that is quite easy to survive with 2-3 pots?

Also one needs to depend on lifesteal. If he's crippled there's dispell or activate your dragon shield. Also for getting too many hits go into a corner so there's fewer hitting you. As well the duration between the Cataclysmic cooldown (after the creeps have been revived) and the Dragonshield is not much at all. Basically it's one pot and good timing.

True, you could do that, however if you activate Dragon Dance, or Purify/Anti-Magic potion, all buffs will be removed, not always one can afford to do that

Dragon-scale will protect him quite much depending on when he gets it, with teamplay he should be able to get it while it still is of any use.

Ohh and if someone have any better suggestions on the newly added lists of item builds, plz tell me =)

[Mort]

Well Nuthin, that was a lot...

Telo is more fitting for a hero that has aoe damage, weapon smith, mentalist, faenrae is a few example, or get's increasing damage from one his skills, Troll Cannibals Behead & Rangers See the Wind.
I think most people would say that an offensive build is a build to max your damage, and for that Agi ring is the best way early on for Ahlen.

Building damage with Ahlen isn't that big of a problem, he is a bit easier to offense with some spells, but I dont think turtles will be a big problem when he got his stun & Dragon Dance.

The reason why i like to add the Uthmor's Mirror Blade(combo axe) is that it gives +72 to all stats, same as the ring, sure it might be a bit more money to get it, but at the same time he might need it if he rely on life-steal.
But i have to agree with you that Ahlen isn't the most ideal killer late game, there is a few that is better late game, but however Ahlen actually kills a few creeps late game

About Paw boots, it doesn't stack with Evasion or Combat Mastery and as Ahlen got Combat Mastery he has no use of the Paw boot, and me myself like to be able to drop the teleport boots(imo he doesn't beneit from faster movement and in some cases barely teleport as he has his level 6 and ulti).

[sloshed]

With Ahlen and getting to the Turtles (with they're thorns) Ahlen can't stun them. They've got resistant skin, so there goes one ability to keep you alive.

About the Telo, for me it's a useless sword to get for Ahlen, and in general throughout the game, yes it has it's advantages early on but I keep seeing people get 3-5 telos n then can't kill anything and keep on dying and then they finally leave (or tell you STFU if you give them and advice). I fully agree with Mort, Agi ring is the best way to go with Ahlen and most other heroes, as it has longer lasting potential then a telo ever has, telos fade away fairly quickly.

[Mort]

May 26, 2008 0:10:41 GMT -5 sloshed said:

With Ahlen and getting to the Turtles (with they're thorns) Ahlen can't stun them. They've got resistant skin, so there goes one ability to keep you alive.

True, but he can stun other creeps that doesn't have spellblock, usually people doesn't have time to kill off all the turtles, so it's quite easy to use his Cataclysmic Strike on other waves, thus affecting creeps who wouldn't usually be affected.

About the Telo, for me it's a useless sword to get for Ahlen, and in general throughout the game, yes it has it's advantages early on but I keep seeing people get 3-5 telos n then can't kill anything(...) Agi ring is the best way to go with Ahlen and most other heroes, as it has longer lasting potential then a telo ever has, telos fade away fairly quickly.

For Ahlen the telo is a pretty stupid choise if you are looking for attackspeed, but for some heroes a telo gives them greater advantages than the agi ring, for those heroes getting telo could be a better solution. Ohh and compared to agi ring, telo doesn't lose it's usefulness as quickly, as agi ring becomes more or less useless after 200agi for most heroes, but telo with it's extra damage is more useful.

[zigzag]

Instead of the zircon ring, you can get the bloodstone. If you have other killer heros, and your the only tank, a bloodstone could be the way to go.

[bullettrue]

I myself am more of a defensive player when it comes to the Ahlen, as I believe that late game he is merely a tank and nothing more, and even early game, on normal an agi ring and cataclysmic will carry him through until mid game, at least. So really any offensive planning, is only planning for late game anyways, at which point you need a spell caster, like the evoker or MM, or your screwed anyways.

[Mort]

Jan 26, 2009 19:43:59 GMT -5 bullettrue said:

(...)So really any offensive planning, is only planning for late game anyways, at which point you need a spell caster, like the evoker or MM, or your screwed anyways.

So true...
Welcome back to ETS Bullet!

[bullettrue]

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