Zul’jin brings daredevil savagery to Heroes of the Storm

It’s about time a troll hacked and slashed his way into the Nexus! Zul’jin, a savage Troll Berserker whose attack speed increases the more damage he accrues, is the first of his kind to come to Blizzard’s “Heroes of the Storm.”

A “former Warlord of the Amani forest trolls and chieftain of the Amani tribe,” Zul’jin’s entire skill set revolves around his murderous axe-throwing, the natural ability of his race to regenerate lost health, and taking lots and lots of risks.

Zul’jin is a medium-difficulty Ranged Assassin with one Trait, three Primary Abilities, and two Heroics.

Berserker (Trait, D): “Activate to increase Basic Attack damage by 25% but consume 2% of your maximum Health per attack.

“Passive: Zul’jin attacks 1% faster for every 1% of maximum Health missing.”

This Trait is what makes Zul’jin a high-risk, high-reward Hero.

With almost zero Health, and Berserker activated for bonus damage, Zul’jin dishes out ridiculous amounts of pain so quickly he can take out foes in seconds if they’re not careful. He’s most effective when paired up with a Hero boasting a shield or heal-over-time ability, as this allows him to maintain low Health and an active Berserker.

Of course, he’s at his squishiest when he’s most powerful. It also doesn’t help that Zul’jin has no viable escape options whatsoever. Clear communication with and constant support from allies goes a long way in keeping Zul’jin alive. Also remember that, as a Ranged Assassin, Zul’jin doesn’t need to draw too close to enemies; he can be devastating even when he’s not on the frontline. Not to mention he’s more likely to survive when he keeps his enemies at a distance.

Certain Talents further enhance Zul’jin’s attacks and damage. For example, Level 4 Talent Let the Killing Begin enhances his Attack Speed without having to lose Health. Level 7’s Recklessness augments his Basic Attack damage even further when his Health dips below 50%. Level 16’s Ferocity boosts Berserker’s Attack Speed bonus by a whopping 40%. With the right build, Zul’jin can have one of the fastest Attack Speeds and most damaging Basic Attacks in the game.

Grievous Throw (Q): “Zul’jin throws an axe forward, dealing 130 damage to the first 2 enemies hit and marking them for 8 seconds. Marked enemies take 50% bonus damage from Zul’jin’s next 3 Basic Attacks against them.”

Grievous Throw’ ability to Mark enemies makes it lethal, especially when comboed with an activated Berserker and low Health. And because it hurts the enemy behind your target, it ensures any Hero using a target minion as a shield will have a very bad time.

A notable Talent is Level 1’s Boneslicer, which not only enhances Grievous Throw’s damage, but also lets it pierce through all enemies behind the target. Level 7’s Vicious Assault raises the number of Grievous Throw’s bonus damage hits from 3 to 6. Level 13’s Eye of Zul’jin gives Zul’jin a 25% bonus to Movement Speed.

Twin Cleave (W): “Throw 2 axes in a large circular arc, dealing 116 damage and slowing affected enemies by 15% per axe for 2 seconds.”

While its slowing effect is useful when you’re pursuing or fleeing from enemies, landing a hit with Twin Cleave is tricky, thanks to its circular arc and sluggishness. Precision is key when using Twin Cleave.

Level 1 Talent Arcanite Axes lowers Twin Cleave’s cooldown for every Hero struck, and passively augments the Ability Power by 25% when Zul’jin’s Health drops below 50%. Level 7’s Wrong Place Wrong Time raises Twin Cleave’s damage if both axes hit the target simultaneously. Level 16’s Swirling Death Twin Cleave two cycles, while Lacerate boosts the slow amount per axe to 15%.

Regeneration (E): “Zul’jin channels to regenerate 25% of his maximum Health over 4 seconds. Moving or taking damage while channeling will interrupt this effect.”

Regeneration is a lifesaver, but the interruptible channeling animation necessitates finding a safe spot before casting this Ability. A careless Zul’jin will find his Regeneration countered time and again by eagle-eyed and opportunistic opponents.

Level 4 Talent Troll’s Blood raises Regeneration’s heal amount by 75%. Level 13’s Forest Medicine is extremely useful; it removes the channeling requirement, so that Zul’jin can heal and perform other actions simultaneously. Getting damaged, however, still cancels Regeneration.

Taz’dingo! (R1): “Zul’jin is Unkillable for the next 4 seconds, and cannot be reduced to less than 1 Health.”

Taz’dingo is ideal if you want to push an all-out assault on the enemy, and Zul’jin’s got low Health and an active Berserker. When the situation turns desperate, Zul’jin can also use this Heroic to prevent himself from dying. However, Zul’jin’s glowing tattoos are a telltale sign he’s Unkillable; smart enemies will avoid him while in this state, and attack when the effect wears off. Also, Zul’jin can be stunned prior to casting Taz’dingo, which can prove fatal if his Health is already low.

Level 20 Talent Amani Resilience heals Zul’jin after Taz’dingo wears off.

Guillotine (R2): “Zul’jin throws a massive guillotine blade into the sky that crashes down on enemies in the targeted area, dealing 305 damage plus bonus damage the lower his Health is.”

Guillotine is a solid Heroic that’s exceedingly devastating when comboed with low Health and an active Berserker. A well-placed Guillotine attack will also kill several enemies if they’re huddled closely together.

Level 20 Talent Buzzsaw gives a Guillotine a secondary attack that strikes enemies in a straight line after the initial impact.

Daredevil

It’s odd that Zul’jin is listed as a medium-difficulty Hero. For the Troll Berserker to pose a real threat, you must be willing to put him in peril. Such a daredevil playstyle requires reflexes, sound positioning, map awareness, and of course, teamwork.

Zul’jin’s potency depends on the Hero picks of your teammates. Certain Hero combinations work better than others, so it’s vital you discuss your plans with your friends before going into a match. Zul’jin typically does well with Heroes like Malfurion (thanks to his Regrowth), Lt. Morales (Healing Beam) and Zarya (Shield Ally).

While you wouldn’t call Zul’jin squishy, he lacks the mobility necessary for quick, desperate escapes. So never jump into a situation he can’t untangle himself from, and always rely on the strength of your buddies.

Reckless viciousness

There’s a troll in the Nexus, and he’s bringing the reckless viciousness of his kind into the fray.

Zul’jin thrives when living on the edge; those who know him will fear him when he’s got one foot in the grave. The Troll Berserker is a veritable killing machine, and with the right allies and proper team communication, he can help win many bloody battles in the Nexus.

Zul’jin is available for purchase in “Heroes of the Storm.” — TJD, GMA News