by JR Cook - 9 years ago     show comments

With closed beta invites going out soon, many new players are about to enter the Nexus, and one of them may be you. Some of you might have never played a MOBA, and may need tips on how to survive. No worries, though, because BlizzPro is here to help! Today we will break down the various classes available for play in Heroes of the Storm, and what is expected of them on the battleground.

Warrior
Warrior characters: Anub’arak, Arthas, Chen, Diablo, E.T.C., Muradin, Sonya, Stiches, Tyrael

Warrior characters are the front-line engagers who typically have the most health on your team. This can be a difficult class to play, but this role is a very important one. Often, the warrior will be expected to be the first to engage the enemy team, soak certain skill shots for the assassin, confuse and use crowd control to disrupt the enemy, and chase down weaker targets that provide the most damage and/or healing for the enemy team when possible. The warrior’s success will often be reliant on how well the assassins focus high damage enemies, and support from the rest of the team. A good team often depends on the warrior class being able to come out on top in team fights.

Assassin
Assassin characters: Falstad, Illidan, Jaina, Kerrigan, Nova, Raynor, Tychus, Valla, Zeratul

An assassin’s job is very straight forward. The assassin brings the damage to the team fight, and their job is to focus attacks on the biggest threat the enemy team has. When playing an assassin, identify the most dangerous enemy, and try to take them out of team fights as soon as possible. If it can be done safely, it is usually a good idea to focus the main source of damage or healing so that a team fight will be more likely to be successful. If the assassin has decent range, it is wise to attack the target from max range to avoid damage, because generally assassins do not have a large health pool. If the assassin fights by way of stealth, try to surprise the enemy assassin or healer with burst damage, then quickly slip into the shadows again.

Support
Support characters: Brightwing, Li Li, Malfurion, Rehgar, Tassadar, Tyrande, Uther

The support character’s job is staying out of range of the enemy team, while using buffs and heals to give your teammates the edge. It is up to the support player to use discretion to protect squishy targets with buffs and heals, and delegate time to buff the tank if necessary. The support class generally enjoys the advantage of playing from safety, however if the role is executed poorly the team will lose crucial fights. When in a team fight, quickly identify which ally the enemy team is focusing, and be sure to heal them. The goal is to force the enemy team to expend their resources in an attempt to take out that one succulent, squishy target. If successful, the enemy team is left vulnerable, and high damage allies are still alive to take them out.

Specialist
Specialist: Abathur, Azmodan, Gazlowe, Murky, Nazeebo, Sgt. Hammer, Zagara

These characters are aptly described by their title; they are special! Using these characters require special attention to their unique abilities and talents. The key is having an intimate understanding of the individual character being played, and that quality which makes them most unique. It should be understood that playing the specialist role will take much practice, and team coordination. These characters are best suited to intermediate players.

Learning more about these roles lends an edge over other new players in the Nexus. The difference between a team victory and a team loss often hinges on how many players can play their roles well. So with a little patience, and a lot of practice, the odds of surviving in the Nexus is much greater!