Gul'dan
Ranged AssassinWarcraftMedium
Anti-Mage
Builds
SustainSituational
Abilities
Talent Build
Hover talents for details · highlighted = recommended pick
1
4
7
10
13
16
20
Build Overview
This build focuses on extreme sustain and area-of-effect (AoE) pressure. By balancing Mana management at level 1 with high self-healing and damage scaling, you become a 'raid boss' of sorts that is very difficult to force out of a lane or a team fight.
Pros
Cons
+Infinite Sustain: Between Life Tap and your buffed Drain Life, you rarely need to return to the Hall of Storms.
−No Mobility: Gul'dan has no built-in dashes or teleports. If you are out of position, you are an easy target.
+Top-Tier Waveclear: You can clear minion waves almost instantly, providing great map pressure.
−Vulnerable to CC: Your main survival tool, Drain Life, is a channeled ability. Any Stun, Silence, or Displacement will cancel it and leave you vulnerable.
+Massive Late-Game Damage: Once Rampant Hellfire is stacked, your Q becomes a rapid-fire cannon that melts high-health targets.
−Weak to Dive/Burst: While you have high sustained healing, you can still be deleted by 'burst' heroes (like Zeratul or Kerrigan) before your healing kicks in.
+Game-Changing Ultimate: A well-placed Horrify can win a team fight instantly by displacing the enemy healer or tank.
Playstyle Tips
- ›The 'Slow-Drain' Combo: Use your Corruption (E) to slow the enemy first (thanks to level 7). This prevents them from simply walking out of your Drain Life (W) range.
- ›Master the Life Tap: Don't wait until you are out of Mana to use Life Tap. Use it frequently between spell casts to keep your resources high, then heal the damage back with Drain Life.
- ›Positioning is Everything: Since you lack mobility, stay behind your tank. Use the extra range from Chaotic Energy to poke the enemy from a distance where they can't easily reach you.
- ›Horrify Direction: The direction the enemies run depends on where they are relative to the center of the circle. Try to cast it slightly behind the enemy team to push them toward your teammates.
- ›Keep the Q Rolling: At level 16, try to hit any enemy (even a minion) with your Q to keep your damage stacks from falling off during a fight.
✓Defeating
- ArthasThe Lich King wields Frostmourne to freeze enemies, drain their strength, and raise fallen warriors as undead minions.
- MalthaelAngel of Death who marks enemies to reap their souls, dealing sustained unholy damage that cannot be ignored.
- RaynorMarshal who provides reliable sustained auto-attack damage, knocks back enemies, and inspires allied troops.
✗Counters
- KerriganQueen of Blades who leaps onto enemies, pulls them into a killing zone, and combos them down with psionic power.
- IllidanDemon hunter who permanently hunts the most injured hero, dives with reckless aggression, and evades incoming damage.
- GreymaneWorgen king who alternates between ranged human form and melee worgen form to shred isolated targets.