New HOTS Hero: Kharazim, the Veradani Monk

Punk – Kick – PUNCH! The monk slaps you across the face… Ouch. AND at the same time he heals the hero you were just about to take down. Double ouch.

Heroes of the Storm (HOTS) released a new character this past week, Kharazim, the Veradani Monk ($9.99 or 15K Gold). Easily one of the more flexible heroes in the game, the monk takes the role of “melee support”, while allowing players to build him two different ways.

Summoned from the world of Diablo, the Veradani Monk is a crafty warrior who lends crucial support to allies while putting out some decent damage in the process. The selection of his first talent will determine how his auto attack will function: as a healer or warrior. His trait is chosen first from one of three choices:

1. Basic Attacks heal
2. Basic Attacks deal bonus damage
3. Basic Attacks restore mana

Most players are likely to chose from one of the first two talents. This will ensure that every 3rd attack will either punish an enemy or automatically heal the nearest, most wounded ally. Like a lot of melee heroes, he relies heavily on the auto attack. So make sure you are A + Left clicking like a fiend!

Blizzard released a solid spotlight, explaining his abilities and giving some good tips.

Here is a full list of his abilities:

Trait

• Pick Your Trait
  • Learn Transcendence, Iron Fists, or Insight using the Talents panel to select your Trait.
    • Transcendence
      • Every third Basic Attack heals the lowest nearby allied Hero.
    • Iron Fists
      • Every third Basic Attack deals 100% bonus damage.
    • Insight
      • Every third Basic Attack restores Mana.

Basic Abilities

• Radiant Dash (Q)
  • Jump to an ally or enemy. Enemies are immediately hit with a Basic Attack. Stores up to two charges. 12 second cooldown per charge. This ability is also useful for escaping as you can also cast it on an nearby ally. For this reason make sure you stay close to your teammates.  Remember, he is a support hero first, assassin second. 
• Breath of Heaven
  • Heal nearby allied Heroes, granting them a 10% Movement Speed bonus for 3 seconds. Great for saving your teammates.
• Deadly Reach (E)
  • Your next Basic Attack increases your Attack Speed and Attack Range by 100% for 2 seconds.

Heroic Abilities

• Seven-Sided Strike (R)
  • Become Invulnerable, striking 7 times over 2 seconds in a large area. Each strike deals 7% of the target’s maximum Health as damage, and prioritizes the Hero with the highest remaining Health.
• Divine Palm (R)
  • Protect an allied Hero from death. The next source of fatal damage within 3 seconds is prevented, and the target is instead healed for a large amount.

Monk Power

If you time Divine Palm (R) correctly, it can be one of the strongest abilities in the game. By the time a player realizes you have cast it, its typically too late for them to just stop attacking.  Besides who actually wants to stop attacking someone with low health.  Every MOBA gamer gets the blood lust in their eyes when they see a low health bar.  Time this ability well and by the time the attacking enemy realizes it, your teammate is back to near full health!

Counter Divinity

When playing against the monk, he should be targeted early in most fights. He is not as tough as other support heroes so it will typically be worth taking him out early in team fights to prevent him from saving another more deadly hero. Wasting ultimate abilities on an assassin while Kharazim still has Divine Palm (R) could turn a team fight in favor of the enemy. Be particularly careful when he is helping the more deadly heroes like Illidan.

Kharazim was released as the 4th hero after King Leoric, The Butcher and Johanna, in the ongoing “Eternal Conflict” series. Pick him up for your next match and your teammates will thank you!

Tags: Diablo, Divine Palm, Eternal Conflict, Heroes of the Storm, HotS, Kharazim, MOBA, The Monk