As everything in the game, the guild is situational and has exceptions.
DRAGONHEARTS
2 Dragonhearts are 1500 gold total and combine to 1000 extra health. A crucible is 1950 gold and only gives you 700 health. Yes, a Crucible gives a 200-health reflex block to all teammates for 2 seconds, but:
- most of the time your teammates will have a reflex block each, and most enemy team comps don't require double reflex blocks. You don't want a reflex for yourself most of the time because it is your role to tank; the more they focus you, the better! And with double dragon hearts you can tank a lot.
- for the same 1950 gold you'll have 300 extra health from the 2 dragon hearts plus an hourglass and some mines/flares. The extra health provides the necessary extra Vanguard shield and damage. Since most of the time only one of your teammates will be taking focus fire damage this early in the game, and you'll use vanguard at least twice during a fight (especially now that you have hourglass), you're in the net positive. You're also a better tank due to Ardan's heroic perk.
EXCEPTION
If the enemy team has both a Koshka and an Adagio, I do recommend going Crucible first instead, and that's what CORE ALTERNATIVE build refers to.
GENERAL ARDAN PLAY TIPS
Always, always, ALWAYS save your Vanguard for fights. The only time you can use Vanguard outside of a fight is to put it on yourself when farming the far end of your jungle (the side closest to your base) and tanking both camps at the same time, IF you know the enemy is not close to your jungle. This is to help Blood for Blood cooldown and to prevent some damage (minions hurt at the start of the game).
Damage:
- obviously don't stay in middle of the fight you're going to lose. BUT, you are the tank. If someone has to go down, it's best it's you. So stay close to enemy as much as possible and keep putting those auto-attacks on them - they really do add up, especially first few levels. They also let you use Blood for Blood substantially more frequently.
Vanguard:
- use only on a teammate that is actually taking damage. You definitely don't want to wait till they're low or anything, but wait that half a second or so until you see if they rush your other carry or not. If it's your Koshka that jumps in (especially if she triggers a trap) - 95% you want to Vanguard her right away to both block the trap damage, do AOE damage to the enemies, and slow down the enemies so that your carry can easily catch up.
- don't use the ability just because it's off cooldown. If no one is in danger, etc. - don't use it. Wait for that clutch moment when it's actually needed. Example: enemy is running away, you have koshka but she can't reach. Wait a few seconds for her pounce to come off cooldown, then vanguard as soon as she pounces.
- almost never use it on yourself! Exceptions: a) you can't vanguard to a friendly target during escape and must use it on yourself to try and survive; b) you know carry cannot close gap but you're next to enemy and you must vanguard yourself to slow enemy down; or c) you're far away from enemies, jungling, and want to give yourself shield from minion damage/accelerate farming.
Blood for Blood:
- always use it on their carry as soon as ability comes up
- if you have aftershock and you just did a basic attack, Blood for Blood won't proc aftershock but will give you the passive. Make sure you actually hit with a basic attack after that to proc it. Watch your aftershock passive at all times in bottom-left corner.
- usually, let aftershock post-proc debuff finish before using, so you apply aftershock again.
Gauntlet:
- don't ever put 3 points into this
- don't use unless required until you have 2 points in it and Chronograph; the cooldown at the start is too much to just waste it.
- it's very rare you'll want to start with a gauntlet - it's much better at blocking escape or allowing your team to escape. One case where you use it at the start is if you want the enemy team to burn reflex blocks/a Crucible.
- practice, practice, practice to throw it _just_ right so if the enemy escapes, they will "accidentally" hit the wall right as it forms and get stunned. This is the true skill of playing Ardan. Remember that the gauntlet will push enemies in or out of the perimeter if enemy is right on edge, so try not to do that (b/c it's hard to predict which direction they'll be pushed).
- if enemy Ardan starts executing ult first - don't jump farm to create own gauntlet at the same time. You'll get stunned by enemy's Gauntlet and lose your ult.
- most definitely use it as soon as you see an opportunity to split up their team into a 2v3. 1v3 - only if you need it. If your team has no problem killing the enemy, why waste an ult.
PRO TIPS
- when speed-farming, vanguard an ally when they're close to a camp of minions to get the aggro and, thus, money from the contract. This way ally doesn't have to wait for your slow *** to get there before they can start. Remember - only do it if you know a fight won't break out before Vanguard comes up again... so usually in the back of your jungle. It's an art.
- you can vanguard and ult over many walls
- communicate your ult and vanguard cooldown to your teammates constantly; it lets them know when it's safe to dive and engage.
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