SAW overview Top
Hello, this is my attempt at a comprehensive guild to SAW for higher-leveled players.
As we all know, SAW has is a hero with insane DPS potential courtesy of one of the best heroic perks in the game, spin-up. However, spin-up brings a crippling weakness, low mobility. His abilities cover a wide range of functions, from getting away and assassinating to AoE damage to taking down single objectives.
Weapon SAW builds focus on accentuating the benefits of spin-up while Crystal SAW builds focus on maximizing utility with his skills and minimzing risks.
The order that the items are listed in above are more or less what the order that I build them in, although adjusting is often necessary during a match.
I'll go over in detail the merits and tips for each build, so bear with me!
Oh, and I do advise pressing show all next to the threat meter and taking note of my comments. (they are purely opinion, but I do use it as a basis for counter-building and hero-choosing)
Weapon SAW:
-Don't use skills too often. Save energy for 1st skill when the going gets rough and you need to escape.
-If you can stutter step, use that to build stacks rather than making yourself vulnerable with 2nd skill.
-Towards the end of the game, your auto-attack will out-damage your third skill. Ironic.
-Don't invest in attack speed, it's additive not multiplicative. Spin-up gives 400%+ attack speed.
-When in the lane, stay at the top so you have more reaction time during ambushes.
-Don't overextend in the lane. You'll get killed very easily.
-Farm hard hard hard. Your items are very expensive.
Crystal SAW:
-Stay at the edge of team fights, you are on the frailer side compared to other heroes.
-Be careful when using second skill, you open yourself to attack for 2.5 seconds. Not to mention the slow.
-You need teammates in fights, your skills will run out fast if you engage alone.
-Be especially wary of bursty enemy assassins.
Good Teammates Top
Catherine: Her stun allows you to really hammer the opponent. A naturally bulky character that often goes support to complement damage characters like you
Ardan: He can boost your speed, which helps you more than perhaps anyone. His cage creates a great butcher pen for you. However, you generally don't want both Catherine and Ardan on your team. Too much.
Glaive: A bulky melee character that complements your ranged well. Good Glaive players will serve you enemies to you stunned with afterburn.
Taka: A hero that is pretty much on the opposite end of the spectrum as you. great at chasing down enemies for you. Having a Taka with a SAW keeps the enemy on their toes. However, you don't want your 3rd teammate to be a frail-damage dealer too.
Health Thief Top
Difficulty 6/10
This build revolves around survivability brought by serpents mask and crucible. The survivability has great synergy with breaking point, which allows you to tear apart tanky characters as the fight goes on. With this build, you prefer longer fights to take full advantage of breaking pointand life-steal. Don't go home that often as you can heal yourself by killing minions in the lane.
If the enemy team is pressing you extremely hard it might be wise to trade in a serpent's mask for a defense item.
The difficulty with this build lies in controlling team fights in a way that benefit your items. This build is extremely potent late game.
Traditional SAW Top
Difficulty 4/10
This build is more or less what players would end up with if they followed the recommended build. It has solid damage and good survivability. You won't die often if you play wisely with this build, but neither will you do insane damage or turn the tide of battles singe-handely.
Most all SAW weapon builds are very gold dependent, and sorrowblade is the most expensive. If the other team isn't too heavy on crystal power, you could trade in an Aegis for another weapon item.
The two reflex blocks will come in handy when escaping or during team fights. Use it to stop attacks that could stun you. This build is solid throughout the game, especially mid.
Critical Monster Top
Difficulty 9/10
This build is extremely unorthodox, and rather counterintuitive. However, if done right this build yields by far the most damage compared to my other SAW buidls. Do the math, you will consistently score 700+ base damage. Base damage does not take into account armor. This build has a 90% crit rate with 140% critical damage. I add a serpents mask in between my 2nd and 3rd tyrants monocle to boost my survivability.
I encourage everyone to try this build out, it is extremely satisfying to one-shot lane minions. I would venture that this build can take on any other hero one-on-one late game, given prudent usage of spin up and crucible.
However, this build is extremely difficult to pull off early/mid game. It is very difficult to dominate with half-completed items. It requires extremely diligent farming and careful planning. But once the build is completed I promise you will be nigh-unstoppable. Killing taka in 4 shots feels very good.
Immortal SAW Top
Difficulty 8/10
This build is also rather counterintuitive, as everyone seems to think that a saw build must have a sorrowblade. Once the build is complete, you will be able to outlast almost anyone in a team fight.
When running this build you must be very wary of close-ranged bursty heroes such as taka. They will negate the usefulness of your lifesteal and won't give you enough time to use your fountains.
This build, like the previous, is one that truly shines only late game. It isn't very effective when items are half complete.
I gave this build an 8/10 as it requires serious farming early game and lots of discretion late game. When in fights it is crucial to get spun-up as well timing your fountains of renewal.
Glass Cannon SAW Top
Difficulty 8/10
I personally have always found crystal SAWs difficult to pull off successfully. They are frail and their skills are very niche. However, if aimed and time correctly, the skills can be devastating.
With crystal SAW I recommend staying in the lane and pushing. Be very conscious of the position of enemy assassins.
What I find extremely useful with this build is the 2 eve of harvests, however they require careful careful position and timing to maximize their potential. Once again, stay at the edge of team fights, and use your 2nd skill with discretion.
Well guys, that's it! Top
Please comment and vote, give me some feedback! Tell me if you have any builds your prefer with SAW.
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