Team composition and hero guide by Phoeking

In this guide I'll try to provide two things:


-characterize every hero, giving it's pros, cons and counter

(here)

-show how to compose a team

(here)

I was inspired by Vainglory teacher event, and I guess it can be helpful for some new players (as well for some more experienced one).

Maybe I am not a pro-player (The Hotness (7) skill tier for now), but I think of myself that I am experienced one (about a year of everyday playing).
I like to analyse in-depth every aspect of the game, including hero's abilities, mathematical formulas concerning damage, time of attack's animations etc. - just to see how things work.

That's why I give you this guide - a summarization of heroes and a review of how to pick a hero that'll suit your team!

NOTE: Of course you can disagree with something I wrote here! Make sure you post a comment with your opinion and reasons behind it - together we can make this guide better!

NOTE2: I'll base this guide on most common hero's builds. I know that some of you can play Reim as a WP carry, but let's be honest - he is usually a CP jungler

Hero division

Dividing heroes is crucial in terms of team composition and understanding what I want to say. There are some common things among certain heroes. Common strengths and common weaknesses.

Note that it is hard to divide heroes as boundaries aren't strict. I know sometimes it can be controversial.

Categories:

Tanks - with high shield, armor and health
Ardan Catherine Grumpjaw Joule Lance Phinn

Sustainers - can survive long when dealing damage
Alpha Krul Ozo Reim Rona

Gap closers - have a way to shorten distance to the enemy
Alpha Blackfeather Catherine Fortress Glaive Koshka Lance Taka

Stunner - Provides stun/root for a team
Catherine Flicker Joule Lance Phinn

Squishy - Vulnerable to damage
Celeste Gwen Idris Kestrel Koshka Lyra Ringo Skye Taka

Damage - heavy damage/burst
Baron Celeste Glaive Gwen Joule Kestrel Idris (WP)
Koshka Ringo SAW Skaarf Taka Vox

Protector - provides utility items/heal/escape for an ally
Adagio Ardan Catherine Lance Lyra Phinn

Kiters - can keep their distance and attack enemy
Celeste Gwen Lyra Petal Ringo Samuel Skaarf Skye Vox Idris (CP)

Withdrawer - has a more or less reliable way to escape to safety
Baron Blackfeather Glaive Gwen Joule Lance Lyra
Kestrel Koshka Petal SAW Skye Taka



Now as we have it let's talk about teams.

There is just one rule that must be fulfilled - your team can't be vulnerable to any type of hero

It's hard to tell how a team should look like, thus I'll write the most

common mistakes you want to avoid:

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-having sustainer without having gap closer/stunner ( Krul and Flicker make a great duo)

-having squishy carry without protector ( Ringo will survive much more with Ardan's barrier)

-making low defense team (eg. Koshka, Ringo and Flicker)

-making all ranged team (eg. Petal, Vox, Adagio)

-having no initiator hero (eg. SAW, Petal, Adagio)

-carry and jungler on one type of items (CP or WP)

-carry and jungler relies on attack speed (can be countered with Altas Pauldron, eg. Krul and SAW)

-no one in team have withdrawing potential (eg. Krul, Skaarf, Fortress)

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When picking heroes you should always keep in mind if you have some weaknesses.

Some examples to show you what I mean

-Jungler picked Reim? He is tanky but slow. One could pick Flicker. As Flicker isn't good at protecting allies, our carry should be a good kiter with a withdrawn ability. Gwen or Ringo are both reasonable choice.

-One picked Skye as a carry. She is vulnerable to assassins like Taka or Koshka so Ardan's barrier would be helpful. A gap closing and high mobile WP Blackfeather could be perfect to chase enemies.

-CP Joule got picked. To help her hit enemies with deadly ultimate, Lance is a good choice (he can root and stun). Even if somewhat tanky, Joule needs some space and usually pokes enemies with Thunder Strike. A WP Baron and his crowd control ( Porcupine Mortar) may help with it. If things get too hot, both of them have a way to escape ( Rocket Leap and Jump Jets)

-CP Ozo gets picked. He is pretty mobile sustainer and Adagio's heal helps him a lot. A good kiter such as Ringo will be a match

- Celeste got picked as a laner. She has good crowd control and usually pokes enemies with her Heliogenesis. WP Idris can poke them as well with Chakram and burst anyone who initiates the battle. Catherine will help to lock certain enemy (stun with Merciless Pursuit) if thing gets too hot or chase him/initiate.

These are just examples, showing more or less what I am talking about. So make sure you have at least few "favorite" heroes you know and play well to always compose a good team.

Adagio Alpha Ardan Baron Blackfeather Catherine Celeste Flicker Fortress Glaive Grumpjaw

Gwen Idris Joule Kestrel Koshka Krul Lance Lyra Ozo Petal

Phinn Reim Ringo Rona Samuel SAW Skaarf Skye Taka Vox

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Adagio


ROLE: Captain/Carry

ITEMS: Utility/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Healing for alies/himself -Damage bonus for allies/himself -Powerful ultimate with crowd control -Highest basic attack range in-game

CONS: -Bad mobility -Is not that tanky -Can't kite enemy -Can't chase enemy -Has no reliable escape

COUNTERS:
-Captains with Crucible or stun to cancel his ultimate
-Poisoned Shiv (against healing)
-Better than medium-mobile heroes to keep up with him

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Alpha


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Weapon/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Great sustain and tankiness when dealing damage -"Second life" with ultimate -Ultimate has crowd control potential -Gap-closing abilities

CONS: -Can be kited by good players -No reliable escape

COUNTERS:
-Good kiters ( Petal, Samuel, Skye)
-Stunners ( Catherine, Lance, Lyra)
-Damage heroes to kill her when rebooting ( Ringo, Glaive)

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Ardan


ROLE: Captain

ITEMS: Utility

Typical items:

PROS: -Very tanky -Can save allies with his barrier and speed boost -Can trap enemies with Gauntlet -Offers some damage -Has overall good mobility

CONS: -Can be kited by good players -No reliable escape -Is countered by Aftershock

COUNTERS:
- Aftershock ( Ozo, Koshka)
-More mobile heroes to keep up with him ( Blackfeather, Fortress, Taka)

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Baron


ROLE: Carry

ITEMS: Weapon/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -WP can deal massive damage to grouped enemies -WP offers some slow and crowd control -WP has a reliable escape -CP has GREAT range -CP has awesome crowd control -CP's ultimate is devastating

CONS: -Poor mobility -WP has poor rate of fire -CP has less reliable escape -CP is more vulnerabe to gap closers

COUNTERS:
-Assassins and gap closers ( Blackfeather, Koshka, Taka, Lance)

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Blackfeather


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Weapon/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Extereme mobility -Can dodge many dangers with his ultimate -Great gap closer -Reliable escape -When built right can survive long fights

CONS: -Vulnerable to burst damage -Vulnerable to stun/root -Usually is kind of squishy

COUNTERS:
-Stunners ( Catherine, Lance)
-Sustain heroes ( Reim, Rona, Krul)

---

Catherine


ROLE: Captain

ITEMS: Utility

Typical items:

PROS: -Gap closer -Stun -Anti-burst -Awesome ultimate with silence -Can offer a good damage -Short cooldown on A and B

CONS: -Is fragile without a Shield -May have problems with escaping a fight

COUNTERS:
-Good kiters and non-burst heroes ( Petal, Skye)

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Celeste


ROLE: Carry

ITEMS: Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Great range of her Heliogenesis -Great crowd control with Heliogenesis -Heliogenesis reveals enemies in bushes -Heavy damage with Nova

CONS: -Short range basic attacks -Vulnerable to gap closers and stuns -Can't kite against mobile heroes

COUNTERS:
-Gap closers and assassins ( Blackfeather, Koshka, Taka, Glaive)

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Flicker


ROLE: Captain

ITEMS: Utility/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Invisibility -Awesome early ganking -Great slow -Team wide invisibility

CONS: -No reliable escape -His main advantage can be neglected by Scout Traps -Without invisibility can't gank/gap close

COUNTERS:
- Contraption
-Heroes invulnerable to slow ( Baron, Blackfeather, Galive, Lance, Rona and Joule can escape)

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Fortress


ROLE: Captain

ITEMS: Utility

Typical items:

PROS: -Provides lifesteal for allies -Can apply Mortal Wound for enemies -Gap closing ability for a team -Ultimate reveals enemies -Short cooldown on abilities -Overall good mobility

CONS: -No way to escape a fight -Isn't that tanky

COUNTERS:
-Hard to counter but stunner captain would help ( Catherine, Lance)

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Glaive


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Weapon

Typical items:

PROS: -Massive burst damage -Gap close ability with stun -Has a good way to escape -Arguably the most feared ganker -Lifesteal may save him if he sticks to the target

CONS: -Can be kited -Afterburn requires some skill of aiming the target -Is vulnerable to stuns and damage -Sluggish

COUNTERS:
-Assassins (eg. Koshka)
-Stunners ( Catherine, Lance, Phinn)

---

Grumpjaw


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Weapon/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Tanky -Has gap-closing abilities -Overall good damage output -Ultimate with great potential

CONS: -Abilities requires aiming -No reliable escape

COUNTERS:
-Heroes with high attack speed and Bonesaw ( Ringo, Gwen)

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Gwen


ROLE: Carry
ITEMS: Weapon
Typical items:

PROS: -Fastest hero in-game -Using Buckshot Bonanza and Skedaddle you can run away or chase enemy -Stun with ultimate -Reveal bushes with Buckshot Bonanza -Nice burst damage -Good kiter

CONS: -Very fragile -Skedaddle often isn't sufficient to run away -Vulnerable to assassins and stuns

COUNTERS:
-Assassins and gap closers ( Koshka, Taka, Lance, Alpha, Blackfeather)

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Idris


ROLE: Jungler/Carry

ITEMS: Weapon/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Great mobility, can be confusing for enemies -Poking damage with Chakram -Ultimate provides invulnerability -Great damage output

CONS: -If he'll use abilities to close the gap he may have problem with escaping and vice versa -Switching between melee and ranged can be confusing

COUNTERS: CP - gap closers ( Lance, Catherine, Koshka)
WP - kiters ( Petal, Ringo)

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Joule


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Crystal/Weapon

Typical items:

PROS: -Tanky when facing damage -Lots of poking damage with Thunder Strike -Good ganking and escaping with Rocket Leap -Devastating ultimate (CP) -Is overall good

CONS: -Can be kited -Poor mobility

COUNTERS: CP - stunners ( Catherine), assassins ( Koshka, Blackfeather)
WP - kiters ( Petal, Gwen, Skaarf, Skye)

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Kestrel


ROLE: Carry/Jungler

ITEMS: Crystal/Weapon

Typical items:

PROS: -Invisibility -Burst with Glimmershot -Even more burst with Active Camo's Mist -Deadly ultimate

CONS: -Squishy -Without WP has no reliable escape -Not a great kiter

COUNTERS:
- Contraption
-Gap closers ( Lance, Catherine, Flicker, Taka, Koshka)

---

Koshka


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -One of the best hit-n-run heroes -Great gap closing and locking single target -Burst damage -Mobility

CONS: -Vulnerable to stun/slow -Squishy

COUNTERS:
-Stunners and gap closers ( Catherine, Flicker, Lance)

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Krul


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Weapon

Typical items:

PROS: -Your nightmare when fighting 1 vs 1 -Usually will slow you down and eat you -Tanky, great sustain -Can capture Kraken on his own -The longer the fight is, the more deadly he is -Applies weakness

CONS: -Can be kited by most ranged heroes -No reliable escape -Vulnerable to stuns -Vulnerable to burst

COUNTERS:
-Kiters ( Ringo, Petal, Celeste, Samuel)
-Stunners ( Phinn, Joule, Catherine)

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Lance


ROLE: Captain/Jungler

ITEMS: Utility/Weapon

Typical items:

PROS: -Good mobility -Very tanky -Can stun and root -Abilities has short cooldowns -Can provide a surprising damage with Impale -Can escape from almost every battle -Good range with basic attacks

CONS: -Abilities requires good aiming/a wall nearby -One of the worst attack speeds

COUNTERS:
-Very mobile heroes and good kiters ( Blackfeather, Petal, Idris, Skye)

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Lyra


ROLE: Captain

ITEMS: Utility/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Bright Bulwark interrupts many abilities -Decent healing -Imperial Sigil reveals enemies -Basic attacks applies slow -Can gap close with her ultimate -Can escape with her ultimate -One of the largest attack range in-game

CONS: -Arguably the most fragile hero in-game -Her heal isn't burst-type -Requires a lot of energy -Requires some skill to avoid quick death

COUNTERS:
-Bursts and gap closers ( Taka, Glaive, Koshka)

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Ozo


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Crystal/Weapon

Typical items:

PROS: -High lifesteal (durability) -Gap closing abilities -Great against heroes with high HP (CP)

CONS: -Can be kited by good players -No reliable escape -Vulnerable to burst/stun -Can be countered with Mortal Wound

COUNTERS:
-Stunners ( Catherine, Lance, Lyra, Phinn)
- Poisoned Shiv

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Petal


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -One of the best kiters in-game -Good mobility -Decent damage -Her munions can attack invisible heroes

CONS: -Without her munions she is useless -Vulnerable to assassins

COUNTERS:
-Very mobile heroes ( Blackfeather, Koshka)
-Stunners ( Lance)
-Heavy AoE/ in-line damage ( Baron, Skaarf, Idriss (CP), Phinn, Reim, SAW (CP))

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Phinn


ROLE: Captain

ITEMS: Utility

Typical items:

PROS: -Can't be stunned/rooted -Extremely tanky -Provides HP, shield&armor to allies -Quibble stuns and deals good damage -Great crowd control

CONS: -One of the slowest heroes -Can't keep up with his team or escape -His Quibble can be dodged easily

COUNTERS:
- Aftershock
-Any hero with some mobility

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Reim


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Almost can't be killed when dealing constant damage -Can slow, root and stun to keep up with enemy -Can solo capture Kraken -Fast jungle clearing

CONS: -Bad mobility -Can be kited -It is easy to predict his abilities

COUNTERS:
-Stunners ( Catherine, Lance, Joule)
-Kiters ( Ringo, Petal, Samuel, Celeste, Skye)

---

Ringo


ROLE: Carry

ITEMS: Weapon/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -High damage -High mobility -Slow -Great kiter -CP's ultimate is devastating

CONS: -Squishy -Weak early game -Almost always targeted first

COUNTERS:
-Assassins and gap closers ( Taka, Koshka, Lance, Blackfeather, Alpha)

---

Rona


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Weapon

Typical items:

PROS: -Lifesteal and temporary HP -Great sustain -Decent mobility -Can win 1vs2 against melee

CONS: -Can be kited -Interrupting Red Mist can mean your death

COUNTERS:
-Good kiters ( Ringo, Skye, Gwen)
-Stunners ( Catherine, Lance, Phinn, Joule)

---

Samuel


ROLE: Carry

ITEMS: Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Easy last hitting and survavability in lane -Good damage when inside the Drifting Dark -Oblivion's sleep can be devastating -Great kiting ability -Can heal up quickly when dealing damage

CONS: -Vulnerable to assassins and gap closers -Malice&Verdict are hard to aim -Malice&Verdict hits first target in line (minions may be hit insted of enemy) -No reliable escape

COUNTERS:
-Gap closers and assassins ( Taka, Koshka, Flicker, Blackfeather, Lance)

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SAW


ROLE: Carry

ITEMS: Weapon/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -One of the highest DPS in-game -One of the most feared laner early-game -Can win almost every 1vs1 -Has a good escape with Roadie Run

CONS: -No mobility -Needs to build Spin Ups to be dangerous -Building Spin Ups takes time -No chasing potential -Vulnerable to stuns

COUNTERS:
-Heroes with better range ( Lyra, Adagio, Petal, Celeste, Baron(CP))
-Stunners ( Joule, Catherine)

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Skaarf


ROLE: Carry

ITEMS: Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Slow -Good damage -Crowd control -Long range -Decent kiter

CONS: -Requires aiming and prediction of movement -Usually won't escape -No chasing potential -Dangerous ultimate can be canceled by stun

COUNTERS:
-Gap closers and assassins ( Taka, Koshka, Alpha, Lance, Blackfeather)

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Skye


ROLE: Carry/Jungler

ITEMS: Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -One of the best kiter -One of the best chaser -Offers slow and AoE stun -High mobility -If you hit enemy with Forward Barrage with the right angle he will be probably dead

CONS: -Requires huge ammount of skill -Aiming is difficult -Missiles hits first target -Requires good positioning -Vulnerable to assassins -Squishy

COUNTERS:
-Gap closers, assassins and stunners ( Taka, Flicker, Koshka, Glaive)

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Taka


ROLE: Jungler

ITEMS: Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Arguably the most common hero banned on ranked matches -Great burst potential -Inviaibility with heal provides good escape -Good choice against many heroes -Hard to catch when invisible -Great gap closer -Can dodge attack with his A

CONS: -Most players are familiar with strategy against Taka -Squishy -Enemt focus on him -Have to keep up Ki stacks for shorter cooldowns

COUNTERS:
-Stunners ( Catherine, Lance, Flicker)
- Petal, Idris, Glaive, Joule, Blackfeather, Lyra

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Vox


ROLE: Carry

ITEMS: Weapon/Crystal

Typical items:

PROS: -Can deal heavy damage -Mobile, can dodge attacks -Has some kiting potential -Offers silence -Can reveal heroes

CONS: -Squishy -Short range with basic attacks -No good gap closing ability

COUNTERS:
-Assassins, gap closers ( Taka, Koshka, Lance, Flicker, Blackfeather]]