Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Guide To Lone Druid, Syllabear


  "The sleeper has awakened..."

Syllabear was spared a time of great strife due to the deeds of his people. Sensing their settlements impending destruction they turned their child into a bear and sent him to the wild. Syllabear grew up strong and savage, like the bears that inhabited the forest of his home. Using druidic powers, he can enter a state of almost rabid frenzy, and even call powerful bear companions to aid him. Awakened into his elven heritage by Furion the Prophet, Syllabear has regained his true elven form, and brings the bestial spirit of the bear to the battlefield.


Welcome to my first Dota Hero guide. It is on one of my favourite heroes, Syllabear. Syllabear is a tank/support hero and is well renown for his 'Spirit Bear' skill in summoning a powerful Spirit Bear. This guide is completely original using my own ideas and skill to create it.


*NOTE* - This guide is purely meant for 4v4/5v5 matches. This guide cannot be applied to Lone Druid in 1v1/2v2/3v3 matches.




Syllabear's Skills


Summon Spirit Bear (B)
Summons a powerful Spirit Bear companion. It randomly Entangles enemies that it attacks.
Level 1 - Summons Spirit Bear with 1400 hit points and Inventory.
Level 2 - Summons Spirit Bear with 1800 hit points - adds Return.
Level 3 - Summons Spirit Bear with 2300 hit points - adds 20% Entangle.
Level 4 - Summons Spirit Bear with 2700 hit points - adds Demolish and 33% spell resistance.
Mana Cost: 75
Cooldown: 180/160/140/120
Duration: Until Death


Rabid (R)
Syllabear can create an intense combative fury in either himself or his Spirit Bear Companion.
Level 1 - Increases attack speed by 10% and movement speed by 5%.
Level 2 - Increases attack speed by 20% and movement speed by 10%.
Level 3 - Increases attack speed by 30% and movement speed by 15%.
Level 4 - Increases attack speed by 40% and movement speed by 20%.
Mana Cost: 50
Cooldown: 30
Duration: 10


Synergy
Increases the Lone Druid's synergy with his Spirit Bear and himself with each level, upgrading spells.
Level 1 - Adds +10 damage and movespeed on Spirit Bear, increases Rabid duration by 10 and True Form hp with +100.
Level 2 - Adds +20 damage and movespeed on Spirit Bear, increases Rabid duration by 20 and True Form hp with +200.
Level 3 - Adds +30 damage and movespeed on Spirit Bear, increases Rabid duration by 30 and True Form hp with +300.
Level 4 - Adds +40 damage and movespeed on Spirit Bear, increases Rabid duration by 40 and True Form hp with +400.


True Form (F)
Syllabear learns to morph himself into a brown bear. Morphing into Bear causes Syllabear to lose his ranged advantage, by making him melee. He can morph freely between druid and bear form.
Level 1 - Morphs into Bear Form; 250 bonus health and 2 bonus Armor and has Battle Cry.
Level 2 - Morphs into Bear Form; 400 bonus health, 4 bonus Armor and has Battle Cry.
Level 3 - Morphs into Bear Form; 600 bonus health, 6 bonus Armor, has Battle Cry.
Mana Cost: 25

Battle Cry (C)
Adds damage and armor to his companion for a short duration.
Level 1 - Adds +20 damage and 2 Armor.
Level 2 - Adds +40 damage and 4 Armor.
Level 3 - Adds +60 damage and 6 Armor.
Mana Cost: 50
Cooldown: 30
Duration: 8



Spirit Bear's Skills


Return (R)
Immediately teleports the Spirit Bear back to Syllabear. This skill is acquired when the Spirit Bear is at level 2.
Cooldown: 50

Demolish
Causes attacks to do 1.6 times normal damage to buildings.

Entangle
Attacks randomly cause roots to burst from the ground, immobilizing and disarming a target enemy unit for 3 seconds, and dealing 40 damage per second.

Spell Resistance
Spirit Bear gains resistance against spell damage.



The Skill Build


1. Summon Spirit Bear
2. Synergy
3. Summon Spirit Bear
4. Synergy
5. Summon Spirit Bear
6. True Form
7. Summon Spirit Bear
8. Rabid
9. Rabid
10. Synergy
11. True Form
12. Synergy
13. Rabid
14. Rabid
15. Stats
16. True Form
17-25. Stats

As soon as you level up to level 6, turn into true form straight away for the extra HP and armor and the skill, 'Battle Cry.' Remember, this is a jungling guide so this is why you start pumping 'Synergy' after 'Summon Spirit Bear.' 'Synergy' adds the extra damage for the bear and HP for 'True Form.' Around after level 7 you will start farming a lot easier when you level up 'Rabid.' The 'Rabid' that you will skill up will be substantially a lot better because of the longer duration 'Synergy' has given it. You only level up 'Rabid' twice because you need to get 'Synergy' higher for the HP bonuses.

For the most part of the game, you will be in 'True Form' unless in you are in a situation which requires you to be ranged but if in doubt, stay in 'True Form' for armor and HP bonuses.




The Item Build


Starting Items

For Syllabear


For Spirit Bear


Many of you may be thinking, why are you purchasing two 'Quelling Blades'? The reason you purchase two is because you will be neutral creeping until you are around level 9-11. And when you are not hero killing after this period, you will still go neutraling.

At the end of every full game I play with Lone Druid. I ALWAYS end up with the most creep kills. This makes me the richest thus the most powerful hero in the game. The 'Healing Salve' that you get is meant to heal Syllabear, NOT the Spirit Bear.


Tier 1 Items

For Syllabear


For Spirit Bear


These items will be achieved around level 10-11. Some of you guys may be looking and saying, "WHAT THE F...?" But I'm dead serious. If you farm well enough. You can solo Roshan.

At level 6, you need to change items around. You will no longer have the 'Quelling Blade' for Spirit Bear because 'Quelling Blade' doesn't stack with his 'Entangle.' Get rid of the 'Quelling Blade' Syllabear has as it is ranged and useless in his 'True Form' and give the melee 'Quelling Blade' that your bear had to Syllabear. Thus, there will be no more stacking problems.

The build order is 'Power Treads' first for the bear, then 'Vladmir's Offering' for Syllabear.

You may be asking why you don't farm boots for Syllabear first. The simple answer is that you won't be running around too much. Your bear is your courier so whenever you need to retrieve items, you send the bear, then you 'Return' him. You may need to go back to base maybe once to heal but you're mostly staying in the jungle. Farming these items early isn't as easy as it seems but I'll go over that further down the page.



Tier 2 Items

For Syllabear


For Spirit Bear


You have come to the stage of the game where farming and leveling have become a piece of cake. You should be seeking kills with your allies as soon as you finish your 'Aegis of Immortal.' However, If there is nobody to kill, you're back in the jungle neutraling, but this time at a super fast pace. It's okay to take on more than one hero as long as you have an ally with you because you have an Aegis as a safety net.

In the process of all of this, you buy the 'Boots of Speed' for Syllabear to improve his chasing skills. Then as soon as you accomplish that, you farm as fast as you can as the next item you are going for is 'Radiance.' You won't believe yourself how fast you can farm for Radiance. At this point, you can enjoy yourself killing some Ancients as well. The whole point in this period of the game is to never stop killing and rarely go back to base.


Tier 3 Items

For Syllabear


For Spirit Bear


When farming for these items, you should be around level 16-20. With your radiance, farming the next few items shouldn't be too hard. Farm for 'Cranium Basher' first for the bear, followed by 'Boots of Travel,' then get 'Assault Cuirass.' Cranium Basher stacks with 'Entangle' so it's a must get first. You get 'Boots of Travel' after because Syllabear's movement speed can already be improved with 'Rabid.'

Keep in mind, that you must try to always have an 'Aegis of Immortal' because farming for really expensive items could be a bit risky so kill Roshan when he respawns for the safety net.

If the game doesn't end at this point, I'd be surprised but some games can carry on like so. Therefore, take the next items into consideration based on the situation.


Items to Consider

For Syllabear


For Syllabear or Spirit Bear


Butterfly - Get it if your focused on a lot by physical attacks. It also adds good stats for your agility.

Satanic - If you need more life to handle the dpsers and nukers, this is a good item to get.

Black King Bar - If you get dispelled or stunned like fuck, which we all hate, you need to get this. Plus it makes Syllabear look as big as Tiny when you give him Rabid as well.

Stygian Desolator - This goes good for Syllabear or the Spirit Bear because it stacks with the 'Assault Cuirass' aura. It is situational who you give it to but when in doubt, give it to Syllabear. When chasing, the Spirit Bear usually gets the hits which is why he may need it but Syllabear would attack faster with it.

*NOTE* - If you get an orb of any sought (except Feedback) you must get rid of your 'Quelling Blade' because it doesn't stack.


Strategy


Early Game


*NOTE* - The following maps are of older versions of DotA but still represent important points.


Lets face it... early game, Lone Druid sucks... This is why I decided that a Jungling Guide was best for him.

As soon as you pick Lone Druid, summon your Spirit Bear right away to start the cooldown time when it dies. To make microing easy for you, which we all have issues with, I've recommended a grouping technique. Make Syllabear and Spirit Bear 'Ctrl 1' and have only Spirit Bear as 'Ctrl 2.' So you can click just Syllabear by pressing 'F1.' Or just Spirit Bear with '2.'Or both of them with '1.' It'll get easier with practice.

The Neutral Creeps spawn at the 30th second of the game so you always have time to check the rune of your area first. The first neutrals you should clear are the level 1 creeps. In these red-crossed areas.




To speed the process of neutraling, tried to stick to specific routes. Here, I drew in both Scourge and Sentinel areas different routes.
Red Routes - The best routes
Blue Routes - Routes to avoid
Red Dots - Normal Creeps
Green Dots - Ancients




In the Sentinel area, you see the lowest creep spawn area can be accessed from the north. You have two 'Quelling Blades' that can cut through those trees.

-

In the beginning, it is guaranteed that your bear will die once but when that happens, the cooldown of 'Summon Spirit Bear' will have finished. This will happen around the 3rd set of creeps you kill. About a couple more sets of creeps from then, your bear will almost die but you can't let that happen or else the cooldown will be to long for you to continue neutraling so give some aggro to Syllabear. After Syllabear and the bear have been hurt a decent amount, send the bear back to heal and get the first few items of 'Power Treads.' Use your 'Healing Salve' on yourself.

Here you have about a minute to yourself before your bear returns. Check runes etc. but DON'T go to a lane unless of course it is essential. Syllabear is weak and a nuker can easily kill him. After you bear returns, you won't return to base for a long time. At least until 'Power Treads' is completed. At level 6, use 'True Form.' Remember to item switch at this point. Keep an eye on your adjacent lane to see if they need your help but keep farming until you get 'Vladmir's Offering' then go kill Roshan!


Mid Game

You'll be surprised how strong Syllabear is at this point of the game (level 11-16). Three words emphasize this section.

Don't

Stop

Killing.

What makes Syllabear so potent against his enemies is the Spirit Bear's 'Entangle' so passive stunners such as Void, Troll Warlord and Slithereen Guard can't get their hits in against you. 'Entangle' stops their attack and movement.

When you hero kill, try to have an ally back you up, in case there needs to be a last hit or such. You may also find that in most cases, you will not get the kill but that is not a concern because most of your farming comes from creep killing. Also, remember to not be afraid of taking on more than one hero. You have allies to support you and an Aegis for a safety net. Try not to go back to base too much and as much as often, kill Ancients. They give a substantial amount of gold relative to the normal creeps.

In situation where an enemy is pushing on you and you have little backup, hold them back with your bear and keep Syllabear at a distance. Your bear is very strong mid-game with his resistance against spells.

As good as he is in holding back pushes, he's amazing at pushing.... pushers.... if that makes sense. He can break towers without being too near it using only the bear. And the towers go down fast due to the 'Demolish' passive the bear has.

Not much more else more can be said about Lone Druid in mid-game.


Late Game

At this point of the game, you start to lose a bit of the height against other heroes as some heroes get stronger. Sometimes, there is nothing you can do about heroes getting a bit stronger but that doesn't mean you can own them.

At mid-game you could take on a lot of guys at once but you must be a lot more cautious late-game. You must wait for opportune times to strike with your allies and such. The one real weakness of Syllabear at this point of the game is his inability to escape ganking. If you did own in mid-game, they probably have a high priority target... which is you. In this case, you must use your bear to attack the chasers and hope that the 'Cranium Basher' or 'Entangle' will activate. Constantly 'Return' your bear and attack your chasers. If done properly, you'll be fine.

If worst comes to worst, they succesfully gank you, but you will always have the extra Aegis to help you out. By that time you revive, your allies would have arrived to help you out.

ALWAYS KILL ROSHAN WHEN HE RESPAWNS.

There's not much else to it. I know that there are plenty of other ways in playing Lone Druid but this method has not failed me once. Follow my guide and I'm sure you'll show all your friends and enemies who the real King of the Jungle is.

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