Edwin VanCleef is a meticulous Melee Assassin about stringing his abilities in unique combinations in order to adapt to his situation.
Rough Level 0 Stats Health - 1650
Health Regen - 3.44/s Basic Attack Damage - 80
Basic Attack Speed - 1.4 Maximum Energy - 100.
Regeneration Rate - 10/s.
Combat Trait
1
[D] - Ruthless Efficiency
Passive; C-c-c-combo! Damaging a hero with a basic ability causes your next basic ability to be cast at/damage them(Depending on the ability to damage them) within 4 seconds to have additional effects.
In addition, VanCleef utilizes an Energy Resource, like Valeera. VanCleef regains 5 Energy on every basic attack.
When used after [Q] - Sabre Slash, cleaves for 50% damage. Radius - 2
When used after [W] - Pistol Shot, deals 60 additional damage.
When used after [E] - Defias Assassin, causes them to bleed for 120 damage over 4 seconds.
When used after [R] - The Brotherhood, instantly refunds the cost and cooldown.
When used after [R] - Cannon Barrage, roots them for 1 second.
2
[W] - Pistol Shot
Active; Pew Pew Quickly draw a hidden pistol and fire it target enemy, dealing 240 damage.
When used after [Q] - Sabre Slash, blinds them for 1.5 seconds.
When used after [W] - Pistol Shot, stuns them for 1 second.
When used after [E] - Defias Assassin, slows them by 30% for 2 seconds.
When used after [R] - The Brotherhood, roots them for 1.5 seconds and deals 80 additional damage.
When used after [R] - Cannon Barrage, refunds the cost and cooldown.
3
[E] - Defias Assassin
Active; Fighting Dirty Target an enemy hero for assassination. After a 3 second delay, a Defias Assassin will appear. Upon appearing, it instantly strikes the hero for 200 damage. The Assassin lasts until killed, or until the target is killed, and will solely focus on the targeted hero. The hero cannot tell that they have been marked with this ability.
Consumes/Applies Ruthless Efficiency marks on cast, not on trigger.
When used after [Q] - Sabre Slash, deals 40 additional damage when it first appears.
When used after [W] - Pistol Shot, roots them for 1 second when it initially strikes.
When used after [E] - Defias Assassin, spawns two assassins instead with 66% of the original's stats.
When used after [R] - The Brotherhood, now strikes after 1 second instead of 3, and refunds its cost.
When used after [R] - Cannon Barrage, slows them by 50%, decaying, for 2 seconds.
Secondary Abilities
1
[1] - [1] - Death Threats
Level 1 Talent; Active; Politely Requesting Services Bribe Replacement. Gain stacks of Death Threats through normal Bribe methods, up to 80. Spend 20 stacks to instantly 'persuade' target mercenary and defeat it. If a camp is defeated entirely using 'Death Threats', permanently reduce [E] - Defias Assassin's cooldown by 0.25 seconds, up to 4 seconds removed total.
2
[4] - [2] - Riposte
Level 4 Talent; Active; Le-parry Ready a blade for up to 1.5 seconds. The next time an enemy hero strikes you with a non-Heroic ability within range of this ability, block the damage, and stun them for 1 second.
Range - 2. Cooldown - 30 seconds.
3
[4] - [2] - Stonemason
Level 4 Talent; Active; Channeled Better MULE Begin repairing an allied structure for up to 8 seconds. During this time, it heals for 5% of its maximum health per second(halved for the Core).
Level 7 Talent; Active; Energy Drink! Instantly heal yourself for 15% of your maximum health, and regenerate an additional 20% of your maximum health over 6 seconds.
Cooldown - 45 seconds.
5
[13] - [4] - Grappling Hook
Level 13 Talent; Active; Mobility Shenanigans Launch a grappling hook in a targeted direction. If you hit anything, you immediately drag yourself to it over 0.75 seconds.
If you hit an enemy Hero or Minion, immediately strike them with a Saber Slash for free on arrival. This free Saber Slash applies Ruthless Efficiency against Heroes.
Range - 5.5. Cooldown - 20 seconds.
6
[16] - [5] - Roll the Bones
Level 16 Talent; Active; Methinks I handled the RNG decently well here Activate to roll the dice, granting you a benefit for 10 seconds depending on the second of the match you are on:
[1] - Requires the time to be (##:#1); Increases your attack speed by 40%.
[2] - Requires the time to be (##:#2)/(##:#0); Increases your movement speed by 40%, decaying over the duration.
[3] - Requires the time to be (##:#3)/(##:#9); Your basic ability cooldowns recharge 50% faster.
[4] - Requires the time to be (##:#4)/(##:#8); Your abilities gain 50% increased range; Sabre Slash lunges you towards your target.
[5] - Requires the time to be (##:#5)/(##:#7); Your health and mana regeneration is quintupled.
[6] - Requires the time to be (##:#6); Your damage is increased by 25%.
While active, the achieved number displays on the ability icon.
Cooldown - 60 seconds.
Heroic Abilities
1
[R] - Marked by The Brotherhood
Active; Surprise Death Squad Mark an enemy hero from anywhere on the map. The mark grants you vision of them for up to 20 seconds, as Defias members track them from the shadows. During this time, you can reactivate the ability, spawning 2 Defias Assassins and 2 Defias Gunners nearby the hero and slowing them by 40% for 2 seconds. They will only focus on the targeted hero, unless the targeted hero dies; If this happens, they will target the nearest enemy hero besides the first, focusing on them instead. These Defias members last for up to 10 seconds after being triggered, before vanishing into the shadows.
Cooldown - 100 seconds, reduced to 40 if you choose to not call for the ambush. Cost - None.
2
[R] - Cannon Barrage
Active; Raining Hell Call for a Cannon Barrage from the Defias Juggernaut at a targeted location, which fires 4 waves of cannon shots over 6 seconds(or 1 wave per 1.5 seconds). Every wave deals 200 damage to all enemies inside the zone.
Passive - Cannon Barrage deals 50% additional damage to Structures.
Sabre Sweep - Saber Swing cleaves nearby enemy minions.
Saber Swing always cleaves nearby enemy minions(Range - 2) for 50% damage. This can stack with the 50% from triggering Ruthless Efficiency.
Death Threats - Persuade Mercenaries to fight for you.
See 'Death Threats' under Secondary Abilities above.
Level 4|Tier 2 (!)Ruthlessness - Quest: Killing enemy minions increases damage. Quest: Killing enemy minions grants stacks of Ruthlessness. Every stack increases damage by 0.2%, stacking up to 30% additional damage. All stacks are lost upon death.
Between the Eyes - Close range Pistol Shot casts stun targets.
Pistol Shot casts targeting enemies within the inner 50% of the cast range stun the target for 0.25 seconds. This effect stacks with triggering Ruthless Efficiency.
Riposte - Parry an attack and stun an enemy.
See 'Riposte' under Secondary Abilities above.
Stonemason - VanCleef may channel to repair structures.
See 'Stonemason' under Secondary Abilities above.
Level 7|Tier 3 Internal Bleeding - Initial hits from Saber Slash empower Ruthless Efficiency triggers.
If another ability triggers Sabre Slash's effects from your trait, the targeted enemy takes 160 damage over 3 seconds.
Heavy Lead - Initial hits from Pistol Shot empower Ruthless Efficiency triggers.
If another ability triggers Pistol Shot's effects from your trait, the targeted enemy is slowed for 50% for 1 second.
Dazed and Damaged - Initial hits from Defias Assassin empower Ruthless Efficiency triggers.
If another ability triggers Defias Assassin's effects from your trait, the targeted enemy is blinded and rooted for 1 second.
Crimson Vial - VanCleef restores a large portion of his health.
See 'Crimson Vial' under Secondary Abilities above.
Level 10|Tier 4 The Brotherhood - Call a band of Defias members to ambush a foe.
See 'The Brotherhood' under Heroic Abilities above.
Cannon Barrage - Globally rain cannon fire on an area.
See 'Cannon Barrage' under Heroic Abilities above.
Level 13|Tier 5 Heavy Blow - Saber Slash is enhanced when triggering Ruthless Efficiency
Sabre Slash's damage is increased by 50% when it triggers Ruthless Efficiency.
Quick Reload - Pistol Shot is enhanced when triggering Ruthless Efficiency
Pistol Shot's cooldown is reduced by half when it triggers Ruthless Efficiency.
Dirty Trick - Defias Assassin is enhanced when triggering Ruthless Efficiency
Defias Assassin stuns the target as it arrives for 1 second when it triggers Ruthless Efficiency.
Grappling Hook - VanCleef pulls himself to something.
See 'Grappling Hook' under Secondary Abilities above.
Level 16|Tier 6 True Efficiency - Triggering Ruthless Efficiency lowers your Heroic's cooldown.
Triggering Ruthless Efficiency reduces your Heroic Ability's cooldown by 5 seconds.
Tactical Efficiency - Ruthless Efficiency triggers across multiple heroes.
Ruthless Efficiency no longer needs to remember a hero(Casting an ability at one target and then at a different target triggers your trait).
Marked for Death - Enemies are vulnerable while marked by Defias Assassin.
Enemies lose 15 Armor when a Defias Assassin is on their way from your [E] - Defias Assassin.
Roll the Bones - Gain one of six powerful enhancements temporarily.
See 'Roll the Bones' under Secondary Abilities above.
Level 20|Tier 7 Professionals - Killing the target of The Brotherhood resets cooldowns.
All of your ability cooldowns are refunded if the target of The Brotherhood dies during its effects. This effect can only occur once every 100 seconds.
Second Deck - Cannon Barrage gains an additional charge.
Cannon Barrage gains another charge, which recharges at the same time and has a 10 second cooldown between casts.
Deeper Strategem - Your Heroic options allow additional Ruthless Efficiency effects.
Your trait now effects Heroic Abilities, allowing additional effects on basic abilities after a Heroic Ability hits an enemy.(The Brotherhood's is applied on second activation only and Cannon Barrage's is applied after they get hit by one wave, and only that time.)
Skins
Buccaneer VanCleef Pirate VanCleef. Good release skin, no ability appearance changes needed.
4/12/2017
Added optional Energy System.
Lowered Pistol Shot cooldown to 8 seconds(was 10).
Pistol Shot triggering Deeper Stratagem Ruthless Efficiency on The Brotherhood now roots the target for 1.5 seconds instead of slowing by 30% for 3 seconds.
5/5/2018
[R] - The Brotherhood renamed to [R] - Mark of The Brotherhood.
12/24/2018 General
Switched fully to Energy instead of Mana.
[D] - Ruthless Efficiency
Tracks for 4 seconds(from 8).
VanCleef regains 5 Energy per basic attack.
[Q] - Sabre Slash
Cooldown reduced to 2 seconds(from 2.5).
Damage reduced to 160(From 200(ish))
[W] - Pistol Shot
Cooldown reduced to 4 seconds(from 8)
Damage reduced to 240(from 280(ish))
[E] - Defias Assassin
Damage on arrival reduced to 200(from 240(ish))
Assassin Attack Damage reduced to 50(from 80)
[R] - Mark of the Brotherhood
Gunner Attack Damage reduced to 90(from 100)
Gunner Attack Speed reduced to 0.8(from 1.0)
Talents
Cunning Efficiency now refunds 5 Energy on every trigger(from some mana amount).
Removed Rewind.
Crimson Vial now heals 15% instantly and 20% over 6 seconds(from 10% + 15%).
Roll The Bones now increases Heroic Damage on a [6].
Marked for Death is now Armor Reduction(from Vulnerability).
Professionals can now trigger once every 100 seconds(from 120).
Personally I like this idea, but "And stay down" seems a bit to useless for me. Gathering power is good only when you are constantly defended by allies or enemies have murky/Vikings
That's a fair comment, but it was the only idea I had. And, it's also not so bad on good players. You just need to play carefully with this hero.
(Edit) Actually, you're right. I just didn't want to make it too similar to the Butcher, so, I've updated it anyways. More suggestions always appreciated about it.
(Edit #2) No longer makes a difference as the entire kit has been changed.
Loading Comments...
Load More Comments
HeroesFire is the place to find the perfect build guide to take your game to the next level. Learn how to play a new hero, or fine tune your favorite HotS hero’s build and strategy.
Heroes of the Storm Build Guides
(Edit) Actually, you're right. I just didn't want to make it too similar to the Butcher, so, I've updated it anyways. More suggestions always appreciated about it.
(Edit #2) No longer makes a difference as the entire kit has been changed.