Zagara
Written By Nicklas 'Scorp' Hansen
1 Hero Introduction
Zagara is a specialist hero, who is a great solo lane bully whilst providing significant amounts of vision through creep, and safely outputs high- and sustained damage during team fights. With a kit full of summons, Zagara excels at dominating lanes early in the game, with good ability to push as well as harassing the enemy from a safe distance. Her trait Creep Tumor allows her, and her allies, to gain vision of areas for long durations. Creep tumors allow her to easily foresee enemy ganks, making it safe to push her lane and advance on creep.
Her ultimate ability, Devouring Maw, is an area-of-effect crowd control ability, rendering target enemies out of the fight for 4 seconds. In that time, her and her team can fight the remaining enemies or set up for a demolishing combo at the time of release. In either case, Zagara can single-handedly change the tide of the battle in the hands of the right player.
Her ultimate ability, Devouring Maw, is an area-of-effect crowd control ability, rendering target enemies out of the fight for 4 seconds. In that time, her and her team can fight the remaining enemies or set up for a demolishing combo at the time of release. In either case, Zagara can single-handedly change the tide of the battle in the hands of the right player.
2 Talents
While having few options regarding talent choices, her abilities and talents remain impactful at all levels. Building Zagara around her creep and hydralisk make her shine the most, as the creep provides great utility and mutalisks (talent at level 13) secures safe poke from a distance. Whether you want to go for Endless Creep or Rapid Incubation depends whether you have enough sustain to stay in lane or not. Endless Creep offers excellent utility to all of your team and is definitely the go-to pick in most cases, but Rapid Incubation is another great alternative if you struggle with sustaining your health or mana.
When it comes to ultimates, Devouring Maw is the only reliable pick. It is such an impactful ultimate, that the otherwise good mobility from Nydus Network cannot compete. At level 20, Zagara has the option to pick Tyrant Maw or Bolt of the Storm. While Tyrant Maw is not a bad choice, Zagara really lacks an escape - especially in the late game, as she is easily deleted due to her being so squishy - and Bolt of the Storm thus comes out on top.
When it comes to ultimates, Devouring Maw is the only reliable pick. It is such an impactful ultimate, that the otherwise good mobility from Nydus Network cannot compete. At level 20, Zagara has the option to pick Tyrant Maw or Bolt of the Storm. While Tyrant Maw is not a bad choice, Zagara really lacks an escape - especially in the late game, as she is easily deleted due to her being so squishy - and Bolt of the Storm thus comes out on top.
3 Playstyle
In the early game, Zagara is preferred to be played in a solo lane, only facing one enemy hero. If that is the case, she needs to establish an early lead by harassing the enemy out of lane. Use your mutalisks frequently for safe poke, while using roaches and banelings to push the lane. Her summons easily burn out enemy structure ammo, which puts even more pressure on the enemy hero. Past level 4, Zagara has increased range from her basic attacks, which then also can be used effectively as consistent poke due to the longer distance.
If you decided to go for Rapid Incubation, you will have an even easier time out-sustaining your enemy, so in that case, make sure to use your abilities and basic attack constantly, maximizing the pressure on the enemy in lane. If you face multiple enemies in lane, this talent should also make your life easier, as you will have a stronger push.
Throughout the game, make sure to put down Creep Tumors. One of the most common mistakes when playing Zagara is undervaluing the effect of creep - they are important factors to you and your team’s ability to maintain map control, and is one of her biggest strengths. Put down creep in the sides of the lane(s) to make clearing them more of a hassle, and make sure to have creep at key locations: bosses, paths between lanes, objectives and so forth. You should also put down creep between you and your fort during the early- and mid game to benefit from the increased health regeneration and movement speed.
4 Tips and tricks
While Zagara should mostly stay in lane during the early game, expect to grab objectives, try to always join fights later in the game. Her sustained damage output is great, and the utility from Devouring Maw can easily win otherwise lost fights. On maps like Towers of Doom and Cursed Hollow, roaches and mutalisks can be used to easily delay enemies from capturing objectives. If you are early to an objective, try to stall as much as possible until your team arrives.
Stay at a safe distance during fights. Prior to level 20, you have no ability to escape if you are getting targeted. If necessary, using Devouring Maw on a diving enemy may be a good idea, but always try to save it for a well-timed use. When using Devouring Maw, try to punish enemies grouping up - especially melee characters are prone to get hit by Devouring Maw. If your team may not be aware that you used it, it can be a good idea to ping a couple of times at the location. Try to time your banelings and roaches with the release, so that both abilities are sure hits, maximizing her damage.
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