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Franchise-starcraft This is from the StarCraft universe.


I didn't start the fire. Wait... Yes I did!


Damage (6/10) Utility (7/10) Survivability (9/10) Complexity (7/10)

Blaze is a Ranged Warrior hero from the StarCraft universe, based on the Firebat Unit.

He is a ranged Tank who specializes in initiating fights and dealing area damage by spreading his flames.

Background[]

Miles Lewis's infatuation with fire began in his childhood. Later in life, he had the opportunity to join Raynor's Raiders and fight for the future of the Terran Dominion. He hesitated, but but when he learned he could become a firebat, that sealed the deal. His tendency for pyromania earned him the nickname "Blaze". After the fall of Arcturus Mengsk, Lewis joined the Dominion Armed Forces. He heard of the disappearance of Jim Raynor after the End War, and wondered what happened to his former commander.

Firebats are "armored assault troopers," often attached to provide support for marine squads. Particularly devastating in close quarters combat, they're typically armed with dual arm-mounted flame throwers and wear heat-resistant fireproof armor similar to those used by marines, although heavier.

As with marines, many firebats are recruited or conscripted from "culturally challenged" persons. Such individuals undergo neural resocialization and receive aggression inhibitor implants as part of their training. Firebats are almost exclusively composed of resocialized criminals and psychotic pyromaniacs. During the reign of the Confederacy, firebats were infamous for being high-risk, unstable individuals, and older personnel manuals recommended the exclusive use of resocs or pyromaniacs for firebat duty. Still, volunteers are not unheard of: in the Confederate Marine Corps, an individual had to have a PEB (Preferred Experience Base) of at least three months combat experience to become a firebat.

The Terran Dominion continues the use of firebats. Its personnel manualsclaim that its firebats are "stable, reliable soldiers."

Gameplay Summary[]

Blaze is a versatile Warrior capable of dishing a decent amount of sustained damage, as well having powerful area of denial abilities that allows him to lay carpets of crowd control. He is unique as he can self-heal by using a combination the skills Oil Spill and Flame Stream.

Overall, Blaze performs exceptionally well in maps with tight enclosed spaces, or when defending stationary objectives. His flexibility allows him to fit into most team compositions, and can either work as a main tank or as a secondary Warrior to fulfill a bruiser-oriented role.

Strengths[]

  • Has a very high base health.
  • Effective waveclear and area of effect damage.
  • Powerful area of denial and crowd control abilities.
  • Versatile kit, providing sustain and utility.
  • Basic Attacks deal 100% area damage.
  • Can be built as either a main tank or a bruiser.
  • Excels at defending stationary objectives.
  • Has access to an entire tier of "stimpack" talents at level 1, that allows Blaze to gain various effects when activated.
  • Flame Stream is a decent poke tool and has low cooldown, making it very spammable.
  • Oil Spill covers good range and offers a powerful slow effect, and deals decent damage when ignited by Flame Stream. Blaze will heal himself when standing over the ignited oil (about 14% of his maximum health).
  • Jet Propulsion covers a long range and has a area of effect stun if he collides with an enemy. Since it is a skillshot, it can be used either for engaging or retreating.
  • Pyromania grants armor and damage, and its cooldown can be reduced by hitting enemy Heroes with Flame Stream.
  • Bunker Drop allows to avoid otherwise guaranteed damage, such as targeted Heroic Abilities like Kael'thas' Pyroblast and Nova's Triple Tap.
    • The Bunker is classified as "summon", therefore is immune to Hero-only abilities (such as Chromie's Sand Blast), as well talents that affect only Heroes (i.e. Giant Slayer).
  • Combustion covers a huge radius, and its damage and slow is increased the longer it is charged.

Weaknesses[]

  • Has a smaller figure than most tanks, making bodyblocking less effective compared to someone like Diablo or ETC.
  • Lack of displacement abilities.
  • Poor single target damage.
  • Not very effective stutter-stepping.
  • Lack of burst damage.
  • All his Abilties are skillshots.
  • Telegraphed abilities and predictable playstyle.
  • Very susceptible to kite.
  • Igniting Oil Spill with Flame Stream removes the slow effect (unless Adhesive Petroleum is picked at level 4).
    • In addition, he can only self-heal by setting alight Oil Spill.
  • Has no mobility if Jet Propulsion is on cooldown.
  • Pyromania has a very long cooldown.
  • Combustion is not very effective unless fully charged.

Abilities[]

Icon Flame Stream
Flame Stream (Q)
Mana: 25
Cooldown: 4 seconds

Fire two streams that deal 83 (+4% per level) damage to enemies hit. Flame Stream Ignites Oil Spills it comes in contact with.

Icon Oil Spill
Oil Spill (W)
Mana: 40
Cooldown: 12 seconds

Vector Targeting

Dispense a slick of oil that lasts for 5 seconds and Slows enemies that come in contact with it by 40%.

Oil Spills are Ignited for 2.5 seconds when hit by Flame Stream. Ignited Oil Spills no longer Slow enemies, but instead deal 18 (+4% per level) damage to them every 0.3 seconds. Additionally, Blaze is healed for 49 (+4% per level) Health every 0.3 seconds while standing in Ignited Oil Spills.

Stores up to 2 Charges.

Icon Jet Propulsion
Jet Propulsion (E)
Mana: 50
Cooldown: 12 seconds

After 0.5 seconds, charge forward. Colliding with an enemy Hero deals 52 (+4% per level) damage and Stuns them and nearby enemy Heroes for 1.25 seconds.

Traits[]

Icon Pyromania
Pyromania (D)
Cooldown: 90 seconds

Gain 25 Armor and deal 40 (+4% per level) damage to nearby enemies every 0.5 seconds for 4 seconds.

Each Hero hit by Flame Stream reduces Pyromania’s cooldown by 5 seconds.

Heroic Abilities[]

Icon Bunker Drop
Bunker Drop (R) [Heroic Ability]
Tier 4 (Hero Level 10)
Mana: 40
Cooldown: 50 seconds

After 0.5 seconds, deploy and enter a Bunker with 1435 Health. Blaze and his allies can enter and exit the Bunker at will. While in the Bunker, occupants gain access to Flamethrower, dealing 179 (+4% per level) damage to enemies in a line.

Exiting the Bunker grants 25 Armor for 2 seconds. Bunkers last 10 seconds or until destroyed.

Icon Combustion
Combustion (R) [Heroic Ability]
Tier 4 (Hero Level 10)
Mana: 70
Cooldown: 80 seconds

Channel for up to 2.6 seconds. Upon ending, Slow nearby enemies by 60% and deal 48 (+4% per level) damage to them every 0.5 seconds. Combustion’s Slow and damage over time duration is extended the longer Blaze Channels, from 1 second up to 5 seconds.

Blaze’s Movement Speed is reduced by 50% while Channeling.

Talents[]

Tier 1, Hero Level 1[]

Icon Adrenaline Stimpack
Adrenaline Stimpack
Tier 1 (Hero Level 1)
Cooldown: 30 seconds

Activate to gain 100% Attack Speed and 25% Movement Speed for 5 seconds.

Icon Endurance Stimpack
Endurance Stimpack
Tier 1 (Hero Level 1)
Cooldown: 40 seconds

Activate to gain a Shield that absorbs 450 damage over 5 seconds.

Icon Neural Stimpack
Neural Stimpack
Tier 1 (Hero Level 1)
Cooldown: 40 seconds

Activate to gain 50 Mana and cause Ability cooldowns to recharge 100% faster for 5 seconds.

Icon New Habits
New Habits
Tier 1 (Hero Level 1)

Collecting Regeneration Globes reduces the cooldown of Pyromania by 5 seconds.

IconQuestTalent Quest: Collect 15 Regeneration Globes.
IconQuestTalent Reward: Pyromania grants Unstoppable for 2 seconds.

Tier 2, Hero Level 4[]

Icon Flame Stream
Feeding the Flame
Tier 2 (Hero Level 4)

Each enemy Hero hit by Flame Stream reduces the cooldown of Oil Spill by 2.0 seconds.

Icon Oil Spill
Adhesive Petroleum
Tier 2 (Hero Level 4)

Enemies standing in Oil Spill when it is Ignited are Slowed by 30% for 2.5 seconds.

Icon Oil Spill
Oil Dispersal
Tier 2 (Hero Level 4)

Increase Oil Spill’s area by 20% and Slow amount by 10%.

Icon Pyromania
Meltdown
Tier 2 (Hero Level 4)

Hitting an enemy Hero with Pyromania reduces their damage dealt by 5% for 2.5 seconds, up to 30%.

Tier 3, Hero Level 7[]

Icon Flame Stream
Crossfire
Tier 3 (Hero Level 7)

Hitting an enemy with both streams of Flame Stream deals 139 (+4% per level) bonus damage.

Icon Oil Spill
Grill and Kill
Tier 3 (Hero Level 7)

IconQuestTalent Quest: Damage enemy Heroes with Ignited Oil Spills 60 times.
IconQuestTalent Reward: Increase Oil Spill’s Ignite duration by 2 seconds, and damage by 20%.

Icon Incinerator Gauntlets
Incinerator Gauntlets
Tier 3 (Hero Level 7)

Increase Basic Attack area by 15% and Basic Attack damage to Minions, Mercenaries, and Monsters by 70%. Additionally, Basic Attack splashes Pyromania Oil Spills.

Tier 4, Hero Level 10[]

Icon Bunker Drop
Bunker Drop (R) [Heroic Ability]
Tier 4 (Hero Level 10)
Mana: 40
Cooldown: 50 seconds

After 0.5 seconds, deploy and enter a Bunker with 1435 Health. Blaze and his allies can enter and exit the Bunker at will. While in the Bunker, occupants gain access to Flamethrower, dealing 179 (+4% per level) damage to enemies in a line.

Exiting the Bunker grants 25 Armor for 2 seconds. Bunkers last 10 seconds or until destroyed.

Icon Combustion
Combustion (R) [Heroic Ability]
Tier 4 (Hero Level 10)
Mana: 70
Cooldown: 80 seconds

Channel for up to 2.6 seconds. Upon ending, Slow nearby enemies by 60% and deal 48 (+4% per level) damage to them every 0.5 seconds. Combustion’s Slow and damage over time duration is extended the longer Blaze Channels, from 1 second up to 5 seconds.

Blaze’s Movement Speed is reduced by 50% while Channeling.

Tier 5, Hero Level 13[]

Icon Flame Stream
Suppressive Fire
Tier 5 (Hero Level 13)

Each stream of Flame Stream reduces the Spell Power of Heroes hit by 20% for 4 seconds, up to 40%.

Icon Bunker Drop
Nanomachine Coating
Tier 5 (Hero Level 13)

Enemies standing in Ignited Oil Spills have their Attack Speed reduced by 40% for 2.5 seconds.

Icon Jet Propulsion
Fuel Leak
Tier 5 (Hero Level 13)

Jet Propulsion creates Oil Spills along Blaze's path. If Jet Propulsion impacts an enemy Hero, an additional Oil Spill is created underneath them.

Tier 6, Hero Level 16[]

Icon Jet Propulsion
Thermal Protection
Tier 6 (Hero Level 16)

Each enemy hit by Jet Propulsion grants 10 Armor for 3 seconds and reduces its cooldown by 2 seconds.

Icon Pyromania
Heat Treatment
Tier 6 (Hero Level 16)

Heal for 75% of the damage dealt by Pyromania.

Icon Juggernaut Plating
Juggernaut Plating
Tier 6 (Hero Level 16)
Cooldown: 40 seconds

Activate to gain 50 Spell Armor for 3 seconds. Upon expiration, gain a Shield equal to 125% of the Spell Damage taken while Juggernaut Plating was active.

Tier 7, Hero Level 20[]

Icon Bunker Drop
Fortified Bunker
Tier 7 (Hero Level 20)

Occupants can cast Oil Spill from Bunker Drop every 6 seconds. Additionally, Bunker Drop’s Armor bonus upon exiting is increased by 25, and its duration by 1 second.

Icon Combustion
Flash Fire
Tier 7 (Hero Level 20)

While Channeling Combustion, Blaze’s Movement Speed is no longer reduced, and nearby enemies are Slowed by 60%.

Icon Incinerator Gauntlets
Burn Notice
Tier 7 (Hero Level 20)

Basic Attacks Slow enemies by 5% and deal an additional 18 (+4% per level) damage over 2.5 seconds. Stacks up to 5 times.

Talent Builds[]

  • Oil Spill Build: focused on maximizing the effectiveness of Oil Spill, either when ignited by Flame Stream or not. Key talents include Adhesive Petroleum, which counteracts the greatest drawback of igniting Oil Spill, which is the removal the slow effect; Grill and Kill, which allows to increase the uptime of Oil Spill; and Fuel Leak, which allows Blaze to lay a carpet of oil on his way, which is great when engaging or disengaging.
    • This build is effective on most situations, although it is more effective when having another Warrior in the team.
  • Flame Stream Build: focused on maximizing the effectiveness of Flame Stream, turning it into a very powerful poking tool.
    • This build is mostly recommended when dealing against low mobility Heroes, since Flame Stream is very easy to kite and avoid.
  • Basic Attack Build: a very niche build that improves Blaze's PvE capacities, making him particularly strong at maps that requires to kill minions and monsters, such as Tomb of the Spider Queen, Infernal Shrines and Haunted Mines.

Tips[]

  • Don't refrain from using Flame Stream to poke opponents. It has low cooldown, mana cost, and pierces opponents.
    • Additionally, each projectile damage are accounted on their own, meaning that hitting an opponent with both streams doubles the ability damage.
      • This also counts for Pyromania cooldown reduction, as well other Flame Stream related talents.
  • Try to use Oil Spill effectively and maximize the area of effect. Since it has 2 charges, it can be used to cover a large area.
    • Don't be afraid to use Oil Spill + Flame Stream solely for self-heal as it is quite impactful; it can heal about 14% of Blaze's maximum health (25% if Grill and Kill is picked).
    • Oil Spill, by default, has 5 second duration, and when ignited by Flame Stream (or by Incinerator Gauntlets) it lasts for additional 2.5 seconds, meaning that with enough timing, it is possible to make it lasts for roughly 7.5 seconds.
      • Ignited Oil Spills will also ignite any other Oil Spill that overlaps with it. This includes the ones generated by Fuel Leak.
  • Jet Propulsion does not collide against minions, meaning Blaze can charge through them to hit enemy Heroes.
    • Unlike Diablo's Shadow Charge, Jet Propulsion does not goes through obstacles such as walls.
    • The area of effect stun caused by Jet Propulsion is quite large, so make sure that enemies are relatively close to each other to maximize its stun properties.
    • An effective way to use Jet Propulsion is to combo it with Oil Spill and Flame Stream, in the following order: Oil Spill > Jet Propulsion > Flame Stream.
  • Save Pyromania to use when surrounded by opponents, to maximize its damage and cooldown reduction.
  • Use Bunker Drop to save allies from targeted skillshots, debuffs or to prevent otherwise lethal damage.
    • Don't be afraid to use it in order to secure objectives, such as the beacons in Braxis Holdout.
    • Players can enter and exit Bunker Drop at will.
    • Use Bunker Drop to body block opponents.
    • Ability cooldowns continue to roll normally while inside the Bunker.
    • The Flamethrower ability from the Bunker will NOT ignite Oil Spills, including the ones that can be generated by the level 20 upgrade, Fortified Bunker.
  • Combustion should be used when opponents are already under crowd control abilities, as it is fairly easy to avoid and interrupt.
    • By taking New Habits at level 1 (and completing it), it can be used right before Combustion to make Blaze unstoppable while channeling, preventing any form of interrupt.
    • Remember that Blaze cannot use any other abilities while Combustion is being channeled.
  • At level 13, Blaze has access to two talents that allows him to counter specific types of enemies: Suppressive Fire is very effective against Ability-based Heroes (such as Greymane, Alarak, Kerrigan, Sonya, etc.), while Nanomachine Coating against Heroes that rely on Basic Attacks (such as Illidan, The Butcher, Zul'jin, Tracer, etc.).
    • It is important to note that Nanomachine Coating does NOT work when Oil Spill is ignited.
  • Despite not showing in the tooltip, the shield generated by spell damage reduction from Juggernaut Plating has no duration, meaning Blaze can maintain it indefinitely until taking damage.

Matchups[]

Pairings[]

Blaze's balanced kit and attributes allows him to work well on most team compositions. However, he shines when paired with Heroes that have some source of crowd control, allowing to maximize the slow effect of Oil Spill and the stun from Jet Propulsion.

Arthasplate
Arthas's very oriented crowd-control kit synergizes perfectly with Blaze. The combination of slow effects, stuns, attack speed reduction and damage-over-time and self-sustain create a deadly frontline.


Kerriganplate
Kerrigan's ganking potential shines with Blaze's various ways to intercept his opponents, specially when he uses Combustion.


Malfurionplate
Malfurion's effective heal-over-time, combined with his Entangling Roots, greatly complements Blaze's ability to disrupt opponents and maintain presence in the battlefield.


Effective against[]

Effective foes[]

Since all of Blaze's abilities are telegraphed skillshots, Heroes with high mobility can easily kite him and avoid his abilities altogether. In addition, Heroes with high crowd control skills can cancel two very important abilities: Jet Propulsion and Combustion. Furthermore, Blaze's limited mobility outside of Jet Propulsion combined with his naturally high health makes him easy target for Heroes capable of dealing health percentage damage.

Leoricplate
Leoric's lane presence and superior single target damage can deal problems to Blaze. In addition, since Jet Propulsion does not goes through obstacles and structures, Leoric can effectively trap him with a well place Entomb.


Lunaraplate
Lunara can easily harass Blaze from afar and slowly cripple him, making any attempt to retaliate inneffective unless Blaze has allies to intercept her.


Malthaelplate
Malthael vastly superior self-sustain and eye-watering damage to high health opponents can give Blaze a hard time during teamfights, specially if Jet Propulsion is on cooldown.


Tracerplate
Tracer's unmatched mobility makes almost impossible for Blaze to hit her with any of his Basic Abilities, meaning he is pretty much a sitting duck against her.


Skins[]

Veteran Firebat (base)
Blaze - Veteran Firebat Blaze - Veteran Firebat - Dominion Blaze - Veteran Firebat - Smokin Blaze - Veteran Firebat - Hazardous
Veteran Firebat Dominion Smokin' Hazardous IconShard 150
Blaze - Veteran Firebat - Veteran
Veteran IconShard 150
Fel Reaver
After much experimentation, mo'arg engineers have succeeded in miniaturizing the fel reaver's design and fusing it with a captive sentient soul. The results are quite promising.
This skin is related to the Warcraft themed-skins. Features altered voice-over.
Blaze - Fel Reaver Blaze - Fel Reaver - Abominable Blaze - Fel Reaver - Coldfire Blaze - Fel Reaver - Infernal
Fel Reaver Abominable Coldfire Infernal
Blaze - Fel Reaver - Smoldering
Smoldering

Development[]

A firebat hero was under consideration for inclusion by 2015.[1]

He was teased in a video[2] released in 2017, and is the first Hero to be released in 2018.

Blaze's Combustion ultimate was once like a fire-version of the Death Blossom ability from Overwatch, shooting fire in a T-pose where players directed the streams with their mouse. The ability was revised.[3]

Trivia[]

  • Blaze's dance is the Chris Farley's "Chippendale Dance".
  • Blaze's teaser video, "Need a Light?" was produced by Rocket Jump, a hybrid studio/production company led by Freddie Wong.

Patch changes[]

References[]

  1. 2015-12-28, BlizzCon 2015 Heroes of the Storm Deep Dive Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2016-01-01
  2. 2017-12-21, Heroes of the Storm: Need a Light?. YouTube, accessed on 2017-12-22
  3. 2018-03-28, Meet the Developers Turning StarCraft Units Into Heroes of the Storm. Red Bull Esports, accessed on 2018-03-30

External links[]

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