Usurper's Razzil Darkbrew the Alchemist

[usurper]

Razzil Darkbrew the Alchemist
Usurper’s Guide in Creating the Recipe of Doom

Role/s in team battles: Early Game Survivalist, Late game Damage Dealer-Tank

Pros:
* Monster late game DPS hero
* Monster late game tank
* Great farmer

Cons:
* Pathetic stats (low stat growth, armor, damage)
* Often underestimated by players

Suggested Skill Build:

1 Goblin’s Greed
2 - 3 Unstable Concoction
4 Goblin’s Greed
5 Unstable Concoction
6 Chemical Rage
1 Unstable Concoction
8 – 9 Goblin’s Greed
10 Acid Spray
11 Chemical Rage
12 – 14 Acid Spray
15 Attribute Bonus
16 Chemical Rage
17 – 25 Attribute Bonus

Explanations:

“Unstable Concoction, I thought Alchemist is a monster farmer so he needs Acid Spray first!”

Before he was nerfed, he has decent mana and intelligence growth per level so he can afford to spam Acid Spray. Now, his intelligence growth is now 1 per level and his base mana is 221. If you decide to put null talismans, you will delay yourself in building pure damage items and the excess mana from it goes on waste. If you buy mana regeneration items, you will gain only a fixed amount. For instance, a ring of basilus gives you a fixed 65% mana regeneration. As a result, you will rarely cast Acid Spray because it costs 160 mana and in early game, Alchemist cannot afford to cast it consecutively.

“Now, why are you telling me that I learn Unstable Concoction first?”

Unstable Concoction is a great early game harassing spell for only 75 mana. As I observed in pub games, they won’t mind if I am shaking. Then they will find out that they are already stunned in 5 seconds. Therefore, it means to say that it is a good supporting spell as long as you know where to shake your vials. Sometimes, you can get some lucky kills from it especially when you have an ally to support you.

“What about Goblin’s Greed, do I need to skip it over stats?”

Well, Goblin’s Greed is your main farming tool. If you decide to skip it, you will miss the opportunity to have more gold than your opponents early game. If you have difficulty to get gold, practice last hit creeping. In addition, I will recommend you to buy 4 gauntlets and a helm in order to cover your weaknesses early game. So, you won’t need to sacrifice goblin’s greed over stats.

Skill Usage:

1. How to use Unstable Concoction?

a. Early game harassing - unstable concoction is a good harassing spell early game. If you engaged with heroes that has no interrupting spells, you can shake your vials easily. If your enemy decides to go back, he will be stunned in a maximum of 5 seconds, deal 300 damage and he will lose some experience.

The second usage of this skill is when your partner attacked and chased. Use unstable concoction. He/she will either force himself/herself to go back or get stunned in a maximum of 5 seconds and deal 300 damage. Then let you and your partner retaliate and kill.

Do not get confident if you have shaken your vials because your efforts can be wasted by escaping skills. Unstable Concoction is a projectile spell so any act of invisibility or escape mechanism can evade your skill such as Shukuchi, Windwalk, Rage, etc.

b. Conductor’s Wand - unstable concoction can be a good battle initiator. I usually do this: I target a hero that has strong nukes and then I chat to my team who is my target. After that, I tell my team to kill my target as long as the target has no backups or has far backups.

Did you know that when unstable concoction is targeted to a single unit, it gives vision to that unit until the channeling spell is finished? Therefore, it means you can set a gank to a targeted unit and kill.

c. Interrupting channeling spells - Sometimes, you can use unstable concoction to interrupt channeling spells just cast it and cancel. It is also called Shake - Cancelling

2. How to use Acid Spray?

a. Farming - now that Acid Spray lasts 16 seconds, you can assure that you can kill a creep wave and earn xxx gold in no time as long as you have enough mana. Also, Alchemist, in my opinion, is a good jungler so abuse it and earn xxx gold for your DPS items.

b. Armor Reduction in Team Battles - Acid Spray reduces the armor of the target by 6 at level 4. Therefore, it only means that you should cast this in the middle of a team battle. By this, you are increasing the DPS of damage dealers because of armor reduction alone. What if, your ally goes for cuirass or desolator, their damage are doubled now that there are many bonus armor items in DOTA.

c. Dealing with Magic Immune units - Problem in killing Golems and BKB users? Not anymore! Acid Spray deals physical damage and it can be reduced by armor value. Therefore, you can kill them easily as long as you have surplus mana.

3. How to use Chemical Rage?

a. Hero Tanking and Killing - Chemical Rage is your main tool in attracting your opponents. Since most players underestimate a late game Alchemist, they will focus fire him first. But wait, He has enormous EHP and DPS to withstand 2 – 3 opponents thanks to armor reduction items, HP items and pure damage items. Therefore, you should cast it at the beginning of a team battle and start inflicting monster damage to them.

b. HP regeneration - Chemical rage grants you additional 10/30/60 HP regeneration/second. So, do not hesitate to use it if your HP is yellow to recover some lost HP. Anyway, chemical rage lasts 20 seconds and has 25-second differential between the cooldown and the duration of the spell. However, if you feel that a team battle will occur, save it and activate it in battle.

c. Escaping - As long as chemical rage is activated, you will most likely survive and escape freely from chasing opponents. By this, you can ask for your teammates’ help and assist you in escaping and retaliating opponents.

Suggested item build:

starting items: 4 gauntlets, tangoes

1 helm of the iron will, boots
2 two hammers, javelin
3 upgrade hammers to desolator, upgrade helm to armlet of mordiggan
4 platemail, upgrade javelin to monkey king bar
5 boots of travel, assault cuirass, buriza


Final items:

1 boots of travel
2 buriza
3 monkey king bar
4 stygian desolator
5 assault cuirass
6 armlet of mordiggan

Justification of Item Build:

Alchemist is an early game survivalist, late game tank-damage dealer. Look at his ultimate: it lowers his base attack time/cooldown (BAT/BAC) and he gains movement speed. This forces him to be a damage dealer. On the other hand, it gives you big amounts of HP and regeneration implying him to engage more in team battles. This helps him to draw more fire to his opponents. However, it doesn’t mean that we invest more in strength items and farming items than pure damage items because in team battles they will just ignore you and they will kill you last. Remember, Alchemist has two weaknesses: One, he has low damage and two he has low armor.

Item Breakdown:

Starting items: 4 gauntlets, helmet of iron will

Four gauntlets and some tangoes are enough in early game survival. Four gauntlets give you additional 12 strength and 228 HP. When you activate Chemical Rage at level 6, your HP will be at 1224 and your HP regeneration is 12. That’s already huge for a strength hero, right? By the time that you will have helm of iron will, you already have 6 armor. This solves your horrible stats early game.

Mid-game items: Javelin, Stygian Desolator, Armlet of Mordiggan

Now that you have already a huge amount of HP, let us build up your damage quickly. In this build, I am recommending you to buy javelin because it helps you to deal decent damage to enemy units. In addition, The hammers are good because they give you decent damage at low cost. 1610 gold for 24 damage means you’re getting 1 damage per 67 gold. Comparing with Demonedge (1 damage per 72 gold), Mithril hammer is just better. Of course Sacred Relic is more cost effective, but it is 10000 times more difficult to farm for a Relic from nothing than to farm a hammer.

Subtle note no. 1: “Why Desolator is the best first pure damage item?”

Desolator gives you armor reduction, which is very important to a hero that has already an armor reduction skill. It is the item that helps Alchemist contributes in the team late game. While he releases his Acid Spray, it increases the DPS of attacking unit by approximately 70%. Therefore, desolator works better with high armored heroes now that there are many armor items in DOTA.

Now, assume that Alchemist is in level 11, activates chemical rage and has the following items: boots, javelin, and 3 gauntlets.

If you are vying for Battlefury:

Damage: (48 + 56)/2 + 1.8 * 10 (strength growth per level) + 9 (gauntlets) + 16 (javelin) + 40 * 0.2 (bonus damage from javelin) + 65 (battlefury) = 52 + 18 + 9 + 16 + 8 + 65 = 168
Agility: 11 + 1.2 * 10 = 23
Base attack time: 1.35 seconds/hit
DPS: 171 *(100 + 23)/135 = 153.06 damage per second.

If you are vying for Radiance:

Damage: (48 + 56)/2 + 1.8 * 10 (strength growth per level) + 9(gauntlets) + 16 (javelin) + 40 * 0.2 (bonus damage from javelin) + 60 (radiance) + 35 (radiance damage) = 52 + 18 + 9 + 16 + 8 + 60 + 35 = 198
Agility: 11 + 1.2 * 10 = 23
Base attack time: 1.35 seconds/hit
DPS: 201 *(100 + 23)/135 = 180.4 damage per second.

If you are vying for Stygian Desolator assume that your target hero’s armor is 10:

Damage: (48 + 56)/2 + 1.8 * 10 (strength growth per level) + 9(gauntlets) + 16 (javelin) + 40 * 0.2 (bonus damage from javelin) + 60 (desolator) = 52 + 18 + 9 + 16 + 8 + 60 = 163
Agility: 11 + 1.2 * 10 = 23
Base attack time: 1.35 seconds/hit
DPS: 166 *1.29(armor reduction from desolator) * (100 + 23)/135 = 191.58 damage per second.

Obviously, Stygian Desolator pawns the remaining items. As the game progresses, heroes buy armor items such as Shiva’s guard and assault cuirass. Therefore, stygian desolator together with acid spray and assault cuirass are effective when the target hero has high armor.

Subtle note no. 2: “Why Armlet of Mordiggan after Desolator?”

With the introduction of Armlet of Mordiggan, a part of mask of madness and satanic are combined into one. For 2850 gold, you have already 40 damage, 25 strength and 25 increased attack speed when activated. It also translates 65 damage and 25% IAS which greatly helps alchemist to cross mid game to late game. Why? Before, I buy mask of madness then pure damage items. Sometimes, I buy hyperstone then satanic. Now, I can buy armlet of mordiggan which increases Alchemist’s DPS at a cheaper price. Forget the -30HP/sec from it because Chemical Rage’s HP regeneration negates it.

Late Game items: Assault Cuirass, Monkey King Bar, Buriza

These items are called luxury items because it is unlikely that you can get all of them in a real game. The reasons for getting these items are damage and EHP. Buriza and Monkey King bar are brainless items, just pump your damage output and fight. You can draw more fire to your enemies when you have already these items.

Subtle note no. 3: “Why Assault Cuirass? I thought that he should buy Heart of Tarrasque!”

• Alchemist has too much HP and too low armor when he activates rage and armlet. Based on the formula that each point of armor gives you an additional 6% EHP, additional HP is just bad for a hero with low armor. Instead, Alchemist needs bonus armor.
• Hyperstone is a very good late game DPS modifier for every damage dealers and he has a BAT of 1.20 seconds per hit to get advantage from the increase attack speed from hyperstone.
• The armor reduction from cuirass increases his DPS by approximately 90% together with desolator and acid spray. Now that more armor items introduced in ver. 6.49, when these three armor reduction skills are applied, all units attacking to the corrupted target will have their DPS doubled.

Let’s compare Assault Cuirass from Satanic and Heart of Tarrasque using the concept of DPS and EHP. Assume that Alchemist is level 20 that has activated armlet of mordiggan and Chemical Rage. He has 2365 HP and 8.3 armor. The target hero’s armor is 15.

If he builds Satanic:

EHP:
(2365+475)*(1+0.06*(8.3+5)) = 6012.5;
%increase is ((709.5 + 711 .55 + 142.5) / (2365*(1+0.06*8.3)))*100 = 44.13%

DPS:
Damage: (48 + 56)/2 + 1.8 * 19 (strength growth per level) + 6 (gauntlets) + 16 (javelin) + 40 * 0.2 (bonus damage from javelin) + 60 (desolator) + 25 (satanic) + 30 (activated unholy rage) + 65 (armlet) = 52 + 34.2 + 6 + 8 + 60 + 25 + 30 + 65 = 280.2
Agility: 11 + 1.2 * 19 = 33.8
Bonus attack speed: 25 (armlet)
Base attack time: 1.2 seconds/hit
280.2 *(100 + 33.8 + 25)/120 = 377.4 damage per second.
* Corruption is cancelled here so no additional increase in DPS through armor reduction.

If he builds heart of tarrasque:

EHP:
(2650+965)*(1+0.06*10.4) = 5870.76;
%increase is 965/2650 = 36.4%

DPS:
Damage: (48 + 56)/2 + 1.8 * 19 (strength growth per level) + 6 (gauntlets) + 16 (javelin) + 40 * 0.2 (bonus damage from javelin) + 60 (desolator) + 35 (heart) + 65 (armlet) = 52 + 34.2 + 6 + 8 + 60 + 35 + 65 = 260.2
Agility: 11 + 1.2 * 19 =33.8
Bonus attack speed: 25 (armlet)
Base attack time: 1.2 seconds/hit
260.2 *(1.23 stygian desolator) *(100 + 33.8 + 25)/120 = 423.5 damage per second.

If he builds assault cuirass:

EHP:
2650*(1+(0.06*(10.4+15))) = 6688.6;
%increase is (2650*(0.06*15))/2650(1+0.06*10.4) = 55.4%

DPS:
Damage: (48 + 56)/2 + 1.8 * 19 (strength growth per level) + 6 (gauntlets) + 16 (javelin) + 40 * 0.2 (bonus damage from javelin) + 60 (desolator) + 65 (armlet) = 52 + 34.2 + 6 + 8 + 60 + 65 = 225.2
Agility: 11 + 1.2 * 19 =33.8
Bonus attack speed: 25 (armlet) + 55 (assault)
Base attack time: 1.2 seconds/hit
225.2 *(1.46 deso + cuirass)*(100 + 33.8 + 80)/120 = 585.8 damage per second.

Now the calculations are presented, you will conclude that assault cuirass is the best late game item for Alchemist. Not only that, if he applies acid spray, he and his allies’ DPS are doubled. Great!

Walkthrough in every stage:

Early Game: Levels 1 – 9, Approximately 15 - 20 mins
Objectives: Survive and invest golds

Alchemist is only picked when in any random game modes. Then almost all players decide to repick him with other heroes. If you decide to play with him, good luck! No, just kidding! You have chosen a hero that really challenges your skills in last hitting and surviving. Anyway, at the first 30 seconds of the game, buy your survivability items like gauntlets and some tangoes and go to the side lanes especially in topmost part of the map (for scourge) or in bottom of the map (for sentinel). I have chosen these lanes because it is near the neutral creeps wherein you will jungle there when you have already Chemical Rage. Also, choose a double lane because unstable concoction is best in 2v2 battles and alchemist has a little bit difficulty in doing last hits. Upon reaching your lane, get goblin’s greed first because it really helps you in investing extra gold as long as you know how to do last hits. As you go level up, get unstable concoction and do some harassment. However, do not spam it until you reach level 5 wherein you can stun your opponent as much as 4 seconds. If they ignore you shaking then they will suffer the consequences. When you have reached level 6 and you don’t have enough life, use it immediately to restore some hit points. From there, you can have the option to jungle in the neutral creeps and target low-level creeps (satyrs, wolves, trolls, and kobolds). Once you have enough gold, buy helm of the iron will and a javelin.

Mid-Game: levels 10 – 16, approximately 20 – 40 mins
Objectives: Get your first DPS item, support your allies using unstable concoction and save gold for late game.

Mid game starts for Alchemist when he learns level 2 chemical rage. While other heroes shine in this stage of the game, Alchemist is in his weakest stage. Now that they know already how strong unstable concoction is, your enemies will be watchful. Most of the time, they will ignore him in team battles and finish top priority heroes such as vengeful, lich, etc. Instead participating in team battles, continue farming your DPS items until you have already a desolator, armlet and a platemail. Since you have goblin’s greed, it is easier for you to farm those items. However, if your team really needs you, I would suggest that you accompany them and position yourself near the neutral camps so that you can earn some gold from them.

In team battles, Unstable Concoction is your best friend because it is the team conductor’s wand. You should position yourself in hiding spots shown above or in places that your enemies won’t see you in order for you to cast unstable concoction effectively. Then prompt your ally who is your target so that they know already what to do next. When team clashes, cast acid spray immediately so that your allies will have an increase in DPS and it helps them to eliminate creeps easily.

Late Game: levels 17 – 25, 40 mins. above
Objectives: Get your DPS items and start drawing fire to your enemies.

Now it is the time to shine. With the damage items ready, you are ready to contribute significantly in team battles. This is not the time to farm with neutrals anymore. Instead, participate well in team battles. Again, you should start the battle by using Unstable Concoction to annoying enemies and focus fire him. In team clashes, always activate Acid Spray in order for you to eliminate creeps easily and amplify your teammate’s DPS. Your late game goal should be to remain in battlefield all the time using Acid Spray and Chemical Rage, draw fire and KILL!

Acid Spray is best in defending pushes and massive pushes because it lasts 16 seconds which is enough to eliminate all of them. Never let your mana down in order for you to cast your skills particularly Acid Spray and Chemical Rage. If something bad happens, never hesitate to use Chemical Rage because it helps you survive better.

Conclusion

The Alchemist is not a cursed hero anymore thanks to Armlet of Mordiggan. Good luck to those people who will use this hero. Face every objection that they will throw on you and prove them that he is a very good support and damage dealer.

V. Acknowledgements

1. God for all the gifts and blessings.
2. Eul, Guinsoo, Icefrog and his team for the creation of DOTA
3. Diaz_leon, the Godfather of hero guide making, for providing math and good guide formats.
4. Previous Alchemist guides for inspiration.
5. Ownagers for commenting, flaming, supporting, criticizing my guides.

"*ownagers, balak kong sumali sa Hero Guides Contest sa Dota Portal. Sana makapagbigay kayo ng mga suggestions para mapaimprove ko ang guide na ito. thanks!"

[ben]

Quick Review lang muna, kapos ako sa oras eh.. by exp lang (sa gg), haha.

* Monster late game tank - di ako agree , dahil nga sa stat growth nya, onti lang dagdag ng rage para mabawi ung str-hp growth ng ibang "tank" (bristle, centaur, davion, pudge: come to mind)
* Monster late game DPS hero - debatable , dahil depende sa items na kukunin mo ung magiging output ng damage mo. Kapag pure damage items madali ka maououtclass ng ibang dps types dahil nga sa stats at sa passives.

Para sa orb , personal choice ko ung skadi after morrigan, gives razzil much needed stats at chasing power. Kung deso kasi, at wala kayung ibang holder sa team, kahit na nakatravel ka andali takbuhan ni alche.

Sa items naman, ok din ung curiass kasi nga % based enhancer na bagay na bagay dun sa rage.

Ginawa ko dati :
1.Morrigan
2. Travel
3. Skadi
4. Mkb
5. Buriza
6. Curiass

Sana ko na dagdagan pag me oras na

[usurper]

salamat sa inisyal mong review, ben. maasahan ka talaga

* kaya ko nasabing monster late game tank siya kasi ang taas ang HP regen niya pag naka-Chemical Rage. isa pang batayan ko kung bakit siya "tank" ay yung definition nito.

Tank - a hero that has lots of HP and armor and can draw fire to his enemies.

tignan natin yung iba pang opinion ng mga ownagers dito para pwede kong i-edit habang maaga pa. malapit na kasi yung susunod na HGC.

* dun sa skadi,mababa na nga yung stats niya eh bibigyan mo pa ng isa pang mediocre na item. I mean it gives you a little bit of everything. kung iuuna nila skadi, mahihirapan silang itawid ang Alche mula mid-late game. kung ganun, anong uunahin mong pure damage item?

* actually, kulang pa nga itong guide na ito eh. ginagawa ko pa lang yung skill synergies sa Word at mga screenshots. sana ma-upload ko mamaya...at sana marami pang magcomment dito para mapaimprove ang guide na ito. thanks

[ben]

Mordiggans first damage item ko sa kanya.. hehe +65 naman un me ias pa.

After naman nun kaya mo na patayin ang ibang hero (rage+armlet+acid).. un nga lang eh kung lalaban sila sa ilalim nung acid.. so kulang na lang mobility tsaka dagdag hp, kaya kinuha ko skadi (+675 hp, 25 damage, 25 ias)..

Pero siguro dahil nga hindi fullhouse ung nilalaro ko sa gg (3v3s) . kaya kelangan ko nung skadi, kasi wala ako tagahold habang humahabol, haha.

Sa item build mo kc , mordiggans lang ang +hp sa kanya, (2517 hp @ 25, with rage+ armlet on).. malabong tumagal pag ung kasabayan mo eh range dps na me crits din (lategame 600 crits ang average).. tsaka kung ikaw hahawak ng curiass, pag namatay ka agad, wala na ung team buff..

[usurper]

pinost ko na ito sa dota portal:

http://www.dotaportal.com/forums/ind...howtopic=68776

mukhang nakikita ko na yung point mo. sige subukan ko yung skadi tapos revise ko n lang. maghihintay pa rin ako ng mga susunod na magcocoment sa both forums.

[usurper]

bump lang po pede? kasi lalaban na ko sa Hero guides contest sa DOTA portal. kasali na ang guide ko doon. sana manalo ako.

nasa taas yung link.

[Botee]

tama ka dun sa sinabi mu about sa unstable conc...

wala ngang pumapansin sa hero na yan pag nanginginig na sya.. parang hindi kasi nakakatakot.
kahit hindi ko pinapansin kahit nanginginig na yan eh..

[Claude08]

imba stun po..
bilis na money..
bilis lang din cdp ng last skill..

[prototype*]

dati sa yung greed ang inuuna ko, pero naisip ko mas magagamit stun at acid.

[usurper]

teka, update ko na to...tulad nung sa aking guide sa DP. give me a few days.