

Shadowthorns The innate passive is just so important, it needed a skill slot so people can read it. Basically, they provide the same threat to enemies as a Bramble Maze Malignance . Should the game last long enough, it would almost feel like fighting in a different place!



Scorpion's Border A high utility spell that has uses in chase, escape, blocking choke points, and interrupting channels from a distance. As such, they were given a relatively long cooldown and high mana cost. What's also interesting about this ability is it uses a unique form of targeting:



vector option vector option This ability introduces us to a specialized type of targeting I'd like to call "vector option". If you know "vector targeting", where a player picks a point and then a direction, "vector option" has players pick a point and then an option. What these options are will vary on the nature of the spell, but in this case, the options are left or right. A schematic of the spell.



The ellipse have a major axis of whatever's the distance between target point and Balcraw.



The minor axis is always a third of its major axis.



It does not go the full distance, when targeting closer than the max distance.



Creates a Shadowthorn for every 160 units of the arch.



Apex Spike Balcraw's most reliable disruptive spell. An instant 2 second stun without risk of disjoint is very valuable. Remember that it also spawn a Shadowthorn on the target. Meaning it's not just a stun, it has the damage and slow of his regular Shadowthorns. The most interesting aspect of this spell, however, is its ability to just create 12 Shadowthorns on count of 4. Trapping the enemy in a circular formation of Shadowthorns that can be crossed when moving with precision.



notes : notes :



The gap between each Shadowthorn is about 115 units. Enough for most units the pass through.



With Level 25 talent, the second ring is a 1050-radius circle with 24 Shadowthorns evenly spaced as well. They are delayed by 4 more seconds, about 8s from the start of the cast. Same gaps of 115. 12 Shadowthorns are evenly spaced in the circumference of a 525-radius circle. The Shadowthorns have a radius of 80 each.The gap between each Shadowthorn is about 115 units. Enough for most units the pass through.WithLevel 25 talent, the second ring is a 1050-radius circle with 24 Shadowthorns evenly spaced as well. They are delayed by 4 more seconds, about 8s from the start of the cast. Same gaps of 115.



Malignance I'm gonna go ahead and say that this is a filler ability despite the fact that permanent Shadowthorns are a highlight of playing with, and against, Balcraw. But he can actually work without them. The utility of both his Scorpion's Border and Apex Spike is enough to provide the disruptive support he is designed for. The active of this ability punishes longer fights, as enemies will only find it harder and harder to position themselves from all these thorns.